Disclosure: We may earn a commission or fee from some of the links in our content. However, this does not affect our recommendations. Learn more.
When it comes to starting a dropshipping business, eBay is the platform of choice for most newbies. It’s no surprise either, eBay has more than 150 million buyers and generates billions in revenue.
In this guide, you will learn everything there is to know about dropshipping on eBay. From finding suppliers to choosing products and creating listings, I’ll take you through the entire process, as well as provide some real-life examples of profitable eBay dropshipping products.
1. Find a popular niche
Finding a popular niche is the first step towards starting a dropshipping business on eBay. It’s recommended to focus on a specific category that interests you. This will allow you to stand out from the competition and build your unique brand.
For example, if you’re a bit of a fitness fantastic, why not sell exercise equipment or home gym accessories? If you have a passion for the outdoors, camping gear could be your niche.
There are several simple ways to find a lucrative dropshipping niche with low competition and lots of demand. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most effective techniques.
Use a dropshipping research tool
One of the best ways to find a profitable niche is to use a dropshipping research tool. These tools allow you to quickly locate best-selling products and trending niches that are already generating income and profits for other sellers.
Try a keyword suggestion tool
Another option is to use a free keyword suggestion tool such as the Google Keyword Planner. Simply input some starting keywords and the tool will instantly return a list of related keywords with details on monthly search volumes, competition strength, and growth rate.
Study other eBay sellers
Studying other sellers is another powerful way to generate niche ideas. Start by browsing the most popular categories on eBay and the products within those categories. When an item grabs your attention, browse the other listings of the seller to find more niche opportunities.
Search on Google Trends
Google Trends is a free website that allows you to check the popularity of a search term on Google. It’s great for evaluating the interest of a product or niche over time. Just head to the Google Trends platform and input some keywords or search phrases.
After running a search, the software will generate a quick overview of the popularity of the search term, as well as provide a list of related topics and search queries. You can also use the filters to change the location, date range, and categories.
2. Create a brand name
Once you’ve decided on a niche, it’s time to create a name for your eBay dropshipping business. Having a good brand name is particularly important when selling on eBay, as it needs to be memorable so that customers can easily return to your profile or store.
You should keep it short and sweet, as well as relevant to your niche. To do this, make sure you use descriptive and explanatory keywords. For example, if you’re going to be selling pet supplies, something along the lines of ‘Tiny Paws Pet Products’ would be ideal.
You can use a free business name generator such as Looka, Namelix, or NameSnack to generate some ideas. You can also use a tool like Namechk to quickly check the availability of usernames across multiple platforms such as eBay, Shopify, Facebook, and Twitter.
It’s also recommended to check the domain name availability, even if you’re not planning on opening an online store. Moreover, you should run a trademark search to make sure the brand name is not already being used by another company.
3. Get dropshipping software
Using software to manage inventory and prices when dropshipping on eBay is essential. Moreover, most dropshipping platforms provide an all-in-one solution for finding suppliers, creating listings, and managing inventory, as well as processing orders and tracking sales.
By this stage in the guide, you should know what type of products you want to sell. Therefore, you simply need to find software that is compatible with suppliers in your niche. There are several powerful dropshipping solutions that integrate directly with eBay. For more information, please refer to our guide on the best dropshipping software.
Also note, many eBay dropshipping solutions have a free plan or free version. This allows you to use them, without paying any upfront membership fees.
If you don’t want to use automation software, you will need to find suppliers manually. You will also need to manually update stock and prices to prevent over-selling. This can be very time-consuming if you have a lot of products and listings to monitor. That’s why software is highly recommended.
Nonetheless, if you want to go down the route of manual dropshipping without software, there are several ways to find legitimate and reputable suppliers. You can use a dropshipping directory or you can simply search on Google using long-tail keywords.
You may also want to review our guides on the best dropshipping suppliers as we have a ton of curated lists of top companies from various locations including the US, UK, and Europe.
