| For small Internet retailers, drop-shipping is one of the | | | | advantages to drop-shipping. As the volume of our |
| best innovations since sliced bread. How else can a | | | | orders grows, it becomes more and more difficult to |
| start-up offer a wide variety of products and | | | | package all of that furniture. Fortunately for us, our |
| convince customers that they have a fully-stocked | | | | largest supplier is only two miles away and we have |
| warehousewhile investing virtually nothing in inventory | | | | a pretty good deal going: we finish all the log furniture |
| or warehousing? Before you jump right onto the | | | | they want finished, and they drop-ship the unfinished |
| drop-shipping bandwagon, however, there are some | | | | furniture. So they make it, we finish it. |
| pitfalls to avoid. | | | | That means if somebody orders unfinished furniture, |
| While a quality drop-shipper is truly a dream come | | | | it can go directly from the factory. This might have |
| true for the Internet retailer, there are plenty of | | | | made me nervous about quality control at one point, |
| painful pitfalls to avoid. Things can get embarrassing | | | | but I have developed a high degree of confidence in |
| and costly in a hurry when a drop-shipper:sends | | | | our log furniture manufacturer. In the five years I |
| products out lateforgets to process your | | | | have been associated with them, they have never |
| orderssends out poorly packaged productsdouble-bills | | | | let me down. They fill orders with a high degree of |
| your credit card for orders on a regular basisprovides | | | | quality and accuracy, which makes our job easy. |
| cheaply made products and/or shoddy workmanship. | | | | Choosing a Drop-Ship Partner |
| A Matter of Credibility | | | | Unfortunately, not all drop-shipping companies are as |
| In addition to the above drawbacks, many customers | | | | reliable as the one I have found. This is why it pays |
| are not very impressed when they find out you retail | | | | to do your homework before choosing a |
| drop-shipped products. This is especially the case with | | | | drop-shipping company. If you align yourself with |
| the rustic log furniture I sell on the web. Many phone | | | | fly-by-night operations, your business will most likely |
| customers ask if we make the products ourselves, | | | | suffer as a result. If you are wildly successful, which |
| or are merely drop-shipping. | | | | you no doubt hope to be, a small start-up may not |
| They are relieved and impressed when they find that | | | | be able to manufacturer or ship product fast enough |
| we manufacturer, finish or pack most of the log | | | | to meet your needs. A drop-shipper that is unstable |
| furniture we sell at our warehouse. We sell to a lot | | | | as a business may be happy to take your cash but |
| of people with expensive vacation homes, and quality | | | | fail to fill orders on a timely basis. |
| is of utmost importance. Its always easier to testify | | | | Any business who drop-ships your orders will affect |
| to the quality of furniture when you have seen it | | | | your reputation as a company one way or another. |
| yourself, and we are able to offer a more unique line | | | | As a result, its important to make sure any |
| by going to Amish suppliers whose products arent | | | | drop-shipping companies you partner with meet the |
| sold elsewhere on the Internet. | | | | high level of customer service and quality control |
| Advantages of Drop-Shipping | | | | standards you set for your business. |
| With this said, there are still some sizeable | | | | |