Whether you are new to eBay selling, or a seasoned veteran, dropshipping is one of many options available to you for sourcing products to sell. 

"eBay Selling: Dropshipping For Success" - a four-part series, is a must-read for those sellers wanting to learn:

• What Dropshipping Is and How It Works (Part I)

• How to Find a Good Dropshipper (Part II)

• The Pros and Cons of Dropshipping (Part III)

• Is Dropshipping for You?  (Part IV)

PART II - HOW TO FIND A GOOD DROPSHIPPER

Taking the time and making a serious effort to finding good dropshippers is in your best interest as a successful eBay seller - your feedback and reputation depend on it!

Before beginning your search for dropshippers, make a list of products you would like to sell on eBay. 

Next, see how well these items are selling on eBay by performing a search of completed and active listings - you'll want to note the pricing & shipping cost information, whether the products are selling, if the marketplace is overloaded with these products (may be forcing pricing downward), and how the competition is marketing these products (photos, descriptions, shipping, return policies, and templates).

If you're satisfied with your product selection, the next step is to visit your local public library to research dropshipping companies.  Be sure to take your product list and eBay research notes with you, plenty of writing paper, a pen or pencil, and change for photocopies.

Ask a research librarian to assist you, explaining that you are looking for dropshippers who offer the types of products you are wanting to sell.  They will then direct you to a variety of sources - directories, trade magazines, trade papers, and perhaps a few non-reference sources you may be permitted to check-out for reading at your leisure.  Don't be afraid to ask for assistance!

For reference resources that can not be taken out of the library, be sure to make photocopies or take notes of the information you will need at home (or your office).

Once you have completed your library research, the next step is to perform an online search through the most popular search engines.  As an example of a few keywords to search for, you can try (as a few examples):

• 'dropshipping'

• 'dropshippers'

• 'wholesale'

• 'product name wholesalers'

• 'wholesale dropshippers'

• 'dropshipping manufacturers'

• 'wholesale distributors'

There are a variety of keywords you can use in your searches, including adding your product name or type (will narrow the search results).

Be sure to print your search results or take notes of the results you wish to follow-up on.

With the data you have collected thus far, the next step is to perform searches of the actual company names.  The search results will most likely list the company URLs, but most importantly will also list comments, feedback, and other useful information posted by others online.  This will help you to eliminate some of your dropshipping candidates!

Your next step is to research what other eBay sellers are saying about your dropshipping sources.  Visit the eBay Community Pages and perform a search using keywords such as 'dropshippers,' 'dropshipping,' or 'wholesale' as a few examples.  Right-click on the link below to visit the URL:

EBAY COMMUNITY PAGES

The search results will reflect related messages posted on the boards - these are must-read material!  Many eBay sellers post their unpleasant experiences with certain dropshipping companies.....take good notes!  You may also post messages asking about particular dropshippers if you wish.

Now that you have the basic research out of the way, you need to take your narrowed-down list of dropshipping companies and visit their web sites for information specifically related to each company - i.e., products, pricing, inventory levels, shipping (and how soon they ship once your order is placed), return/exchange policies, wholesale and dropshipping policies (minimum purchases, dropshipping fees, membership fees, sales/privilege tax licensing requirements, etc.).  This research will narrow down your list even more.

Your next step is to contact (via telephone) each of the dropshipping companies.  In placing direct telephone calls to each company, you will find out if they answer their telephones and how long you are on hold before someone offers to assist you - that's if you're not forwarded to voice mail.  Customer service is a high priority of my eBay business - I expect nothing less from the companies I purchase from for my business. 

While contacting the dropshipping companies by telephone, this is an excellent opportunity to obtain answers to any questions or concerns you may have.  Remember, you're considering placing your trust in these companies and their service - your buyers won't know the difference when they don't receive their merchandise!  They'll hold you accountable!

While searching for a reliable dropshipping company, I eventually narrowed my list down to 10 different companies I use for product sourcing (in addition my physical product inventory).  A few of the companies I use are seasonal, while I rotate the others to keep my available inventory 'fresh' throughout the year.  Other eBay sellers may choose to work with fewer companies - it is all a matter of preference.

What about dropshipping lists, buying wholesale web sites, and ebooks?  Do you buy these products or depend on your own research?  These questions and much more are answered in "Part III - The Pros and Cons of Dropshipping".  Don't Miss It!

Happy eBaying!