16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

How is dropshipping going for you?

by znightmare
13 replies
  • ECOMMERCE
    • |
I'm just looking to see how people who do do dropshipping are performing. I'd like to just get an idea of about what I can expect if I decide to get into it. How well are you doing? I know that the answers will vary immensely but I wouldn't mind hearing the best case scenarios and the worst. Thanks.
#dropshipping
  • Profile picture of the author darbok
    I've had some success, not as much as other, the margins on dropshipping are rough compared to holding inventory.
    I have an item with 17 hits, but no buys, I have to wonder if its the price or not.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8955602].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author znightmare
      Originally Posted by darbok View Post

      I've had some success, not as much as other, the margins on dropshipping are rough compared to holding inventory.
      I have an item with 17 hits, but no buys, I have to wonder if its the price or not.
      Do you have your own website that you made for your product?
      Signature
      $5 Wordpress Website! ---> https://www.fiverr.com/s/4W3r7l <--- Get Your Blog up in 24 Hrs!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8955763].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author darbok
    not yet.. i did then took it down.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8955809].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ibas
    Yes, it can vary immensely - from striking it rich to being in a pile of the brown stuff.

    In general, margins are so thin that ebay is pretty much a waste of time.

    If you have an Asian based supplier the ship times are to long or the cost for express ship to high. If you have an US based supplier ( same for UK if you sell there or any other Country ) the cost of the item is to high and every Joe Blow does the cut throat thing to be on top.

    So ebay is out for that. Find the right products from the right suppliers and spend a good deal on money and time to promote it over your site and you may succeed. It may fail as well but that's part of doing biz.

    Much much better is to use the existing platforms and buy bulk and ship yourself. Control is a thing that should be considered, no ?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8955815].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Tim Fuhrman
      I've been doing well with drop shipping for over 4 years. Personally, I like higher end products because the margins mean that I can afford to use paid advertising.
      Signature
      Get Your Free Affiliate Marketing Report Here!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8956167].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Importexport
      Originally Posted by ibas View Post

      Yes, it can vary immensely - from striking it rich to being in a pile of the brown stuff.

      In general, margins are so thin that ebay is pretty much a waste of time.

      If you have an Asian based supplier the ship times are to long or the cost for express ship to high. If you have an US based supplier ( same for UK if you sell there or any other Country ) the cost of the item is to high and every Joe Blow does the cut throat thing to be on top.

      So ebay is out for that. Find the right products from the right suppliers and spend a good deal on money and time to promote it over your site and you may succeed. It may fail as well but that's part of doing biz.

      Much much better is to use the existing platforms and buy bulk and ship yourself. Control is a thing that should be considered, no ?
      Express shipping can be used very successfully when buying from Asian suppliers provided you buy direct from real manufacturers.

      Don't be satisfied with the wholesale prices that are offered by the thousands of suppliers listed on the major B2B sites as manufacturers. Most of them are not - they are mostly wholesalers or traders. They buy from the manufacturers and add their margin.

      If you buy direct you can pocket that extra margin. Find genuine manufacturers if you want maximum profits.
      Signature
      Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8961288].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ibas
        He is talking about drop shipping.
        Finding a product from a manufacturer who is willing to ship single items are slim to none. If you actually do find one be ready to find the product on ebay for a heck of a lot less from the guy who imports by the container load and saves about 30 bucks on shipping per item compared to EMS /FEDEX/DHL/TNT and what not.

        You say you have 22 years of experience in dealing with all sorts of manufacturers. That may be so. I have only 5 years of working with a Chinese company. One thing I learned in those 5 years:
        Chinese love volume. The more the merrier.
        But whatever. I may just buy your "guide" and we will all have a chuckle in the office.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8961614].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Importexport
          Originally Posted by ibas View Post

          He is talking about drop shipping.
          Finding a product from a manufacturer who is willing to ship single items are slim to none. If you actually do find one be ready to find the product on ebay for a heck of a lot less from the guy who imports by the container load and saves about 30 bucks on shipping per item compared to EMS /FEDEX/DHL/TNT and what not.

          You say you have 22 years of experience in dealing with all sorts of manufacturers. That may be so. I have only 5 years of working with a Chinese company. One thing I learned in those 5 years:
          Chinese love volume. The more the merrier.
          But whatever. I may just buy your "guide" and we will all have a chuckle in the office.
          No need to buy my book. I can tell you what I don't teach, although you have assumed that I do.

          I do not suggest buying a single item. I teach how to get manufacturers to supply small quantities regardless of the big MOQs they quote.

