Common Dropshipping Problems & How to Manage Them

Delays with shipping
Occasionally, your customers' orders might get delayed. This could be because of something the dropshipping supplier didn't do, or it might be down to the carrier that's shipping the item. Even the best suppliers, from the best drop ship directory, will have problems with their delivery every once in a while. The key thing for your business, is how you manage the problem with your customer.

You should have already made them aware that their purchase was coming direct from the supplier, and given them realistic timescales for when the item would arrive. If you find out about the delay from your drop ship supplier, let your customer know as soon as possible, and tell them what kind of delay to expect. They might not be to happy, but they will hopefully understand. If you find out from the customer that their item hasn't arrived when it should have, you will need to chase your supplier to find out what the problem is, and make sure you keep your customer informed, until their item arrives.

Missing orders
Sometimes, orders from your dropshipping supplier aren't just delayed, they go missing altogether. You will usually only find this out when your customer contacts you to say they haven't received their purchase. This does happen, but it doesn't always mean it's the drop ship company that's at fault, or worse, that there's anything underhand going on. It's usually the shipping company (USPS, FedEx or DHL) that has lost the product. During high seasons, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas the chances of losing a product increase. That's why it's important to choose a drop ship supplier that provides with a tracking number.

If your product sourcing research was sound, and you used a good drop ship directory, you should have a good supplier. You need to give them the benefit of the doubt, and work with them to try and resolve the problem.

You should have made sure you got a tracking number for the missing shipment, which will be necessary to show where the shipment was lost, and who is responsible for replacing it, or compensating the customer.

Knowing your drop ship supplier's policy on missing items will mean you can deal with the problem quickly, and get a positive outcome for you and your customer. If despite your best efforts, your supplier has let you down and won't resolve the situation, you might have to provide the customer with a replacement or a refund yourself, to avoid any damage to your reputation.

Out of stock issues
A Drop Ship Business provides a fairly unique set of benefits, namely that you don't have to hold your own stock, and only pay for your items when your customers have paid you. However, it has it's own unique challenges as well. In the time between doing your product sourcing research and actually selling the product, the supplier might have run out of stock. You now have a customer who's paid for an item you can't supply. This is why it's always a good idea to keep a check on the inventory levels for the dropshipping businesses you are using, so you know if they are low on stock.

You should also have a back up supplier, in case your first choice from the drop ship directory let's you down. This way, you can still provide the customer with the item they've purchased, and even if you don't make as much profit, it's better than having to give a refund to a disappointed buyer, who might never use you again. If the drop ship products you are selling are very popular and sell out fast, you might even consider buying a number of them yourself, to hold as stock. That way, you can always supply the items your customers are buying.

All businesses have problems every now and again, and part of running a successful dropshipping business is knowing what to do when these happens. But of course, the best way to deal with them, is to do some proper product sourcing research and only use a reputable drop ship directory, so you can try and avoid them in the first place. However, some issues are unavoidable, and these tips will help you deal with them quickly, and limit the effect on your business, and your profits.

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