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Nowadays many e-commerce retailers are checking out their own dropshipping ventures. Dropshipping lets you sell goods to happy buyers and earn a nice income without paying for storage or keeping products in stock. But to get good at your dropshipping business, you need to understand what a dropshipping agent does, how they can lend a hand, and how they might change your business setup. In this article, we will explore what a dropshipping agent is, ways to find one, and other key things about this topic.
What Is A Dropshipping Agent?
A dropshipping agent is a go-between for you and your supplier. When you submit a sourcing request, your agent finds products from one or more suppliers based on what you need. The agent then purchases the items from the supplier(s) and takes care of quality checks, packaging, maybe even branding, and shipping straight to the customer.
Using a dropshipping agent means you do not have to deal with small tasks like haggling over prices, checking products, and setting up shipments. This gives you more time to concentrate on marketing and selling. If you are new to eCommerce, a skilled agent for dropshipping can even provide you with complete guides to grow your business.
What’s The Difference Between A Dropshipping Agent And A Dropshipping Supplier?
Some people struggle to distinguish between a dropshipping agent and a dropshipping supplier. Keep in mind that dropshipping suppliers handle order processing and delivery. They do not find products, brand them, or provide dedicated customer support. Here are several distinctions between a dropshipping agent and a dropshipping supplier:
| Criteria | Dropshipping Agent | Dropshipping Supplier |
| Product sourcing | Source products on behalf of the dropshippers | Few dropshipping suppliers offer product sourcing services |
| Product variety | A wide range of products | Limited product choices |
| Product inspection | Check product quality before sending them out | Some suppliers may perform product inspection |
| Shipping methods | A large network of logistics companies | A few logistics options |
| Customer service | Tailored customer services | Regular customer services |
| Customization | Broad customization services | Basic customization options |
Top 5 Dropshipping Agents For Your Store
Eprolo
Eprolo is a provider of dropshipping agent services from China. With Eprolo, you will get access to millions of products in several niches. And these different products from Chinese suppliers and manufacturers are at a very reasonable price.
Upon arrival at Eprolo, you are open to their customization services. You can print your products on demand, and there’s no MOQ requirement. Alternatively, you can private label them at the lowest price of $19.9. Private labeling orders usually require 1-3 days in processing.
Normally, Eprolo takes 5 to 15 days to ship. It could be shorter using their overseas warehouses in the UK and US. But using the warehousing services needs to meet the MOQ requirement. Product quantity should be more than 10 pieces in China warehouses and 100 pieces in global warehouses.
>> Shopify Minimum Order Quantity: What It Is & How To Set Up
Pros:
- A variety of products
- Fast delivery with global warehouses
- Branding services available
- Excellent customer services
- Integration with major selling platforms
Cons:
- Extra charge and MOQ limit for warehousing services
- User interface needs to be improved
>> Read more: Top Trending & Best Dropshipping Products
SourcinBox
SourcinBox is a China-based dropshipper. This company sources products from Chinese manufacturers directly. So, the product price is reasonable and negotiable.
Currently, it can be integrated with selling channels like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, SHOPLAZZA, Yampi, etc. The moment one registers an account, they designate a customer manager who will answer your queries promptly.
SourcingBox will fulfill your orders automatically in the following time: within 24 hours with pre-ordered inventory, 3-5 days without pre-ordered inventory. You can brand your business with their POD and private label services. But the customization option requires high MOQ, so SourcingBox might not suit you in case you are running a small business and intend to build your brand.
Pros:
- Free to use
- Supports more than 100 languages on this platform
- Dedicated customer manager
- Multiple flexible ways to get in contact
- Fast delivery
Cons:
- High MOQ for customized products
- Some products with unclear information according to their customer reviews
Discover:
>> Best Dropshipping Suppliers USA (General + Niches)
>> Top 10+ Best Dropshipping Suppliers in Germany
HyperSKU
Being a dropshipping platform, HyperSKU connects with thousands of vetted Chinese suppliers. With the aid of HyperSKU, you can locate loads of products in your category. Of course, you will even be very likely to import liquids and battery-required items from China. Their product development team recommends potential best-sellers in your niche regularly.
