Drop Shipping is it worth a go?

37 replies
  • ECOMMERCE
  • |
Drop Shipping is it worth a go?

I have been looking at ways to move forward with ideas that I have some knowledge of and wondered if anyone else is working in the Drop Shipping area?

I have been looking at using Ali-express and dropping into eBay as I have had some good responses with items I have purchased for myself.

I know of one tool to integrate the two together but looking for other options also?

Looking forward to hearing your views.
#drop #shipping #worth
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    "Is it worth a go"??

    Your join date says 2010...I'm curious, have you made any money in the eight years since then?

    Choose what you want to go after, DECIDE, and commit. Change your language and change your results.

    Just about anything will work if you stick with it.

    Will eBay give you the number of leads you require to make the sales necessary to achieve your money target?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11469776].message }}
  • Dropshipping is definitely a good way to start if you are new to ecommerce. Just do it if you know there are products that can convert well.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11469868].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Saksham Garg
    Yes, it is definitely worth a go.

    There are several platforms you can opt for drop shipping, but my favourite and recommended ones are AliExpress and Shopify.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470247].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rafimahmudbd24
    Master explanations for most normal outsourcing disappointments. ...
    at that point it is better not to go into outsourcing until the point when you have spared enough. .... shipping due to the size, weight, or zone it's transportation from, simply does not merit pushing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470322].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author garyogden
      Originally Posted by rafimahmudbd24 View Post

      Master explanations for most normal outsourcing disappointments. ...
      at that point it is better not to go into outsourcing until the point when you have spared enough. .... shipping due to the size, weight, or zone it's transportation from, simply does not merit pushing.
      ?????

      No not understanding that comment!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470340].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    Gave up trying to import Aliexpress into eBay way to complex!
    Trying Chinabrands and Shopify got one item in my store!
    May have a look at Aliexpress and Shopify.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470342].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author funnelmentals
      Are you paying to have a store or are you just posting items for sell. I just sold an item but my funds are on hold for a couple of weeks, then I heard eBay has updated their policies and its better to not ship your items from china to the customer.

      So I'm trying to figure out a strategy
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11479322].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author MSutton
        Originally Posted by funnelmentals View Post

        I heard eBay has updated their policies and its better to not ship your items from china

        Can you elaborate on this?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11479325].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author garyogden
        Originally Posted by funnelmentals View Post

        Are you paying to have a store or are you just posting items for sell. I just sold an item but my funds are on hold for a couple of weeks, then I heard eBay has updated their policies and its better to not ship your items from china to the customer.

        So I'm trying to figure out a strategy
        I use Shopify and Oberlo, I pay $29 a month to have a store with up to 500 items, I can sell up to 50 items a month after that its another $29 a month, but by then that pays for itself. There are no other fees, most of my items are shipped from the USA in 2 days and some come from Ali-express. I target USA & Canada mainly due to high traffic.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11479504].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
    We use dropshipping almost exclusively and have built more than 100 successful dropshipping websites over the years. Very few of those sites used AliExpress as the supplier, however.

    Yes, there are definitely ways to make money with the AliExpress/Shopify model IF YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCT(s). The ones that tend to work best are impulse buy products and ones that solve a pressing problem.

    We prefer, however, to dropship high ticket (meaning high profit) real brand name products from the actual brands or their distributors. You'll have way less competition and make far more per order. Also, in most cases, high ticket item brand name websites tend to be much more evergreen than cheap, AliExpress-sourced products.
    Signature
    BizSellers.com - The #1 place to buy & sell websites!
    We help sellers get the MAXIMUM amount for their websites and all buyers know that these sites are 100% vetted.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470362].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    I managed to get a Shopify page running last night and integrate it with ChinaBrands but couldn't import anymore after that! I will try again when I am off work. ChinaBrands didn't have a good stock so it looks like I am going to have to try Aliexpress again. There must be some decent instructions somewhere to add Aliexpress items into Ebay surely?
    I would prefer to use Ebay (yes I know it costs) but Shopify charges $29 a month.