4. Open an eBay account
The next step in this guide is to open an eBay account. It’s recommended to sign up as a business seller as you will be able to access more advanced features, as well as dedicated support. You will also be able to list more products and open your own eBay store.
Setting up an account is easy. Simply head to the eBay website, click the Register link, and follow the instructions. Make sure you select the Business Account option.
Keep in mind, the eBay website you should join will depend on where you want to start selling. For example, if you want to sell in the UK, you should open an account on the UK version of eBay. If you want to sell in the US, you should join the ‘ebay.com’ website which is the US version.
Important Note: Before you start listing dropshipping products on a new eBay account, we recommend selling some items from around the house to gain some feedback and sales history. This will allow you to build trust with eBay, as well as increase your selling limits.
5. Start creating listings
Once you have an eBay account, the next step is to start creating listings. If you’re using dropshipping software, you will likely be able to quickly list products on eBay using a web app or Chrome browser extension. If not, you will need to manually list products from your supplier to eBay.
Either way, there are some important tips to consider when it comes to listing dropshipping products on eBay. You need to ensure you’re following the latest techniques to increase your sales.
Tweak product titles
Tweaking your product titles is a surefire way to increase the visibility of your products in eBay’s search results, as well as drive more clicks and traffic to your listings.
To do this, make sure you include targeted keywords within your titles. You can use a free keyword tool such as Google Keyword Planner or Wordtracker to come up with ideas. Alternatively, you can use a free eBay title builder such as FireTitle to create unique titles for your listings in minutes.
The more keywords you include in your title, the more likely your listing will appear in search results. In the example above, my listing will appear for dozens of keyword variations such as ‘ultrasonic pest repeller’, ‘ultrasonic insect deterrent’, and ‘ultrasonic spider repeller’.
I’ve also included additional descriptive keywords such as rat, mouse, insect, and bug. If these keywords were not included in the title, it’s unlikely the product would rank for related searches.
Another effective way to find relevant keywords for your titles is by using eBay search. Head over to the eBay website and input some keywords in the search bar. While typing, a drop-down list of the most popular search phrases will appear for your review.
Upload custom images
With dropshipping, you don’t need to create your own product images as you can simply use the photos provided by your supplier. That being said, it’s recommended to edit the images to make them unique. You can do this by using a free image editor such as LunaPic or Pixlr.
Even changing the size of an image will make it unique. If possible, you should also use a different main image from other sellers or competitors.
When saving product images for uploading to eBay, name them using targeted keywords to further enhance your listing. For example, save the first image as ‘wireless headphones’ and the second image as ‘Bluetooth headphones’ or ‘wireless earphones’.
Add item specifics
Item specifics are specifications about your item such as size, weight, and more. They are used to help customers filter search results. For example, if a user searches for a hoodie, they will be able to refine the results by size, brand, style, and more.
If you don’t add item specifics, your listing won’t appear in filtered search results. Therefore, you should add as many item specifics as possible and double-check to make sure they’re accurate. In some cases, eBay will automatically add item specifics on your behalf.
Also note, you may be required to add certain product identifiers such as a brand name, EAN code, or manufacturer’s part number. You should contact your supplier to request this information or select the unbranded or not applicable option if possible.
Write unique descriptions
Product descriptions are just as important as titles when dropshipping on eBay. Although it’s tempting to use the descriptions provided by your supplier, you should consider writing your own unique descriptions. At the very least, you should tweak them or add a few extra sentences.
Using unique descriptions will give you a huge advantage over other eBay dropshippers, as they will be unable to duplicate or copy your listing. This would be a copyright violation which can be reported to eBay. You’ll also be able to further increase your chances of being discovered in search results by sprinkling relevant keywords throughout the description.
You should keep your descriptions short with a brief intro and some key features. Also, try to sprinkle a few targeted keywords within the description, but avoid keyword stuffing.
Set reasonable prices
Price is the most important consideration for a potential buyer. That’s why it’s important to keep your prices as low as possible. After taking eBay selling fees into consideration, you should aim for a healthy but moderate profit margin. Don’t make the mistake of overpricing.
