Introduction

“dropshipping where to buy” is the single question most new e-commerce founders ask when they start. The choice of supplier determines shipping speed, product quality, return rates, and profit margins, and it can make or break your store in the first 3-6 months.

This guide explains where to buy for dropshipping, how each supplier type works, and which platforms and services match common business models. You will get specific, actionable steps: supplier checklists, sample pricing math, platform costs, and a 90-day timeline you can follow to validate a product. The goal is to move you from research to live orders with minimal wasted spend.

Read this if you want clear sourcing decisions for niches like phone accessories, home goods, apparel, or print-on-demand. The advice includes real platforms like AliExpress, Alibaba, Spocket, Printful, and CJdropshipping, and shows how to compare costs, shipping times, and risks so you can pick suppliers that fit your margin and customer experience targets.

Understanding Dropshipping and Supplier Roles

Dropshipping is a fulfillment method where you, the retailer, take customer orders and forward them to a supplier who ships directly to the customer. You never hold inventory. That creates very low upfront cost, but increases reliance on supplier performance.

There are three core supplier roles in dropshipping:

Manufacturers and wholesalers: They produce items and often sell in bulk. Transactions can include minimum order quantities (MOQ) and private labeling.
Marketplace suppliers and brokers: These are platforms that connect many small suppliers to retailers, often with no MOQ and low per-unit prices.
Print-on-demand and fulfillment partners: These print or customize products per order and ship, useful for apparel and custom goods.

Why supplier choice matters:

Shipping time: A supplier shipping from China to the US may take 10-30 days via standard ePacket, while local US suppliers can deliver in 2-5 days. Longer shipping increases support costs and returns.
Quality and returns: Low-cost suppliers can have 3-7% defect rates; a reputable supplier often has <1% defects. A 5% defect rate on a $20 product costing $7 eats into margins quickly.
Scalability: Some suppliers limit order volumes or manual processing, which slows growth. Automated integrations (API, Shopify apps) support scaling.

Example: Phone cases. Sourcing from AliExpress, you might pay $2.50 per case with $1.50 shipping, sell at $14.99, and pay Shopify and payment fees. From a US-based supplier, cost might be $6.50 with $3 shipping, but faster delivery and lower returns justify a smaller markup.

Key performance targets for early stores:

Target gross margin: 40-60% (after product + shipping cost, before ads).
Return/defect rate goal: <2% within 90 days.
Average shipping time to your major market: <10 days for high-conversion niches.

Dropshipping Where to Buy:

supplier types and marketplaces

This section directly answers “dropshipping where to buy” by breaking suppliers into categories and naming the platforms you should evaluate for each.

AliExpress and China marketplace brokers

Best for: Very low unit cost, test products, large catalog variety.
Examples: AliExpress, 1688 (Chinese language), Banggood.
Pros: No MOQ, low sample cost, direct integration via DSers or other apps.
Cons: Shipping 10-30 days to Western markets, variable quality, communication issues.
When to use: Early testing when you need cheap inventory to validate demand.

Alibaba and direct manufacturers

Best for: Bulk buying, negotiating price for consistent top-sellers, private labeling.
Examples: Alibaba, Global Sources.
Pros: Lowest per-unit price at scale, customization options.
Cons: Often MOQ (100-1,000+ units), longer lead times, requires inspection.
When to use: After product validation and when you want to improve margins with bulk purchases.

Dropshipping aggregators and fulfillment services

Best for: Faster fulfillment, better product selection with vetted suppliers.
Examples: CJdropshipping, Spocket, Modalyst, SaleHoo, Doba.
Pros: US/EU-based suppliers available, faster shipping options, platform support.
Cons: Higher unit price, monthly fees on some platforms.
When to use: If you need predictable shipping and easier integrations with Shopify or WooCommerce.

Print-on-demand (POD)

Best for: Custom apparel, posters, mugs, niche branding.
Examples: Printful, Printify, TeeLaunch, Gooten.
Pros: No MOQ, custom designs on demand, easy Shopify integration.
Cons: Lower margins on POD apparel unless you charge premium prices, quality varies by product type.
When to use: Brand-first ventures or designs that justify price premiums.

