Aliexpress is a B2C eCommerce platform linking Chinese manufacturers with international consumers. Aliexpress have rapidly become one of the most popular portals for use in the dropshipping industry. Since 2014, it has become a leading eCommerce platform in terms of traffic in both Brazil and Russia. Below, we will go over more about Aliexpress and the advantages and disadvantages of using the platform for your drop shipping venture.
Advantages of Aliexpress Dropshipping
Buy Products For Cheap
Many of the items on Aliexpress are sold and shipped directly from China. Aliexpress sellers also have the option to provide free shipping worldwide. So you do not have to calculate the cost of shipping into the price markup of your listed product.
This could really a positive effect on your profit margin as your cost per item is significantly more competitive. If you source products from other local suppliers with various shipping rates based on region, the price must be higher.
Disadvantages of Aliexpress Dropshipping
False Advertisement
There are many different suppliers that sell a variety of products for competitive prices – although sometimes, these products do not match the customer’s quality and size expectations (i.e., the pictures on their store do not match those of the actual product). There is very limited information on how stores are verified on this platform. Jack Zhou, the Senior Director at Aliexpress, mentions that there are a few things you can do to ensure that the seller you source your product from is reputable and reliable:
- Check the store’s Seller Feedback for a positive rating.
- Check the Product Feedback of the specific product you are looking to purchase, and take a look at the reviews.
- Ensure that the seller offers Aliexpress Buyer Protection in the case of order disputes.
In short, you will have to do your due diligence in researching different stores through the Aliexpress platform to ensure that you are sourcing good quality products. Failure to do this could result in sourcing products that do not fit the expectations or your customer base, and therefore, can negatively impact your eCommerce business.
Much Longer Shipping Times
While some sellers on Aliexpress may provide free shipping, the turnaround time very much varies anywhere from 1 week to 30 days, or even 60 days, to have the order shipped to your customer.
Turnaround time for orders is truly a large factor to serving your customers through the eCommerce space, and what Aliexpress makes up in price, they certainly do not make up for in faster shipping times.
Aliexpress is a Public Website
Anyone with access to the internet could view and purchase products directly from Aliexpress for cheaper than you, as the dropship reseller, would be selling the product for.
Take Advantage, But Take Caution
Aliexpress is a great place to source products from if you have connections with reliable suppliers. And the supplier sell products of good and expected quality. It is a platform that will continue to grow in the eCommerce space as more of the world embraces the price advantages that online shopping brings to consumers.
As a reseller, you will need to take caution with which suppliers on Aliexpress that you decide to work with. Keep in mind, that Aliexpress is also not a true dropship supplier. So there are long-term dealer specials and discounts that would not be offered for your dropshipping business through this channel. All of these factors are worth taking into account as you move forward with growing your business in the dropshipping industry.
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