Dropshipping and Negative Feedback!  How to Keep Your eBay Feedback Positive!

Negative feedback is always more likely using dropshipping and other partner companies than where you handle all customer transactions direct.  With the wrong partners you’ll generate bad feeling, requests for refund, negative feedback, dismissal from eBay.   These tips will overcome most potential problems:

*  Check partner companies by reading feedback from your customers.  Look for problem delivery times, product quality concerns, poor customer service.  Mounting negatives highlighting similar complaints signify problems you must correct or seek new suppliers.

*  If problems ensue, don’t blame the dropshipper without checking first. It could be you haven’t explained your requirements properly, they may have serious business or personal problems, your problems could be down to coincidence or a batch of particularly difficult customers.  Be careful, check thoroughly, and have an emergency plan should major problems occur.  Have plenty of eggs in your basket: use several dropshippers, not just one, and have quality replacements waiting in line.

*  You have less control over deliveries and customer service using dropshipping companies than when dealing direct with buyers.  You must take careful steps to ensure your customers are treated fairly or you risk complaints and possible negative feedback.  It is often a good idea to buy the product as a customer before opting to sell.  This way you can check all features of the dropshipping company’s service before risking your business reputation to an unsuitable supplier.  This way you also get to check the product which you can always resell later. 

*  There's the chance your supplier might run out of stock leaving you unable to fulfill orders.  Some companies ensure continuous supply, some don't, and you won’t always know one from the other until a delivery problem appears.  It’s only when you know your dropshipper that you'll be confident of being able to fulfil orders on time.  There are several ways by which the best dropshippers keep sellers informed of stock levels.  Often you'll see 'Out of Stock' on currently unavailable items; some indicate current stock levels online and in downloadable spreadsheet formats, others have behind the scenes information sites which sellers access via user names and passwords.  Being unable to fulfil orders is a major cause of negative feedback, deservedly so if orders take weeks or months to fulfil while stock is being replenished.  Solve your problem by telling buyers you are unable to supply at the present time, give your apologies, and offer a refund or ask the buyer if he or she is willing to wait for new stock to arrive.  Where they are prepared to wait, the order status is now known as 'back ordered' and you will find many buyers will accept a short delay between paying and receiving their goods, if they are kept informed at all stages of the process.

Articles             Contact Us             Site Map