The internet is a fascinating world all its own. A bewildering array of sites can be had on virtually any topic, but what about getting product for your new Internet-based retail shop? It’s an intimidating prospect. Should you go local, or should you go international, where there are countless wholesale outlets that can get you the product you want and at unusually low pricing compared to their domestic counterparts here in the states?
The good news with importing lower cost goods to your outlet is that they are often at much lower cost than the same item even at a local wholesaler’s bargain basement prices. And many of them are of very good quality and visually appealing. Foreign retailers cater to their local markets, and their items are often marketed visually to their clientele in different ways than their American counterparts. And that difference can make them more appealing to an American audience with slightly different tastes. But the bad news with foreign sources is that there are taxes, customs, and higher shipping costs associated with buying their products, and there is always the worry that the items you want to sell might not be legal to sell in America for different reasons. Radioactive uranium-based jewelry looks great, but it will never get past the Geiger counter in customs! And then there is the issue of time with foreign sources that enters the picture as well. Your product will take longer to get to you. Overseas shipping is complex. If you are shipping small, lightweight products, you may be able to use a flat-rate FedEx box, which depending on what you’re shipping, can be very cost-effective. You can fit a lot of earrings, bangles and necklaces in one of those boxes! But if your product is larger, the flat-rate FedEx adds too much cost to shipping, and you may need to purchase enough volume to ship by container.
On the other hand, local sources have their positives and negatives as well. The local source can skip the shipping costs altogether if you can pick it up yourself, and you can inspect the product and get a general feel of the quality of the merchandise by looking at it yourself, rather than a picture on a web site. And you don’t have to worry about time to get your product to market. And even better, you can develop a relationship with the local wholesaler that is far more personal than a foreign merchant, and that can pay big dividends in the long run.
Should you use a local or an international source for drop shipping? Take your pick, but it is buyer beware in both cases. Do your homework and be careful. Get some advice from wholesaler forums for more information.
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