Is vending not THAT profitable?

I really have to wonder... I mean, we keep seeing well-established vendors getting popped, disappearing or exit-scamming...

I just have to wonder, is it really not all that profitable, once you account for the time, risk, competition, market scams, buyer scams, supply issues, logistics and FUD? Seems like it wouldn't be worth it, unless you get big, and then you have a big target on your back.

I wonder if a lot of them get into it thinking big money, realize it's not, then just decide to pack it in after one last haul.


Comments


[13 Points] DancingWindAway:

Depends, you have insansly high profit margins on some items. Export MDMA from germany or the netherlands to the US and you will soon be rich, kind of 500-750% profit, even the OPEC states would be jelly.

But I don't understand how weed vendors earn enough to justify the risk.


[10 Points] LittleNiggerBaby4:

Completely depends on what you're selling. DNM is more profitable than IRL because you literally advertise on the internet, you'd move a lot more. But the internet advertising thing has it's downsides, like competition lowering the price. There's so much competition so if you're selling shatter for $35/g people will just go to the vendor who has it for $25/g. Except for the stupid ones. There are lots of those though. Just sell mdma because thats really profitable.

Selling IRL you will most likely have much bigger profit margins but probably less profit altogether


[2 Points] XanaxHitlerBinLaden:

This is kind of like asking if a regular job or IRL drug dealing is profitable. Depends on so many factors.


[1 Points] None:

Drug dealing is fairly stupid in general. Your very likely to get caught, and well look at what happened to Ross Ulbricht. Legal fees were much greater than the profits. That being said there's always going to be brave/stupid/professionals that will vend for us.


[1 Points] rappercake:

If it really wasn't that profitable, no one would do it. This would lead to higher prices, which means more vendors wanting in on it, which would lower profitability and eventually reach a quaky equilibrium.

If I was going to become a vendor I'd just do the chinese RC -> US wholesale market. 100g of Clonazolam for $1900 could very easily turn into $7500 for example, and more if you you're willing to press pills/lay blotters.


[1 Points] _BobaFet:

I can say it totally depends on the profit margin. But eventually you will take a big loss. Just a matter of time.


[-3 Points] osakanone:

If its anything like conventional dealers, something like 90% are only doing it so they can save the funds for something specific that they want. In this way, they get out while they're on top with no regrets and they don't become functionally dependent on dealing as an occupation because it served a purpose, therefor lowering net-risk for themselves.

Usually you'll find these to be people who were users in the past who retained their connections either socially or territorially, such as people who distribute for university students or dorms, specialty meet-ups (like concerts) or convention events. In the case of dorms (which are huge draw), they usually share a phone number from an anonymous and get a new SIM each month or so. Its common practice to also keep last month's SIM in to see what kinds of calls and quantities they get so they're aware if anyone either doesn't have the latest info or to see if anything smells fishy and the operation should be dried up. The dealer usually gives a false name and with repeat customers uses a third name given to that customer group. This way if they get a call or contact, they know which group of people the info came from (therefor what rates to use) and if anyone calls any other numbers asking for any of these names, they know who's looking for them. If the name hasn't been used in a while or it comes to a number which hasn't been given out (like a personal number), they know they're being investigated.

Its common practice for them either to drive (ideally not since it has identifying information), bike or bus to an agreed location, meet-up, drop off product then go separate ways. The location gets changed periodically.

In London, a lot of dealers are starting to operate similar to markets: charging more, insisting on bit-coin and having a very discerning market who seek high purity product. The accountability comes in a sort of Yelp-like system on the darknet where each dealer gets a unique ID and a ratings system with comments. To confirm the dealer is who they say they are, the client gets passed a key. The dealer is expected to decode the key on site before the transaction can take place as proof of identity which can only be done through their login. This way, the proof of the transaction is with the client should they be detained, not the dealer which removes risk and usually a darknet mobile browser is used with no persistence of history or any other information.

The exception is drugs are highly contested (usually those with an extremely high dependency) or in areas where dependency is much higher due to wide spread depression (inner cities). Similarly, areas where dealing depends on territories are also the exception since territories are usually highly limited in the number of suppliers, customers are uninformed and associated risk is very high. These are people who hold product on their person as they sell it.