It’s better to sell an item 10 times with a $5 profit than just once with a $10 profit. Low prices will attract more customers and ultimately generate more overall sales. While not essential, try to undercut your competitors, even by a few cents.
You can use a free eBay profit calculator such as Salecalc to quickly work out your exact selling fees and profit margins. Selling fees will vary depending on the eBay
Create essential policies
If you’re a new seller, you’ll have to create a few essential listing policies. Don’t panic though, it’s very simple to do and a one-time job. Once set up, you can use the same policies for all future listings. The 3 policies you need to create include a postage policy, a returns policy, and a payment policy.
Simply click the Create link next to the relevant policy when listing an item for sale, then complete the details within the pop-up window.
You should copy the return policy of your supplier, but add a few extra days to the shipping time. For example, If your supplier delivers in 3-5 days, set your shipping policy as 5-7 days. This will provide you with plenty of time to process customer orders.
Enable multi-buy offers
Also known as volume pricing, multi-buy offers provide customers with a discount when they purchase one or more of the same product. When you enable a multi-buy offer, the savings available to your buyer will be clearly displayed on the product description page.
There are two ways to create a multi-buy offer, either individually while creating a new listing or in bulk via your eBay seller back-office. If you want to offer various tiered discounts for each of your items, it’s best to create a multi-buy offer while listing the item.
If you would like to have the same multi-buy offer for all listings, you can do this in bulk, after creating your listings. Learn more about multi-buy offers and how to create them here.
6. Promote your products
Promoting your listings is a guaranteed way to instantly boost traffic and increase sales. While promoted, your listings will appear in prominent locations throughout the eBay site, including at the top of search results and on the listing pages of similar items.
You’ll only pay an additional fee, calculated as a percentage of the final selling price after the item has sold. Therefore, you can try out promoted listing without having to risk any upfront cash.
Promoted Listings can be created in 1 of 2 ways, either individually while creating a new listing or in bulk for all existing listings. You’ll have full control over which listings to promote, as well as the fixed percentage you’re willing to pay if a sale is generated. Lean more about promoted listings here.
It’s recommended to start your ad rate at around 5% for maximum visibility, then adjust individual listings by decreasing or increasing the ad rate depending on performance. Once a listing starts to generate sales, you can gradually decrease the rate.
7. Process customer orders
When a customer buys an item, you will need to forward or place the order with your supplier. As a dropshipper, you lack control over the order processing and dispatch times. Therefore, it’s important to process orders as quickly as possible to ensure the items are delivered on time.
Remember, your supplier will prepare and dispatch the items. If a customer places an order on Monday, but you don’t process it until Tuesday or Wednesday, the item could be delayed. As a general rule, you should aim to process orders the very same day.
While the main purpose of dropshipping software is to monitor prices and stock, many have features to automatically process customer orders on your behalf. As you being to scale your business and generate a lot of sales, using software to place orders can save you a huge amount of time. Please refer to our list of the best eBay dropshipping software for more information.
You should avoid matching the shipping policy of your supplier exactly. For example, if your supplier delivers in 3-5 days, set your shipping policy to 5-7 days. Those few extra days will give you plenty of time to place the order with your supplier.
8. Manage customer support
Customers are the lifeblood of your eBay dropshipping business. Provide excellent customer service and buyers will continue to purchase from you. You will also quickly build up positive feedback and product reviews which will result in more sales and revenue.
Make sure you answer questions from customers as soon as possible. You should also quickly deal with returns or problem orders. Typically, your supplier will be able to provide you with a return address or return label. Simply forward the details to your eBay customer.
Follow up with your customers a few weeks after purchase. Ask if they were satisfied with the service they received and kindly request feedback. You can also use this opportunity to provide the customer with an exclusive discount or coupon code to encourage repeat orders.
Remember, the customer is always right, even when they’re wrong. Make it your goal to satisfy customers and go above and beyond to resolve issues. You’ll soon discover that excellent customer service is the key to building a repeat customer base.
