Profit/Supplier Delhema

Removed.

I am new to finding suppliers for the purpose of dropshipping and no doubt my lack of knowledge plays a significant part in the difficulties I'm experiencing. The thing that's got me most worried, in these early explorations, is that when I find a supplier of something and check out ebay for the kind of price its selling for, I get a shock. Not only are the goods selling for a very small profit but the shipping costs are also very low in comparison with what I would have to charge to have something shipped to the UK from say the USA or China forinstance.

Am I making a fundamental mistake? Should I only think of dropshipping goods to the indigenous population of where the suppliers are also based? If that is the case, wont I then run up against all kinds of problems with getting a license to sell in other countries?

I don't have the answers but it looks to me as though I should only be thinking of finding UK suppliers in order to sell to UK residents.

Could someone please wise me up about this.

Well this is really an issue of proper sourcing.

Good sourcing takes time and a bit of know how. Too often people run into the same wall... they can't seem to find products to sell at cheaper prices then they can buy it on ebay already.

Well it just takes a lot of time to source products. I like to think that a product can always be found cheaper., now cheaper is not always the best.... but people will find that out.... most do the hard way...lol

Anyway all i can say is just keep pluggin away and you will figure it out. For shipping just call shipping companies and make deals, negotiate a better rate for yourself, make the shipping companies bid for your business.

As for sourcing.... You know i see a lot of people always trying to find suppliers for this and that on here.... I have thought of offering a sort of 'product sourcing/market research' service.... for a small fee i could source your product and also include some valuable market info for your product like average retail & ebay price, supply vs demand , competition and so on. I was thinking of charging $19.95 per report and people would get it overnight.

Sorry for the plug.... just thinking outloud. But i have found some great sources for things, for example strollers that retail for $300 I can source for about $40 , just a very small example.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for your insight, Hi5. Your comments bring home the truth that, even with an honest list of wholesalers/dropsippers, the work is only just beginning.

For all the 'gurus' out there who claim to know how to show us the way to make a fortune with eBay I haven't yet found a single one who deals with the nitty-gritty logistics of product sourcing. The right supplier, at the right price, at the right shipping costs must be the proverbial haystack for most people who are new to this game, even for those who fully appreciate that they should only search for what punters WANT to buy, rather than looking for what they personally like or, HOPE the punter would like to buy.

I don't believe that successful selling on eBay is easy for the beginner. I am certain that many entrepreneurs have taken full advantage of those who wish to succeed in the online marketplace and some of those 'educators' have not so much educated the masses but instead have enriched themseves through the exploitation of ignorance.

Your proposed PS/MR Service sounds like it could be a valuable asset to people like myself who are looking to get a foot on the ladder of success as well as for those who don't have the available time.
In my opinion it would have to be a principled service that is aimed at providing 'of value' product sourcing. In other words the products which are sourced are the products which will sell. If it didn't operate like that then it would be a wasted investment for your potential clients. But if it did follows this principle then I think that before too long you will be looking to find ways of expanding your service in order to meet demand.

If you really have faith in your ability to source products that people want to buy why not test it out on a few people (including me). The testimonials you could receive will be like gold dust when it comes to promoting your service.

I am only looking for dropship supplied goods because I don't have the capital or storage for investing in stock. There will be a great many others in exactly the same position. Also, I am sure it would be of enormous help to be connected to suppliers who will accept PayPal.

The potential for this kind of focussed service could be enormous.
However, I do see a potential flaw. If too many people are supplied with the same information then the value of what you provide will be undermined. As a customer of yours I would need to know how many other sellers had already been given access to the same information. It's the old SUPPLY & DEMAND reality, isn't it.

I hope this keyhole market research is helpful to you.

I guess it's over to you now, Hi5.

I will openly accept your challenge. :lol:

Please pm me all your details on a single product you're looking for an i will work my magic for you.

And I did think about the issue that if the service became popular and soo many people were sourcing the same product then the competative edge would flounder. But in my reports i will offer average price from supplier... everyone has their own ability to negotiate better prices, and also everyone will have different quantity requirements which will also determine price break..... so the competative edge still remains. And plus new suppliers emerge all the time.

So please send me your details, anyone else who wants to give this a shot send away also.

Thanks.

I have laid down the gaunlet and you have taken it up. You are a brave knight and worthy of your colours.

I shall meet you on 'The Plain of the Unknown Quantity' via the portal of PM :D

It's all gone strangely quiet on the challenge front!

2 PM's sent. No replies.

sorry have been away from office...

Holidays here .