Dropshipping on Rakuten

Frequently asked questions about selling on Rakuten

• How much does it cost to dropship on Rakuten?
  Rakuten has different plans, ranging from 39€. Commissions vary between 5,5% and 19% depending on the plan contracted. The bigger the plan, the lower the commissions. +info

• What are the requirements to sell on Rakuten Marketplace?
  If you want to sell on Rakuten, you must register with your personal details and complete all the information requested.

• Can I sell on Rakuten without being self-employed?
  No, to register on Rakuten you need to be self-employed or a company, as indicated on the marketplace.

• Is dropshipping profitable on Rakuten?
  Yes, Rakuten charges a monthly fee as well as some sales commissions, but it is a leading marketplace in France with more than17 million visits per month.

• Should you advertise on Rakuten?
  Although it is not necessary, it is a quick way to show your products on the most relevant sites on the Rakuten platform, improving their visibility and your sales.

• Can I sell on Rakuten's international marketplace?
  To be able to sell internationally from the Rakuten marketplace you must activate sales to the European countries you want from Rakuten's own settings.

• How do I set up Rakuten shipping costs?
  By default, Rakuten has already set up the shipping costs, and you must agree to work with the prices set by the marketplace. To change them, contact the marketplace directly. Additionally, Rakuten offers compensation for its shipping costs.

• Is it possible to set up free shipping?
  No, it is currently not possible to set up free shipping on the Rakuten marketplace.

• When does Rakuten pay for orders?
  Orders delivered and confirmed by the buyer are paid every Monday and Thursday. Payment will be made if the buyer does not confirm receipt of the order within a maximum of 30 days.

• How and when does Rakuten collect sales commissions?
  Commissions are charged on the final sale price of the item.

• Is it possible to sync BigBuy catalog products on Rakuten via API?
  Yes. Integration through API is possible if you need a customised solution. But if that is not necessary, we recommend that you use our cloud Multi-Channel Integration Platform software.

• Are ratings important on Rakuten?
  Yes. Rakuten has an indicator that evaluates the quality of the seller through different criteria, including customer satisfaction, delivery strategy, and their catalogue. The better the score, the better the visibility of your products within the Rakuten platform. +info

• How do you avoid penalties on Rakuten?
  If you maintain a good score on the Rakuten gauge, you will avoid penalties.

• Should I accept returns on Rakuten?
  Yes, like with any other ecommerce, Rakuten is subject to the right of withdrawal dictated by European law, which is 14 days after the customer receives the product.

• Can I sell all types of items on Rakuten Marketplace?
  Before publishing items on Rakuten, you must make sure not to select products whose sale is prohibited on the platform.

• Do I have authorisation to sell all the branded products from BigBuy?
  All BigBuy items are top brand products with distribution and sale authorisation.

• Can you dropship on Rakuten?
  Yes, you can dropship on Rakuten as long as the conditions of sale are met. Thanks to BigBuy's European dropshipping, you will be able to meet the conditions, the delivery times are from 24 hours, the shipment is personalised with your brand image, the products have a guarantee, and the shipments are European without customs...

• Does Rakuten sell its own products online?
  No, unlike other marketplaces like Amazon, Rakuten does not compete with its own customers, it is simply a meeting point between sellers and buyers.

• What relationship does Rakuten have with PriceMinister?
  Rakuten is the largest ecommerce in Japan and it expanded its business in France by buying the PriceMinister marketplace.

• What are the best products to dropship on Rakuten?
  The best products to sell on Rakuten Marketplace usually include technology, electronics, fashion, home and garden, health and beauty, among others. It is important to conduct market research and consider customer trends and demands to determine which products to offer.

• Are there any disadvantages to selling on Rakuten?
  Selling on Rakuten, being a smaller market compared to other marketplaces, may initially have less traffic, but this also means less direct competition, which can provide greater visibility and the opportunity to stand out more easily from other sellers.