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2021-11-29

Dropshipping: avoid paying too much at an online shop

Did you order a package from a Dutch online shop and then waited for weeks for your order to be delivered because it turned out to come from abroad? Then you are probably dealing with dropshipping. You probably overpaid for your package too. This article explains dropshipping, how to recognise it, and what to look out for before placing an order online. How does dropshipping work? Dropshipping is a new business model increasingly used by online shops. Dropshipping works like this: you place an order at an online shop. Does it use dropshipping to fulfil orders? Then the online shop itself has no storage space or stock. Your order is forwarded to a foreign marketplace, such as AliExpress, AliBaba or Wish, or supplier. This supplier or webshop send the package directly to you. Misleading advertisements Sometimes an online shop advertises with cheap offers. Two for the price of one or 60% discount 'Grab your chance now before it's too late'. You place an order and think you got a good deal. Until you find out that the package comes from China or another non-EU country. You go to investigate and discover that the same product is on sale at AliExpress or Wish for a fraction of the amount you paid for it. In practice, dropshippers (online shops that use dropshipping) often do nothing more than place an order on your behalf with a foreign marketplace e.g. AliExpress, Wish or Alibaba. It's not a scam, but it does feel that way sometimes. How to recognise dropshipping An online shop does not always indicate that it works with dropshipping. Sometimes online shops mention that they order directly from a supplier, but even then it is not immediately clear that dropshipping is involved. So how do you recognise dropshipping? These are the most important signals: Vague or long(er) delivery times Dropship suppliers are often located in Asia. That is why it often takes weeks, sometimes even months, before you receive your order. Because online shops have no control over delivery times, they will often mention unclear or long(er) delivery times on the website. Indication of private address Does the online shop have a private address on the website for returning packages, for example? Then the chances are it is a dropshipping business. Always check the address in Google Maps. No original product images Online shops that work with dropshipping often don't use original product images. Take a screenshot of a product image and upload it into Google Images to see what other websites (e.g. AliExpress, Alibaba or Wish) use this image. Language errors Often the product description is poorly translated from English. So be alert when you stumble across strange sentence structures and language errors. Disadvantages of dropshipping Dropshipping is not always beneficial for you as a consumer. These are the most significant drawbacks: No reliability products Products from outside the EU that are sold in the EU must comply with the European product requirements. Dropshippers, in most cases, do not see or control the products they sell. Therefore, they cannot