So, Dropshipping with Stealth is a no-no?

[JavierAlonsoMartin]

Good day guys!

I've been trying to dropship from Aliexpress to eBay.

Unfortunately my PayPals were limited before I could find the answer to this question myself (not due to dropshipping, I believe), so I would like to ask you instead.

I've see several messages here from experienced members discouraging dropshipping on new stealth accounts, and I would like to know what's the problem?

After all, if the supplier provides the tracking number, you have good CS to process returns, and the quality of the item is good, eBay should not have any complaints, right?

Or is there something in their policy that goes against dropshipping?

[rsot]

Originally Posted by JavierAlonsoMartin

Unfortunately my PayPals were limited before I could find the answer to this question myself (not due to dropshipping, I believe), so I would like to ask you instead.

Here's my question to you - did you use the SAME PP for receiving funds from orders AND for paying the company to dropship to customers?

[JavierAlonsoMartin]

Originally Posted by rsot

Here's my question to you - did you use the SAME PP for receiving funds from orders AND for paying the company to dropship to customers?

Nope, received with Paypal, paid with Credit Card to which I withdraw, through Alipay

But this doesn't matter so much, I really didn't mean to use this thread to investigate what caused my limitations, but rather to discuss whether dropshipping to eBay is fine or not.

[phaz0rz]

I have 5 or 6 sellers who send me ebay-to-ebay dropship orders daily. They almost all use a new account every few weeks to avoid providing a tax ID. As far as I know, they've never had any issues dropshipping our stuff.

Were you using stock photos?

[rsot]

Originally Posted by JavierAlonsoMartin

Nope, received with Paypal, paid with Credit Card to which I withdraw, through Alipay

But this doesn't matter so much, I really didn't mean to use this thread to investigate what caused my limitations, but rather to discuss whether dropshipping to eBay is fine or not.

Issue is quality - if clients are happy and not misled, then dropshipping works. eB and pp don't really "like" it but people still do it.

[phaz0rz]

Personally I think they welcome dropshippers with open arms, as long as it's done correctly. It's really easy to detect and shut down if they wanted to, especially in the case of ebay-to-ebay. I upload a tracking number for a customer and then 5 minutes later that customer uploads the same tracking number for their buyer. How much more obvious could it be?

Dropshippers boost their bottom line, and that's all that matters in business.

[yankee]

ebay hates drop shippers. If you call in and say you are drop shipping on a new account, they will limit you.

If you are selling in the USA and they item ships from China you are much more likely to have problems.

But if you have no probems, item arrives quickly and you are being honest about item location and transit times, then no bog deal. Just never have a problem and do not do anything to cause a manual review such as sell quickly of paypal etc...

[Othmane]

Originally Posted by JavierAlonsoMartin

But this doesn't matter so much, I really didn't mean to use this thread to investigate what caused my limitations, but rather to discuss whether dropshipping to eBay is fine or not.

If that's your question, then the answer is Dropshipping is possible on eBay if done correctly.

[jeffweico]

Dropshipping is technically allowed on eBay, but it must be done correctly.

eBay has problems with some of the people who dropship. In your case, for example, the company supplying you is located in China. The 14 days or so it takes for the item to get here could create customer service issues. People want their items QUICKLY. And they never read the entire listing, so they could order and be expecting it in 3-4 days.

Also, dropshipping tends to attract people with no money and who are desperate financially. So they start an eBay and PayPal account and find a dropshipper, hoping to make some money that way. But since they have no working capital, they first want to hold the order for 21 days until PayPal releases their funds. So, the customer is already upset because his item has not yet arrived.

The second issue is, since they cannot afford to take any kind of a loss, when the customer complains or wants to return something, they want to tell the customer to take it up with the dropshipper. But the customer should not have to deal with them - they have a deal with THE SELLER, not the dropshipper.

And if anything goes south, PayPal gets left holding the bag for the refunds. And that is very likely to happen since they do not have any experience in online selling in the first place.

Can a stealth account dropship? Yes.But you need a reliable supplier who will ship on the same day and provide you with a tracking number to put into eBay's system. You have to have some working capital and be able to take a hit once in awhile. You must take responsibility for every sale you make. As soon as you say to eBay or to your customer "But my dropshipper..." it has gone south.

Dropshipping was originally a way for established merchants to carry more merchandise then they would otherwise be able to. For example, lets say you sell clocks. Your suppliers have some great models that are reasonably priced and sell very well. They also have a few items that are very expensive, and therefore will not sell as quickly as their other items. The retailer can take orders for those items and have the factory ship them directly, rather than tying their money up in inventory. That system worked very well. But times are different now. Dropshipping is seen as more of business plan that is on the same level as MLM Marketing or get-rich-quick schemes. But done right, it CAN work and if you have done your job well, the customer will never even know there was a third party involved.

[Othmane]

I totally agree with you @jeffweico and I think you have provided the best answer I could think of!

That's the Golden Part

Originally Posted by jeffweico

Can a stealth account dropship? Yes.But you need a reliable supplier who will ship on the same day and provide you with a tracking number to put into eBay's system. You have to have some working capital and be able to take a hit once in awhile. You must take responsibility for every sale you make. As soon as you say to eBay or to your customer "But my dropshipper..." it has gone south.

[JavierAlonsoMartin]

Good morning everyone,

Almost forgot I had this thread opened. Thanks everyone for the detailed answers!

So it seems like is indeed absolutely fine for eBay and PayPal, their policy is not against it, as long as you don't cause them problems, which pretty much can be applied to selling in general, regardless of whether you're dropshipping or not. So as long as one accounts for common problems caused by dropshipping, it should be fine. Or that's how I understood it

[sax4]

Ebay and Amazon themselves are effectively dropshippers

[rsot]

Originally Posted by sax4

Ebay and Amazon themselves are effectively dropshippers

But they are the marketplace and are higher up...

[sax4]

They are as high as any dropshipper can go!