Anyone who dropships is aware of the challenges, mostly finding a competitive price that will allow you to sell on sites such as eBay. The question is, how many of you actually even try to negotiate prices with the suppliers to help with that issue?
I'm guessing that most people just simply accept the advertised price and don't even attempt to talk a better deal with the supplier. Now negotiating with a wholesale supplier is always going to be more successful, but it can't possibly hurt to at least approach the subject with the supplier. What's the worst they can say....NO?
Now bare in mind that they don't know you, so they don't don't know your ability to move their products, so getting much of a concession up-front will be a task, but consider your options.
What about suggesting a loyalty based program to the supplier. If you attain a certain level of sales, then you get a certain percentage discount on your orders. It can be a win win for both you and the supplier, remember, if you're moving good volume for that supplier then you've become a business asset to then and the last thing they want to do is lose that asset.
Now of course the problem you have to hurdle, given the fact that the supplier agrees to offer such a reward, given you meet the set requirements, is to accomplish the goal.
That's the hard part right?
Well let's look at it as a long term business plan and putting certain processes in place to make this happen. My suggestion, develop your own online store independent of eBay and start stocking it to the roof. Remember, the beauty about having your own site is NO listing of SUCCESS fees on sales.
So now you have your shop, how do you generate traffic. How about adopting a no margin, high volume strategy on eBay, that entails you selling the products at COST, not making a cent, only covering your cost. Now if you are finding that you're still not generating enough sales to meet the requirements of the sales target you need to get better prices, then considering taking a loss on the sale should be an option.
How much of a loss?
Well as much as you can afford, remember the immediate goal here isn't to make money, it's to generate enough sales to secure you a better price, as well as generate traffic to your own store through those sales. So it's short term pain for longer term gain.
If you can be successful in getting a reduced price and generating website traffic, now you're on your way and you can then build on that.
It's just an idea, but maybe one worth considering if you want long term success!