There is a growing number of drop shippers in China.  Why?  Because many times you can get the cheapest prices from a supplier who outsources to China.  Usually these are free drop shippers.  That doesn’t mean the products are free, just that the drop shippers doesn’t tack and more fees onto the products.  Finding a free drop ship supplier in China can boost your profit.

Here are three things you need to know before dealing with a drop shipper from China:

1.Are the product shipped plain so that the customer doesn’t know the original source of the product?
2.Is there a monthly fee for drop shipping?
3.Is there a minimum quantity of products that you have to buy?

You should ask the following questions before you work with a drop shipper from China:

What shipping method do you use?

Look for a shipper that uses a known carrier like DHL or FedEx.  Items shipped this way will have a tacking number that you can use to know where the product is.  That will reassure your customers.  You will also need to know how long it will take to arrive so that you can give an estimate to your customers.

How is your quality control?

Make sure there is double quality control.  That means the product is checked when it leaves the factory and again after it arrives before shipping to the customer.

Do you get to use their promotional materials?

This includes product images and descriptions. You don’t want to have to buy something form them to get this information.

What about customer service?

You must be able to count on customer service.  If a drop shipper doesn’t offer good customer service they probably aren’t going to be a good supplier for you.  You need immediate response to questions and problems.

How do you handle refunds and customer issues?

The supplier must stand behind the products.  You should never eat the cost of a broken product.

Does the supplier update inventory levels regularly?

You have to know this to know if you can fill an order.  Levels should be updates once a week at the least.

Ask these questions and you will know if you are dealing with a reputable supplier.

If you are thinking about working with a drop shipper there are 7 questions you should ask them before you enter into an agreement of any kind. Here are those questions.

What shipping method?

It doesn’t matter where the drop shipper is based they have to use a reputable delivery carrier like UPS or FedEx. This is your reputation on the line, not theirs. Be sure you know the average delivery time so you can let your buyers know.

How good is quality control?

Always ask about quality control methods. A good supplier will have double quality control levels in place. Products will be inspected at the factory and upon arrival at the warehouse. This will prevent shoddy products from reaching your customers.

Do I get to use your promotional materials?

The answer had better be yes or you should look for some other company. This includes images and product descriptions for your website. Otherwise you will have to buy one of everything for pictures and to write your own descriptions.

How do you handle refunds and customer complaints?

A good drop shipper will stand behind their products and refund money for broken items.

What kind of customer service do you provide?

No business is better than its customer service. Drop shippers are the exact personification of that rule. Do a test run. Order something from them ans see what happens. Email a question and see how long it takes to get an answer.

Do you update inventory levels regularly?

You will need to be kept abreast of inventory levels in order to process orders as quickly as possible.

What is your marketing policy?

Many of the top suppliers offer an affiliate marketing program that will allow you to supplement you income by referring new customers to them.

If you ask these 7 questions you will be able to find a top drop shipper and build a good reputation online.

Drop shippers have begun to serve as the spine that supports sellers and wholesalers.  These companies deliver goods safely and accurately and keep retailers from having to carry large inventories.    Unfortunately, most retailers do not know which drop ship directory to trust.    They think that a search engine will tell them what they need to know.  Not so.

Product drop shippers will pair themselves with the wholesaler who carries the largest volume of these items.  It is better to work with bulk for better discounts and higher profit margin.  You might even find a local wholesaler that you can buy direct from and have even lower costs.  Networking opportunities may lead you to the best drop shipper for you.

Adult drop shippers and lists of drop ship companies are full of scamming middlemen.  Middlemen who act like wholesalers, but are raising the price to profit while adding a layer to the purchase.  You may be paying another markup of up to 50%.  You will get the product you want, but not at the best price.  The best way to find a good wholesaler is to contact them by phone and ask about their company.

Dealing with drop ship wholesalers is not as easy as it may sound.  You may find yourself dealing with a middleman who will raise your prices and cut into your profit margin.  Do as much research as possible to get to the first layer of the sale.  Concentrate on one market at a time and you will find success in drop shipping.