Generally speaking, orders fulfilled by HyperSKU take 7-12 days to arrive in most destinations like the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Europe. And those processed in the US fulfillment centers can take 2-4 days to be delivered. But using the US warehouse service requires a 500 MOQ whatever the product category. You can only enjoy this service for free for just 30 days.
HyperSKU can offer customization and private labeling of products with low to no MOQ limit. You have plenty of white and private label products at your discretion.
Pros:
- Connection with many vetted suppliers
- Private label products with low MOQ
- US warehouse for a faster delivery
- Ship liquids and battery-required items
- Free to use
- Intuitive interface
Cons:
- Not shipping worldwide
- High MOQ for warehousing inventory
Zendrop
Zendrop is one of the largest dropshipping platforms based in the US. You have a huge number of products both from the US and China available on this platform. Their team sources your products for free. Being US-based, its warehouse can guarantee that customers will receive their packages in a couple of days.
Zendrop currently can integrate with a Shopify, WooCommerce, or CommerceHQ store. However, the automation fulfillment service is available to you only when you have at least a pro subscription. In addition, branding service can be charged under the paid plans.
Pros:
- Great product selection
- Super-fast shipping with US warehouse
- Analyze your business performance in one dashboard
- Order data and tracking information are automatically updated in your store
Cons:
- Few Integrations
- Pro services like branding only available with paid plans
- Inconvenient customer service according to their customer reviews
AutoDS
As a dropshipping company, AutoDS makes your dropshipping business way easier. You may easily get to the potential products and best-sellers by using their product research tool on the AutoDS Marketplace.
Once you receive an order from your customer, the order will be automatically fulfilled with their system. And the tracking number and order status will be updated accordingly. With AutoDS, the automatic price tool of your product can be optimized to maximize profits.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use product research tool
- Free eBay fees calculator
- Free learning resources about dropshipping
- Integration support for several marketplaces and selling platforms
Cons:
- Costly monthly membership fees
- Sourcing and branding services unavailable
Pros And Cons Of Using A Dropshipping Agent
Benefits Of Using A Dropshipping Agent
- Wide product choices: Dropship agents are associated with numerous suppliers. Thus, they can offer you different kinds of products. Some of the products may be hard to find from a supplier whom you contact.
- Better priced products: A dropship agent may often negotiate better prices from suppliers. This will perhaps enable you to sell the products at a cheaper rate and thereby increase your profit margins.
- Faster delivery: Dropshipping agents have established relationships with many logistics companies. They can provide you with a fast and cost-effective shipping solution.
- Reduced risk of scams: A dropship agent knows how to identify a good supplier from bad ones. So, they can help you stay away from potential scams from an unreliable supplier.
- Insights into the latest trends: Most of the time, dropshipping agents are highly updated with the latest trends in the market. They will provide you valuable insights into trending products and industry development.
- Personalized support: Unlike a supplier, an agent for dropshipping provides personalized support for you. You have 1 on 1 customer service available to you on 7/24.
- Customization: With the agent for dropshipping, you have several options to personalize your products. You can print them on demand, private label them, or just do some regular customization like adding your logo or brand name.
Drawbacks Of Using A Dropshipping Agent
- Lower margins: Usually, a dropshipping agent will charge some kind of fee for dropshipping services. Some will apply a covered charge in addition to the price of the product. These are none other than fees that eat into your profit margins.
- Lack of control: By using an agent for dropshipping, you are outsourcing your order and fulfillment processes to the agent. This further means reduced control over the whole dropshipping process.
- Quality control problems: In case there is no quality product check by a dropshipping agent, you may receive negative reviews from customers because they received damaged or low-quality items.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Dropshipping Agent
There are many amazing dropshipping agents out there. How are you to make the right choice among them? Bring these factors into consideration in choosing a dropshipping agent.
- Location: The location of the dropshipping agent affects the time it takes in shipping. If your agent is closer to the factories, then the processing of your product may take a shorter period. In such a case, if the agent is closer to where you are targeting the market, your products can be shipped out a little faster to the consumers.