    Oberlo? Is that worth a try? I will look into it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470792].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
      Originally Posted by garyogden View Post

      Oberlo? Is that worth a try? I will look into it.
      Oberlo is now owned by Shopify, so you will not be able to use Oberlo without using the Shopify platform.

      It continually confounds me when people balk at paying $29 per month for a shopping cart. This is your business. What do you think it costs to set up a real business - rent a storefront, pay for electricity, employees, inventory, insurance, etc.? I guarantee you that it costs significantly more than the $1/day that Shopify costs. Honestly, if you can't afford to invest a dollar per day, you really should not be trying to open up a business of any kind.
      Signature
      BizSellers.com - The #1 place to buy & sell websites!
      We help sellers get the MAXIMUM amount for their websites and all buyers know that these sites are 100% vetted.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11471137].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author garyogden
        Originally Posted by dave_hermansen View Post

        Oberlo is now owned by Shopify, so you will not be able to use Oberlo without using the Shopify platform.

        It continually confounds me when people balk at paying $29 per month for a shopping cart. This is your business. What do you think it costs to set up a real business - rent a storefront, pay for electricity, employees, inventory, insurance, etc.? I guarantee you that it costs significantly more than the $1/day that Shopify costs. Honestly, if you can't afford to invest a dollar per day, you really should not be trying to open up a business of any kind.
        ==============================================

        I was not complaining at paying $29 a month for Shopify lets get that straight from the go ok? I said that's what it costs.
        Anyway I have now started a Shopify store with Oberlo and have made great progress overnight. (After the mess I was in with Aliexpress integration).
        I have almost completed my first store of 50 items. (Gift Store).
        My Plan....
        1. Start pushing the store on Facebook, start getting orders to cover the $29 per month for Shopify.
        2. Start to add a lot more items and then take more orders to cover the Oberlo fees ($29?).
        3. Once I can get more orders start to advertise maybe on Google Ads (not sure you tell me).
        4. Build the store up for 12 months with proven revenue and maybe sell the site for a good profit and then do it all over again.

        I am finally glad I have found something I can do, that I know about, am learning about. (Oberlo has some fantastic training videos trust me)!

        I can now at last sit back and stop reading all the crappy emails about "biz opps" which I used to fall for.

        My advice to anyone wanting to make a start in business, try drop shipping Shopify/Oberlo for only $29 a month.

        I will report back after the website is launched.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11471258].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
          Originally Posted by garyogden View Post

          My Plan....
          1. Start pushing the store on Facebook, start getting orders to cover the $29 per month for Shopify.
          2. Start to add a lot more items and then take more orders to cover the Oberlo fees ($29?).
          3. Once I can get more orders start to advertise maybe on Google Ads (not sure you tell me).
          4. Build the store up for 12 months with proven revenue and maybe sell the site for a good profit and then do it all over again.
          We've been using Oberlo for awhile on the few websites we have that purchase through AliExpress, and there are no Oberlo fees until you are actually making a decent amount of sales (I believe it is once you go over 50 orders/month). Then, it jumps up to $29.90/month for up to 500 orders/month. If you have more than 500 orders/month, you'll have to pay even more but at that point, who cares?
          Signature
          BizSellers.com - The #1 place to buy & sell websites!
          We help sellers get the MAXIMUM amount for their websites and all buyers know that these sites are 100% vetted.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11471594].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author themehub
    Now-a-days Aliexpress has diminished it's charm for dropshipping business.But Oberlo may be the best choice for dropshipping, recently.For dropshipping you may use shopify at low price with complimentary services.By the way,dropshipping business will give you more and more,i wish.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11470796].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    That's my plan! Just got some work to do first with domains etc, also need a plan for Facebook ads so we are not advertising to everyone. At the mo,ent we are selling to the Gym?Leisure industry.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11471936].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11472252].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SEOexpertItaly
    Curious me too. 8 years are a lot of time. Any information usefull for us?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11472288].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author garyogden
      Originally Posted by SEOexpertItaly View Post

      Curious me too. 8 years are a lot of time. Any information usefull for us?
      Not sure what you mean? 8 years was not a wasted time period, I did a lot of learning and failing. Now I have found the way to go for little cost.

