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Drop Shippers With a TWO WAY API ?

by ronrule
10 replies
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Has any compiled a list of drop shippers that SPECIFICALLY offer a two way API?

Meaning:
  • I can access their product feed via RSS without downloading CSV files
  • When I receive an order, I can POST the order details to them automatically for fulfillment, without having to log in to a website using a browser

Not interested in drop shippers that only offer CSV files, require a browser to access the product feed, or require manually signing in to submit orders. I need to be able to automate syncing inventory and fulfillment, so XML/JSON/RSS is the only way to go.
#api #drop #shippers
  • Profile picture of the author york
    I can access their product feed via RSS without downloading CSV files
    When I receive an order, I can POST the order details to them automatically for fulfillment, without having to log in to a website using a browser
    Use dropshippers that provide .csv, but use the Drop Ship Manager software to help you.

    Dropshippers that offer .csv usually accept orders by email, just print a pdf invoice from your shopping cart.

    This is actually the simplest way to go.

    Hope this helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    I need to do this within a web server, completely self-contained with no third party software. Has to be XML/RSS/JSON or some machine-readable format that requires no human intervention once it's been coded.
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    Ron Rule
    http://ronrule.com

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    • Profile picture of the author york
      I need to do this within a web server, completely self-contained with no third party software. Has to be XML/RSS/JSON or some machine-readable format that requires no human intervention once it's been coded.
      It is simpler for dropshippers to make .csv files available for download to reflect their ever changing inventory levels, and just receive order invoices by email.

      A 2-way api server is high expense to the dropshipper but provides little in terms of value, .csv is perfectly machine readable.

      Hope this helps!
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      • Profile picture of the author ronrule
        Originally Posted by york View Post

        It is simpler for dropshippers to make .csv files available for download to reflect their ever changing inventory levels, and receive orders by email.

        A 2-way api offers high expense but little in terms of value.

        Hope this helps!
        I know it's simpler for drop shippers to do a CSV, the problem is it's not simpler for me. I don't want to have to manually download a file every day to sync inventory levels and remove inactive products.

        I disagree about the API offering "little value" - this would offer MUCH more value than a manual CSV download. Once a shopping cart was adapted to read their feed, site owners would be able to spend less time "running" the store and more time marketing it.

        I suppose generating a PDF order request and emailing it would be easy enough to do through script, but that still doesn't solve the sync issue... I'm not going to sign in and manually download a CSV file to import every day. Needs to be automatic or nothing.
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        Ron Rule
        http://ronrule.com

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        • Profile picture of the author york
          I know it's simpler for drop shippers to do a CSV, the problem is it's not simpler for me. I don't want to have to manually download a file every day to sync inventory levels and remove inactive products.
          This software, Drop Ship Manager, does all of what you ask automatically with .csv files. Syncs inventory levels to your shopping carts. It seems to be the exact answer you are looking for.

          You will have to print and email, usually pdf, invoices to drop shipper.

          Hope this helps!
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          • Profile picture of the author ronrule
            Originally Posted by york View Post

            This software, Drop Ship Manager, does all of what you ask automatically with .csv files. Syncs inventory levels to your shopping carts. It seems to be the exact answer you are looking for.

            You will have to print and email, usually pdf, invoices to drop shipper.

            Hope this helps!
            Dude, I appreciate that you're trying to sell your software and it will probably work great for a lot of people, but I've said a few times it's not what I'm looking for.

            I need to be able to work directly with a drop shipper via an API using an automated server process, without running software or downloading files to sync inventory, and without having to send emails to process orders. I'm not interested in drop shippers that don't offer this functionality - and if there aren't any that offer this functionality, then I'm not going to bother with drop shipping.

            Now with that said ... if you wanted to take your software to the next level and turn it into an SaaS solution that creates a "middle layer" and does what I'm looking for, like creating a single centralized feed out of CSV's from multiple drop shippers, and automating the process of creating and emailing order forms to them, then we can talk.

            Actually... if you want to do that, I can give you a little more insight as to why my requirements are so specific in a separate conversation.
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            Ron Rule
            http://ronrule.com

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            • Profile picture of the author york
              Now with that said ... if you wanted to take your software to the next level and turn it into an SaaS solution that creates a "middle layer" and does what I'm looking for, like creating a single centralized feed out of CSV's from multiple drop shippers, and automating the process of creating and emailing order forms to them, then we can talk.
              The software already does this, it pulls all dropshippers feeds into one single feed if you want, and downloads all dropshipper update feeds every minute, if you want, automatically to update the single feed. It updates the one feed with all the dropshippers levels.

              But you can also have many feeds, one separate feed for each dropshipper, or all combined into one file as I mentioned.

              This is all done automatically, so what is the difference, between that and a webserver? No difference at all except that this automation is occurring from on you desktop rather than a webserver.

              As above, already mentioned, you will still have to print pdf orders per dropshipper.

              I plan on eventually putting this functionality on a webserver though, and offering an interface where dropshippers can get orders, but this will be available after several months.

              Dude, I appreciate that you're trying to sell your software and it will probably work great for a lot of people,
              I don't just sell software, I provide people with the tools for riches.

              Hope this helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    Send me a PM, you have my attention.
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    Ron Rule
    http://ronrule.com

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    • Profile picture of the author york
      Send me a PM, you have my attention
      Thanks, really best way is to try the software out for free, there is a 30 day trial, what you will need is some dropshipper product data files to try it out on.

      There is a link to general instructions that cover the basic setup:

      https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...3pxVEjwAs/edit

      If questions are posted as comments to the instructions, then the answers will be added to the instructions.

      Hope this helps!
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      • Profile picture of the author jmd164
        we built an e-commerce platform called www.channelape.com to do what you are asking. it can be setup to be completely automated. we have also integrated with some drop shippers that offer inventory and order api's. if interested, i can let you know more.
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