Once your Shopify store is up and running, the next critical step is finding reliable suppliers. Think of suppliers as your business partners—they’re the ones who will handle all your inventory and shipping. So, choosing the right one is essential. If your supplier messes up, it reflects on you and your brand. Late shipping, bad product quality, or worse—no shipment at all—can lead to upset customers, bad reviews, and refunds.

In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through the ins and outs of finding reliable suppliers, whether you’re using websites like AliExpress, Oberlo, or reaching out to manufacturers directly. The key here is to balance quality and cost, and to make sure you’re working with someone who can deliver what they promise. We’ll also talk about evaluating suppliers, communicating effectively, and testing products before you commit to selling them.

Finding Suppliers 101

There are several different ways to find suppliers, but for beginners in dropshipping, online platforms like AliExpress and Oberlo are the most common. These platforms have thousands of suppliers offering millions of products, and they are specifically geared towards dropshipping.

1. AliExpress AliExpress is probably the most popular marketplace for finding dropshipping suppliers. It’s like Amazon, but for wholesale and direct-from-manufacturer products. It offers a vast range of items, from electronics to fashion to home goods, and it’s relatively easy to set up dropshipping using AliExpress.

Here’s how it works:

• You browse for products on AliExpress, just like you would on Amazon or any other online store.
• Once you find something you want to sell, you can list it on your Shopify store.
• When someone buys that product from your store, you place the order with the AliExpress supplier, and they ship the item directly to your customer.

One of the main perks of AliExpress is that it’s incredibly easy to use, and most suppliers are familiar with the dropshipping model, so they understand your needs. However, not all suppliers are created equal, which is why it’s important to vet them carefully.

2. Oberlo Oberlo is another platform designed specifically for dropshippers. It integrates directly with Shopify, making it easy to find products and add them to your store. Oberlo essentially works as a bridge between your Shopify store and suppliers on AliExpress (and other platforms), making the process smoother. It helps you import products, track orders, and handle all the logistics of dropshipping.

The advantage of using Oberlo is that it automates much of the process. You don’t have to manually enter order details or track shipments—the app handles it all for you. Plus, Oberlo vets many of the suppliers listed on their platform, which helps to weed out some of the less reliable options. But just because a supplier is on Oberlo doesn’t mean they’re perfect, so you’ll still want to do your research.

3. Direct Manufacturer Connections If you’re looking for even more control over your supply chain, you might consider working directly with manufacturers. This takes a little more effort, but it can lead to better margins and more customization. You can use sites like Alibaba (which is more focused on wholesalers and manufacturers) to find direct connections with factories.

The key benefit here is that you can often negotiate better prices, shipping terms, and even product modifications when working directly with manufacturers. But it’s a bit more advanced, so I’d recommend starting with platforms like AliExpress or Oberlo until you’re comfortable.

Evaluating Supplier Credibility

Okay, so you’ve found some potential suppliers—now what? It’s time to figure out whether they’re actually reliable. The last thing you want is to have your first big sale, only to find out your supplier can’t deliver. To avoid this nightmare, there are several ways to evaluate supplier credibility before you commit.

1. Read Reviews Carefully Reviews are your best friend when evaluating suppliers. Most platforms like AliExpress and Oberlo allow customers to leave feedback, so take the time to read through those reviews. Look at both the positive and negative comments to get a balanced view of the supplier.

Here’s what to look for:

• Shipping Times: If multiple customers are complaining about slow shipping or orders never arriving, that’s a big red flag. Even though dropshipping often involves longer shipping times (especially if you’re shipping from overseas), you still want to work with suppliers who meet their promised delivery windows.
• Product Quality: Reviews that mention poor quality or damaged items should set off alarm bells. You don’t want to sell something that’s going to fall apart after one use.
• Communication: Many dropshippers will leave feedback about the supplier’s responsiveness. You want to work with someone who answers your questions quickly and clearly. If multiple reviews mention slow or unhelpful communication, move on.

2. Check Their Order Volume Most platforms will show you how many orders a supplier has fulfilled. Generally speaking, suppliers with higher order volumes are more likely to be reliable. They’ve proven they can handle a large number of orders, and they likely have a more established operation. That said, don’t automatically rule out suppliers with lower order volumes—sometimes newer suppliers are hungry for business and offer better service to build a good reputation.

