by Claudia Bruemmer

If you’re thinking of starting a business selling general merchandise online, but don’t have the resources for setting up a warehouse, dropshipping is an excellent option to consider. You can sell your products online with minimal startup costs by using dropshipping services because your dropshipper will do the entire product sorting, storing and shipping for you. All you need to do is promote and sell your products and provide customer service.

Dropshipper Defined. A company that buys and sells products from various manufacturers, maintaining inventory and providing the means to ship these products directly to customers on behalf of other merchants for a fee. These services can be used by wholesale and retail companies alike.

Dropshipping Fees. Normally, dropshippers charge a one-time fee to their customers, and then charge smaller monthly maintenance fees for hosting and maintaining a website and back office operations when that is part of the service. Some dropshippers even create customer websites as part of their initial package. Some customers provide their own website.

Dropshipping Advantages. The benefit of using dropshipping services is that the merchants can save the cost of managing, storing and shipping merchandise. You can also start a business without having to hire personnel for multiple business functions. Some dropshippers handle returns, while others will create and maintain your website and also provide marketing support and web analytics. So depending on what kind of service package you buy, there are many advantages if the fees are reasonable.

Comparing and Evaluating Dropshippers. The Dropship Services Reviews site provides comparisons and reviews on dropshipping companies. Connect with suppliers that offer products at wholesale, buying merchandise at a rate than allows you to resell at a profit.

Some dropshipping services provide a way to sell merchandise through online auction sites directly, as they are partnered with sites like eBay, Ubid and Ebid.net, making your online business transactions easy and absolutely seamless. Many dropshipping companies also provide services for creating a website presence, allowing you to sell products directly from your own domain.

The above site’s learning center provides articles about dropshipping services to help you make informed decisions. For instance, you’ll find articles on how to avoid dropshipping scams, as well as company profiles on various dropshipping service companies.

Selecting a Dropshipper. When selecting a supplier, it’s a good idea to identify your sales goals and budget needs. Smaller vendors might select less-expensive dropshipping options. Larger companies might look for an all-inclusive option.

It’s important to investigate potential dropshippers thoroughly, paying attention to size and reliability, product fulfillment channels, and the carriers used for shipping. There are many factors to evaluate when selecting a dropshipper. The tips below can help you make an informed decision.

1. Ensure the dropshipping firm uses your company and contact information when shipping the merchandise. This is important for developing your brand and customer loyalty.
2. Look for dropshippers that offer bulk discounts.
3. Ask how long it takes for products to be shipped and contract only with those that ship in 5 days or less.
4. Look for dropshippers that don’t require minimum orders.
5. Ask if there is a middleman involved. Avoid dropshipping brokers and deal directly with the company making the shipments.
6. Ask whether the company offers a manufacturer’s warranty on all products sold. This is important for customer service.

Summary. If you’re thinking of starting a business selling general merchandise online, dropshipping is an excellent option to consider. Your dropshipping partner can make selling online easy for you. Look for a service that provides solutions for your specific needs. Examine the contract and look the fine print over closely when selecting a dropshipping service. Review the terms and conditions thoroughly because it’s always possible to find misleading information on websites. However, the terms and conditions in the contract are always explicit. Scrutinize the terms and make sure you can live with them because that’s what is contractually binding.