Business owners,  I am contemptating using a drop shipper to deliver my goods as opposed to holding my inventory myself.  I would like to know your oppinions as well as all of the pros and cons you have experienced.  It would help if the people answering this question has had expierience in both holding inventory and using a drop shipping service.  How does it affect your customers? Overhead? etc.
126169
Pro's-\n1) You don't hold any stock, so no chance of having left over stock to get rid of\n2) No overheads of storage, etc\n3) Allows the opportunity to 'buy' a wider range of products\n\nNegatives-\n\nHere, I will speak personally. I used a dropshipper for a while, The Select.co.uk, and they were useless. They sent a package to one of my customers that was broken, they didn't send an order out to someone but didn't tell me, so I had no idea that I had a p*ssed off customer on my hands... they go out of stock but don't tell you, so you sell something that basically you can't supply... but it's you who has to deal with the flack, not them!! \n\nI really wouldn't advise it, it may seem cost effective, but it is more stressful than you can imagine!
162678
supply-chain, shipping, RMA, customer support.. etc... and of course, you're gonna need software to take care of all that. I've had ebay business... if you have a large volume of stuff to ship, UPS and FedEx give you ton of discounts on shipping.. i think they help you out w/supply chain as well.
78588
look trunk ....your making me nuts.. send me the item and I will pay the difference in shipping or we can call it off because Im interested in that item, and you selling it? are you interested?\n(trunk is used as you are a hard person to deal with)
206994
It goes is spurts -- Right now I am an "inactive" member. But I know that will change soon! \n\nI think the concept is great and am happy giving my unwanted items to someone who will actually use them (as opposed to dropping items off at a community rummage sale or Goodwill). \n\nI do find it a bit time-consuming. But when I'm actively posting, yes, it is addicting!
615149
Why would you want to sell to someone who has no need for your product.  Money from sales comes from repeat business.  If business has no need for your product, then you will not get repeat business.  \n\nThe cost of the orginal sale is usually more than lthe profit from the orginal sale.  Unless you consider your time has no value.
94590
I have my own eBay business.    The first thing I would do is buy some inexpensive things on eBay, just to get some positive feedback.  The first thing I bought was a VHS tape for $.99.  The trick to being successful is to pick a category that doesn't have that many sellers, and is something that people want.  If you pick a category that comes up with 500,000 items up for auction, people just aren't going to browse through that category to see what everyone has.  Even when you refine your search on a category that big it usually comes up with 30,000...still too many for browsing.  I always ship USPS Priority Mail because there is a flat rate box (12x14x3) that is one price, no matter how much it weighs....so if you can fit it in that box it's only one price. The Post Office will also come and pick your shipment up for free with Priority Mail, so there's no going to the Post Office and customers get their product in 2-3 days.  (I've found that people don't want to wait for their stuff longer than 3 days.)  I don't want to tell you what I'm selling because I don't want the category to get overloaded with sellers.  But I do well, I am able to support myself, no problem.  I actually started out with only $500.  When you put your product up for auction you have a choice of a 7 day or a 10 day auction.  I always do the 10 day auction starting it on a Friday.  That way you have 2 weekends for people to look at your stuff.  Some sellers don't accept PayPal as a method of payment because you have to give a percentage of your profit of a sale to them if it is used by your buyer.  I personally won't buy from people that don't take PayPal because you have protection against a seller that is trying to rip you off.  I have only had good experiences with my customers and  with PayPal, and I have a 100% positive feedback rate.  If you have any more questions you can email me at:\n\nebayenigma@luv2kre8it.com
79253
Here's recent feedback:\nhttp://www.NAWCA.org is a SCAM site! They offer reputable drop ship suppliers, as well as wholesale suppliers for a $48 fee.  Once logged in, you will find NO drop ship suppliers and all wholesale suppliers are accessed through www.wholesalecentral.com.  I've reported them and have filed a complaint with the United states Internet Fraud department.\n\nI've emailed this so called company numerous times to no avail!  Their P.O. Box is listed in Ohio, but their "CORPORATE" office is listed in Wheaton, Illinois.\nI'm now out $48 and feel very STUPID!\n\nInteresting--you'll find a lot of links saying it is reputable--but the wording is very very similar in them.  That'd make me wonder...