9. Keep listing new products
The most common reason why newbies fail with eBay dropshipping is that they give up too easily. It’s important to understand that dropshipping on eBay is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It will take time and effort to grow the business and start generating income.
If you don’t see an instant avalanche of sales, don’t quit. Keep listing new products and expanding your range. As you gain more feedback and sales, your listings will naturally start appearing higher in the search results. Stick with it and you will eventually generate consistent sales.
10. Track income and profits
Keeping track of your income and profits is essential when dropshipping on eBay. You can do this using spreadsheets to record your sales, expenses, selling fees, and profits each day.
Alternatively, you can use accounting software to automate most of your bookkeeping. Most accounting solutions integrate directly with your bank account, as well as PayPal. This will save you a huge amount of time as you won’t need to manually track every sale.
Make sure you also keep receipts for purchases and make a backup of all your accounts. It will make it easier when it comes to paying taxes on your income. If necessary, hire an accountant to manage your bookkeeping and tax returns.
eBay Dropshipping Tutorial
Finding and listing profitable dropshipping products on eBay
In this over-the-shoulder tutorial, we’re going to find profitable dropshipping products on eBay. Let’s imagine I’ve decided to start selling giftware on eBay UK.
I’ve found a suitable UK-based dropshipping supplier after searching on Google. That supplier is Puckator Dropship, one of the UK’s leading dropshippers of giftware.
After spending some time cross-checking a collection of their products on eBay, it didn’t take long to discover a profitable item. It’s a Gothic skull dragon figurine. After searching on eBay, I discovered a seller who has sold the very same item over 30 times for the price of £8.87:
The total price to purchase this item from the supplier (Puckator) including shipping is £6.42. By undercutting the competition and selling this product for £8.85, I’d pocket a profit of £1.10 on every sale. If I can achieve similar sales as my competition, I’d earn over £30.00 profit from this one single item.
Keep in mind, I have full control over pricing and the option to aim for a higher profit per sale, particularly when running promoted listings. As I continued to browse Puckator and eBay, I found many more profitable dropship items, including the following examples:
- Crystal Geode Metallic Rainbow Dragon Figurine
- Cost to Buy: £10.44
- eBay Selling Price: £14.34
- Profit: £1.85 (estimated)
- Sales Volume: 10
- Total Profit: £18.50 (estimated)
- Gothic Skull in Medieval Helmet Ornament
- Cost to Buy: £5.81
- eBay Selling Price: £7.91
- Profit: £0.88 (estimated)
- Sales Volume: 22
- Total Profit: £19.36 (estimated)
- Fantasy LED Backflow Incense Burner
- Cost to Buy: £16.50
- eBay Selling Price: £22.27
- Profit: £3.05 (estimated)
- Sales Volume: 9
- Total Profit: £27.45 (estimated)
These are just a few examples of items that people are successfully dropshipping on eBay. Keep in mind, there are literally millions of items and thousands of dropshipping suppliers to choose from. Take the time to find those hot-selling products which generate consistent sales and you’ll be a power seller in no time.
In another short tutorial, I’m going to take you through the process of finding a dropshipping product and listing it for sale on eBay UK. I’ve decided to use the supplier Banggood, a leading China-based dropshipping company with over 100,000 products and multiple distribution warehouses across the globe including in the UK, US, and Europe.
After spending some time browsing the Banggood website and cross-checking several products with eBay, I stumbled across a potentially profitable item. It’s an automatic fish food dispenser, available to purchase for £10.75 with free 3-5 day shipping from the UK warehouse.
As an active member of the Banggood dropship program, I’m also subject to a 5% discount, meaning my total cost price for this item would be (£10.75 – £0.53) £10.22.
After a quick search on eBay, I discovered this very same fish feeder selling for £14.99 with a total sales volume of 7 units. Many other similar items were being sold for between £15 and £20 with a healthy sales history of 10 or more, indicating that automatic fish feeders are a fairly popular item to sell on eBay.
