| If the irritations of returns, shipping, receiving, | | | | monthly billing, but most ask for a credit card |
| handling and inventory are taking over your online | | | | payment up front.o What shipping company does |
| business, switching to dropshippers can be a cost | | | | the dropshipper use? Do they offer any tracking |
| effective, sanity-saving light at the end of the | | | | for their packages? Are there handling fees as |
| tunnel. | | | | well, in addition to their shipping charges?oWhat is |
| Drop shippers are merely companies (usually | | | | their complaint resolution policy, or do they even |
| wholesalers, distributors or manufacturers) who | | | | have one? What hours is their customer service |
| ship directly to your customer for you, saving | | | | department available?o Take a close look at their |
| you the time, fees and office space of acting as | | | | wholesale rates, and make sure that you can |
| the middle man in a buy-sell arrangement. In a | | | | offer a decent price for all of the items you plan |
| nutshell, this means that you can offer a wide | | | | on selling, while still garnering a healthy profit. |
| variety of products at your website without | | | | Not all dropshippers are made the same, |
| carrying any stock in-house. | | | | however. There are a few unscrupulous practices |
| Ideally, dropshippers receive an email from you | | | | out there that you need to avoid at all costs: |
| whenever one of your customers wants to | | | | - Do not pay for a dropshipping list. You can do |
| purchase something. For instance, Mrs. Jones | | | | your own research for a lot less on your own |
| wants to purchase an Italian charm bracelet from | | | | using the Internet. |
| your website, and makes an order, using PayPal | | | | - Do not pay a monthly fee for the privilege of |
| as her method of payment. The bracelet costs | | | | being a dropshippers' client. The dropshipper should |
| $37, plus $6 shipping, for a total of $41. Once you | | | | be able to make money from you as you are |
| receive Mrs. Jones' order, you email your | | | | with your own customers (by selling items at a |
| dropshipper, advising them of the purchase, along | | | | higher price than their cost), and not by charging |
| with Mrs. Jones' shipping information. You also | | | | you monthly fees for access to their items, |
| forward on a payment of only $28 to the | | | | database or other services. |
| dropshipper. Since YOUR cost of the bracelet is | | | | - Ask for contact information (an email is fine) |
| only $16, and you've passed along the shipping | | | | from several happy clients that the dropshipper |
| costs of $6 to the customer, you've just made a | | | | works with for testimonials. Also check with the |
| $19 profit. | | | | online Better Business Bureau to make sure there |
| Dropshippers are an excellent alternative for | | | | are no negative reports on file. |
| smaller, home-based businesses especially who | | | | - Don't be afraid to check the validity of a |
| don't need or have the space for inventory. Plus, | | | | dropshippers' statements. If they say they are |
| if an item becomes obsolete or out-of-date, you | | | | the only source for product A, then check the |
| have nothing to worry about since you aren't | | | | Internet yourself to make sure. |
| carrying any inventory. | | | | Just like any online business, using dropshippers to |
| Once you've found a dropshipper to work with, | | | | facilitate easier business transactions isn't |
| research the following information closely before | | | | something that will just one day make you millions |
| entering into an agreement with anyone:o What is | | | | of dollars. However, if you choose wisely, your |
| the dropshippers' return policy? If they do not | | | | dropshippers can save you a tremendous amount |
| offer a guarantee, warranty or return policy, look | | | | of time and energy, putting more profits back |
| elsewhere.oHow are you going to pay the | | | | into your pocket. |
| dropshipper? Some companies offer direct, | | | | |