Important Questions to run a DropShipping Business in India

Now when you have got a better understanding on What is Dropshipping? The very next level of questions comes are

1. How to run a dropshipping business in India?

2. What all the things to be taken care to run a dropshipping business in India?

In the context of above questions we have come up with some set of question which you should ask while connecting with DropShipper. There are many basic things to be taken in cognizance before you start your eCommerce store based on Dropshippers which we have converted into the questions. So here is the list of question you will put up to Dropshipper.

Question 1: Do you offer a Dropship program for online store?

The question seems of highly technical one. In India where eCommerce has been getting matured the keyword is still very new and technical. So you have to ask the question in very simplified manner to get the positive node from them. You must make sure the retailer understands what you are asking. Now we will move to next question considering dropshipper said ‘Yes’.

Note: You have to be bold enough to listen the word “NO” from the sellers.

Question 2:  Do you ensure my company’s details will be on the packaging?

This question is very important as when you are running a online business then brand value makes your business progressive. So again I would emphasize to make the question as simplified as you can. Explain them the invoice printed will contain your company brand name. Sometime vendor wants their names also to be present then you have to reach on mutual understanding on the same.

Question 3: What is the pricing or discounts on your products for us?

This question will decide your pricing strategy as their are many other costs need to be added from your end like shipment charges, packaging, website maintenance etc. So ask this question carefully and note all the details diligently to add in Service level Agreement (SLA). Also some time dropshippers denies for any special discount as you are just new to business and have not contributed anything in revenue making yet. So you can still keep the vendor as backup and if you don’t have any then keep as main vendor.

Question 4: Can I take the photographs and other information of your product to be displayed on online store?

As you don’t have any physical store so to make virtual store as visible you need to add product information. 1. Product Image 2. Product Description 3. Measurements 4. Expiry Dates/Shelf Life (if required) 5. Product weight (if required)

Note: Don’t just simply write the product information as you have got from dropshipper, make the changes to make the content SEO friendly.

Question 5: What are the return policies for damaged/default product orders?

We as online store offers customers 15-30 days guarantee timeline to return the product or customer return due to defect product received. So as per your policies you have to take it back and when it comes to returning the product to vendor it becomes catch 22 situation. Here are the different thumb rules works especially in India when you ask dropshipper to take the product return. 1. Dropshipper simply denies about the returning of products as they claim for the quality and blame the packaging/shipment for the damages caused. 2. Some dropshippers says they will take the product back but this should be a case in thousands but should not be regular practice. 3. Few dropshipers agrees to take it back but charges you the some percentage of amount which is taken as partial lose for you.

Note: In case of the product return but not damaged you can tell the customer to send the returning at your address so when next time any other customer orders for the same you can ship the product from your end instead to place it from vendor end. This way you can save the money.

Question 6: How do I place the order with you (Dropshipper)?

There are different modes of communication of order. You can send mail or can call the dropshipper about the order. Sometimes you have a facilities of vendor login in your website (Refer different SaaS programs in India) and the vendor can login over their and check if any orders has come for him/her. But there is a big blockage which comes on the way to the above communication modes and that is printing of invoice/address. As the courier companies don’t print the bills on your  behalf. This suppose to be done by Dropshipper or by yourself. As what happens vendors doesn’t hold computer and printer, so your problem arises here. I would suggest you to look for solution of this problem and do share with us also.

Question 7: How long does you take to package and ship the order?

This is again very important question from customer perspective. Sometimes vendors says they will dispatch the order in 5 days or something like that which is very dangerous for eCommerce business. You have to negotiate next day dispatch delivery or as per your commitment with the Customer. From the customer perspective its always been observed that they look for the good packaging and delivery at the earliest. Same way you can observe all eCommerce giants in India are focusing on delivery and packaging. Also be sure you have proper mechanism to track the order dispatching as per the timelines committed by vendor so that you will not be in a nightmare later.

Question 8: Do you have computer and printer?

This question is in continuation of hurdle mentioned in question 6. When you are dealing with multiple vendors for multiple products. It is not possible for you to print the invoices and address and send to vendor to affix on parcel especially when you are having vendors in multiple cities. Also it is also not possible for you to provide computer and printer to every vendor. So you first ask this question do you have computer and printer to print the billing details. If not can you purchase the same for business. Also if he says yes he/she hold the same then ask them who will share the cost of printing. As these all are continuation questions which should arise based on situation.

Question 9: Do you provide the packaging solutions for the products?

Again Do vendor is ready to do the packaging on your behalf and will bear the cost of the same. Remember packaging is lifeline of eCommerce, if your product is not getting proper packaging then you might lose potential customers. As per my practical  experience Packaging has emotion connection with the Customers and also acts as first presentation to the customers. Like I have ordered one pair of shoe from reputed eCommerce website of India and when I have received the packaging was so worst that shoe box was broken completely only to my luck shoe was not broken. So packaging is most important and you should decide the quality and standard of packaging and should work on convincing the vendor to share the cost.

Question 10: How do you want the payment for the products you shipped on behalf of us?

Vendor payment management is very important and you should work very diligently in this. Some vendors looks for advance credit especially when you are a startup as per belief factor. Some agrees for payment after delivery. So here you have to work very smartly and should negotiate the payment cycle on weekly or biweekly basis, so that there will be no payment blockage on your end. Conclusion: To run a dropshipping business in India is not that easy and not difficult though. You have to work very smartly in every aspect. Make the documentation of everything, there should be nothing on words, all the words should be on papers. Dropshipping goes hassle free once process gets streamlined. In this business you only have to focus on bringing customer and making brand value, rest will go as per the process.