In previous articles, I discussed how to choose the most suitable niche products for Dropshipping, listing products to consider and avoid during this process. Additionally, I introduced the “golden tool” in the Dropshipping field, which is the AliDropship Plugin, facilitating easy product imports from AliExpress with just a few clicks.
If you’re wondering why you should choose Dropshipping suppliers on AliExpress, this article will address that question and provide some tips for selecting the right suppliers on the AliExpress platform.
Why Choose Dropshipping Suppliers on AliExpress?
Diverse Product Categories
In general, most manufacturers focus on a narrow range of products. They may sell a few related items in limited quantities. Managing various types of goods can be complex and labor-intensive.
However, AliExpress is a massive e-commerce platform that facilitates interaction between numerous sellers and buyers. Any supplier can list their products on this platform, resulting in over 100 million products currently available on AliExpress.
These products span various categories, allowing you to choose any item of interest and tailor your dropshipping store to your customers’ preferences.
Free Access to AliExpress Supplier Database
Many dropshipping service providers limit access to their databases. Before paying for their membership, you can’t browse their list of manufacturers and products. Consequently, you can’t determine whether the investment is worthwhile.
AliExpress, on the other hand, doesn’t impose such restrictions. Registration is free, and you can explore products without logging in. Moreover, the platform provides data on the performance and reliability of sellers, including business start date, positive feedback percentage from buyers, order quantities, and more.
This freedom allows you to select the best dropshipping suppliers confidently.
No Fees Involved
Typically, dropshipping service providers charge monthly or annual membership fees. Additionally, they may require fees related to returns, compensating for storage and shipping costs.
With AliExpress suppliers, you don’t have to worry about this. There’s no payment required to start working with them. Furthermore, you won’t incur any additional payments throughout the entire business cooperation.
No Price Markup Restrictions
Items on AliExpress are priced significantly lower than similar products elsewhere. AliExpress suppliers don’t set specific price limits. This means you can mark up the prices as much as you want, leading to impressive profits. Even substantial price increases won’t negatively affect the end buyers, ensuring profitability for your store.
No Order Quantity Limits
Dropshippers often face minimum order quantity requirements from dropshipping service providers. Failure to meet these requirements may lead to a refusal to continue business transactions.
This won’t happen when working with AliExpress suppliers. You can order as many or as few products as you want, without any minimum or maximum order quantities.
No Legal Entity Requirements
You don’t need to be a legal entity (establish a company) when working with AliExpress suppliers. The platform is highly popular among individuals, including those buying for personal use and not resale. This is why suppliers on this platform are willing to work with everyone, regardless of individual or legal entity status.
Global Reach
The final benefit of starting a dropshipping business is the ability to reach an unlimited number of customers. In most cases, these are people who can’t purchase these products in their own countries.
Wholesale suppliers typically focus on providing shipping within Europe or the U.S. However, AliExpress can arrange delivery worldwide, allowing you to significantly expand your target audience.
How to Choose Dropshipping Suppliers on AliExpress
Filtering Search Results for Products
The selection of AliExpress suppliers begins on the search results page.
When entering your product’s name in the AliExpress search bar, don’t forget to check the “4 * & Up” box. In doing so, only high-quality items will be displayed.
Next, sort the results by the number of orders. This way, you’ll see the most frequently ordered items at the top of the product list.
Check Seller Statistics
Navigate to a product page on AliExpress, hover over the store’s name, and view the seller’s statistics.
You can learn how long the store has been operating, examine feedback from previous buyers, and more.
As seen in this example, the store is relatively new, and feedback indicates that the items sold don’t exactly match their descriptions. Additionally, there are issues with communication and lengthy shipping times.
Check Dropshipping Supplier’s Product Reviews
In the seller’s store, choose 8-10 items with the highest order quantities and go to their product pages.
Navigate to the Feedback tab on each product page. Read customer reviews to understand both the positive and negative aspects of the seller.
Pay particular attention to reviews containing images. With these images, you can roughly assess product quality and determine if the buyer’s claims are fair.
Sometimes, customers may complain about minor details that aren’t crucial. These might be one-time “glitches.”
However, if different buyers point out similar difficulties during their purchasing process, that’s a bad sign.
For instance, if a clothing supplier receives feedback that certain products don’t fit as expected, it could mean the supplier provides inaccurate size charts.
Check Dropshipping Supplier’s Shipping Terms
On the product page, look at the shipping cost and terms. Check if the seller can ship to the countries where most of your potential customers reside, whether it’s the U.S. or any other country.
Click the small arrow to change the delivery country. This is how you’ll determine whether the seller can provide fast and affordable shipping for your customers. Your buyers won’t want to wait a long time for their orders or pay too much for expedited shipping, right?
With these tips, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the seller’s operations, helping you decide whether to collaborate with them or not.
