The following may be the most important information about dropshipping you will find.
Dropshipping can be a great way to get started with your online venture. Just be careful to make sure that you know the quality of the product your supplier offers, what their shipping policies are, and their reliability.
Your reputation is on the line with your customers, not the dropshippers reputation. You must be able to stand behind your product and service no matter what the source.
Make sure to order at least one of each of the items you would sell via the dropshipper. This gives you several things:
- It will show you the quality of the products. This is very important. You don't want to offer a product and have your customer receive something that is low quality or obviously not worth the money.
- It will show you what the packaging is like. How well is the product protected during the shipping process? Is it likely to break or arrive damaged due to inferior shipping or packaging?
- You can see first hand who they shipped through and how long it took for the item(s) to arrive.
There are many advantages to drop shipping.
1. When you are first starting out, capital may be an issue. With dropshipping you can get around that by selling the product first, collecting the money from your customer, buying from the dropshipper, and keeping the profit. Although your profit may not be as high as it would if you had purchased the products in bulk beforehand, it is still a profit that can get you started.
2. Another advantage is you don't have to have products stored around your house.
3. You don't have to worry about being stuck with inventory that you cannot sell. If a product doesn't sell, you can simply drop it from your offering and go on to other more sell-able products.
4. You can find and sell more items since you don't have the limitations of on-hand inventory.
If you are considering dropshipping to get yourself started you must also consider the *potential pitfalls*:
1. You will get a price break from a dropshipper, but it is often not as low as you could get from other avenues. Be careful to make sure that you have a product that is quality and the price point for you is one that will ensure a profit for you when sold. This is especially important if you will be selling via auctions. Auctions tend to sell new products for 25-30% below retail. If your price is not good enough, you could loose money on an auction.
2. Make sure that the dropshipper gives you a good shipping and handling fee. They have lots of shipping and get a very good price on it themselves. If shipping and handling is high, something is wrong.
3. Don't pay a 'fee' to do business with anyone. You are giving them business by buying product from them. If they want more money for your having the privilege of doing business with them, you know this is not a company that you want to even consider.
4. Find out how the dropshipper handles problems. If you have a customer return, how will they handle it. What kind of support will they give you.
5. Get references for the dropshipper. How long have they been in business and what is their financial standing? Check the Better Business Bureau. Google their company name to see if there are any complaints or problems you might need to know about before making the decision to do business with them.
If you are ready to make the dropshipping model your own, jump right in. Take these points into consideration, but don't let anything stop you. Be as informed as you can though, continue to learn and find out all you can about those you do business with.
The road to success is not always a smooth one. Can you avoid more of the pot holes, it makes the ride much more enjoyable?
Copyright (c) 2005, Melanie Burns -- All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Melanie Burns has passion and dedication to assisting You to make Your Internet Business a Success! Join the weekly "Abundant Success Online" newsletter, mailto:aso-subscribe@internet-business-how-to.com
(Permission to reprint this article in its entirety including byline, is expressing granted.)
You may be in the market for a new website.... Read More
I've bought over 100 items on eBay over three years... Read More
It should be simple - your favourite team/band/theatre play is... Read More
The worlds online market place.In just a few short years... Read More
Three billion dollars (that's billion with a "B") in revenues,... Read More
Drop Shipping Is Your Perfect Home Based Business SolutionDrop shipping... Read More
If I can do it you can.Let me tell you... Read More
Knowledge is Power! And this statement could not be more... Read More
Why sell paper piecings on eBay?eBay is a great way... Read More
If you have dabbled at all in the world of... Read More
As a serious seller on eBay you're familiar with their... Read More
As I write this article, I am keeping an eye... Read More
This is the most boring stage of the process and... Read More
Many people just getting started on eBay have reservations when... Read More
Online auctions are now the new gold rush on the... Read More
Ebay auctions are definitely the easiest and fastest way to... Read More
If you owned a skateboard shop in your local mall... Read More
When a potential bidder (customer) is looking at a specific... Read More
For just a moment, try to comprehend the power of... Read More
When my sons were growing up they started playing hockey... Read More
eBay allows you the opportunity to sell all over the... Read More
The old adage that says "one person's trash is another... Read More
One of the most valuable things in life is the... Read More
The words you select to describe your item will have... Read More
Have you ever wondered how identical items can fetch such... Read More
Finding quality products to sell is the key to continuing... Read More
Your eBay listing has finished and you have made a... Read More
The way some auction sellers approach their auctions, it's clear... Read More
Sometimes it's the simple things that can make your eBay... Read More
Calling internet auctions an "Entrepreneur's Dream" isn't poetic license or... Read More
When its time to clean-up around the house, some people... Read More
POWERSELL Status, the secrets revealed.If like thousands of people you... Read More
Many of you will probably remember the days when the... Read More
For just a moment, try to comprehend the power of... Read More
eBay is a one-stop solution to any one who wants... Read More
FACT: eBay's Gross Merchandise Sales (GMS) 2003 - GMS, the... Read More
Listing your items on eBay can be very confusing if... Read More
ATV auctions are healthy markets on eBay. All terrain vehicles... Read More
I'd like to begin with a question ? and I'll... Read More
For many people, their first experience of working online involves... Read More
Have you tried to register a decent eBay username and... Read More
Saving money can be quite hard to do if you... Read More
Do you know the phrase "A Call To Action"? Well,... Read More
eBay is now the 8th most visited site on the... Read More
After I started selling on eBay, I was approached by... Read More
If I could convey only one concept to someone who... Read More
It should be simple - your favourite team/band/theatre play is... Read More
Experienced sellers at online auction sites such as EBay will... Read More
When I talk about feedback to new Ebay sellers, I... Read More
According to a recent report, adding audio to your eBay... Read More
Online auctions are now the new gold rush on the... Read More
As the online auction model of business continues to evolve... Read More
Now, are you ready for the REAL TRUTH about selling... Read More
Just about everyone alive today has heard of E Bay.com,... Read More
eBay allows you the opportunity to sell all over the... Read More
Paypal is the preferred payment choice for many buyers because... Read More
When my sons were growing up they started playing hockey... Read More
You would like to increase your income by selling other... Read More
The Internet is the fastest-changing marketplace on earth. Million-dollar ideas... Read More
eBay's user feedback system is one of the site's most... Read More
If you owned a skateboard shop in your local mall... Read More
Buying at auction, be it for stamps or coins, antiques... Read More
EBay's online auctions have created business opportunities for thousands of... Read More
Use eBay picture service or host your own photos?If you... Read More
Remember back when selling online was a new experience? Dealers... Read More
With so many out of work, laid off or staying... Read More
Online Auction |