Using dropshippers and NOT selling on ebay

Hello everyone--Thanks for a great site!:

I am a new member, and my wife and I are working with our local small business administration to build a website to sell 'aids to daily living' type products (large handled spoons, 'grabbers', items for seniors). We were hoping to use dropshipping to avoid having to pay for and warehouse too many wholesale products, because as a business start-up, having too much capital invested is risky until we get off our feet and can establish a mailing list/customer base. We don't generally want to sell on Ebay, but do a catalog, or 'flyer' in my local region, and local advertising. Has anyone here ever attempted this type of business approach? We will have an '800' number, and hope to move into a retail store in about a year, if we can get this first phase of our business off the ground.

We are reading everything we can get our hands on, and will avoid the sites like DOBA and SIMPLX, but could use leads for any dropshippers or wholesalers who might carry a few of our type of products, and any business advice you all can give us about building a local business using dropshippers, etc. We do like the sites that carry dollar-store items, but will also need some 'higher end' items that are 'helper type' products that older people might need to help them live more comfortably.

Best regards,and many thanks in advance-- :D
James Thomas

I am also new to this dropshipping business and i am sorry but i am not answering any of your questions, but was interested to know why do i need to avoid the DOBA site for dropshipping.

nik,

Thanks for writing anyway. Glad to know there is someone visiting these forums who will take time to write. The salehoo team has been nice, and have answered my other questions that I emailed to them personally. I do like this site. It has been very helpful.

From what I can see (from current hours of looking), the DOBA and Simplx sites both have high initial fees, and act as intermediaries for the companies that actually do the dropshipping. With research into your chosen products, you can probably contact your chosen companies directly, and either swing a wholesale deal or a dropship arrangement, and not have to deal with DOBA. At least that's what we're finding at this time. I'm sure someone else can comment better than I can, as I have not used those sites. It just seemed like a lot of money to do what I could do if I spent more time researching companies myself. The trick, we've found, is to get the companies to work with you if you don't currently have a huge retail store. As in, we don't need 600 cases of something. And we'd like to not have to warehouse cases at all.

Anyway.....that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! I'm still trying to find products at wholesale that apply to my chosen business, and it's hard to find wholesalers who deal in adaptive equipment that isn't $$$. Good luck with your search. Stay in touch.
Best regards,
James

Nik: P.S.: also, my wife and I read some bad reviews, as in profit margin was very low, and monthly fee was high to remain a member of DOBA.

Like slicing a hair to make a profit. Had to really find the needle in the haystack.

I agree with hozlolly:

Doba pretty much sucks for all the money they ask for they don't help you much and they charge to help you in the selling og THEIR PRODUCTS! Not a good deal, I'm never going to make my money back with there products, not one sale!

Hey hozlolly If your looking into electronics and accessories. Try contacting

Link hidden: Login to view They are the largest electronics dropshipper in the USA. they have same day order fullfillment and a min purchase of 1 item. You can also work with Link hidden: Login to view they are also a huge distributer.

Ive heard many mixed results from doba and simplex is a complete joke. Many have claimed simplex is completely impossible to profit from.

You could also try Link hidden: Login to view. There are great products.

Hi...sorry it took me so long to get back to your replies but here I am finally and just want to say thanks for the input. I am slowly and carefully finding some companies to work with and will study the sites you linked to me to see if they have any products related to our business. Thanks again.

I canceled my account with Doba. After hours and hours of research, you can always find what they have selling cheaper on Ebay. The only one making money with Doba is Ebay itself with listing fees!