Domestic wholesalers and retail arbitrage

Best for: Fast shipping, returns handling, products with strict regulations.
Examples: US wholesalers, local distributors, liquidation suppliers, Amazon, Walmart as sources for arbitrage.
Pros: Shipping 1-5 days, easier returns, improved customer experience.
Cons: Higher cost per unit, less selection.
When to use: When customer retention is critical or your niche demands fast delivery.

Marketplaces with vetted sellers

Best for: Quick testing with moderate reliability.
Examples: eBay, Etsy (for handmade), Amazon Marketplace (third-party sellers).
Pros: Large selection, sometimes fast shipping via local sellers.
Cons: Complicated terms for use with a separate store, inconsistent seller policies.

Example decision flow: If you plan to sell trendy gadgets with a target retail price of $25 and want 50% gross margin, start on AliExpress to test ads and conversion for 2-6 weeks. If a product clears 3% conversion rate and repeat buyers, move to Alibaba for MOQ negotiation or to Spocket/CJdropshipping for faster shipping.

How to Evaluate and Choose Suppliers

Choosing the right supplier requires scoring, documentation checks, and real-world tests. Use this practical 8-point checklist and scoring rubric to evaluate candidates.

Supplier evaluation checklist (score each 0-5):

Product quality and photos (0-5)
Shipping speed and tracking availability (0-5)
Return and refund policy clarity (0-5)
Integration and automation support (API, CSV, Shopify app) (0-5)
Minimum order quantity or per-order limits (0-5)
Pricing and ability to negotiate (0-5)
Communication and English proficiency (0-5)
Reviews, references, sample availability (0-5)

Interpretation:

32-40: Strong supplier for scaling.
24-31: Suitable for MVP testing, expect process work.
<24: High risk for customer support and returns.

Actionable steps to vet suppliers:

Order samples: Pay full price, request standard shipping and express shipping. Compare item to website photos and note packaging.
Time and track shipments: Record actual shipping days and number of tracking updates. Flag suppliers with inconsistent updates.
Test refunds: Ask for a refund on a damaged sample to assess policy speed and communication.
Run a 30-order pilot: Place 30 live orders from your store with the supplier for different delivery addresses. Track fulfillment times, issues, and number of customer complaints.
Negotiate terms: Once demand is visible, ask for better prices at predefined order volumes (e.g., 500 units/month).

Pricing math example (practical):

Product cost on AliExpress: $5.00
Average shipping to US: $3.00
Platform fee (Shopify Basic $39/mo) per order amortized: $0.50
Payment processing (Stripe): 2.9% + $0.30 on $25 sale = $1.03
Ads cost per sale (Facebook Ads CPA): $8.00

Total cost per sale = 5 + 3 + 0.5 + 1.03 + 8 = $17.53

Sales price = $25.00

Gross profit = $7.47 = 29.9% margin before taxes and returns.

If you switch to a US supplier:

Product cost: $9.00
Shipping: $3.00
Ads CPA might drop to $6 due to better conversion from quicker shipping

Total cost = 9 + 3 + 0.5 + 1.03 + 6 = $19.53

Gross profit on $25 sale = $5.47 = 21.9% margin but with fewer disputes and higher repeat rate.

Negotiation tips:

Offer a 30-60 day trial order volume and ask for incremental discounts at 250, 500, and 1,000 units.
Ask about fulfillment SLAs (service level agreements) with penalties for late shipping on large orders.
Request product packaging photos and the possibility of poly-bag or neutral packaging for returns.

Red flags to drop a supplier:

No ability to provide tracking numbers reliably.
Returns policy is vague or requires the customer to return items to overseas addresses.
Response time >48 hours on critical issues.
Wide variability between sample quality and bulk shipments.

Setting Up Operations:

orders, shipping, pricing, timelines

Operational setup includes how orders move from customer to supplier, how you price products, and expected timelines for the first 90 days of a product test.

Order flow models:

Manual forwarding: You receive orders and place them on the supplier site manually. Good for 0-50 orders per month.
Automated integration: Shopify app, API, or CSV that routes orders automatically. Necessary at 50+ orders per month to avoid errors.
Hybrid model: Automations for common SKUs and manual for exceptions.