3. Test the Supplier Yourself There’s no substitute for personal experience. Before listing a product in your store, order a sample from the supplier. This lets you evaluate the quality, shipping times, and overall experience firsthand. It’s better to invest a little money upfront testing a supplier than to risk your reputation with bad products or service.

4. Beware of Red Flags There are several warning signs that a supplier might not be trustworthy:

• No Contact Information: If you can’t easily find a way to contact the supplier, be wary. Legitimate suppliers will provide ways to get in touch if you have questions.
• Unrealistically Low Prices: If a supplier’s prices seem too good to be true, they probably are. Sometimes low prices mean low-quality products or even scams.
• Poor or Nonexistent Return Policies: Look for suppliers that have clear return policies. If something goes wrong with an order, you want to make sure there’s a process in place for returns or exchanges.

How to Communicate with Suppliers

Once you’ve found a potential supplier, it’s important to establish clear communication right from the start. Don’t worry—you don’t have to write fancy emails or know all the business lingo. Just be clear, respectful, and professional.

Here are a few tips for communicating effectively with suppliers:

1. Keep It Simple and Clear Suppliers are often juggling multiple orders and requests, so keep your messages short and to the point. Be clear about what you want—whether you’re asking about product availability, shipping times, or wholesale pricing, make sure your message is easy to understand.

For example:

• “Hi, I’m interested in adding your [product] to my Shopify store. Can you tell me the average shipping time to the U.S.?”
• “What is your return policy for defective products?”

2. Ask for Discounts or Better Shipping Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts, especially if you plan to order in bulk down the line. Many suppliers are open to negotiating, particularly if you’re bringing them consistent business. You can also ask about expedited shipping options. Some suppliers might offer faster shipping for an additional fee, which could be worth it if it leads to happier customers.

3. Establish a Relationship Building a good relationship with your supplier can go a long way. If you’re respectful, pay on time, and communicate clearly, they’re more likely to go the extra mile for you. Over time, this could lead to better deals, faster shipping, or priority service when they’re low on stock.

Product Testing and Samples

This part is crucial. Before you start selling any product in your store, you should test it yourself. Even if the reviews are glowing and the supplier looks legit, you want to see the product with your own eyes. After all, this is what your customers will be receiving, so you need to make sure it lives up to expectations.

Why Testing Matters:

1. Product Quality: Pictures can be deceiving. A product might look amazing in the photos, but when it arrives, it might feel cheap or break easily. By testing the product yourself, you can ensure that it meets your standards.

2. Shipping Times: Testing also lets you see how long it actually takes for the product to arrive. If a supplier promises shipping within 10 days, but it takes a month to get to you, that’s a problem. You want to have realistic expectations for your customers, so knowing the true shipping times is important.

3. Packaging: This is often overlooked, but it matters. If a product arrives in poor packaging, it could get damaged in transit. Or worse, the packaging might give away that the product is from AliExpress, which can harm your brand’s credibility. You want to ensure that the packaging is secure, professional, and doesn’t reveal your supplier.

4. Returns Process: If the product isn’t up to par, you’ll want to test the return process as well. This will give you an idea of how easy or difficult it is to get a refund or exchange.

Testing doesn’t just help protect your reputation—it also boosts your confidence in what you’re selling. When you know your products are good quality, you can market them more effectively and provide better customer service.

Early Mistakes with Suppliers

When I first started dropshipping, I made the classic beginner mistake of going with the cheapest supplier I could find. I didn’t bother reading the reviews, didn’t check their shipping times, and didn’t order any samples. I figured, “How bad could it be?”

Well, it was bad. My first few customers ended up waiting over a month for their orders, and when the products finally arrived, they were nothing like the pictures. I ended up having to refund most of those customers, and it was a mess.

From that experience, I learned the hard way that not all suppliers are reliable. Now, I always test products first and make sure the supplier has a solid track record. It’s a little more work upfront, but it saves you a ton of headaches in the long run.

Conclusion

Finding reliable suppliers is one of the most important steps in building a successful dropshipping store. By using platforms like AliExpress and Oberlo, evaluating suppliers carefully, and testing products before you sell them, you can avoid many of the common pitfalls that new dropshippers face.

Take your time with this step. Don’t rush into partnerships with suppliers without doing your homework. Your supplier’s reliability can make or break your business, so it’s worth putting in the effort to find someone who’s trustworthy and capable of meeting your needs.