When dropshipping with AliExpress, you might wonder if it's necessary to inform your supplier that you're selling their product online.
And you're right. It's definitely good to think about that! Luckily, you are here now. In this article, I'm going to go over some standpoints of why you might need to inform your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping.
Maybe, you're just looking for a quick answer and don't have time to read about my tips in the rest of the article. In that case, here's a brief overview of the answer:
Yes, you do need to inform your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping. Doing this will prevent any invoices or promotions from being in your customer's package. Another advantage is that you get to build a relationship with your supplier. With good communication, you will be able to ask questions, solve problems, negotiate discounts, and much more!
Read further for a more detailed explanation, things you could ask your supplier, an example message you can use to inform your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping, and much more!
Will the AliExpress supplier treat you differently when informed that you're dropshipping?
Let's first think about whether or not an AliExpress supplier will treat you differently when he or she knows that you're dropshipping.
Well, in some cases, I can tell you that they will indeed treat you differently!
For example, good suppliers will know that they shouldn't put in additional promotions or invoices. If they would, your customer could find out that you've just bought the product on AliExpress for a way lower price.
Another thing a good AliExpress supplier may do for you once they know that you're dropshipping is creating a special VIP product link for you.
This VIP page could have different advantages, like faster processing times or a discount. AliExpress suppliers do this because you will probably be a repeat customer for them if you're dropshipping. The chances are high that you will buy their product multiple times, and that is why you are a VIP customer for them.
Maybe you have already seen an AliExpress VIP product page, but if not, here's an example:
As you can see, on a VIP page, there are no product photos and often no product description. It's mostly made for dropshippers who purchase the same product from the same supplier multiple times.
For more information about dropshipping with AliExpress, we have a complete guide for you, which includes pretty much all information you need to get started. Click here to check it out!
Don't forget that you will also need a platform to host your online store on. For beginners, I would definitely recommend Shopify. It's incredibly easy to use!
Luckily, they offer a free 3-day trial + pay $1/month for the first 3 months which you can find here. Check it out (you can cancel anytime)!
What are the advantages of informing your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping?
I already told you about some of the advantages you may get when informing your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping, but there are many more!
First and foremost, you will get to know how long it takes before a supplier responds to your message. A good supplier will often respond within 24 hours!
It's crucial to work with a supplier who replies to your questions. Imagine if your customers start asking questions about the product, and you don't have an answer for it yourself. So you contact your supplier, but your supplier won't reply to you.
That won't be an enjoyable experience, so make sure that your AliExpress supplier replies promptly. You will then be able to ask questions about the product, such as the exact sizing, which material it is made off, how long it works on one battery, and other details. The more you know about the product you sell, the better!
As mentioned above already, another advantage is that you could ask your supplier to make a VIP link for you to get priority processing or even a discount on the product!
By communicating with your AliExpress supplier, you get to build a good relationship with them.
You can ask questions to your supplier directly to solve problems faster and without involving AliExpress.
For example, what if the product arrives broken at your customer? Typically, you would have to open an AliExpress dispute and wait a few weeks before getting your money back. But now, you can just send a message to the supplier, and if you have a good supplier, they will just send a new product to the customer free of charge!
Or maybe you have problems with the shipping duration. If it takes really long for the tracking information to update, for example, you can contact the supplier, and often, they will be able to help you and give you a reasonable estimation of when the package will arrive.
You can even talk with your AliExpress supplier about alternative faster shipping methods like YunExpress or 4PX!
However, in all of this, I assumed you have an excellent AliExpress supplier who understands that your long-term relationship is more important than battling to get a few dollars off of you. They would rather make you happy and send a new product to your customer for free. A good AliExpress supplier is honest, pro-active, and willing to help you to solve your problems together!
This is another example of an advantage you could have when you've informed your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping:
This pro-active supplier knew that Chinese New Year was coming up and that orders during the holiday would not be sent out. He sent me a message to warn me about it, which included the exact dates on which the supplier was on holiday and when the orders would ship out again!
