Just want a quick rant really....

[Flamesparrow]

A lot of my stock is dropshipped. I can't afford to stock everything I need, and I don't have the space to store it, so although it gives me much lower profits, it gives me the variety my customers need.

BUT this last few months, the company that supplies me has been hell They have loads of stuff listed as in stock (that I consequently list), which it then turns out they don't have, so I have to cancel orders and refund. Then they have things that are delayed - no problem, delays happen, but THEN once I have told my customer it will be 7-10 days etc, I call them (after a pissed off customer has no product in that time) and they tell me they won't be getting them in at all

Before this spate of stuff they have been fabulous, but I am now at a loss. If I stop listing their stock, my business fails. If I keep listing their stock and letting down customers... my business fails.

Should I just take this as a sign of the inevitable?

No reply on that score

As far as I am aware this one is the only one who will let me run a website rather than just be an agent (which I am sh*t at )

The only thing you get from the premium you pay for dropshipping is stocking, so if they are falling down on that then you are wasting your margin as well as losing orders. It could be even worse than that - are you sure they are not poaching?

Although it will mean you need to find some cash for stock, you need to consider moving to fulfillment. Bear in mind that if you are buying on 30 day terms (and can stretch this when necessary), in sensible volumes you should be getting cash through the door before it is going out anyway.

I work from home, my house is already full of boxes of stock as it is, I can't fit any more here

i am going to get a few more bits, but it is just such a wide range of everything, it is so hard to get the right things (One type nappy, 3-4 sizes, 10 colours, 2 diff fastenings....)

Fulfillment means they hold your stock in their warehouse and pack and dispatch it for you, so no more boxes of stuff you can't manage. Something like this (not a recommendation, I just found them on t'internet).

Although it looks as though your stock profile is more complex than I thought . And if you are shipping most of your stuff yourself and only using the dropshippers to widen your product range with some low-volume items then you probably have things about right.

Aaaaaah i am with you now

I'm hoping it is just a bad few months with my suppliers.

Oh ffs! another email - something I have been waiting for for a very long time, they have now said they won't be getting in that colour?!?!?!

Ok, ok, I am starting to take the hint I need to do a whole rethink about where I am getting my supplies I think/change brands.

It seems companies all over the place are having stock issues (including the ones my dropshipper gets their supplies from iyswim)

Argh!