Thanks to everyone who joined our latest Shopify Community AMA: “Dropshipping for Summer - What’s Changed & What Still Works?” hosted by the Zopi team! We had a great mix of questions from new and experienced merchants, and covered topics like product validation, Meta ad compliance, sourcing U.S. vendors, and scaling strategies.
Here are 5 standout questions from the AMA and what we discussed:
Q1: How do I know if a product is worth scaling after a few days of testing?
A: When testing summer products, we break it down into signals across multiple areas:
- CTR: Over 1.5% on Meta or 0.8%+ on TikTok is a good sign
- On-site activity: 5 - 10 add-to-carts from the first 50 - 100 visits shows strong interest
- Bounce rate: Healthy if under 60%, and session time > 45s
CPC: Under $1 - $2 is ideal for low-ticket items - Supplier check: Make sure shipping isn’t delayed (>15 days = red flag)
Q2: What’s the best strategy to recover abandoned carts and reduce payment failures?
A: Start with diagnosing the cause: failed payments on Shop Pay could be due to expired cards, fraud filters, or user trust issues. Enable alternative methods like PayPal or Google Pay to boost completion rates.
For recovery, use a 3-part email + SMS sequence:
- 1 hour: Friendly reminder
- 24 hours: Add urgency (“limited stock”)
- 48–72 hours: Offer a discount (if margin allows)
Add exit-intent popups, retarget with TikTok/Meta UGC ads, and manually reach out if it’s a high-ticket order. Optimize checkout UX and always monitor device type and load speed — mobile friction can quietly kill conversions.
Q3: How can I avoid being charged VAT twice when dropshipping from China to the EU?
A: Many Chinese suppliers include VAT by default even if you provide an IOSS number. Their systems are built for consumer checkout, not tax-exempt B2B.
To avoid double VAT:
- Message the supplier and ask for net pricing with IOSS
- Use sourcing agents that support VAT-exempt IOSS orders
- Ask for commercial invoices that clearly separate VAT for reclaim
This issue is common - using fulfillment services with flexible invoicing is often the most reliable workaround until more Chinese platforms adapt.
Q4: What Meta ad phrases should I avoid for health or pain-related products?
A: Meta flags ads that mention personal conditions, symptoms, or use body-focused emojis. Avoid phrases like:
- “Do you suffer from back pain?”
- “Fix your posture”
- “You feel stiff…”
Also avoid emojis like 
or 
and medical claims like “cure” or “heal.” Even borderline phrases like “relieves discomfort” often throttle reach.
Instead, reframe with benefit- or lifestyle-based copy:
- “Designed to support your posture”
- “Built for all-day comfort”
- “Move freely throughout your day”
Use UGC-style videos with subtle visuals, relaxed tone, and clear trust-building angles. Compliance improves delivery and lowers CPCs over time.
Q5: What are the biggest dropshipping shifts this summer compared to last year?- Faster shipping wins – Brands offering 5–9 day delivery (via US suppliers or local agents) are outperforming 15–20 day setups.
- Trends move faster – TikTok and Meta cycles are shorter. You must test, pivot, and optimize creativity faster than ever.
- Compliance is tighter – More Shop Pay checkout failures and stricter VAT rules (like IOSS in EU). Staying compliant is essential.
- Automation is the new baseline – Manual product import, pricing, and fulfillment are fading. Tools like Zopi are becoming the standard for scaling efficiently.
Note that different categories will have a fluctuation in benchmark metrics and different timing in delivery, take a close research before making decisions.