Friday 4 May 2012

What You Should Know about Dropshipping Returns


When some people think of dropshipping, they think of it as a relatively easy way to make money! It’s easy to believe this, especially when one sees successful dropshippers who have made  real fortunes in the industry. There are also online resources like esources.co.uk that make it easy to connect with reliable suppliers. It’s certainly true that certain aspects of dropshipping seem easy as pie, but there are other areas that can turn into a real nightmare if they aren’t handled properly. One of these areas is returns. No matter how much care one takes with their dropshipping business, there will inevitably come a time when a customer will want to return some merchandise. There are a number of different ways in which dropshippers can handle their returns policy.
Clarify Terms with Supplier
There are different ways in which dropshippers can handle their returns but each policy should keep the following pointers in mind. The returns policy should be as clear as possible - the shorter and clearer it is, the better it is for the dropshipper, the supplier and the consumer. Make sure the returns policy covers what items can be returned and on what grounds they can be returned. It’s also important to mention the time period within which the return can be made and how long the returns process will take. Being upfront and clear about these aspects can make things much easier when someone wants to return a product.
A dropshipper should have a clear returns policy and they should also work with a supplier that has a clear returns policy. Working with suppliers from verified directories like esources.co.uk will ensure that the dealer is reliable. Before sealing the deal with any supplier, ask if they offer any guarantees on their products, if they offer any kind of support and what their current returns policy covers. It’s always best to go through your own returns policy with the supplier, to ensure that it works well for both sides.
What are Your Options?
When it comes to returns policies, some dropshippers prefer to have direct control over the process, especially when it is an expensive item. In these cases, the customer will have to ship the product to the dropshipper rather than the supplier. For cheaper items, it is often easier to just allow the customer to ship the product directly to the supplier. For such returns, it’s important that the dropshipper’s returns policy matches the supplier’s policy. If a customer returns a product because it is damaged, you need to make sure that the supplier accepts those returns. Working with verified suppliers from sites like esources.co.uk usually means that the supplier already has a good returns policy in place.
For some retailers, the easiest way to handle returns in dropshipping is to not allow them at all! Many dropshippers have an ‘all sales final’ policy, which may seem simple but isn’t always the best idea. If you do not allow returns, it will take much longer to develop trust and loyalty among your consumer base. Working with reputable suppliers from sites like esources.co.uk and developing a clear returns policy is imperative for the success of any dropshipping business.