After using a free eBay fee calculator, I’ve concluded that my total profit would be £2.62 ( 17% margin) if I was to undercut the competition and list the fish feeder for £14.97. The figures outlined in this example are based on UK eBay and PayPal fees. The actual fees will vary depending on your country and the eBay site you’re selling on.
Although £.2.62 may not sound like a lot of profit, if I was to sell 10 of these every month, this one product would earn me £26.20 per month. Now imagine if I had 100 or more products that generated similar profit margins each month. That equals a very comfortable, lucrative, and reliable income.
Undercutting the competition is not absolutely essential when selling on eBay, particularly if you’re running promoted listings. Selling this product for 15.99 would generate a £3.51 (22%) profit, while a price of £16.99 would earn a £4.38 (25%) profit.
Trying and testing to achieve the most lucrative selling price for maximum sales is recommended. It’s better to generate more sales with a small profit than only a few sales with a large profit.
Now that I’ve found a profitable product, it’s time to create a new listing on eBay. The quickest way to do this is by clicking the Sell It Yourself link on the existing eBay listing:
To get that edge over the competition, I’m going to create a unique and keyword-rich title for my listing. After using a free keyword suggestion tool, as well as an eBay search, I’ve come up with the following title: ‘Automatic Timed Fish Food Dispenser Feeder for Aquarium Tank Pond’.
The title contains relevant and descriptive keywords that users are likely to search for when browsing eBay. I’ve also included multiple keywords to cover the potential use of the item for aquariums, standard tanks, or ponds.
Therefore, whether the user is searching for ‘pond fish feeder’ or ‘aquarium fish feeder’ my listing should appear for both. Next, I’m going to upload the product images. To do this, I need to download them from the supplier’s website. In most cases, you can simply right-click on the images and save them to your PC.
However, if the right-click function is not enabled, you’ll need to contact your supplier to request the images. I’ve taken the extra time to save each image to my PC using relevant keywords before uploading them to eBay. I’ve also decided to use a different main image.
While not mandatory, the next step is to write my own description. Unique descriptions will give you a competitive advantage over other sellers. In this case, I’m going to keep it short with a brief introductory paragraph and a list of key features. You may also want to include a short overview of what’s included in the package.
The next step is to input as many item specifics as possible. In most cases, particularly when using the Sell it Yourself link to create a new listing, eBay will automatically add the item specifics for you. Be sure to add as many as possible and double-check any that eBay may have automatically included.
Now that I’ve input the required information, I can go ahead and click List and my product will be available to buy on eBay. To further increase my chances of generating sales, I’m going to set up a multi-buy offer and promoted listing separately. More details on multi-buy and promoted listing can be found in the Start Creating Listings section of this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following FAQs provide quick answers to common questions about dropshipping on eBay. If you have any additional questions, please refer to our other guides on dropshipping and ecommerce. Also, be sure to check back regularly as we continue to update this guide with new content.
What is dropshipping?
Dropshipping is an order processing technique in which retailers sell products, usually through online channels such as eBay, and then source them directly from suppliers. Unlike the traditional ecommerce business model, dropshipping doesn’t involve buying inventory upfront. Instead, products are only purchased after they’ve been sold to a consumer.
It’s the perfect business opportunity for newbies to ecommerce, as well as those looking to start an eBay business without spending a ton of cash on inventory, storage, and distribution. It’s also suitable for those who want to earn extra income working during their spare time.
Is dropshipping allowed on eBay?
According to eBay’s product sourcing policy, dropshipping is allowed on the platform. However, when using a dropshipping model, sellers are still responsible for the safe delivery of products and the satisfaction of customers, regardless of where the item came from.
It’s also the seller’s responsibility to manage returns and ensure products are available at the time of purchase, something which will be covered more in this guide. Moreover, you must be sourcing products from a genuine wholesale or trade-only supplier.
What are the pros and cons of eBay dropshipping?
Dropshipping on eBay can be very profitable. However, it has a small number of disadvantages that need to be considered, particularly when compared to alternative options such as dropshipping products through your own ecommerce website.
