Ugh What Should I do?

Ok so I have an eCommerce store. I am debating between two different options. I am limited on funds.

1. Dropshipping from Aliexpress. Obviously the product shipping times are hella long (if I do epacket for my product, it takes 35 days) but profit margins are very high. There will be many different options for products so buyer has a lot more to choose from. (20-25 different options)

2. Make my own product designs. These product designs will be high quality and unique so buyers couldn't find them anywhere else. Fast shipping times, but low profit margins. Since I am limited on funds, I won't have many different options for people to choose from. (5 different options)


What do you guys think I should do? I have been going back and forth for a week now. I need someone to steer me in the right direction so I can just make up my mind...

From what you write, I would go for dropshipping, however it really strange to hear that individual product has lower margins than mass product with plenty of competitors.

andriusk said:

From what you write, I would go for dropshipping, however it really strange to hear that individual product has lower margins than mass product with plenty of competitors.

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Alright cool.

Phone cases from Aliexpress - $2
Custom phone cases from Printful - $13

Google - US dropshippers, cut down on shipping transit time. I have ordered plenty of epacket things from china and elsewhere. I only do it to save money on things I don't need immediately. I think for most customers it's a real turn off to wait a month to get their item. If you can deliver the goods faster than your competitors I think you'll sell more and have far better customer retention.

I found this directory for drop shippers https://www.wholesalefrog.com/

Cheers!

Private lable for your own product will take lot of money , you need to do QC and so on. If it flops ur left with inventory u cant really sell.


I have around 600 microfibre towels laying around with own logo printed. It floped big time.


Im not saying u sholdnt , just figure out if u can aford the risk.

Toy_Soldier said:

Private lable for your own product will take lot of money , you need to do QC and so on. If it flops ur left with inventory u cant really sell.


I have around 600 microfibre towels laying around with own logo printed. It floped big time.


Im not saying u sholdnt , just figure out if u can aford the risk.

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Can you donate the towels and take a write off to offset the loss ? Just a thought.

Cheers

Wyzgy239 said:

Google - US dropshippers, cut down on shipping transit time. I have ordered plenty of epacket things from china and elsewhere. I only do it to save money on things I don't need immediately. I think for most customers it's a real turn off to wait a month to get their item. If you can deliver the goods faster than your competitors I think you'll sell more and have far better customer retention.

I found this directory for drop shippers https://www.wholesalefrog.com/

Cheers!

Click to expand...

Thanks for your help! Hope I can find the product I am selling. I have looked at similar sites but couldn't find my product

Toy_Soldier said:

Private lable for your own product will take lot of money , you need to do QC and so on. If it flops ur left with inventory u cant really sell.


I have around 600 microfibre towels laying around with own logo printed. It floped big time.


Im not saying u sholdnt , just figure out if u can aford the risk.

Click to expand...

I plan on dropshipping my custom products first. Once I know what people like, I will start buying those products in bulk so I'll have a larger profit margin.

The tax nightmare and licenses for dropshipping alone were enough to turn me off from the whole thing.

Plus you're generally sending shitty products from a supply chain you have no control over with horrible customer service.

Other than an expensive churn and burn, I don't see the point of dropshipping unless viewed as an expensive tutorial for Facebook ads - would go with PoD, like printful, where at least you have more control.

If you'd got an edge like a relationship with an American dropshipping company and an available or easily obtainable audience and an accountant to handle the tax and license complications, then it's suddenly a way better idea.

Dr. Profit said:

The tax nightmare and licenses for dropshipping alone were enough to turn me off from the whole thing.

Plus you're generally sending shitty products from a supply chain you have no control over with horrible customer service.

Other than an expensive churn and burn, I don't see the point of dropshipping unless viewed as an expensive tutorial for Facebook ads - would go with PoD, like printful, where at least you have more control.

If you'd got an edge like a relationship with an American dropshipping company and an available or easily obtainable audience and an accountant to handle the tax and license complications, then it's suddenly a way better idea.

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Thanks for your input.

I’m leaning more towards working with printful to create my products. Shipping times are better, higher quality products, but less profit per sale.

As for an audience, I have that. I also have an accountant. Don’t have a relationship with an American dropship company tho.

A bit skeptical about the product that I’m selling tho. I posted on my story for IG. I said that I was creating designs for a phone case and wanted to hear their ideas. I said if they submitted a photo and I decided to use that photo, I would send them a free phone case with their design. 1,000 people saw the story but only 20 people took action.

Read some of the reviews on printfuls website not good

People still dropship cell phone cases from AliExpress? Amazon sells them for nearly the same price and you get it within 2-days.