          You are quite right about Chinese loving volume, but they also love sales, and will accept orders for smaller volumes if they are approached the right way.

          22 years importing is only part of the story. My first job out of college was with a big international shipping company. Later I started my own manufacturing business and exported to the Asia Pacific region for 9 years, with my agent in China being my biggest customer.

          After selling that business I began importing. The business grew like wild fire and I set up franchises in 4 countries. My franchisees placed orders ranging from $100 to $50,000, with the average being about $500.

          I no longer visit China, although I keep in touch with some of my contacts there. I lost count of the number visits I made. I sold the business for health reasons, and am now retired, but I think you will now understand that I do know what I am talking about.

          Everyone talks about dropshipping, but I present a high profit margin alternative. JamieBeresford said: "Personally, 15% margin is what I expect." Well, the minimum my franchisees were willing to accept was landed cost X 250%, but they often made more. That is after almost every shipment arriving by air courier or EMS. They bought at the best possible price without having to order container loads.
          Signature
          Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8962757].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mjzim40
    If you are looking to get into dropshipping-check out my Warrior Review Offer:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/wanted-m...n-program.html
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8956845].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JamieBeresford
    Personally, 15% margin is what I expect. I agree with Tim Fuhrman with regards to higher end products. There is definitely a knack to finding what to sell. And there's a great trick to not having to fork out $'s to buy something before you sell it. Training is available, if you're interested.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8961326].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thesweetspot
    Drop shipping is awesome and I have used it from my own website as well as multi-retailing my inventory to amazon, ebay and other product shopping networks. If you are looking to grow or get into drop shipping, then you should really consider a long term business or find a way to register a company in your local area and make it a empire type company and then create e-commerce sites or should I say drop shipping sites.

    The other way that you can make it big with e-commerce is to make sure you have a good domain and easy to spell domain. I like getting it in the industry that I am involved in, but it is not required. i figured type in domain traffic as well as branding is very important.

    Which brings me to my next point, if you are to brand, and you set up the business correctly, your overall business domain valuation and business operations will be higher. I did my own stats and my domain worth and its worth well over 100k dollars.

    Is drop shipping good? Yes
    Can you make money? Yes
    Signature
    Drop Shipping Success
    How I Went From A Simple Idea To Processing Over $1,000 Dollars PER CUSTOMER!!!!!!!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9027971].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Anton Louis
    Originally Posted by znightmare View Post

    I'm just looking to see how people who do do dropshipping are performing. I'd like to just get an idea of about what I can expect if I decide to get into it. How well are you doing? I know that the answers will vary immensely but I wouldn't mind hearing the best case scenarios and the worst. Thanks.
    Best Case Scenario - you make more money than you know what do with while running an automated business that allows you time and freedom to spend as you wish.

    Worst Case Scenario - you never make a sale.

    Similar to other people who have posted in this thread, I do very well with drop shipping but you should never let someone else's successes or failures be an indicator of your own future results.

    A lot of people look for success stories before trying new business ideas but this is really the wrong way to do it. Look for successful businesses (ie; drop ship ecom businesses) and reverse engineer what they're doing.

    Many people on the forum nowadays are just trying to sell you something (and very good at doing so). The best way to build a successful business (at least the first time you do so) is to look at those who are already doing it, break down their business model, and do it better.

    The only person who can determine if this will work for you is you.

    I say go for it.

    Put in some "heads down" work and stay away from all forums for awhile.

    Come back when you are successful and then you can let everyone know why drop shipping works for you
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9037894].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author buddah389
      Originally Posted by Anton Louis View Post

      Best Case Scenario - you make more money than you know what do with while running an automated business that allows you time and freedom to spend as you wish.

      Worst Case Scenario - you never make a sale.

      Similar to other people who have posted in this thread, I do very well with drop shipping but you should never let someone else's successes or failures be an indicator of your own future results.

      A lot of people look for success stories before trying new business ideas but this is really the wrong way to do it. Look for successful businesses (ie; drop ship ecom businesses) and reverse engineer what they're doing.

      Many people on the forum nowadays are just trying to sell you something (and very good at doing so). The best way to build a successful business (at least the first time you do so) is to look at those who are already doing it, break down their business model, and do it better.

      The only person who can determine if this will work for you is you.

      I say go for it.

      Put in some "heads down" work and stay away from all forums for awhile.

      Come back when you are successful and then you can let everyone know why drop shipping works for you
      Probably some of the best advice I've read in this thread. Thanks Anton!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9038723].message }}

Trending Topics