Hi guys,
a lot of people start out with the Shopify + AliExpress / Oberlo model, but is it possible to build a successful long-term business with this model?
My main concerns are:
1) Long Shipping Times
- By default, it takes 7-10 days for items to arrive in US (longer for the rest of the world). Why would someone buy from your store if they can get the same item from Amazon in 1 day with zero shipping cost?
- It's a common issue, even among best rated sellers, that they don't use ePacket but China Post, even if you specifically instruct them to use ePacket. That can create some serious customer support issues.
2) Customs Duty
- If I as a customer would buy something and then get a form to fill out and customs duty to pay that would be a very unwelcome surprise. I would go through the trouble, probably, but I would never again order at from that seller.
3) Building a Relationship
- Nowadays you often don't buy directly from the manufacturer but from a re-seller. If you're stuck with a reseller, it's impossible to build a good relationship for the long-term (packaging, lower prices, etc.).
4) Quality Issues
- A lot of cheap products are made for Chinese market only and they don't comply with EU/US safety standards. That could cause a lot of troubles in the long-term.
What do you guys think? Is it worth doing the Shopify + AliExpress model, if you plan things for the long-trem, or is it better to skip the whole thing and find quality dropshippers in US/EU?
Thanks.
a lot of people start out with the Shopify + AliExpress / Oberlo model, but is it possible to build a successful long-term business with this model?
My main concerns are:
1) Long Shipping Times
- By default, it takes 7-10 days for items to arrive in US (longer for the rest of the world). Why would someone buy from your store if they can get the same item from Amazon in 1 day with zero shipping cost?
- It's a common issue, even among best rated sellers, that they don't use ePacket but China Post, even if you specifically instruct them to use ePacket. That can create some serious customer support issues.
2) Customs Duty
- If I as a customer would buy something and then get a form to fill out and customs duty to pay that would be a very unwelcome surprise. I would go through the trouble, probably, but I would never again order at from that seller.
3) Building a Relationship
- Nowadays you often don't buy directly from the manufacturer but from a re-seller. If you're stuck with a reseller, it's impossible to build a good relationship for the long-term (packaging, lower prices, etc.).
4) Quality Issues
- A lot of cheap products are made for Chinese market only and they don't comply with EU/US safety standards. That could cause a lot of troubles in the long-term.
What do you guys think? Is it worth doing the Shopify + AliExpress model, if you plan things for the long-trem, or is it better to skip the whole thing and find quality dropshippers in US/EU?
Thanks.
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