This is one of the most important decisions you'll make. If your suppliers mess up, it's your responsibility to make it up to your customers, not theirs.

So make sure you choose wisely.

Here's how.

Contact the Manufacturers

If you know the exact product you want to drop ship, the best approach is to call the manufacturer directly and ask if they have a drop shipping program for you.

If yes, this is an ideal scenario because you cut out all the middlemen and get the best possible pricing!

If the manufacturer does not provide a drop shipping program in place, they are most likely working with some wholesalers instead. Then ask for a list of their wholesale distributors. You can contact these wholesalers to see if they drop ship and inquire about setting up an account.

Use AliExpress

AliExpress drop shipping is one of the most popular drop ship models for eCommerce entrepreneurs.

Most sellers on AliExpress are overseas manufacturers, their prices are very competitive. You can pay for products at wholesale prices and have them shipped directly to your customers.

However…

Although AliExpress is taking care of verifying suppliers itself, you still be very careful when selecting your drop shipping supplier.

Here are our tips:

Avoid suppliers with brand products. Known luxury brands on AliExpress are very rare. So stay away from any suppliers selling brand products to avoid reselling fakes and knockoffs.

Order sample to test products' quality. Making a small test order is a great way to determine the quality of supplier's products as well as ensure they're not a fraud.

If you order only one sample, you can't cover the general quality of their products. So the best result comes from an order of 3-5 samples from each supplier.

Use Drop shipping Directories

A directory is a database of certified wholesalers that's organized by product type, market or niche. You can easily find the wholesalers contact or detail of products listed in their database.

Here's the best thing...

You don't have to waste a lot of time on considering which wholesaler is legit. Directories employ screening process to ensure the suppliers listed on the list are only genuine wholesalers.

However, most directories are running for profit so you'll be charged a fee for access to their directory. That said, if you're short on time and willing to spend the money, directories can be very helpful to save your time and effort.

Before negotiating a deal with suppliers, make sure you ask:

• What shipping methods do you offer? And the cost of each method.

• What is the warranty policy for the products?
• How about your return and replacement policy?