I agree with the post above that WorldWide Brands is one of the best sources, and that they also give good advice. One thing many people forget to do is to treat their dropshipping efforts like a business. It is very important to register a tax id with the state. This will keep you out of trouble, is fairly easy to do (most states let you do it online), and will allow you access to true dropshipping suppliers. Many legitimate merchants won't accept you without a tax id.
Anyway, I have done dropshipping - and it does work. You still have to be careful of your supplier's return policy, find a niche that's not too overcrowded, and have a clear shipping and return policy. Once I was selling collapsible canoes - and the supplier took them back if there was something wrong with them. Well on this sale, the only thing wrong was the buyer weighed A LOT, and the canoe didn't work for him. I had posted the specifications on my ad, so I got out of eating the whole price, but I felt bad.
Another problem I had was missing a buyer's email that they had moved, and needed their shipment sent to an address that was not their paypal address. Well, it was the holiday season, and I missed the email. I ended up eating the charges to express ship another item out to them. Now I always specify, verified paypal address ONLY.
With dropshipping you operate on a thing margin - the idea is that you can sell a lot more without worrying abut product. Some suppliers do have a minimum retail price that allows you a profit - and I try to look for them!
I could have avoided those problems with clear policies, and by being more careful - but anyway, out of many sales - really only two went really sour like that.
|