Dropshipping Advice

[Riven]

I've been spending the past few days working super hard via my Shopify website. I believe I found a super cool niche to take advantage of. I got a domain and everything, created a cool custom logo, and have some products imported ready to go from Aliexpress...

I'm just wondering now... How can I avoid losing money via this dropshipping method? All products are ordered once a customer makes a payment, so I don't have to worry about stocking up on products with my own money, and I've made sure to only import products from quality sellers on Aliexpress. Based on my refund-return policy, I will be breaking pretty much even while making sure the customer is satisfied, so I'm not too worried about that either. My only prime expenses are from the Shopify monthly plan, domain expense, and marketing expenses that I'm working on currently.

Should I be worried in anyway? Also, does anyone have any marketing tips? I've already done much research, but if anyone has anything unique to offer, let me know!

TYVM

 

[blogzandstuff]

I've been spending the past few days working super hard via my Shopify website. I believe I found a super cool niche to take advantage of. I got a domain and everything, created a cool custom logo, and have some products imported ready to go from Aliexpress...

I'm just wondering now... How can I avoid losing money via this dropshipping method? All products are ordered once a customer makes a payment, so I don't have to worry about stocking up on products with my own money, and I've made sure to only import products from quality sellers on Aliexpress. Based on my refund-return policy, I will be breaking pretty much even while making sure the customer is satisfied, so I'm not too worried about that either. My only prime expenses are from the Shopify monthly plan, domain expense, and marketing expenses that I'm working on currently.

Should I be worried in anyway? Also, does anyone have any marketing tips? I've already done much research, but if anyone has anything unique to offer, let me know!

TYVM

You've got the basics covered. Marketing is the next big step now. @Finn is a trusted member who has experience and offers link building opportunities. I wish you success with your project

 

[Sansha Kuvakei]

I've been spending the past few days working super hard via my Shopify website. I believe I found a super cool niche to take advantage of. I got a domain and everything, created a cool custom logo, and have some products imported ready to go from Aliexpress...

I'm just wondering now... How can I avoid losing money via this dropshipping method? All products are ordered once a customer makes a payment, so I don't have to worry about stocking up on products with my own money, and I've made sure to only import products from quality sellers on Aliexpress. Based on my refund-return policy, I will be breaking pretty much even while making sure the customer is satisfied, so I'm not too worried about that either. My only prime expenses are from the Shopify monthly plan, domain expense, and marketing expenses that I'm working on currently.

Should I be worried in anyway? Also, does anyone have any marketing tips? I've already done much research, but if anyone has anything unique to offer, let me know!

TYVM

I currently have a dropshipping venture I am working on, and I'll admit to you that it is much more difficult than many would like to admit. My costs are a little different though, as I'm dealing in physical product made and shipped from the Midwest.

My advice to you is be prepared to lose a few thousand at least in testing and ironing out wrinkles, and do you homework as far as who you think your target audience is.

Also, if you plan on running Facebook ads, you need to ensure you have a product with a high profit margin, as it's not uncommon to pay 15 bucks per purchase.

 

[Riven]

I currently have a dropshipping venture I am working on, and I'll admit to you that it is much more difficult than many would like to admit. My costs are a little different though, as I'm dealing in physical product made and shipped from the Midwest.

My advice to you is be prepared to lose a few thousand at least in testing and ironing out wrinkles, and do you homework as far as who you think your target audience is.

Also, if you plan on running Facebook ads, you need to ensure you have a product with a high profit margin, as it's not uncommon to pay 15 bucks per purchase.

my mindset: It's only as difficult as you make it. I understand that quality of work and production on my end needs to be high, but I refuse to think of things as being "very difficult," rather than just thinking of it as an unfamiliar field that I am trying to learn about... and if it doesn't work out, I'll try something else. Aaaaaaaand I don't plan on losing a few thousand dollars. I think that's highly unlikely unless my business were to take off and I had tons of issues with hundreds/thousands of orders. But I'll take your advice seriously so TYVM

 

[Compazz]

you can set up your site where you don’t have to buy a thing until you get an order on your website which you can set up with SaleHoo Stores. So you pay for your products with the money your customers pay you.thats the cheapest way to do drop shipping in my opinion the only cons is SaleHoo Stores are not free

 

[Riven]

you can set up your site where you don’t have to buy a thing until you get an order on your website which you can set up with SaleHoo Stores. So you pay for your products with the money your customers pay you.thats the cheapest way to do drop shipping in my opinion the only cons is SaleHoo Stores are not free

That's what I'm doing with Shopify. I don't order any products until customers order. I only order products with the customers money, and I take a cut of it )

 

[Sansha Kuvakei]

my mindset: It's only as difficult as you make it. I understand that quality of work and production on my end needs to be high, but I refuse to think of things as being "very difficult," rather than just thinking of it as an unfamiliar field that I am trying to learn about... and if it doesn't work out, I'll try something else. Aaaaaaaand I don't plan on losing a few thousand dollars. I think that's highly unlikely unless my business were to take off and I had tons of issues with hundreds/thousands of orders. But I'll take your advice seriously so TYVM

You can definitely do all of that, and still lose a few grand. It's sort of the price you pay to start building a brand, and dialing your audience if you don't already have a seed audience of emails to create a lookalike from.

