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So I am going to start working with dropshipping. I know this involves allot of hard work, and I have some questions.
I know you have to do your research to find products, and there are several ways to find products. But I have some questions in my mind.
Returns
1. How does it work with returns? Let's say a customer wants to return the product, is it up to me to solve this, or how does this work?
Product research
2. There is a ton of different products, and i think it's hard to find the "perfect" one, is it wrong, to start with a product you think is good, and learn from the journey? And then maybe you do it all over again, but this time better. Beacuse, there is a TON of information, and sometimes you learn from doing. Im not saying "do not" do research, but how do you know, its good to go?
Dropship is dead.
3. Some people say dropshipp is dead, that's beacuse to many people are doing it. Is it too late? How did you get started?
4. Also it would be awsome to hear from someone who did get started, what did you start with? There is tons of stuff to do.
Yours sincerly Pelle P - Sorry for the bad grammar.
Hi @PelleP, interesting questions! We'll try to answer questions that we think could be of great benefit to you
1. Yes, the one who handles return orders is you - the business owner. We think this is a very common thing to see when you're doing business and the most important thing is to be well-prepared for any scenario. Setting up clear return/ refund policies on your website so that your customers know what they need to know is the first step.
2. You're right about we learn from doing. It's true that many dropshipping businesses started with niches/ products they thought would be successful but eventually not. It takes lots of effort and patience to learn and then try again. It'd be better if you spend more time on research and then try on a small scale first (we call it as testing phase). We suggest you should read through this post to look for different ways to research your niches/ products.
Hope your question will receive lots of replies from other professional dropshippers!
Hi @PelleP ,
Thanks for reaching out here. Starting any business is a learning curve. If you need any help, don't ever hesitate to reach out to us.
When it comes to returns in dropshipping, you can pretty much set your own rules. The most usual reasons for a refund are: product is broken, defective, doesn't match your description, or never arrived. If the customer says any of that, ask for a photo. If any of these reasons can be backed up with a photo or tracking code, most AliExpress suppliers will issue you a refund. You can also refund your customer and kindly ask them to donate products to a local charity or recycle it. Make sure to go through this guide on handling returns like a pro.
You're right. Finding the perfect product seems so overwhelming, considering the supply. For that reason, it's essential to do market research and validate your business idea. Here is an excellent guide on that exact topic. What kind of product did you have in mind?
"Dropshipping is dead or oversaturated" is a widespread statement or question. But then I ask, "Is shopping too saturated?" Of course not - people are shopping every day. New stores are launching, making their first sales, and scaling every day.
Dropshipping is a fulfilment model, and it cannot be saturated. On the other hand, products can become saturated in a particular market. For example, you probably don't want to sell charcoal face masks in the US. It's considered a saturated product there. But if you do some research, you will find out that there are countries where there s a lot of room for this kind of product to scale.
If you'd like a comprehensive, step-by-step course that helps you build an online business, try Dropshipping:101 free course. Let me know what you think.
Iris | Social Care @ Shopify
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