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Dropshipping
Skip this step if you're managing your own inventory.
Why This Matters
The average dropshipping store fails because of supplier problems, not marketing problems. A supplier who ships in 3 weeks instead of 7 days generates chargebacks, 1-star reviews, and PayPal disputes that can freeze your account. One bad supplier can destroy 3 months of brand-building overnight.
The upside of dropshipping is real: $0 in inventory costs, no warehouse, and the ability to test 10 product ideas for the price of stocking one. You validate demand before committing capital. Stores that treat dropshipping as a testing phase — proving what sells before switching to holding inventory — build faster and more safely than those who guess.
The tradeoff is transparent: 15-25% lower margins than holding inventory, less control over shipping speed, and your reputation is in your supplier's hands. Accept these tradeoffs and mitigate them with rigorous vetting. Order samples, test support response times, and verify shipping before your first customer ever places an order.
What You'll Do
If dropshipping is your model, connect your store to a dropshipping supplier platform. Import products and set your prices.
How To Do It
Vet a Dropshipping Supplier: Order Samples, Check Shipping, Test Support
Budget 1-2 weeks for proper vetting (most of that is waiting for sample deliveries). A bad supplier destroys your reputation. A good one becomes your silent business partner.
1. Find 3-5 potential suppliers per product (20 min)
- Rating of 4.7+ stars with 100+ orders
- Processing time of 1-3 days
- Professional product photos (not stolen from another brand)
- Price allowing at least a 2.5x markup after all costs
Search on DSers (AliExpress), Spocket (US/EU suppliers), or Printful (print-on-demand). Shortlist based on:
2. Order samples from your top 2-3 suppliers ($20-60 total)
- Quality: Does it match listing photos? Would you be proud to sell this?
- Packaging: Clean and professional, or flimsy with foreign-language labels your customers won't understand?
- Shipping time: Under 10 days is acceptable. Over 3 weeks is a deal-breaker regardless of quality.
- Accuracy: Right item, size, color?
Non-negotiable. Order the actual product, paying full price including shipping. Time the experience from order to doorstep and evaluate:
3. Test their customer support (15 min)
Send a specific product question (material, weight, customization options) before you have a real problem. A supplier that takes 3+ days to answer a pre-sale question will be even slower during an urgent fulfillment issue.
4. Set up your store connection (30 min)
- Rewrite every title and description in your brand voice (never use the supplier's copy)
- Replace supplier photos with your own sample photos or mockups from Placeit
- Set prices at 2.5-3x markup to cover product cost, shipping, ads, and returns
Connect your winning supplier via DSers, Spocket, or your platform's integration. Import products, then:
5. Run test orders end-to-end (15 min)
Place 2-3 real orders through your store. Verify the automation chain: order placed, forwarded to supplier, tracking number sent to customer. Fix any breaks before driving real traffic.
Deliverables
- Samples received and evaluated from at least 2 suppliers per product with a written scorecard
- A supplier comparison document rating quality, shipping time (in days), support response time, and unit economics
- Products imported to your store with rewritten descriptions and custom/sample photos
- 2-3 test orders placed and verified end-to-end through the automated fulfillment flow
Recommended Tools
DSers
Official AliExpress dropshipping partner. Import products, auto-fulfill orders, track shipments. The Oberlo replacement.
Free for 3 stores
Try DSersSpocket
US and EU dropshipping suppliers for faster shipping times. Higher-quality products than typical AliExpress.
From $39/mo
Try SpocketPrintful
Print-on-demand for custom products — t-shirts, mugs, posters, and more. No minimums, integrates with everything.
Try PrintfulPro Tips
- 1Use Spocket instead of AliExpress if your customers are in the US/EU. Spocket suppliers ship from domestic warehouses in 3-7 days vs. 14-30 days from China. The higher product cost ($8 vs. $3) is offset by 40% fewer refund requests and dramatically better reviews.
- 2Set shipping expectations honestly on your product page: 'Ships in 2-3 business days. Arrives in 7-12 days.' Customers tolerate longer shipping if you're transparent upfront. They leave 1-star reviews when they expected 5 days and got 21.
- 3Plan to switch from dropshipping to holding inventory on your top 3 sellers once you hit 10 orders/day. Buying in bulk at 50-60% lower cost per unit and shipping from your own stock improves margins from 25% to 55% and cuts delivery time in half.