Dropshipping suppliers

Dropshipping Suppliers: How to Find the Best Ones

Finding dropshipping suppliers can be a tricky and time-consuming task, but it’s essential to the success of every dropshipping business. Many suppliers offer the same products, so how do you know which one to choose? Here’s our guide to help you through the process.

The Importance of Finding the Right Dropshipping Suppliers

Unfortunately, not all dropshipping suppliers are created equal.

There are many retailers out there who disguise themselves as wholesale dropshipping suppliers. These retailers don’t offer value for money. But they are often good at marketing themselves. For this reason, it’s important to do thorough research before choosing a supplier. A simple Google search won’t suffice.

While you can always change supplier if issues arise, it’s better to find trustworthy partners from the outset as they can impact nearly every aspect of your business, including:

  • Customer happiness, loyalty and reviews
  • Delivery times and cost
  • Product quality, pricing and consistency
  • Your business’ reputation and brand name
  • Your working hours and stress levels

Finding Dropshipping Suppliers

From directories to phone calls, there is a range of ways to find great suppliers for your dropshipping business. Here are our best tips to get you started.

  1. Contact manufacturers
    Reach out to the manufacturers of the products you want to sell for a list of the suppliers they work with. This simple step ensures you’re looking at legitimate suppliers. If the same name appears, again and again, this may be your ideal supplier.
  2. Try out Niche Scraper
    Niche Scraper is a product research tool, which helps dropshippers spot trending items. It also provides users with a daily list of recommended products, suppliers and ad targeting approaches curated by their experts.
  3. Go to a trade show
    Find out if any trade shows in your niche take place near you. Tickets can be costly, but trade shows are a great way to meet suppliers and view products in person.
  4. Google extensively
    As we mentioned, many wholesale dropshipping suppliers haven’t mastered marketing yet. With this in mind, you should Google various search terms and look past the first page of Google results. Don’t disregard a supplier just because of a clunky website.
  5. Order from competitors
    Order some products from competitors or dropshippers you want to be like. Searching the return address will tell you who their dropshipping supplier is. This is a great opportunity to check out the competition and find potential suppliers at the same time.

Dropshipping Suppliers Sites

A number of websites simply and conveniently list suppliers by niche. Some of these directories screen suppliers before listing them, which provides security and peace of mind. Directories like Worldwide Brands and Salehoo say they vet all wholesalers – though they charge a fee for access.

Below we list some popular websites that are free. But, like on Amazon or eBay, users rely on feedback and reviews to figure out which suppliers are trustworthy.

AliExpress

AliExpress facilitates small dropshipping businesses to sell to customers all over the world. It’s easy to search and tools like Oberlo allow you to easily add its products to your Shopify store. A huge number of products and suppliers feature, most of which are Chinese.

Finding dropshipping suppliers: AliExpress
AliExpress is a hugely popular site for sourcing dropshipping products

DHGate

This is another Chinese website which feels similar to AliExpress. Similarly, DHGate offers a huge range of products and buyer protections, but it also has warehouses in the US which makes for shorter delivery times.

LightInTheBox

Selling a variety of on-trend clothing, electronics and lifestyle products since 2007, LightInTheBox delivers to over 200 countries.

TopTenWholesale

Selling a wide range of products, this website features lots of suppliers from the US and has a section specifically for dropshippers.

Inventory Source

Based in Florida, Inventory Source requires signing up to its free directory plan to view its dropshipping suppliers. With over 100 suppliers listed, you should find one to fit your business.

How to Spot Fake Wholesale Dropshipping Suppliers

As we mentioned, some retailers disguise themselves as wholesale dropshipping suppliers but don’t offer the wholesale prices. Here are some red flags for spotting these guys.

1. They sell to the general public

Real wholesale suppliers rarely sell their products directly to the public. In fact, they usually have an application process which ensures they’re working with legitimate businesses.

2. They charge monthly fees

While supplier directories may charge ongoing fees, your suppliers shouldn’t. This is a tell-tale sign that you’re not dealing with a true wholesale supplier.

3. They don’t charge pre-order fees

To provide dropshipping, most suppliers charge a pre-order fee of a few dollars. This covers the cost of picking and packing products individually, rather than in bulk.

4. They don’t have minimum order sizes

Minimum order sizes are also common when working with wholesale suppliers. For example, they may charge a minimum of 100 units or $100 upfront and then fill the orders as they come in. Make sure to discuss this with potential suppliers.

5. An address isn’t displayed

This can set alarm bells ringing when looking at any business website and it’s no different for suppliers.

6. A lack of industry knowledge

Whether they are running a scam or simply don’t know about your niche, suppliers lacking expertise should be avoided.

If you can’t decide whether or not a supplier is trustworthy, these extra checks could help:

  • Check to see if they are in a reliable supplier directory
  • Search the Better Business Bureau’s website, which tracks scams and complaints
  • Ask product manufacturers if they work with this supplier
  • Google the supplier’s name or address, along with phrases like ‘fraud’ or ‘scam’

Contacting Dropshipping Suppliers

Once you have a shortlist, it’s time to put your potential dropshipping suppliers to the test. But you need to be prepared to impress them too.

What to check before you make contact

  • Gauge if they offer a reliable service by checking reviews and order quantities.
  • Look at shipping times, return policies and raw materials to see if they suit your audience’s needs.
  • Order some products to see packaging, delivery times and product quality for yourself.
Contacting dropshipping suppliers
Be careful when making contact with dropshipping suppliers, you’ll be looking for quick responses!

What to prepare before you make contact

Before contacting potential suppliers, you’ll want to do two things:

  • Prepare information about your business
  • Prepare questions for the supplier

Suppliers will want to verify your business is real so have details of your company’s registration handy. Then, you can ask them about products, fees, payment terms, warranties, warehouse locations, support and the technology they use.

You want to show you mean business. This way they’ll be more likely to work with you and, perhaps, even accommodate special requests – like custom labelling.

How to make contact

First, send a DM to test responsiveness – a quick reaction is reassuring. Next, pick up the phone. Speaking to a representative will give you a feel for the supplier’s business style and service. If things are going smoothly, request referrals from some current customers.

Payment options for wholesale dropshipping suppliers

A payment method which suits you will ensure a smooth service for customers. These are the most common options available:

  • Credit card: Widely accepted and very convenient, suppliers can simply charge your card as orders come in. Depending on the provider, you can also rack up rewards.
  • PayPal: Used by many suppliers, this is another convenient option, but you’ll want to calculate the charges before making a decision.
  • Check or bank transfer: These traditional payment options give you some time to pay, for example, a ‘net 20’ arrangement means you’ll have 20 days. But, credit references are usually required.

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Related: Amazon Dropshipping: The Ultimate Guide for 2020

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