Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`m getting ready to launch an online store, but I need to figure out how to setup my wholesalers/drop shippers. I was wondering if anyone has any experience or insight in this area.

One problem I`m having is if I have a number of dropshippers and I`m not keeping or storing any actual inventory, how do I setup shipping so that I dont have to pay shipping costs from say 5 different drop shippers? I wan t to give the illusion of single source shipping with my shipping labels, invoices, etc. Anyone have a solution to this problem?

Always,
Casandra

TJ Graff had a great way of doing drop shipping at GoTruckStop.com, http://gotruckstop.com .

I had the chance to speak with him a few times. From what I recall, his shopping cart will split the orders based on a vendor code. So if the customer orders 3 items from 3 seperate vendors, the system will automatically send 3 seperate emails to each of the vendors. If I recall, GoTruckStop has tiered shipping rates also, based on dollar amounts, with free shipping after $100 purchased.

If I recall from talking with TJ, he built enough margin in the prices to cover shipping, even after the $100 amount was reached.

Note: I posted in another thread about the ill timed fate of TJ. I`ll miss him.

 You could add a flat "handling charge" that would  cover any addtional cost or  you could add a statement about actual shipping charges will be reflected on  their invoice.  In this way you could calculate the shipping from your drop shipper to them and then charge the customer.

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Don and Johanna Dakan Parents and partners at Greenwich Teddy Bear (www.gtbear.com)

We also drop ship our bears for stores and we use their invoices, labels and packing slips.   Our boxes are either generic or supplied by the store so your customer never knows we exist unless you tell them.  Of course we keep no record of your customers except in the shipping log so, your customers are your customers. 

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Don and Johanna Dakan Parents and partners at Greenwich Teddy Bear (www.gtbear.com)

I noticed a few months ago that Amazon.com has a storage and drop-ship program.

If you can be included in Amazon`s catalog as part of the deal, that can give you access to 60+ million customers. Here is a link to the main page: <http://www.amazonservices.com/businesssolutions/>

I`m curious if others are using Amazon`s drop ship service.

All the best,
Andrew Darlow



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Andrew Darlow, Consultant & Editor
The Imaging Buffet

Author, 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers - InkjetTips.com