Are drop-shippers worth it?

On Ebay, Id say your wasting your time trying to use dropshippers - you can pretty much guarantee that at least 5 other people will have found the same companies and will be listing the same items, so you all end up fighting for the same customers, then one or two will drop their prices to basically cost killing the market for everyone else.

In my experience, dropshipping works for e-commerce websites, but not on eBay where prices are generally lower.
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http://www.atomi.co.uk">href="http://www.atomi.co.uk">http://www.atomi.co.uk

^^^i completely agree... i'd advise get a e commerce website and use ebay to generate traffic to this site.

I am currently getting a web-site set up, which i hope to add a few of my drop-shippers products onto.

I had hoped to be able to use some of the drop-shippers for ebay sales, but i take your points about saturation.  I take it then i need to purchase stock & despatch myself for ebay - once i have settled on which products i expect to sell.

www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">href="http://www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">www.ComspecComputers.co.uk  -  Home/Business Computer Services

I've seen a few questions about dropshippers on here and how there are issues with everyone selling their stuff on ebay and therefore competing.

Turning this on it's head for a minute, isn't this indicating that dropshopping is the business to be in?

If you have set a price where you make money on the items and cover postage costs, surely it is a case of getting a good workflow for orders, be efficient and then let other people go out and sell to the customer for you?

Ok, you won't make as much money per item as promoting on ebay yourself, but you won't have the hassle and costs associated with it either, so probably end up in about the same position but with a higher cashflow.

...or am I missing the point? (probably!)

Regards,
Richard.

Now, there is an idea i might follow up on.

If i am going to the bother of sourcing a number of products and creating a web-site to sell these, then i suppose the natural progression from this would be to offer dropshipping services to ebayers.

Mmmmm, might have to investigate this further.

www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">href="http://www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">www.ComspecComputers.co.uk  -  Home/Business Computer Services

Id definately agree that anyone who sets up a dropship supplier could make a killing signing up all the ebayers provided that the products on offer are decent (a lot of drop shippers currently just sell crap) and offer competitive prices which allow at least 15% profit margin.
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http://www.atomi.co.uk">href="http://www.atomi.co.uk">http://www.atomi.co.uk

Avoiding Ebay and setting up a professional site, that's well optimised, makes use a marketing/advertising budget to bring people along - yes absolutely an ecommerce store selling dropshipping products can make a killing.

First comes the site. Make it look good (get a professional), easy to use and gives off a confidence. Next bring in visitors (advertising, link building, competitions, freebies etc...)

Start up cheaply, with no optimisation, no marketing/advertising budget and little confidence in your website and you won't.

Dean

C2 Web Design

http://www.c2webdesign.co.uk

Web Design | Online Marketing | Search Engine Optimisation

Dean

I am in the IT sector, but have not had much contact with setting up websites.  I had originally planned to utilise a service such as Puresilva because of budgetary concerns and because this will only be a part of my business.

Could you provide me with a basic budgetary figure to aim at for a decent website.  I would want it to have 3 or 4 sections detailing our IT Services, plus a shopping section to sell IT components, Peripherals, Networking products and maybe some other electronic products.  I would need domain name & have a 2Mb Unlimited Broadband connection at present - would this be sufficient to host it myself, or should i look to someone else to host it for me?

I am leaning away from the dropshippers, but would maybe want a section to permit me to provide drop-ship services to ebayers, etc.

I am still about 2 weeks or so away from being able to do too much as I have agreed with my previous employer to help them out for another fortnight or so (my replacement looks like he's not up to scratch yet).

Regards

Mark

www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">href="http://www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">www.ComspecComputers.co.uk  -  Home/Business Computer Services

I have quite a bit of experience with dropshipping and have numerous dropshippers signed up to my program selling designer clothes. Of course you have those few who sign up and don't make any orders but then you have those who place regular orders.

i find that the people who do the best use both eBay and their own online store. eBay is good for getting new customers and the store is great for your customers to come back and make further orders. You then send your customers newsletters with your store details and of course if people find you via search engines then all the better.

You might find some more useful info at www.dropshipforum.co.uk

Regards
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Designer & Sports Clothing @ Red Hot Prices

www.devilwear.co.uk

Cheers Toon - I will give it a look.

Mark.

www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">href="http://www.ComspecComputers.co.uk">www.ComspecComputers.co.uk  -  Home/Business Computer Services

I have used dropshipping for a couple of years now and agree that Ebay is not the place to sell. There is just too much competition. I am lucky that I do webdesign and hosting so have my own ecommerce store.

What I did find helpful was to source my own supplier, people who don't advertise as dropshippers, and ask them if they would provide this service.

I do not believe in the sites that charge annual fees as it is hard enough trying to make money out of dropshipping as it is.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Helen

www.helshop.co.uk">href="http://www.helshop.co.uk">www.helshop.co.uk Your online card and craft supplier