316440
You talking about dropshipping, just look it up on the internet and you will get a bunch of sites. However watch out for sites that say you dont need a business license if it says that then what is happening is your buying from a middleman and therefore cutting into your profits.
410372
For a large item and/or an item that may be picked-up at a loading dock, you would call a freight company (like McDonough, CW Murphy, Dohrn, etc... - these may just be local where I live - search for freight companies near you or the item) and arrange for them to pick the item up and bring it to your location.  \n\nFor a smaller item (ok to ship via UPS or USPS), I suppose you would arrange for UPS to pick the package up.  The US Postal Service will pickup a package...go to their website (below) and choose "schedule a pickup" at the top of the page.  Same thing with UPS...go to their website, go to "shipping", then choose "Schedule a pickup".  \n\nThey could also mean to "arrange shipment" with the seller based on your specifications/preferences.  In which case they just want to know how you would prefer to ship the item...then you would just contact the seller and let him/her know how you would like to handle the shipment.  \n\nYou should probably email the seller and ask them what they mean and/or what they recommend for arrangement.
247751
Your local supermarket gets deliveries at least once a week. Just ask one of their employees on what day and at what time their deliveries arrive. They won't usually save boxes for you, but you can walk in and get as many as you like before they cut them down for recycling.\n\n\nOffice Depot has great boxes for larger items. They receive their reams of paper in sturdy boxes with lids, and these are always clean. Our local Office Depot receives paper deliveries twice a week. The store manager even agreed to hold the boxes for a few hours. We just need to go in on the correct day. Since these are such handy boxes, you may have to be the first to get to the store to beat others with the same idea.\n\n\nCheck the free ads in the Recycler. Companies go out of business all the time, and they would usually prefer to give their supply of boxes away than to pay someone to haul them away. We found a vitamin store that was closing down and got hundreds of small and tiny boxes. These are not only great for mailing small items, but they are perfect for double boxing a set of smaller breakables.\n\n\nLiquor stores have the sturdiest boxes since bottles of liquor and wine are so heavy. If you sell bottles, these may even come with cardboard slots in them already to keep bottles from hitting each other when you send out several to one buyer.\n\n\nDumpsters behind stores sometimes have good empty boxes. Sometimes you are lucky enough to find the boxes piled outside the dumpster. Either way, you should check them to be sure that they are clean and dry (a box will be weakened forever once it gets wet).\n\n\nThe most obvious is for sellers to BUY on www.Ebay.com. Your package will come in a box, and many will come full of styrofoam peanuts or bubblewrap also. Just be sure that the box is sturdy before using it again. And, don't use bubblewrap as padding for delicate items if the bubbles are popped.\n\n\nGet inventive, you may find even more good suppliers of boxes.
288075
http://www.worldwidebrands.com get positive reviews from the online merchants forum I visit. They have a list (for a fee) of suppliers who will ship for you (dropship).\n\nDo you have website / electronic storefront already.  If not, visit http://www.multi-tradeonline.com  -- reseller of StoresOnline [SOL] storebuilder licenses for as low as 10% of what it would have cost you (price of 1 site compared to price for 'pack of 3 sites + other stuff bundled together' -- the minimum you can buy direct from SOL).
