Hey Paul..I forget to answer your main questions..sorry, it's been a long day...
Yes, some suppliers will 'dropship' your item directly to your customers..and of course they are called 'dropshippers'..You list the product on ebay,,your customer buys it. You send a notice to the dropshipper and they ship the item to your customer...Alot of new sellers like this approach as it eliminates the need to purchase products before you actually sell them, plus you dont have to physically ship the item yourself..
Next, Yes, normally most wholesalers like for you to set up an account to buy from them..And often a person who has an account set up with a particular wholesaler will get a better price than the prices listed on the site..More than often when you set up an account with a wholesaler, they will assign a sales rep to handle your account. This is the main person that you will be dealing with. They normally have leaway in setting the prices at which different products cost and will often work with you depending on how often and how many items you intend to purchase...
All that being said,,it's important to take your time and research any product that you intend to sell and also any company that you intend to do business with...So take some time, read over the educational material,,research some products and suppliers, plan you move, then move your plan..
Remember 'To be Sucessful, Copy Success!'
If you need anything else, just give me a yell, I'm always glad to help...good luck..