What Is a Distributor in the IT Channel?
A distributor buys products from vendors in volume and supplies the channel's resellers, VARs and MSPs - holding inventory, extending credit, and handling logistics so smaller partners don't have to. Distributors sit between vendors and resellers, aggregating many product lines and passing programs, pricing and rebates down the channel.
Why it matters to IT channel partners. Distributors carry large rebate exposure of their own and also pass vendor rebates through to the resellers they supply. With enormous volumes across many vendors, even small unclaimed or underpaid amounts add up fast. Distributors are core Rebates-On territory, where partner-side tracking across every vendor program protects significant money.
Related terms
FAQ
A distributor buys in bulk from vendors and supplies resellers; a reseller buys from distributors (or vendors) and sells to end customers.
Track rebates across every vendor line a distributor carries → Explore Rebates-On