> nothing wrong with dropshipping as a business model
Actually, that's the part I'm struggling to understand. Why isn't drop shipping automated? And what's stopping consumers from bypassing drop shippers altogether?
Actually, that's the part I'm struggling to understand. Why isn't drop shipping automated? And what's stopping consumers from bypassing drop shippers altogether?
Situational awareness and a narrative of trust. The number of advertisements on facebook these days promoting some retail site where every single product can be found on aliexpress for less money _and_ free shipping is staggering. The only reason you would buy from them is 1) You don't know what's on aliexpress because you don't know about aliexpress, 2) You don't know what's on aliexpress because you don't trust rando chinese factory sellers without western-friendly spin.
Though in my experience most AliExpress sellers are friendly and willing to refund or work through issues anyway. I've had fewer bad surprises on there than Amazon.
The part you left out is highlighted:
> They just want to Google $THING and buy it from a website that they've heard of....
People google stuff (or search on Amazon), land on Amazon or some other online retailer, and buy it.
You might be surprised how much stuff is drop shipped via Amazon sales, and that can be direct shipment or to an Amazon warehouse then FBA.
And yes, paying $25 for a $3 rack rate good is close to standard. If you walk through a Target or Walmart, you will see tons of stuff that can be purchased on Alibaba for about that ratio.