Part of the reason I've had that initial loss is because the product is low ticket, and has an AOV of about $30, which is difficult to make profitable initially, and relies on repeat customers.

Don't take my post as discouragement, just being realistic with you regarding my experience with dropshipping.

I'd also suggest a Woo+VPS build, as it will make it much easier on you as far as SEO if you choose to go that route.

 

[EarthboundImmortal]

Unlike ebay, I assume you don't have a hold on money so you get it instantly. This will make refunds very easy, and less chance to lose money. Tough you will eventually lose some money testing. Order some samples to your self first. Make sure your product/return policy is good and this will bring you more business and sales. If you need to hire a VA to chat with customers you can do that when you can afford one. Having a pop up live chat can get you more conversions. You can even chat with them yourself live as they are browsing store. Communicate in follow up emails few times a week as product is shipped. To mitigate losing money, just relax and take things slow.

Use the worry as motivation that you will eventually make a profit. If you have a smooth system is place, you will only lose a small amount. You will always have a few bad apple and shitty customers. I worry about all my ventures, but I also see the light and I see results after failure. One more thing I forgot to add, to worry less maybe ship from America or your home country. Plenty of drop-shippers here. That way you don't have to wait. Aliexpress is way cheap though, so it is worth it. I mostly ship from America, couple products Aliexpress.

 

[spazzumes]

my mindset: It's only as difficult as you make it. I understand that quality of work and production on my end needs to be high, but I refuse to think of things as being "very difficult," rather than just thinking of it as an unfamiliar field that I am trying to learn about... and if it doesn't work out, I'll try something else. Aaaaaaaand I don't plan on losing a few thousand dollars. I think that's highly unlikely unless my business were to take off and I had tons of issues with hundreds/thousands of orders. But I'll take your advice seriously so TYVM

You should expect to lose thousands. You’re drop shipping from aliexpress, and you’re literally the millionth and first person to do it. Unless you already have some serious influence, you’re not going to get anyone to your site to buy cheap aligear unless you spend money on ads. You don’t have any unique value, so I doubt you’ll have a good ROI on your ad spend unless you’re one of the only ones to actually choose the perfect niche on your first attempt. Ads are expensive, especially on FB, and by the time you sell your (probably inexpensive) product, pay the various fees, marketing costs, and give up your time you probably won’t make any profit. Not to mention you need SEO, you’ll need more graphics, product descriptions, etc... and unless you’re an expert in all this you’ll likely have to spend money to get results in these areas or spend a ton of time learning and implementing it yourself. I’ve tried this multiple times with ali products and with white labeled products - it is DIFFICULT. Especially if you don’t already have a lot of experience doing it.

This wasn’t meant to be harsh, I just don’t want you to go into this thinking a few hundred will bring you success, because it likely won’t. You need to invest a lot of time and money.

Good luck

 

[BHW-Help]

Thread moved to Dropshipping forum

 

[Riven]

You should expect to lose thousands. You’re drop shipping from aliexpress, and you’re literally the millionth and first person to do it. Unless you already have some serious influence, you’re not going to get anyone to your site to buy cheap aligear unless you spend money on ads. You don’t have any unique value, so I doubt you’ll have a good ROI on your ad spend unless you’re one of the only ones to actually choose the perfect niche on your first attempt. Ads are expensive, especially on FB, and by the time you sell your (probably inexpensive) product, pay the various fees, marketing costs, and give up your time you probably won’t make any profit. Not to mention you need SEO, you’ll need more graphics, product descriptions, etc... and unless you’re an expert in all this you’ll likely have to spend money to get results in these areas or spend a ton of time learning and implementing it yourself. I’ve tried this multiple times with ali products and with white labeled products - it is DIFFICULT. Especially if you don’t already have a lot of experience doing it.

This wasn’t meant to be harsh, I just don’t want you to go into this thinking a few hundred will bring you success, because it likely won’t. You need to invest a lot of time and money.

Good luck

I have sold only about 12 products with a profit of about $77, so I've been using that money to pay for ads. I've also used strategies to get free traffic which was what helped me make my first sales!!!! Bought some ads today and traffic should be comin through hopefully soon!

I think I'm doing so well right now because of my Niche. I've never seen anyone target this area and that lit up my eyes so fast!

 

[Ryan Oak]

Don't read those negative messages. Yeah, sure, it's not as easy as it may sound but you can still succeed.
When I started with no money I did all kind of free traffic mostly social. Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook groups. Just be active on all those platforms be creative and you should see some sales coming in. When you have some money, try Instagram shoutouts. Then move to google ads or FB ads. It's all about marketing. To make sales you need customers (visitors) to your store.