Finding a Good Dropshipper
Posted on Wednesday 2nd January 2008 by Simon Bell. Hits: 78
I would like to post my experience with "the Select" (.co.uk).
I run an online retail website specialising in Gifts & Gadgets and I have been trying to find a decent supplier for a number of years now. I originally registered with the Select about a year ago when I first opened up my online store. I received a good number of orders, yet when I attempted to dispatch these orders to my customers through the Select's website, every item was out of stock. I ended up with a lot of very angry customers complaining about my poor stock control.
A year later and I am trying to start-up my online retail store again, I thought I'd give the Select another go, since they introduced their "minimum release" system. My store automatically updates its stock levels to match the Select's stock levels and will only display "In Stock" on items that have reached their "minimum release" level on the Select's website.
The first order I received last week had reached its "minimum" level on the Select, in fact it was 12 units over its "minimum release", yet the Select claim that the item is out of stock and I was required to "reserve" the item.
I received another order shortly after, again the item is 3 units over the "minimum release" yet when I tried to order the item from the Select I am still required to "Reserve" the item and wait. After 3 days of waiting the item has finally disappeared from the Select's stock list completely. How do I explain this to my customer that has already paid? I raised a ticket with the Selects enquiry system and received a poorly spelt response 5 days later (might I suggest that the Select proof read their responses before sending them).
When I joined the Select I paid £49.99 for my Bronze Agent membership. How much profit have I made since joining? A turnover of £61.97 - £49.99's worth of that was on the Bronze Agent package itself and £11.98 was on a "pop-up laundry bin" which made me £2.68 profit. The Select have added many new agent packages such as the "Gold Retailer Package" that gives you full access to their catalogue, "gold agent" rate prices and a fully running automated e-commerce website; all for £1999.99 (yes that's £2000!). How long do you think it would take any genuinely trying business to make that £2000 back again? I really do strongly suggest searching elsewhere for a reliable dropship supplier.
My store (The Spruzz Store) currently holds in its catalogue every item from the Select (bar the agent packages). An impressive 579 products! Yet take a look at just how many items are in stock. The featured items displayed at the bottom of each page are my own products which I stock myself (which are in stock).
I am now looking for either a reliable Dropship supplier, or to stock the products myself from wholesalers since dropshipping can badly damage the reputation of your business very easily with a poor dropship supplier.
I run an online retail website specialising in Gifts & Gadgets and I have been trying to find a decent supplier for a number of years now. I originally registered with the Select about a year ago when I first opened up my online store. I received a good number of orders, yet when I attempted to dispatch these orders to my customers through the Select's website, every item was out of stock. I ended up with a lot of very angry customers complaining about my poor stock control.
A year later and I am trying to start-up my online retail store again, I thought I'd give the Select another go, since they introduced their "minimum release" system. My store automatically updates its stock levels to match the Select's stock levels and will only display "In Stock" on items that have reached their "minimum release" level on the Select's website.
The first order I received last week had reached its "minimum" level on the Select, in fact it was 12 units over its "minimum release", yet the Select claim that the item is out of stock and I was required to "reserve" the item.
I received another order shortly after, again the item is 3 units over the "minimum release" yet when I tried to order the item from the Select I am still required to "Reserve" the item and wait. After 3 days of waiting the item has finally disappeared from the Select's stock list completely. How do I explain this to my customer that has already paid? I raised a ticket with the Selects enquiry system and received a poorly spelt response 5 days later (might I suggest that the Select proof read their responses before sending them).
When I joined the Select I paid £49.99 for my Bronze Agent membership. How much profit have I made since joining? A turnover of £61.97 - £49.99's worth of that was on the Bronze Agent package itself and £11.98 was on a "pop-up laundry bin" which made me £2.68 profit. The Select have added many new agent packages such as the "Gold Retailer Package" that gives you full access to their catalogue, "gold agent" rate prices and a fully running automated e-commerce website; all for £1999.99 (yes that's £2000!). How long do you think it would take any genuinely trying business to make that £2000 back again? I really do strongly suggest searching elsewhere for a reliable dropship supplier.
My store (The Spruzz Store) currently holds in its catalogue every item from the Select (bar the agent packages). An impressive 579 products! Yet take a look at just how many items are in stock. The featured items displayed at the bottom of each page are my own products which I stock myself (which are in stock).
I am now looking for either a reliable Dropship supplier, or to stock the products myself from wholesalers since dropshipping can badly damage the reputation of your business very easily with a poor dropship supplier.
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