625667
I sell Mary Kay and I love it!!! I've been able to create a nice income with it just part-time (I still have a full-time job). It sounds like you're debating whether or not to sign up and do it yourself. The thing about it is that you get out what you put in. A lot of people end up hating it because they overstock their inventory when they don't have the clientel, and end up losing a lot of money in the process. People will tell you that you have to make Mary Kay your life and that you have to work really hard to be successful. I don't work hard, I work smart. That's why I'm so happy with my decision in selling. I decide what inventory to stock. I work around my own schedule. I don't let directors convince me to put in huge wholesale orders just to get recognition or help the unit grow. \n\nIn response to a few of the other answers:\n\n1. Read Mary Kay's book "Miracles Happen". You'll understand why she decided to make the company private again, even after being successful in the stock market.\n\n2. The reason Mary Kay is not sold in stores (like Avon, Arbonne and other cosmetics brands) is because the company is based on personal service and the ability to try before you buy. No woman wants to keep wasting money on makeup and skin care products that don't work, or look good on them. The difference between having a consultant work with you and going to a makeup counter is that you learn how to apply the makeup yourself, rather than having someone put in on your face for you then tell you to look in the mirror and when you get home after spending all the money on the makeup that they used, and can't get it to look the same way. Also, have you seen those reports on the news about all of the bacteria that's found in the products at makeup counters??? It's gross. With Mary Kay you know that you won't encounter those issues because the consultants never use the same thing for each person. \n\n3. You do not pay the company to sell anything! The money that you give to the company when you start is $100 for your starter kit. The products that come with it are worth way more than that $100, and it comes with all of the tools and information you need to get started. The $200 is the usual amount that people use for their initial wholesale order. You're buying the products wholesale through the company, but you make that money back plus your 50% commission when you sell the products. \n\nIf you are seriously considering it, you can contact me directly. I will honestly answer any questions that you have regarding the business. Letting you know the positives and the negatives.
570724
I have been selling on ebay for over 5 years and in the past 7 months have gotten very serious about making it my business.\n\n1.  I  would NEVER use a drop shipper.\n2.  I would NEVER pick a wholesaler online.  I always make sure my wholesalers are within and hour or to an hour and thirty mintues away.\n3.  I do sell my childrens new with tag clothing that they never have never wore and the tags are still on.  And there gently used grown out of clothing.\n4.  Primative Americana stuff is really HOT right now.\n5.  Gymboree items are not all that hot on ebay right now. And gymboree items are actually getting difficult to sell.\n6.  Print your shipping labels from home.\n7. Garage sales are great if you have research what will sell before hand.\n8.  People do not like to pay outrageous shipping.  Rememeber that if you wouldn't pay your own shipping price, neither is anyone else going to.\n9.  Be as HONEST as you can be in your descriptions.\n10. The more pictures of the item the better.\n11. Communication is KEY!\n\nI have done WONDERFUL the last 7 to 9 month of my ebay selling business and have come quite close to POWERSELLER status a few times.\n\nGood Luck.
111535
Receiving is a nice way of say taking boxes and putting boxes somewhere.  Its better money then selling burgers, tacos or shirts.
56334
depends on the method, but probably the cost.  That way if you decide to discount your inventory to get rid of it, you will know how much you are really losing and not just how much less you are selling it for.
89529
Drop shippers dont work on Ebay.  But, if you want to know a true drop shipper, go for the ones that dont ask for money upfront.  They only ask for it when you make a sale.  Why ask for money up front and discourage you from ever trying to sell their product?  Each person they recruit could end up selling thousands for them.  It only takes one person.  Some drop shippers go and steal your customers by sending the product to your customers, but they dont put your name on the return label.  They put their name on there.  Drop shippers dont work unless you have a website or catalog.  But, I would suggest, after getting a steady order for your products, you should try to hold inventory to minimize these greedy dropshippers.  Just dont buy more then you can sell.  Some drop shippers help you create a website, and dont do much else.  They charge you for a website and then, dont help you at all.   They already got you.  And they might even try to get you to hold inventory even with no customer base.  Be careful.  If I were to try a drop shipper, I would spend the least as possible.  Like print out my own business card with a cheaply created website and see if people buy.  Then, I would slowly upgrade.  If it doesnt work, I throw away the free website and toss the cheap business cards and start all over.
423553
I hope it's ok this way:\n\nHi John,\n\nHow are you? Please find below my concerns regarding the shipment. I need some clarifications.\n\nFirstly, What shipment method do you prefer for the shipment of Part No A in Po 10?\n\nSecondly, I found that the goods are going to be shipped via various shipment methods. The total size might not be too big. Would you like us in this case to ship all the goods by Air-freight or UPS?\n\nI am sorry that Part No A will be shipped with a shortage of 100 pieces and part No B with 200 pieces. This is because there has been an unexpected yield loss during production. We’ll try to complete the rest as soon as possible.\n\nOur priority is to meet your satisfaction, so could you please reply me before shipment date on Nov. 16, 2006.\n\nBest Regards,\nPeter W