Remember, not all AliExpress suppliers will offer you amazing perks like priority processing or VIP links, only the best AliExpress suppliers.
If you would like to learn more about methods to find the best AliExpress suppliers, check out our article about it: Dropshipping With AliExpress: How to Find the Best Suppliers?
How to message an AliExpress supplier?
Armed with all this information, you may decide to contact your AliExpress supplier and inform them that you're dropshipping.
On AliExpress, it's not very clear on how to contact an AliExpress supplier, so let me show you!
Once you know how it works, it's actually very simple.
The first step is to go to the relevant product page:
Then, just click on the supplier's name at the top of the page and click on "Contact Now":
This will redirect you to AliExpress's message center, where you can directly contact the supplier. It will even add a product link automatically for you so that the supplier knows which product you're talking about!
Dropshipping message to AliExpress supplier example (Inform them that you’re dropshipping)
To make your life easier, I made a message example template for you, which you can use to inform your AliExpress supplier(s) that you're dropshipping! Feel free to alter the questions to match it for your product or add your own questions.
Here it is:
Hi there! My name is Patryk, and I'm reaching out to you because I would like to dropship your product(s). I hope we will be able to achieve a long-term and profitable relationship, and I, therefore, have a few questions for you:
1. Do you accept dropshipping?
2. What is your order processing time?
3. What are some of the guarantees you offer? For example, if the product is not working as it should be when it arrived. Do I need to send it to you, or will you give a refund with picture/video proof?
4. What if the product doesn’t come on time? Will you refund so I can send it again if needed?
5. Can we negotiate a reduced product price? Do you offer a VIP link with priority processing or a product price discount?
Thank you in advance for answering my question. I'm looking forward to your response!
Another thing that you can ask is if you can use their AliExpress product video (if available).
In addition to this first initial message to your supplier, it's also recommended to add a note for every order you make.
When buying a product off of AliExpress, you can add a note for the order here:
DSers even has an option that will automatically fill in a pre-determined note for every order you make:
DSers even provides a template to use for this note. The nice thing is that it's perfect as it is! Here it is:
I'm dropshipping. Please DO NOT put any invoices, QR codes, promotions or your brand name logo in the shipments. Please ship as soon as possible for repeat business. Thank you!
It's short but powerful.
It informs your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping and that there shouldn't be any invoices, QR codes, promotions, or brand logos in the packages.
It also lets your supplier know that you're planning to buy more products from them if they ship out the package fast.
Conclusion
After looking at all the advantages you may get when you inform your AliExpress supplier that you're dropshipping, I'm confident that we can conclude that it's absolutely recommended to do so.
Hopefully, you will agree!
Don't forget that we have multiple awesome articles on Do Dropshipping about dropshipping with AliExpress.
One example is: Dropshipping With AliExpress: Deal With Long Shipping Times. This article will tell you all about the delivery times on AliExpress and discuss methods to get a faster shipping time.
I hope that you've learned something new today which you can apply to improve your dropshipping store.
Please leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions regarding dropshipping.
Have a great day!
Getting Started with Dropshipping in 2024
So, are you ready to get started with dropshipping? Or maybe you have already started, but you’re looking to get some inspiration?
If so, then I suggest reading this complete Shopify dropshipping guide.
It’s a huge article, but it contains everything that you need to know to create your own Shopify dropshipping store in 2024. It’s like a dropshipping course, but then for free!
Reading this article will surely help you to get started and to stay motivated while beginning and continuing your dropshipping journey.
Just don’t forget that success takes time. Keep improving each and every day!
Shopify Dropshipping: A 20-Step Guide to Starting Your Store
And here are the articles I suggest you read next:
- How to Find US Dropshipping Suppliers on AliExpress?
- Top 10 Dropshipping Niches to Avoid as a Beginner in 2024
- Should You Do Dropshipping With One or Multiple Suppliers?
- Dropshipping Startup Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Starting
And also, if you didn’t create a Shopify account yet (to get your dropshipping store online), then you can click here to get a free 3-day trial + pay $1/month for the first 3 months!