To help you determine whether it’s the right business opportunity for you, here’s a side-by-side breakdown of the pros and cons of dropshipping on eBay.
Pros of eBay dropshipping
- More than 150 million buyers and 1.5 billion active listings
- Start selling products in minutes with no tech skills needed
- Dropshipping is allowed on the platform as stated in the policy
- Thousands of success stories from other dropshippers globally
- No need to spend money on external advertising or marketing
- Reasonable selling fees with a simple billing system for sellers
- Get your own eBay store with exclusive benefits and discounts
- Well-established marketplace with seller protection policies
- Innovative ‘promoted listings’ service to increase exposure
- Range of powerful tools and features for business sellers
Cons of eBay dropshipping
- Selling policies that regularly change with little warning or notice
- Lots of competition from other sellers in most major categories
- Strict copyright and trademark rules on images and descriptions
- Sourcing products from another retailer (arbitrage) is not allowed
- Often biased toward buyers with a lack of a fair resolution system
- Increasing number of mandatory policies and listing requirements
- Unwanted returns are automatically accepted by eBay without notice
As you can see, the benefits of dropshipping on eBay outweigh the cons. However, the cons should be taken seriously. You need to decide if you would be happy to follow the strict terms and selling policies outlined by eBay. You also need to consider the fees you will pay for selling on eBay.
Can anyone dropship on eBay?
Yes, anyone can start dropshipping on eBay. That’s one of the most significant advantages of dropshipping. It doesn’t matter where you’re physically located, you can sell to customers in any part of the world. For example, if you want to sell on eBay UK, simply find a UK-based supplier. If you want to sell in the US, find a US-based dropshipping supplier.
You could be in the Bahamas and still sell products on eBay. This is because your supplier handles the entire order processing process including shipping and delivery, rendering your location irrelevant. All you really need is a computer and access to the Internet.
How much does it cost to start dropshipping on eBay?
In general, you will need around $100-$200 to start dropshipping on eBay. This will cover any listing fees to get started, as well as fund your first orders. Keep in mind, selling fees will vary depending on which eBay website you’re selling on.
You also have the option of opening an eBay shop for a fixed monthly fee. Shops come with exclusive benefits including a number of free listings, as well as the option to create Good Till Cancelled (GTC) listings. The only other fees you pay are final value fees. These are typically around 10-15%.
How much can I earn from dropshipping on eBay?
You can earn anything from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars dropshipping on eBay. In fact, some of the most successful eBay dropshippers earn $10,000 or more per month.
However, the amount you will earn depends on a variety of factors including your chosen niche, number of products, profit margins, and competition strength, as well as how much time and effort you commit to the business. If you stay consistent and keep working on the business every day, you can expect to start earning income within a few months or sooner.
Is dropshipping on eBay worth it?
Yes, dropshipping on eBay is worth the effort as it’s a proven business model with countless success stories. Whether you want to earn extra money or build a full-time income, eBay dropshipping is the perfect opportunity, particularly for those who don’t have a lot of funds to invest.
You will need to work to build your dropshipping business on eBay and success won’t be immediate, but the end results will be worth it. Just make sure you follow the steps in this guide and you will have a better chance of achieving success with eBay dropshipping.
How do I manage returns when dropshipping on eBay?
Managing returns when dropshipping on eBay is actually very simple. Instead of getting your customers to return items to you, simply forward them the details on how to return the goods directly to your supplier. In most cases, your supplier will be able to provide a return label or return address.
When the return has been received, the supplier will refund you directly. You can then issue a refund to the customer on eBay. If the customer opens a return request on eBay, make sure you contact them as soon as possible to avoid them sending the item back to you.
Is dropshipping on eBay legal?
Yes, dropshipping on eBay is legal. It’s also allowed on the platform as stated in their product sourcing policy. You won’t need to worry about your account being banned or suspended.
Many leading retail companies have been using the dropshipping model for years, long before it became a preferred ecommerce solution. Today, dropshipping is considered to be an established and proven business model that will only continue to increase in popularity.
