Hi everyone. I thought it might be a good idea to do a thread on how to find a dropshipper that will work well for you. I think we have a fair mix of people here and it would be really useful if all these different user experiences could come together and make a list on what to look out for.

Since this is my brilliant idea (LOL!) I thought I'd start things off. I think one of the most important things to look out for in a dropshipper is reputation. Checking out their reputation with the Better Business Bureau, seeing if they have any complaints registered against them, etc. You can also get information on how the complaint was resolved because sometimes a good resolution speaks well for a dropshipper.

Another good source is esources.co.uk — they’re the largest database of actual, verified dropshippers on the internet. Obviously, the database is out of the UK, but they have a huge list of international sources.

I think on the whole, reputations play a really important role here. If your dropshipper can't back you up, ultimately you're going to end up looking bad in front of the client. But this doesn't necessarily mean one who's been in the business a long time. Some old-timers have business practices that frankly make me a little uncomfortable. And some of the new kids really put their best foot forward and deliver 100%.

Good point. Although I've found that with dropshippers who don't do things above board, the word generally gets out. So maybe those who have been around a long time do have something better to offer but not always.

Yeah, that's why research is so important I think. Anyway, my tip on how to find a dropshipper that will work well for you has to do with the tracking number. This is such an important piece of information when it comes to dropshipping and you need to make sure your dropshipper can give you these.

If I had my own niche and was doing well, the one thing I would look for is if the drop shipper specializes in that product. Just as sellers have their own niche, sometimes so do drop shippers.

Adding to my earlier reply This is the only way you'll be able to keep tabs on where your cargo is and where it is headed. If your customer doesn't get their product, your tracking number is the only way to find out what's happened. No tracking number and you'll be as lost as your customer.

And yeah, Justin, I like esource too – they have 1000s of suppliers in just about every category.

I remember when I was trying to find a dropshipper, I met with a guy who seemed alright but he couldn't give me tracking numbers. He gave me a whole bunch of reasons why and I being a noob at the time believed him and didn't think they were a big deal. Then when product deliveries were delayed and some didn't turn up at all, I realized how important they were. I had to learn that the hard way though.

A good drop shipper will be able to answer any questions and concerns you have. From legalities, to inspection procedures, to their damaged goods policy and the current exchange rates for whatever country the product is coming to or from. In short, a good drop shipper will "look" intelligent.

I guess my tip on how to find a dropshipper is kind of linked to what Diva said about tracking numbers. Mine is delivery times. You got to remember that YOU aren't shipping out the product, the wholesaler is. So generally, this shipping is going to take a little longer than conventional shipping. As the retailer, you need to find out when the supplier plans to ship out and inform your client accordingly.

I personally would be wary of any supplier that promises to ship things off super-quick. In fact, I don't really mind if they take longer than others. If they can deliver close to their estimates, then that's good enough for me. The worst kind of dropshipper, in my opinion, are those who promise great things and just don't follow through.

I think when trying to find a dropshipper, you need to pay close attention to the products they sell too. This might seem like a given but I've seen a lot of people who kind of get burned out by all the researching and dead ends. And they end up taking up products from a good dropshipper who has a product that may be hard to sell. Or it just might not be a good product. Your ideal dropshipper should be able to provide you the goods and with good delivery times. No point hooking up with someone if you can't sell what they got.