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Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

  • avatar

    by: nuvobaby
    New SaleHoo Member
    7 posts

    Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 8 Aug 09 2:55 am.

    Hello everyone,

    I've been a member for a few weeks now and lurking these forums. This is my first post.

    I am starting an online store for trendy, unique baby clothes and gifts. So far, I have already purchased wholesale products from a couple of suppliers (before finding out about Salehoo). My poor credit card...I'm trying not to carry so much inventory so that's why I joined Salehoo to get information on reputable dropshippers.

    Anyway, my question is..

    Can I sell stuff online that I do not have in stock --then order it from another online store -- enter my billing information, credit card etc. then ship it to my customer? I know it's like dropshipping but this would be just using the other store's retail pricing and then my pricing will be just slightly higher to cover some of my costs or + adding shipping.

    Right now I can't any really good dropshippers for designer/trendy baby clothes from here that's why I asked this question.

    Hope this makes sense.

    Thanks everyone!

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  • avatar

    by: fudjj
    SaleHoo Staff
    2857 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 8 Aug 09 6:28 am.

    Hi nuvobaby,

    I'm sure what you are suggesting gets done by many every day of the week, and inn essence it is drop shipping. It's juts that your drop shipping without their authority.

    Your success would come down to a couple of key points, being your market firstly. Of course you would need to be marketing where you were not directly competing against your supplier because you would not be able to compete on price.

    Shipping time would be the other big one, you have to wait for them to process your order, then flip it to the final customer. You really are going to have to have that running smoothly or customers will burn you alive for slow shipping.

    Have you considered contacting the other business and suggesting a drop shipping arrangement with them. Business is business, and just because they don't advertise themselves as a drop shipper, it doesn't mean that you can't come to some sort of an arrangement whereby you would list their products and have them blind ship direct to your customers.

    Like I said, business is business and if you're selling their products, then you're putting money in their pocket.

    Marc Ransom

    Community Manager
    SaleHoo.com

    About the Community Manager

  • avatar

    by: nuvobaby
    New SaleHoo Member
    7 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 8 Aug 09 11:11 am.

    Thanks fudjj - I never really considered asking them. If I don't ask, I'll never know.

    :-)
  • avatar

    by: wholesalelist101
    SaleHoo Master Member
    505 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 8 Aug 09 4:55 pm.

    I really don't think that this would be a good idea. When you use a real drop shipper it seems that the package is coming directly from you. It will have your address and a plain box with no mention of the drop shipper anywhere. If you order from a company like Amazon and try to pass them off as your drop shipper for example. Your customer is going to know who you used and go directly to their site and realize that they over paid. That will be a customer that will never come back to you and more than likely be a customer that Amazon will gain. I would suggest only use legit reliable drop shippers or ship the items out yourself.

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  • avatar

    by: nuvobaby
    New SaleHoo Member
    7 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 10 Aug 09 5:13 pm.

    Update:

    I contacted several business and requested if they would offer blind drop shipping for me. So far I received one response and they have a drop shipping program which is great.

    I'm still waiting to hear back from others.

    Thanks!
  • avatar

    by: fudjj
    SaleHoo Staff
    2857 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 10 Aug 09 9:50 pm.

    Good work, never hurts to ask in this business....no matter what the question is lol

    Marc Ransom

    Community Manager
    SaleHoo.com

    About the Community Manager

  • avatar

    by: seductivet
    New SaleHoo Member
    1 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 13 Aug 09 2:26 am.

    hello
  • avatar

    by: planes
    Forum Moderator
    843 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 13 Aug 09 3:04 am.

    ANother trick I used with Newegg.com was to presell; then order and have shipped to me and then my customer. The trick is to have a good supplier with superior shipping which Newegg has.

    I sold many a computer part and even computers using this strategy. Its a good way to start without stock
  • avatar

    by: fudjj
    SaleHoo Staff
    2857 posts

    Re: Can I sell stuff online that I don't have in stock?

    Posted 13 Aug 09 5:29 am.

    hello
    Hi seductivet, was there something we can help you with, or were you just being friendly and saying hello : )

    Marc Ransom

    Community Manager
    SaleHoo.com

    About the Community Manager