The Maui CEO: Import from China, Sell on Ebay, and Live Wherever You Want

First of all, it's easy to read yet packed with solid business and financial information. Second, Maui CEO is the ultimate expression of buying low and using e-commerce to leverage a small business. There are obviously different ways of going about this, and I think another reviewer misses this point. Using weight loss as an analogy, you can't be successful with Atkins if you follow only the parts that make sense to you. Likewise, if you import via LTL and store the stuff in your garage, you haven't lowered your risk: you've already lost, because you are acquiring your product from a distributor (i.e. not getting the lowest price) and you are selling a product (iPod headphones, or whatever) that does not have any competitive barriers. I like the reviewer using specifics about what he didn't like or believe, but he misses the book's ultimate points on how to buy low. I don't even think a quality Chinese manufacturer will sell LTL quantities anyway. To summarize the book's point in this area, 1) sell items that weigh more than 150 lbs so that UPS can't ship it (to reduce competition); 2) sell items that are more expensive which gives buyers more reason to buy online (like air conditioners or Jacuzzis)--the more money you save, the more incentive buyers have to buy online; and 3) the process of container shipping is clearly spelled out. To me, that's good advice. Unlike today's hot book--The 4-hour Workweek--I believe Maui CEO contains nothing but meat--written in a way that makes fighting the big-guys possible and practical.

I was amazed at how much punch this little book packs. I have read other importing books that give you all the technical details of importing - but they don't help me make a decision. And with the huge number of decisions that are needed, I felt overwhelmed at the prospect of starting an import business after reading other books. However, Mr Tennant cuts through all the crap and limits his scope to what a small startup should realistically aim at. In doing so, he provided answers to decisions to be made and provides "why" he chose that option over a few others by showing pros and cons - all in very few words. You can also see Mr Tennant's empirical knowledge on the business by some very insightful reasoning on his part that goes against the mainstream - all with compelling arguments for doing so. I really learned a great deal.

This is the best, most practical book on starting your own import business I have ever read. I think the advice on "creating barriers to entry" is brilliantly easy to understand and execute to. It is not a "how to be an eBay seller" general guide, but provides specific advice around picking products that have more limited competition given the logistics of moving that product. For instance, selling large outdoor children's playsets, which can't be shipped by UPS, naturally reduces your competition, so that you aren't among 1000 others selling the same thing on eBay. This is a guide, not encyclopedia, emphasizing quality over quantity, and is well worth the price.

Great organization and brevity. Ideal for busy people who want to get right to the point. Nice format, easy to carry around. Good content on eBay spoofing / phishing, and protecting yourself as an eBay seller. Highly recommended!! Very up to date.

I found this book to be full of useful information and references. The author covers a lot of topics and if you don't have the imagination to look beyond coffins, then you won't make it in business anyway. I need broad information at this point, not details about one aspect of starting an eBay business. This book give you a lot to think about that you might not otherwise think of.