Why isn’t it a good idea to do dropshipping with China?

As we have mentioned in previous articles, dropshipping is considered to be a business model through which the retailer doesn’t hold onto the stock of their products. Instead, they buy them from the wholesaler and that wholesaler takes care of shipping directly to the end consumer. Why isn’t it a good idea to do dropshipping with China?

In the case of doing dropshipping with China, this would consist of buying products from Chinese suppliers to sell them in other countries. It might sound like a good idea if you are just looking for products with competitive prices. However, this involves risks that you should know in advance. Here we give you 5 reasons that will make you change your mind if you are wanting to do dropshipping with China.

1. Shipping times:

Products can take weeks or months to reach customers. For that reason, you have to bear in mind that shipping times are longer than if your suppliers are based in Europe. This can lead to a huge flood of complaints from your customers and refunds due to the delayed orders. Moreover, it may also be difficult to track orders in real time due to the time differences.

2. Quality of the products:

As we explained in a previous article, it is important to know your suppliers well in order to know the quality of their products, since the retailer is placing all of their trust in them. You should thoroughly research the quality of the products from the supplier you choose if you want to do dropshipping with China. Some suppliers may offer low quality, faulty or, even, fake products. That’s why it is important to bear this in mind to avoid damaging the retailer’s reputation.

3. Communication problems:

Cultural and linguistic differences can be a problem when contacting Chinese suppliers. This problem may lead to errors in the processing of orders, delays in shipping or other problems arising from the above.

4. Competition:

Due to the high demand for dropshipping with Chinese suppliers, it is likely that the products offered are available in many other places at even lower prices, making them difficult to sell and generating unfair competition.

5. Hidden costs:

Suppliers might not offer transparent prices and may charge additional hidden costs for shipping. This significantly increases the costs to the retailer.

Shipping with Chinese suppliers can be a viable option if the only thing you prioritise is the price of the products. However, as we have proved, this technique has significant disadvantages that must be taken into account. These drawbacks and risks should be considered to ensure the customer enjoys the best quality and service possible and to prevent the retailer’s image from being damaged by only considering the low prices of the products.

Here at BigBuy, we have committed to doing Dropshipping with Europe. We make sure we are in contact with suppliers that have years of experience in the sector and are local to make deliveries quicker. Moreover, the products hold European certificates and quality certificates, and we even have top brands available. This helps customers to value a trusted supplier that they can talk to whenever they need to, that provides them with integration tools, with an extensive catalogue and that is capable of shipping orders in an appropriate timeframe.