Drop Ship Company Research

[BornSuccessful]

What I am looking for is some tips or tricks from you pros out there on researching for an honest, reliable dropshipper. Obviously, if you perform a basic Google search, you will see that the top pages are full of nothing but middleman...and is simply crap in my opinion.

I'm not looking for those naysayers who look down upon dropshipping. To hear "drop shipping doesn't work" is a lie; while the profit margins may not be as great as warehousing your products, it still is a plausible recourse for your business...once you sort through the garbage.

Which brings me back to my question and point of this thread.

Please advise! Thank you!

[BasicECommerce]

Try calling the manufacturers themselves to ask them their suggestions. You might even be able to get the manufacturer to do your drop-shipping which will keep margins higher. BTW - Its always better to call and actually speak to someone rather than email.

[JEccles]

I feel your pain, Born. I've been studying and trying out different drop-shippers for about 8 months now and here is what I have learned:

Do not bother with anyone who does not require proof that you are a genuine business (i.e. you need to provide tax numbers). This means that they will sell to the public. Do Searches on the product your are looking for and add "+tax ID".

Be sure to check out all of the Terms & Conditions before registering. A lot of businesses that drop ship require a minimum opening order. I even had one tell me I could not list their products until the minimum order was met! (can we say *ss backwords).

One of my favorite resources is productblazer.com. Try it out.

Finally, if you can go to a tradeshow - do it! We are planning on attending the International Home and Housewares Show next month and hope to get some leads out of it.

Good luck.

[BornSuccessful]

The trade show you mentioned sounds very promising--where is it located this year? Dates?

I take it that a variety of dropshippers have booths and presentations at the show?

[JEccles]

I really don't know if we will find any drop shippers. But we are hoping to be able to establish some type of relationship with some vendors so that we may be able to work something out. You can find more information at www.housewares.org. It is being held at McCormick Place in Chicago next month. If you watch HGTV, this is the show that they have on periodically. Let me know if you are going to be there and maybe we can meet up and exchange horror stories.

[BornSuccessful]

I've taken your advice and done a little research with the search parameters that you've suggested, and thus far I've ran into what I believe is middlemen. All are requesting tax ids, but I very much doubt that they are quality dropshippers.

One company actually offers a 1-800 number to contact if I have any questions, and the other semi-promising company only offers email, but claims to support a turn key system, along with a membership fee

[The Old Sarge]

Born, have you heard of WorldWideBrands?

[BornSuccessful]

I have...my understanding of the company is this (please correct my flawed assumptions about them):

-They provide matching of dropshippers and the like (wholesalers, etc.) to those looking to start an e commerce business of some sort.

-Charge a fee

-Are technically middlemen in the entire business model (big picture here).

-Honest and trustworthy

While I am considering trying WWB, I'd prefer to bypass the middle man (and by middleman I mean an entity networking myself to a dropshipper). What do you think Sarge?

[The Old Sarge]

You are essentially correct. However, WWB only charges once. For the one-time fee, you get lifetime access to all their drop shippers. You work directly with the drop shippers, and "once you're in" WWB is not a middleman. And you never lose the "tools" and support offered/provided by WWB.

If you can find manufacturers/suppliers yourself, by all means, go for it.

[BornSuccessful]

I've taken a look at the "Preview" of WWB, and I must say the organization is huge.

In fact, I'm almost ready to join. A few questions I have, such as:

-Do they have international dropshippers?

-Do you think that the preview search feature is somewhat accurate? I'd hope not, a couple of the products I've been looking to build a few e-stores around were not available for dropshipping, only bulk...

-Do you use them? I'd love to pick your brain Sarge on dropshipping and get your input.

Thanks

[shoes_supplier]

The best way is that you can enter your keyword in Google to search your product from all over the world,I think you can find many suppliers and manufactoriers which is in China,India and other European country in Google.

[jassdoit]

As for Drop Shipping, it is best to talk directly to the manufacture. However, 100% of them ask you for reseller permit, etc. If you want to sell pc parts, you can contact MaLabs, they are one of the largest pc parts carrier.

I have beening selling since 2004, tried many many drop shipper etc. Eventually, you need to stock up yourself to make the biggest cut of the profit. So basically, now I do wholesale and drop ship to my clients. Check my site if you find the price all right.

Thanks
ERIC

[JEccles]

The best way is that you can enter your keyword in Google to search your product from all over the world,I think you can find many suppliers and manufactoriers which is in China,India and other European country in Google.

Yes, but, drop shipping from overseas suppliers can become problematic due to customs fees and delivery time.

[browseI]

Worldwide Brands is not a middle man. What they do, they connect you with the wholesale supplier. Their system is a directory but automated directory! So you work directly with the wholesale company or the manufacturer. For each account (wholesaler) you have to be approved. Basically their database shortens the time.

They charge a fee because they spent hours and hours searching and qualifying different wholesalers and eleminating the one that are not wholesalers but rather the middle man. They also provide you with a lot of free tools, tutorial, and videos to be a very successful online etailer. I spent money on Doba and few other drop shippers, the Worldwide brands is totally legit!

[IdahoPuma]

We drop ship what we manufacturer on our farm to a couple sites . We also sell wholesale to 600 brick and mortar and a little retail as well in the continental 48 .
We just consider others e-commerce sites another means of selling retail to the public . If they create , promote getting fair volume of sales we keep them . If they do not order much we drop them , that simple .