Your ecommerce website business venture is not complete without a tie up with a reputed merchant account provider. You must also endeavor to tie up with a provider offering drop shipping services so that you put your self in the best position to commence your online business venture.
As evident from its name, drop shipping means the delivery of purchased items by the provider to the address of the purchaser. They are your logistic service providers who will take care of the pick up, packing, initiating transit of the items and ultimately delivering the purchased items to the ultimate buyer. No online business can survive without the aid of a good drop shipper. They will handle everything for you leaving you free to concentrate on your core business and you need not bother about stocking any items and maintaining an inventory.
Essentially they are of two kinds – those who have their own warehouses and stock items and those who can pick up the items from the supplier of those items. It is not important as to what kind of drop shipper you choose, your endeavor should be to reduce the elements within the supply chain so that you are able to decrease the transportation costs and pass them on to the buyer. That will make your business stand out and you will be considered competitive in the market place.
Some factors to keep in mind prior to selecting a drop shipper are as below:
a) The reputation of the drop shipper
You must ensure that you choose somebody who holds a good reputation in the industry and in the areas they specialize in. It is not necessary that you have to tie up with just one drop shipper for all your needs. You could look at niche players also. For instance, there could be somebody who are very good at handling and distributing computer parts, so you must think of a tie up with such niche players as well.
You must not be swayed by the hefty commissions that some may offer you and though that could be very tempting, it could also be detrimental to your business in the long run if their service does not match up to your expectations.
You must become aware that the drop shipper that you have decided on can impact your business as your customers would want you to deal with only those who have a good reputation and can be relied upon.
You can check the reputation of a certain drop shipping provider by checking out the internet and searching for feedbacks from online sellers like you- they are the best resources in searching for the perfect courier.
b) How quickly can they deliver?
While speed does matter in the online business, reliability and delivery of goods that are intact and without damage is equally important. Any lapse on this count will go against you as the customer would not be concerned with the mistakes made by your drop shipper. You may need to shell out more money who can deliver your goods safely and properly, but it will be well worth the price you pay to build your own reputation.
c) Customer Service and Support
It is important that you as one of the customers of your drop shipper get adequate support and quick responses for any queries you may have regarding the movement of goods. Your drop shipper must have well trained staff that should be able to address any of your concerns in a timely manner so that you do not have to cut a sorry figure with your customers. Your customers should also feel comfortable to get in touch with the drop shipper to check on the status of their purchased items and when can they expect to receive them at their residence.
The drop shipper is a very important element of your business and you need to exercise adequate due diligence in choosing the best one for your needs.