Fulfillment SLA example:

Order processing by supplier: 24-48 hours
Domestic shipping: 2-5 business days
International shipping economy: 10-20 days
Expedited options: 3-7 days at higher shipping cost

Pricing strategy templates:

Keystoning for simple products: Retail = 2.5-3x cost. Example: cost $6 -> retail $15-18.
Cost-plus with ads: Retail = cost + shipping + fees + desired ad CPA + target profit margin. Example: cost+ship+fees = $12, ads $6, target profit $6 -> retail $24.
Market-based: Match competitors and adjust for shipping time. Example: competitor sells item at $27 with 2-day shipping; your cost structure requires $24 to break even, so compete on price or improve shipping.

90-day timeline to validate a product

Day 0-7: Research and shortlist 5 suppliers. Order 3 samples from different suppliers.
Day 8-21: Create product pages, set up Shopify store, and run small traffic tests ($5-$20/day). Track conversion rate and add to cart metrics.
Day 22-45: If conversion >2% and ROAS (return on ad spend) >1.5, scale ads gradually to $50-$100/day. Run a 30-order fulfillment pilot across suppliers.
Day 46-90: Decide on scaling path: continue with marketplace supplier, switch to faster aggregator, or contact manufacturers for MOQ quotes to improve margins.

Fulfillment cost examples:

AliExpress standard: $1.50-$5.00 shipping per item, 10-20 days.
ePacket: commonly $2.00-$4.00 depending on weight.
CJdropshipping: often includes free shipping for some items and charges a fulfillment fee of $1-$3 for others; express options cost $6-$20.
US dropshipper: $3-$8 shipping, 2-5 days.

Returns handling options:

Supplier return-to-supplier: customer returns to supplier address overseas - poor customer experience and often not recommended.
Local returns hub: Some aggregators offer local returns for a fee. This reduces friction and improves trust.
Refund without return: For low-cost items (<$10) it may be cheaper to offer a refund or replacement than to manage international returns.

Scaling notes:

Aim to automate order routing at 50 orders/month.
Maintain buffer stock for 1-2 top SKUs with a reliable supplier if lead times exceed 14 days.
Reassess margins monthly and renegotiate with suppliers once you reach 200+ orders/month.

Tools and Resources

This section lists platforms and typical pricing. Prices are approximate and vary by plan and region.

E-commerce platforms:

Shopify: Basic $39/month, Shopify $105/month, Advanced $399/month. Transaction fees can apply if not using Shopify Payments.
WooCommerce (WordPress plugin): free plugin + hosting $5-$30/month; payment processing separate.
BigCommerce: Standard $29.95/month, Plus $79.95/month.

Supplier marketplaces and services:

AliExpress: free to browse and order; per-item costs vary widely. Integrations: DSers (free/paid plans).
Alibaba: free to search; supplier minimums vary; inspection and shipping costs extra.
Spocket: Marketplace focused on US/EU suppliers. Plans: Free limited plan, Starter ~$29/month, Pro ~$49/month (approx).
CJdropshipping: free platform, fulfillment fees per order; offers warehouses in US/EU/Asia. No monthly fee for basic use.
SaleHoo: Supplier directory; pricing approximately $67/year or $127 lifetime (historical options).
Doba: Aggregated dropshipping inventory; pricing typically starts around $29/month for basic access.
Modalyst: Offers US brands and independent suppliers. Free plan available; paid plans from ~$35/month.

Print-on-demand:

Printful: No monthly fee; charges per product and fulfillment. Example: Basic tee $8-$12 base cost, shipping $3.99-$5.49.
Printify: Free plan and Premium $29/month; lower product costs on Premium plan.
Printlocal/other POD: vary by region and product.

Apps and automation:

DSers: AliExpress automation, free plan and paid upgrades ~ $19.90/month.
ShipStation: Shipping management, pricing from $9/month.
AfterShip: Tracking and return portal, free tier and paid tiers from $9/month.
ReCharge (for subscriptions): pricing starts ~$49/month plus fees.

