The US economy is one of the largest in the world - which for eager dropshippers can be a double-edged sword.
Yes, the potential to make your millions is seemingly limitless. BUT, you can't sell dropshipping products blindly. To conquer one of the largest economies in the world, and the American consumer, you need to offer an array of appealing, high-quality options with fast shipping to boot.
Today, it’s almost impossible to imagine a life that doesn’t include online shopping. We don’t say this because we're passionate dropshippers, but because we’ve got the statistics to back it up. In the US alone, retail eCommerce sales are forecasted to skyrocket to over $6.5 trillion by 2023.
So, whether you’re considering dropshipping or are a soon-to-be online store owner, you’re going to want a slice of that pie. But, as we've mentioned, you need to offer customers high-quality products with fast shipping.
And the best way of doing that is to use US suppliers. By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and resources to add dropshipping suppliers from the USA to your cohort, and profit because of it.
Why use US dropshipping suppliers?
Over the last couple of years, we've seen a surge in demand for US products with fast shipping. In fact, in a 2019 survey of online shoppers, the findings on consumer shipping expectations were clear:
- 40% expected delivery within 2 days
- 21% expected delivery within 3-4 days
- 10% expected delivery within 5-7 days
- Only 2% thought a 1-2 week time frame was acceptable.
We know that 263 million of the US population bought goods online in 2019, with a predicted increase to almost 288 million online shoppers in the US by 2024.
That means you need to meet the expectations of your target audience and find some fast shipping options to attract and retain your growing customer base.
Overall, you and your customers are looking for the following criteria:
- Fast shipping
- High-quality
- Handmade products
- Better shipment tracking
- Great customer service
- Satisfaction guaranteed (i.e., a return policy)
This is where diversifying your product selection to include US suppliers is worth its weight in gold. By the end of this post, you’ll have a deep understanding of why you need to have dropshipping suppliers from the USA as well as what to look for. Let’s dive in!
US Suppliers Boast Fast Shipping
Although dropshipping Aliexpress products may seem like the cheapest option, you often have to compromise on shipping times.
It's not uncommon for products from Aliexpress suppliers to take several weeks to get to your customers. And in the era of Amazon Prime, where consumers expect next day delivery, you need to stay competitive.
So, by using US suppliers to ship to your American customers, it stands to reason these products don't have to travel as far or rely on foreign logistics. Therefore, they can get to your customers quicker than an international supplier could.
American Products are (Usually) Better Quality
There are tons of Aliexpress dropshipping suppliers that manufacture and ship top-notch products. However, due to the vast landscape of Chinese dropshipping suppliers, it's easier for high-inventory, low-quality suppliers to pop up with inferior products.
On top of that, due to massive differences in time zone and, often, language barriers, rectifying these problems can be a burden that usually falls on the dropshipper. All seasoned dropshippers can tell you their stories about miscommunications, returns, and lost customers due to low-quality Aliexpress Suppliers.
All the more reason why US suppliers are gaining more traction. US Suppliers are easier to hold accountable for their shipping times and quality of dropshipping products, should issues arise.
You Can Charge More
Although US suppliers might cost more for their merchandise, typically speaking, you can charge more and for high quality, handmade products. Just be sure to market these products to their full potential.
If you're worried customers won't pay more, we’ve got good news. Studies show that 60% of shoppers pay extra for products made in the US. This is namely because consumers often perceive US brands to boast higher quality, something they're willing to pay more for. Having a fast shipping time helps too, your customers would rather pay a bit more and have the product in their hands faster.
A Reliable Return Policy
Having a return policy is both a major selling point and a sure way to build trust with your customers in both the present and future. You can rest easy knowing that if your customer wants to return their item, your supplier will be cooperative and easy to work with.
You won’t lose any money from refunds, and your customer will feel satisfied knowing that their happiness is your main priority. Doing this with Aliexpress suppliers is difficult and usually impossible, resulting in the dropshipper having to refund their customers out of their own pocket.
Customer Service
Most dropshippers forget the powerful hidden tool of customer service. To illustrate, Let’s say your customer accidentally ordered a red dress when they wanted a black one.
Once they’ve let you know, you can simply communicate with the supplier VIA Spocket to let them know that the product color needs to change. It’s as simple as that.
Doing this with Aliexpress suppliers can result in a headache of initiating a return, ordering the dress again, and having your customers return one of their orders once they’ve received it. That very sentence leaves dropshippers winded and anxious.
Using US suppliers gives you access to smaller supplier operations that don’t mind picking up the phone and check their emails and messages often. Leaving plenty of room for fixing mistakes and changing orders.
What to Look for When Choosing USA Suppliers
So now we've highlighted the main perks of using US suppliers, here are five things to hone in on, as you go about finding the best suppliers for your business:
- Reliability - If you're using Spocket, check their star rating on their supplier page. This provides an accurate picture of their supplier order fulfillment success rate.
- Testing - Always see whether you can order a sample product to evaluate its overall quality, packaging, and shipping time.
- Shipping cost and time
- Inventory capacity
- Return policy and guarantee
We’re going to take a look at 9 such suppliers and focus on their product quality and shipping times.
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