      One of the helpful staff members at Shopify/Oberlo sent me a lot of useful insider information to get me started advertising on Facebook for little cost.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11474118].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nemanja Babic
    2019 Edit: It's still worth it, but... You have to be much more creative and invest a lots of more money due to higher prices of ads and blindness to ads. Good luck!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11472791].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    My Online Shopify Store is almost ready to go live! With a lot of research into Facebook Ads I am sure this is the one for me. Stay tuned for results!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11473188].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    Going Live in 5 days just tweaking and re-tweaking the Shopify store, it all looks great until you have seen the same page over and over again! Going colour blind!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11473500].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Deepak Pal
    Dropshipping is a great business these days. If you are really serious about making a success in Dropshipping then you need to do a thorough research on your niche and come up with some great products. In my opinion you should use Shopify platform to start Dropshipping business as they have great solutions to assist in this kind of business setup.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11473706].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author lambertson
    Wanted to start a dropshipping website a couple of months ago but put it on hold. Curious to see your results.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11474124].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author garyogden
      Originally Posted by lambertson View Post

      Wanted to start a dropshipping website a couple of months ago but put it on hold. Curious to see your results.
      Well my results will be based on what effort I put into it. So my results will not be the same as everyone else.
      I must admit I have been working on it everyday for at least 2 hours or more a day. Plus with the info I have for Facebook ads and the simple niche I am working with should turn out to work well.
      Anyone doing dropshipping?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11474479].message }}
  • ^^ not at all.^^ If only effort was needed there would be many more rich people.

    yes you need effort...timing, luck, skill, time, intelligence, stickability.....and did i mention luck?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11475970].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GiorgioGD
    It is harder than it used to be, but there are still opportunities to crush it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11476199].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    7 orders on Day 1 of Launching web site! In profit already!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11476308].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Meris Beganovic
      Was this all through facebook? What was your approach to Facebook ads?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11477690].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author garyogden
    Just facebook yes since then its been quiet possibly because I am still trying different things.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11477927].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bertha Vliyeager
    You need to consider about the advantage and also disadvantage of Dropshipping.

    I think the major concern will be like:

    1. Can you handle disputes such as return or IND (item not delivered), item does not match descriptions?

    2. Can you have a good communications with your supplier? about the shipment and also dispute? as there will be return/replacement item to be dispatched.

    3. The last thing is that can your offer shipping label for the returned item if the shipping address is in a different country.

    To conclude: You can do dropshipping, but you need to handle the supply chain.

    And you need to check if you have enough cash flow to make this happen.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11478197].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MSutton
    @garuaogden there's lots of folks that make posts merely to give exposure to their signature link(s). Pay no mind. Keep it going, and good luck to ya.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11478686].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author garyogden
      Originally Posted by MSutton View Post

      @garuaogden there's lots of folks that make posts merely to give exposure to their signature link(s). Pay no mind. Keep it going, and good luck to ya.
      Yes after 8 years you get used to the "Warrior Forum"...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11478933].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KrisKay
    It all depends what your goals are.
    If your goal is to attempt and make a small side income, then maybe.

    If your goal is to build a business and a brand(s), then most likely, no.
    Dropshipping is cool and all as a concept, but it requires adspend at all times.
    If you are a facebook ads / google ads master, then go for it.

    Either way, if you have some spare cash, I say try it, you will definitely learn something new and that can never hurt.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11479353].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author promoparrot
    Dropshipping is a way to get started if you are a small ecommerce business. There are many platforms available but the choice of which one is down to you.

    There are many ways that you can extend your business if you start out dropshipping. You can manufacture your own products or continue dropshipping at a larger scale for example.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11484111].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics