Quick answer: a good dropshipping supplier is clear about its total cost per order, keeps stock levels accurate, ships quickly from close to your customers without its own branding, handles damaged items and returns in writing, and connects to your store platform. Confirm these points in writing, then order a sample before you list anything.
Your supplier is your warehouse, your packing team and your delivery service. Customers will never meet it, but they will judge your store by its work. These fifteen questions help you compare suppliers on the things that matter after the first order, not just on the price list. You can use them with any company in the Dropshipping Deal directory.
Costs
1. What is the total cost of one order?
Product price, shipping, any per-order dropship fee, packaging fees and payment fees. Ask for an example for a typical order to your main market.
2. Are there membership, set-up or monthly fees?
Platforms and some wholesalers charge subscriptions; others are free but add per-order fees. Compare the cost at your expected volume.
3. Is there a minimum order or minimum monthly spend?
True dropshipping needs single-unit orders. Some suppliers add handling fees to small orders.
4. Are there pricing rules?
Many brands set a minimum advertised price (MAP) or forbid selling on certain marketplaces. Breaking these rules can close your account.
Stock and products
5. How is stock information shared, and how often is it updated?
Look for automatic feeds, an API or an app that syncs stock to your store several times a day. Overselling leads to cancelled orders and unhappy customers.
6. Can I use your product photos and descriptions?
Check image rights. Rewrite descriptions in your own words anyway, as supplier text is copied by many stores.
7. Do the products meet the rules where I sell?
Ask for certificates and labelling information for regulated categories such as electronics, cosmetics, children’s products and food.
Shipping
8. Where do you ship from, and how fast do you dispatch?
Ask for the warehouse locations and the cut-off time for same-day dispatch. Suppliers close to your customers deliver faster; see our lists of US suppliers and European suppliers.
9. Do you ship without your branding?
Blind or white-label shipping means no supplier invoices, logos or promotions in the parcel. Some suppliers also offer your own branded packing slips or packaging.
10. How and when is tracking provided?
Tracking should reach your store automatically, ideally within a day of dispatch.
Problems
11. What happens when an item arrives damaged or wrong?
Ask how claims are reported (photos, deadlines), whether replacements are sent at no cost and how long it takes.
12. What is your returns policy?
Where do returns go, who pays return shipping, are there restocking fees, and how long do refunds take? Your store’s policy must be compatible with it and with consumer law.
13. Who is my contact, and how fast do you reply?
A named account manager or a responsive support channel matters when a customer is waiting.
Business fit
14. Which platforms and marketplaces do you integrate with?
Check Shopify, WooCommerce, marketplaces and automation tools such as Flxpoint or Spark Shipping. See dropshipping automation tools compared.
15. What do you need from me to open an account?
Some distributors require a registered business, a tax ID or a resale certificate, and may review your website before approving you.
Red flags
- Fees that only appear after you sign up.
- No physical address, company registration or real contact details.
- Branded products at prices far below every authorised seller (often counterfeits).
- No written returns or damage policy.
- Pressure to pay a large “membership” before you can see products or prices.
- Stock that is never out, even on popular items, which suggests the data is not real.
Then order a sample
Place a real order to your own address, as a customer would. Time the delivery, check the packaging and the product, and look for any supplier branding in the box. Keep the photos for your product pages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a dropshipping supplier is legitimate?
Check the company’s registration and address, look for a long trading history, read independent reviews, and confirm terms in writing. Starting from a curated directory helps: every listing in ours is checked against the supplier’s own website, and listings we cannot confirm are marked for verification.
Should I pay for a supplier directory?
Paid directories such as SaleHoo add vetting and education; free directories such as ours and Wholesale Central help you research. Either way, you still need to vet each supplier yourself.
How many suppliers should I use?
Start with one or two main suppliers to keep orders simple, and keep a backup for your best-selling products.
Compare suppliers by category, location and business type in the Dropshipping Deal directory. How we research suppliers.
