Drop shipping with UK supplier vs supplier abroad

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Masterxp89

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Hi everyone,

I’m looking at starting a dropshipping business and I’m trying to work out the best option for shipping.

Ideally I’d like to use a UK based supplier so delivery times are quicker for customers. But I’m guessing the product costs might be higher compared to suppliers abroad.

On the other hand, if I use an overseas dropshipper (like China), the products might be cheaper, but then customers could face longer delivery times and higher postage costs.

So I’m just wondering what most people do.

Is it better to pay a bit more for a UK supplier with faster shipping or go with overseas suppliers and cheaper products but slower delivery?

Any advice from people already doing dropshipping would be really appreciated.
 
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For my dropshipping clients, the main reason they choose me to help them find goods is that the cost of purchasing goods in China is very low, which exceeds the expectations of many clients in the European and American markets. Meanwhile, my clients who adopt the dropshipping model usually make advance purchases and store them in our company's warehouse, which significantly reduces their warehousing costs abroad.
Of course, another option for my client is to purchase from China in advance and store in a warehouse abroad.

As you may have guessed, I must tell you that the logistics time for goods departing from China will be longer compared to local warehouses abroad.
But you need to find a balance from the perspectives of time efficiency and cost.

Based on our past cost calculations, the time spent from purchasing goods in advance in China to reaching the final customer's hands is not much longer than that from storing them in advance locally, especially after adopting our faster logistics options. The reality is that when a package arrives abroad, the time depends on the local logistics network construction, which is something others won't tell you.
 
From my experience china to uk shipping is the fastest, I get my customers delivered in 4-5 days. If I were in your place I would rather dropship from china but have stock in china to avoid the 3 days additionnal delays from factory to agent
 
walalang said:
From my experience china to uk shipping is the fastest, I get my customers delivered in 4-5 days. If I were in your place I would rather dropship from china but have stock in china to avoid the 3 days additionnal delays from factory to agentYes
walalang said:
From my experience china to uk shipping is the fastest, I get my customers delivered in 4-5 days. If I were in your place I would rather dropship from china but have stock in china to avoid the 3 days additionnal delays from factory to agent
Click to expand...
yeh this does sound the best way to go. Any help on how I find a reliable supplier?
Click to expand...
 
Quality_Sourcing_Agent said:
For my dropshipping clients, the main reason they choose me to help them find goods is that the cost of purchasing goods in China is very low, which exceeds the expectations of many clients in the European and American markets. Meanwhile, my clients who adopt the dropshipping model usually make advance purchases and store them in our company's warehouse, which significantly reduces their warehousing costs abroad.
Of course, another option for my client is to purchase from China in advance and store in a warehouse abroad.

As you may have guessed, I must tell you that the logistics time for goods departing from China will be longer compared to local warehouses abroad.
But you need to find a balance from the perspectives of time efficiency and cost.

Based on our past cost calculations, the time spent from purchasing goods in advance in China to reaching the final customer's hands is not much longer than that from storing them in advance locally, especially after adopting our faster logistics options. The reality is that when a package arrives abroad, the time depends on the local logistics network construction, which is something others won't tell you.
Click to expand...
I am in need of a drop shipping company,
 
Usually suppliers from the UK ship faster. However suppliers from overseas are cheaper.
 
Masterxp89 said:
Hi everyone,

I’m looking at starting a dropshipping business and I’m trying to work out the best option for shipping.

Ideally I’d like to use a UK based supplier so delivery times are quicker for customers. But I’m guessing the product costs might be higher compared to suppliers abroad.

On the other hand, if I use an overseas dropshipper (like China), the products might be cheaper, but then customers could face longer delivery times and higher postage costs.

So I’m just wondering what most people do.

Is it better to pay a bit more for a UK supplier with faster shipping or go with overseas suppliers and cheaper products but slower delivery?

Any advice from people already doing dropshipping would be really appreciated.
Click to expand...
Take everyone's advice here with a pinch of salt.

If you're British you should know that British consumer expectations are very high.

You're competing with Amazon's Same Day/Next Day Delivery, in addition to High Street retailers that offer 1-3 days fulfillment.

Shipping from China, you can encounter delivery times between 5-30 days.

Secondly, delivery time is not the only factor.
The UK has very high standards.
You must compete by offering quality items as well, this is not guaranteed unless you find a very reputable supplier.

In the UK, literally every category of goods is available online with 1-3 days fulfillment.

Also remember that a majority of British consumers scrutinize the environmental impact of products & their deliveries.

They will choose a local manufacturer over a reseller of Chinese products because they promote ethical consumption and eco-conscious supply chains.

That said, I'm not discouraging you at all.
It's a brilliant business idea, and there is high demand for many things.
You have many options.

Choose the right product, but consider a local manufacturer or supplier. Arrange a phone call or an in-person meeting with them to discuss reasonable pricing.

Your profit margin may be less, but you can make more sales, and build a more reputable brand that stands out.
If you have an issue with a defective product, it's easier to resolve a dispute with a UK-based supplier or manufacturer, than someone all the way in China.

It's a great idea, just plan it well
 
walalang said:
From my experience china to uk shipping is the fastest, I get my customers delivered in 4-5 days. If I were in your place I would rather dropship from china but have stock in china to avoid the 3 days additionnal delays from factory to agent
Click to expand...
The problem with china is quality
 
if you want quality in china you i can help with that
 
UK = fast trusted and guaranteed. The rest = slow cheap and risky.
 
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