Why is shipping through Ali Express taking 6-8 weeks instead of 2?

Shopify Discussion
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HI I was all excited to start my drop shipping business through shopify, i have watched all the videos etc. i am wondering why Jessica says shipping is about 2 weeks but when i went onto Ali express and looked at all the products , the shipping is about 6-8 weeks for customers to get their products. Can anyone please tell me if there is a way for 2 weeks without shipping being through the roof. i have watched all the videos and the ones on Oberlo and Jessica keeps saying 2 weeks approx for customers to receive their products but that’s not what i am seeing.

thanks if anyone can give me some advice

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Hi there, @MAYSO .

Thanks for reaching out to the Shopify Community with this shipping time question. I’m more than happy to share some information with you regarding these increased shipping times, and the differences you’re seeing in resources and current suppliers.

Many of the drop-shipping resources that have been drafted and created, not just by Oberlo and Shopify, but by other dropshipping services, were completed pre-pandemic. This is the number one reason why you’re seeing the difference in shipping times. Pre-Covid, shipping times were much more agreeable and consistent, hence why many suppliers were able to offer 2 week shipping at a standard.

Due to the pandemic, there have been many global supply chain issues impacting all industries, across all continents. Due to smaller workforces in shipping and labour, shipping times have increased across all the world. The 6-8 week shipping window you’re seeing now is a direct consequence of the pandemic, and cannot be controlled. There is always the option to pay for premium shipping speeds, but as you have said, this comes at an increased costs. To be clear, dropshipping shipping times are determined by the suppliers, so if the supplier is far away from your customer, then the shipping time will be increased. Many other dropshipping businesses and services are facing this same situation.

Eventually, standard shipping times closer to 2 weeks will become the norm again. Until then, we have to adapt to the service-disrupted shipping climate. Online customers have been coached to recognize shipping delays from nearly all online retailers. I recommend that you provide clear messaging on your own store about shipping delays due to the pandemic, so your customers understand that there is likely going to be a shipping delay. Clear information about shipping is incredibly important for building brand trust with your customer base.

Another piece of advice is to look for suppliers that have storage warehouses in the regions you plan on servicing. If you’re operating out of the U.S, for example, a supplier with U.S based storage would be an ideal supplier for you to use, as this will severely reduce your shipping times. Though we cannot pinpoint exactly what suppliers offer U.S based services, they are present on AliExpress, and are likely popular with the current shipping climate.

The world of shipping is tough right now, but eCommerce is still booming, even with these delays! Dig deep to find more localized suppliers, provide clear shipping information on your website, consider providing free shipping to your customers to account for the delays, and you will find that things aren’t too different than what they would be even if shipping times were back down to 2 weeks.

Your customer’s perception of the value they’ve purchased from you is important. Many customers will not mind waiting 6-8 weeks for something if they’ve been communicated with clearly, know the product is of quality, and were provided additional value placing their order (through either a discount code or free shipping, for example). Dropshipping is still viable in this shipping climate. You just need to be prepared to take the extra steps to provide the kind of service your customer’s want from your brand.

Hopefully you find all of this information helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to reply and I’ll follow up with you.

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Hello Imogen thanks so much for your message. If i wanted to use Amazon Australia for dropshipping instead of Ali Express as i live in Australia, i’m a bit confused. does it mean i do not use Oberlo as they only use Ali Express. Does my $79 USD shopify plan mean i can still use Shopify but have Amazon instead of Ali Express . Because shopify is connected to Oberlo i am not sure if i am paying Oberlo or Shopify for my plan. i have done some research and i would like to use Amazon Australia for buying the products to my store. if i cancel Obelo does that mean i have no Shopify account. Please clear this up for me. thanks so much…Annette

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Hi again, @MAYSO . Thanks for your reply!

Since Oberlo only uses AliExpress for suppliers, you won’t be able to use Oberlo if you’re hoping to use Amazon Australia. That’s okay though, as Oberlo is just one of many dropshipping services you can use with Shopify to achieve a dropshipping business.

That $79/month plan you have is completely independent from Oberlo. That subscription plan pays for your ability to run a business on the Shopify Platform, and use any sort of integrations you like to achieve your business goals. This means that you can certainly integration Amazon to your Shopify store. You are by no means required to use Oberlo if you plan on dropshipping.

‘Cancelling’ your Oberlo account, will not cancel your Shopify store. You don’t need to cancel your Oberlo account, either. You can just simply not use Oberlo, remove any products you imported from Oberlo from your store, and remove the Oberlo App from your store. This has no impact on your ability to keep your Shopify store open.

I have a Shopify Blog here that covers the steps on how to integrate Amazon with your Shopify store so you can begin using Amazon to dropship. I’m sure the instructions and steps from that blog will be very helpful for you and your research.

Hopefully this information clears things up for you. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to let me know.