Quality and verification:

QIMA or SGS: product and factory inspection services, costs vary by inspection.
Payoneer/TransferWise (Wise): for supplier payments across borders.

Payment processing:

Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (US standard).
PayPal: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for domestic sales.

Free resources and communities:

Reddit r/dropship, Shopify Community, YouTube channels with supplier interviews.
SaleHoo community and supplier reviews on platform pages.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Choosing the cheapest supplier first

Problem: Low price often equals poor quality or slow shipping.
How to avoid: Order samples, test fulfillment, and calculate total cost including returns and support.

Not testing shipping times and tracking

Problem: Customers get upset by long or opaque delivery times, increasing refund rates.
How to avoid: Require suppliers to provide real tracking, test shipments to multiple regions, and display realistic shipping times on product pages.

Skipping contract or terms negotiation

Problem: No agreed terms leave your business exposed to sudden price changes or shortages.
How to avoid: Get written confirmation of prices for a set period and request SLAs for fulfillment at scale.

Over-reliance on one supplier

Problem: Supplier failure halts orders and damages reputation.
How to avoid: Maintain at least two suppliers for top SKUs or have a backup domestic option.

Underestimating fees and ad costs

Problem: Ads and fees can turn apparent profits into losses.
How to avoid: Build full-cost models including payment fees, ad CPA, returns, and support costs before scaling.

FAQ

Where Should I Buy Products for Dropshipping?

Buy from supplier types that match your goals: AliExpress and marketplaces for low-cost testing, Alibaba for bulk/source manufacturing, Spocket or CJdropshipping for faster fulfillment, and Printful/Printify for print-on-demand. Match supplier shipping times and costs to your target market.

Is Aliexpress a Good Place to Start?

Yes, AliExpress is good for testing because there is no minimum order quantity and many inexpensive samples. Expect longer shipping and variable quality, so always order samples and run a 30-order pilot before scaling.

How Much Money Do I Need to Start Dropshipping?

You can start with $200-$1,000. Basic expenses: domain and hosting or Shopify plan ($29-$39/month), initial ad budget ($200-$500), samples and test orders ($50-$200), and minimal branding assets. More capital speeds testing and ad scale.

How Do I Check If a Supplier is Legitimate?

Order samples, check company registration on Alibaba, ask for references, request shipping tracking, and test refunds. Use third-party inspection services (QIMA) for bulk orders and check reviews on platforms like SaleHoo.

Can I Private Label with Dropshipping Suppliers?

Yes. Many Alibaba manufacturers and some CJdropshipping partners offer private labeling if you meet MOQ requirements (often 100-1,000 units) and supply artwork and packaging specifications.

How Long Does It Take to Validate a Dropshipping Product?

A realistic validation period is 30-90 days. Day 0-21 for landing page and ad tests, day 22-45 for early scaling and fulfillment pilot, and day 46-90 for supplier negotiation and scaling decisions.

Next Steps

Shortlist suppliers and order samples (Days 0-7)

Choose 3 suppliers per top SKU and order one sample from each.
Track delivery times, packaging, and product match to photos.

Build a lean product page and run micro-tests (Days 8-21)

Create a Shopify or WooCommerce product page with clear shipping times and policies.
Run low budget ads ($5-$20/day) or use marketplace ads to measure conversion and cost per acquisition.

Run a 30-order pilot and score suppliers (Days 22-45)

Process 30 live orders through each candidate supplier address set.
Score them using the 8-point checklist and pick the best for scaling.

Decide scaling path and negotiate terms (Days 46-90)

If conversions and repeat rates are good, negotiate better prices, ask about private label options, or set up a local returns solution.
Automate order routing and set up a buffer stock plan if lead times exceed 14 days.

Checklist summary to keep handy:

Order samples from 3 suppliers
Test shipping to 3 regions
Run 30 live pilot orders
Score suppliers on the 8-point rubric
Negotiate for better pricing at target order volumes

This guide provides the frameworks and concrete steps to answer “dropshipping where to buy” for different business goals. Use the evaluation checklist, run real order tests, and follow the 90-day timeline to move from idea to repeatable sales with reliable suppliers.

Dropshipping Where to Buy Guide