- Automation: As some of the drop shipping agents enable automation-meaning, the agent himself will automatically forward the order details to the supplier-then you can save a lot of time in forwarding the order information to the supplier. And it will take much less effort to manage your store. However, normally only a professional dropshipping company can provide services with automation.
- Shipping time and cost: When working with different logistics, the shipping cost and time will be different. You have to select an agent for dropshipping who can make the shipping more rapid and cheaper for you.
- Fees and commission: One of the most important factors to take into consideration involves the fee and commission charged by the dropshipping agent. This may include membership fees charged monthly or yearly, commission on sales, and service charges. These can directly impinge upon your profit. So be clear about them before you make the final decision on the agent.
- Industry experience: For sure, years of experience will make an agent advise and give insights on how to run a business, and hence you will avoid making some common mistakes. Therefore, always remember to look for agents with years of experience in dealing in your niche. From the industry reviews and ratings, you will have an overview of how reliable and efficient they are.
- Customer service: Good communication and support are of the most importance when it comes to running a dropshipping business. Make sure the agent is easy to be in touch with and prompt in his support while you’ve got any problem.
- Customization services: A few dropshipping agents may provide customization services like personalized packaging or branding. Consider them for creating a unique brand image for your business.
- Inventory warehouse: See whether the agent for dropshipping has any inventory warehouse near or inside your target market. This warehousing service will preorder the inventory for you in preparation for any event that emergence of logistic congestion and out-of-stock problems may arise.
- Minimum order quantities: A few dropshipping agents may set the minimum quantity order requirement for cooperation. The MOQ is not a low threshold for a startup or small business. In case your daily order volume is not stable, it is better to choose a dropshipping agent with no MOQ requirement.
>> You may concern: How to Become a Dropshipping Supplier
Tips for Finding A Reputable Dropshipping Agent
With the development of dropshipping, more and more dropshipping agents have come available than ever. Therefore, it is not hard to find a drop shipping agent if this is what you need. Below are the most common methods you can take.
Join and use platforms like Fiverr or Upwork
Fiverr has hundreds of dropshipping agents. Most of them are private individuals or small businesses. Compared with professional dropshipping companies, they have fewer resources to support suppliers and products but would have more flexibility and thus provide more personalized services.
Similar to Fiverr, Upwork is also a place attracting lots of talents. It will be relatively easy to find a dropshipping agent here. And the fee they charge usually ranges from $5 to $40 per hour. Use the keyword “dropshipping agent” to search in the search bar, and plenty of related results will show up. You will then be able to select an agent based on service fee, location, service description, and work history.
Search online
It is quite easy to search on browsers for dropshipping agents. You can search keywords like “dropshipping agent”, “dropship agent” on Google (If your business operates in a certain area, you can also search for keywords by area like “dropshipping agent deutschland” or “dropshipping agent germany”). Then pick up an agent that ranks on the first or second page. You also can get in touch with a dropship agent via a related post.
Search in the app store of your selling platform
This is, by far, the most effective approach to find an agent for your dropshipping company. Or, if you sell on Shopify, you may open the Shopify App Store and enter “dropshipping agent” or “dropship agent shopify” in the search box. They will have tons of related results. Read their reviews carefully and contact them for further communication.
Write a post on your social platforms
Writing a post in some dropshipping groups on social platforms is a good way. Most of the dropshipping agents and dropshippers have spent their time on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Quora, etc. They are closely concerned about the updating on these platforms. You may get a response from them once you publish a post to look for a dropshipping agent.
Ask for referrals from your acquaintance
You may know some drop shippers in your life or on the website. You can ask them to recommend a drop shipping agent for you. Because they have built a relationship with the agent, they can tell you details about this agent’s service.
Bottom Up
That was all about what you should know about the drop shipping agent. From what these agents are to the benefits of hiring them, the best dropshipping agents, and the details on how to find the best one for your businesses, we have explained everything. Hopefully, by now, you are all set to start your dropshipping business or revolutionize the existing one with a dropshipping agent. Apart from our blog, you can visit BSS Commerce for more eCommerce reviews and tips!
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