Have you ever sold an item that you found out was unavailable from your dropshipper?

I am new to Salehoo. I am very interested in dropshipping. One concern I have is if I find an item I want to sell, and then list it and sell it on ebay- and then go back once the auction ends to buy the product from the dropshipper only to find that it is unavailable. Has this ever happened to someone? Or could I possibly be confused on how dropshipping works? Thank you!!!

Hi TheVoughtCompanyLLC,

Welcome to SaleHoo! :)

A quick solution would be to find another supplier that had that exact same product. Unfortunately what you have experienced is one of the disadvantages in drop shipping. In the future you can avoid selling 'sold out' items by first, confirming with the supplier their inventory and second, if possible, having at least two suppliers (one for back up) for each product that you list for sale.

Kindly read about the benefits and drawbacks of dropshipping from Link hidden: Login to view to help you understand this method fully.

If done correctly, drop shipping can be an excellent way to earn, especially when you find the RIGHT supplier. :) And once you find reliable drop shippers to work with, it can help minimize the disadvantages. :)

Thank you so much for your reply! While we have not experienced this yet, we were concerned of the chance that this would happen.

Thank you so much for your reply! While we have not experienced this yet, we were concerned of the chance that this would happen.

So relieved to hear it wasn't a problem. :) If you click on 'Education' you will see loads of very useful information to help you -

Link hidden: Login to view

Link hidden: Login to view

And exclusive to your SaleHoo membership are these downloanable PDF guides Link hidden: Login to view so don't miss them, especially the #6 SaleHoo New User Manual :)

Hi, My name is JOHN (AKA bacpro)

This happens to me all the time. When you sell in as many place that I do
its difficult to keep track. The one company that I deal with is CompGallary, and this Company sells software, movies, games, I list there items on many websites, like Addoway, Bonanza, eBay, ecrater. and there are times that I sell an item and Oppo's it's no longer available, In this case I go and try to find the item some place else even if I have to pay more because you don't want to disappoint your customer. He may be a repeat customer. After I informe my customer that there items will be delayed, I immediately go and delete the item at the websites I' sell it. Yes this happen, but it's just part of doing business..

My input on this subject
John

Thanks John (bacpro)!

As John pointed out, it's pretty much part and parcel of Drop Shipping. Risk assessment is an important part of business, and that is definitely a risk when it comes to Drop Shipping.

I too have this happen quite often, I try to source from alternative supplier but if I can't, then I refund, humbly apologise and cancel transaction.

Stupid story, sold this item, my supplier was out of stock, found another supplier, so, rang them, told them, hey, I usualy go through this company but they are out of stock, do you have any, they then made a quick phone call and come back and said no, they are also out of stock.

Talking to my supplier, they stated that the other company had rang them seeing if they had stock. apparently the second mob only sell like me but through a website.

Forgot, another problem you might come across is price changes, you list the item, short time later the wholesale company increases the price, sometimes you just gotta wear it.

Stupid story, sold this item, my supplier was out of stock, found another supplier, so, rang them, told them, hey, I usualy go through this company but they are out of stock, do you have any, they then made a quick phone call and come back and said no, they are also out of stock.

Talking to my supplier, they stated that the other company had rang them seeing if they had stock. apparently the second mob only sell like me but through a website.

LMAO

Welcome to the layer cake.


Frank