FAQ
Trade account & ordering questions
The questions we are asked most. Anything else, email sales@sterlingtradinggroup.com.
Who can open a trade account?
Any UK business that resells: independent shops, pharmacies, salons and barbers, market traders, gift shops and online sellers. We ask for your trading name, a contact and where you sell; a company or VAT number helps but a sole trader is welcome.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes - £100 in goods, excluding VAT, within the UK. That is a handful of lines rather than a pallet; most wholesalers in this trade ask for £500 to £3,000 on a first order. Outside the UK the minimum is £1,000 in goods excluding VAT.
What does delivery cost?
UK delivery is £5.99 per 2kg box - roughly a dozen bottles, boxed. A larger order, which is more parcels or a pallet, is quoted exactly: we confirm the delivery cost once you have placed the order, and it is on your proforma invoice before you pay.
Are the products genuine?
Yes. Every line is the brand's own product in its retail packaging, bought from UK distributors and batch-coded. We do not sell testers, decoded stock or anything we cannot trace.
How much does a line cost?
Every product page shows our list price per unit, excluding VAT, with no account and no login. Your trade price is lower - around a tenth below the list price - and appears on every line once your trade account is approved, which takes one working day.
How do I pay?
Once you confirm an order we check stock and send an invoice. Payment is by bank transfer before dispatch. There is no card payment on the site and no payment is taken when you order.
How quickly will my order arrive?
Typically three to four working days from your order. We check the stock and send your invoice, usually within one working day; once it is paid it is dispatched on a tracked service and arrives in two to three. Larger orders go by courier or pallet.
Do you ship outside the UK?
Yes, worldwide. The minimum order outside the UK is £1,000 in goods excluding VAT rather than £100, and shipping is quoted per order at cost for the destination - tell us where it is going and roughly what you want. Import duty, taxes and any customs charge are yours to pay: they are set by the country you are importing into, not by us. Allow a week or more from dispatch, depending on the destination and on how long customs take.
What if something arrives damaged?
Tell us within 3 days of receipt and we will credit it. Because these are trade sales we do not accept returns.
Are prices shown with VAT?
Every price on the site, list and trade alike, is shown excluding VAT. On a UK order, VAT at the standard rate is added on the invoice. On an order going outside the UK the treatment depends on the destination and is confirmed on your invoice. Our VAT number is on every invoice.