Is eBay against Dropshipping?
Absolutely not. However, eBay is against retail arbitrage dropshipping, the process of sourcing products from other retailers such as Amazon or Walmart. This is a flawed business model because eBay customers pay above retail prices and receive the products in Amazon-branded parcels. For more information, please see our article on why you should avoid dropshipping from Amazon to eBay.
To be clear, eBay has nothing against dropshipping, as long as you’re sourcing products from a genuine wholesale or trade-only dropshipping supplier. This will allow you to offer competitive retail prices, without having to worry about complaints from buyers.
Plus, reputable dropshipping suppliers will use unbranded packaging without including paperwork with the orders, a process known as blind dropshipping. Your customers will never know where the item came from. As far as they are concerned, the item came directly from you.
Some dropshipping companies can even include your own logo or branding on the packaging. Alternatively, they may be able to send custom shipping invoices with the parcel.
Is eBay Dropshipping Dead?
eBay dropshipping is very much alive and kicking. In fact, thousands of people are earning full-time income dropshipping products on eBay. The business model will always be a big part of the platform as it generates millions of dollars in revenue for eBay and attracts thousands of new sellers each year.
Building a successful eBay dropshipping business is very much possible, it’s simply a case of learning the policies and implementing the correct way of doing things. Keep in mind, dropshipping is a business model, not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s going to take time and effort to start generating sales and income.
Will eBay ever ban dropshipping?
It’s highly unlikely that eBay would ever ban dropshipping, maybe even impossible. It would make no sense for eBay to ban dropshipping entirely, particularly when they generate millions of dollars in revenue from it. Plus, it would mean banning some major ecommerce retailers from the marketplace.
What is the alternative to dropshipping on eBay?
Hopefully, we have established that eBay dropshipping can be highly profitable. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for everyone, particularly in the long term.
Dropshipping through your own website is a great way to retain full control over your business and secure its longevity. eBay will bring in quick sales for your business, but building your own ecommerce store should be your end goal.
Thankfully, simple software programs make it easy for anyone to create a low-cost ecommerce website. Please see our list of the best online store builders for more information. Other alternatives to eBay include dropshipping on Amazon or through Facebook Marketplace.
To learn more, please refer to our guide on the best places to sell dropshipping products. To generate maximum sales and profit, you should be selling on as many channels as possible including eBay, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, and your own ecommerce website.
Is it better to dropship on my own website?
It depends on a number of things such as your business plan, budget, and level of experience. Building your own ecommerce website takes a lot of time, money, and effort. eBay on the other hand gives you a platform to instantly start accepting orders and generating sales.
Plus, eBay has more than 150 million active buyers. Cutting yourself off from this massive pool of buyers would not make sense, especially if you’re new to ecommerce. While having your own website is certainly something to consider in the future, eBay is by far the best starting point for beginners.
Can I dropship from Amazon to eBay?
Unfortunately, dropshipping from Amazon, or any other retailer for that matter, is not allowed on eBay. Failure to follow the rules outlined in eBay’s dropshipping policy could result in your account being flagged, restricted, or suspended.
Therefore, it’s highly recommended to start dropshipping from genuine wholesale or trade-only dropshipping suppliers. By working with real trade companies, you will avoid being flagged by eBay and also earn higher resale profits. Most dropshipping software solutions are compatible with dozens of certified dropshipping suppliers with true wholesale prices.
Final Word
Building a successful dropshipping business on eBay is certainly possible. It just takes time and effort. If you choose the right products to sell, find a reliable dropshipping supplier, and create high-quality product listings, you won’t go far wrong.
When the time is right, invest in dropshipping automation software to streamline and scale the business more rapidly. Once you’ve fine-tuned your product range and started to generate consistent sales, consider creating your own website using a low-cost online store builder.
Alternatively, you can branch out by selling on another platform such as Amazon or Facebook Marketplace. Your end goal should be to drive maximum sales from multiple ecommerce platforms, rather than using eBay, or one selling channel exclusively.