posted on November 25, 2003 10:24:27 AM new
I was looking into some drop shipping companies where I can buy wholesale and sell the items on ebay.
First of all would a drop shipping company ask for a membership fee upfront??? This fact alone has my yellow flag up. the other is look what info they want. See below for part of an email they sent me.
Your advice is GREATLY appreciated
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In order to add you to our dealer database, I need the following information from you:
1. Full Name
2. Physical Shipping Address
(where you would want a shipment delivered) including city/state/zip.
3. Daytime Phone Number w/Area Code
4. Cell Phone Number w/Area Code
5. E-Mail Address (not your username) that you use with eBay.
6. Where you heard about us (please be specific – if you were referred by someone give us their name)
Once I receive this information, you will be added to our "short" e-mail distribution list and notified everytime we receive new product for sale.
posted on November 25, 2003 10:29:30 AM new
Most drop shippers drop the ball.
I haven't heard of too many people making $millions by using drop shippers on Ebay.
But I have heard of a lot of drop shippers making lots of money from lots of people selling on Ebay.
Many people have made $$millions telling people how to make $$millions on Ebay.
Which begs the question "Why aren't the drop shippers and the people who are telling you how to make $$Millions on Ebay,selling on Ebay."
posted on November 25, 2003 12:33:20 PM new
the problem with dropship items is that many sellers are selling them on ebay and yahoo already.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
posted on November 25, 2003 01:10:08 PM new
The problem with dropship items is that many sellers are selling them on ebay and yahoo already,below the price that you will be paying the dropshipper.
posted on November 25, 2003 01:11:58 PM new
Most of my products are drop shipped, but I don't sell most of them on eBay because (1) everyone and his dog sells the same stuff on eBay and (2) you can't generate a decent margin on eBay. I sell them on my website where I can charge a slightly discounted retail price and make good money on them without paying all the eBay fees. Most of the items are luxury products (and selling quite well via website, btw). Here's what you should know about TRUE drop shippers:
They are generally the manufacturer or the next level distributor of the product. A real drop shipper will not charge a membership fee. You will generally have to pay a drop ship fee per order. My suppliers charge between $3.50 and $10.00 extra per order. A real drop shipper will ask for your resale license # and your business info, just as they would for a brick & mortar. They may also ask for credit information, but most will just bill a credit card for you. You should carefully evaluate their shipping policies: will they include a packing slip with your business information? what carriers do they use? what is their turnaround time to ship? what is their backorder policy? what is their return policy? do they have a minimum dollar amount per order? Can you use their pictures and text or do you have to write your own? Most won't charge for catalogs and price lists, but may charge for photo CDs or other product information, if they even provide it.
If a manufacturer is capable of shipping small orders, they may already offer drop shipping, or they may be willing to explore the possibility with you. It opens up a shorter channel of distribution for many of them and allows them to tap the internet market without having to handle retail marketing and customer service. Some already do drop shipping through their relationships with mail order houses.
To find them, I suggest you find products you are interested in selling and contact the manufacturers. Also note that I don't think electronics are the best category--you won't get the prices that b&m stores can get. Luxury household items have done well for me, but again, that's through my website, not on eBay.
I will make one exception on the "membership" companies, and that is AGS. Although they sell a lot of dollar store junque, they occasionally have some really good deals. Just got a pair of gorgeous Italian leather boots from them for $12.50 including the shipping. But it was a deal that lasted less than 2 hours.(http://www.agsmembers.com)
And they recently had a very small quantity of leather racing jackets that seemed to be a good price. Again, the caveat about looking for other sales venues applies.
posted on November 25, 2003 03:03:23 PM new
(fleecies) Very good advice. In fact the best I have seen on this board. Thank You from all of us and Happy ThanksGiving
posted on November 28, 2003 10:33:47 AM new
Drop Shipping gets you in trouble around the Holidays. Between companies taking off extra days for the holidays and slow shipping,you can't depend on delivery. All you do is make people mad because you tied up their money and they didn't get anything in return. Check out alot of these sellers feedback,some of them even got throwed off of E-Bay. Its not good to sell items you don't have.
posted on November 28, 2003 01:37:05 PM new
Many times when I hear or see the word drop shipper I think of Bobby Bare's oldtime hit song with the title Drop-Kick Me, Jesus, Through the Goalposts of Life.
Dropshipping is a great idea that often goes wrong, too often.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on November 28, 2003 03:31:55 PM new
It's true that you've got to know your companies and their shipping times. I drop companies that don't consistently ship within their stated approximate shipping times. I also have to make very sure that my customers know what the lead times are. If it's something that can be very popular, I'll stock it myself ahead of time. I have some companies that always ship within 24 hours, and others that can take up to 12 weeks on custom-ordered items. As long as customers know in advance, they are almost always okay with it. I wouldn't start a drop shipping model during the holidays--you need time to gain experience with your companies first--and believe me, it will take a good 4-6 months to know what your companies will do given a variety of contingencies. But it is a great business model if you are careful and choose good companies to work with. I carry a product line that includes hundreds of products, and the only way I can sell that kind of inventory is if I put the risk of carrying the inventory on the supplier's back. My goal, though, is to be able to stock the harder to get/slower to ship items myself by Christmas next year. On eBay, I only sell merchandise that I know can be shipped out in 24-72 hours, either because that is the drop ship company's policy or because I stock it myself.
posted on December 2, 2003 05:07:19 PM new
I would not sell anything on eBay that has to be drop shipped because it is impossible to access real-time inventory from your supplier or manufacturer. Not worth negative fb which will surely follow.
posted on December 2, 2003 06:05:27 PM new
also keep in mind,if you accept paypal,paypal said ship within 7 days and if buyer files complain and you cant produce a dc,you are #*!@ out of luck.
