In 2024 you need a reliable US dropshipping supplier to stay one step ahead of the competition. The best suppliers offer fast shipping times, low MOQ, and simple return policies. The 30-40 day shipping era from China doesn't work anymore. Now dropshipping is about the best customer experience possible. But as a dropshipper, you depend on your supplier for critical aspects of your business, like inventory management and quality control.
However, with the local lead generation model, you handle every part of your business. You don't need to worry about slow shipping or supply chain issues. Instead, you generate leads for small business owners and sell them for profit. The key to winning at drop shipping is to leverage local US-based suppliers like the ones listed below.
Advantages Of A US Dropshipping Supplier:
Dropshipping inventory from China is generally inexpensive. But sea freight from China to the US can take 30-40 days. And an internal flight carrier charges $5 per 2lbs. With Amazon Prime offering same or 1-day delivery. The average consumer isn't willing to wait 3-4 weeks. And it can take that long for products to be shipped from China. (55% of shoppers in the US prefer same-day delivery).
It's all about efficiency for your customer. And that's not always what happens when you rely on Chinese suppliers. Increased demands, container shortages. And the current 'cold war' between the USA and China. Issues making dropshipping inventory from China even less appealing.
If you want to make money with dropshipping or even high ticket dropshipping in 2024, you need to up your game. Fast shipping can increase orders by 90%, and while finding an American supplier might result in a higher price tag for goods, several advantages tip the scales in their favor including:
Shorter Shipping Times
American suppliers can get products to your customers in 1-8 days (or as little as 3-5 business days). Because they're not shipping overseas. Consumers aren't willing to wait, and 85% of consumers will search elsewhere for faster shipping times.
“Only 20% of consumers were willing to forgive retailers for delivery disruptions due to supply chain issues in 2021." Harvard Business Review
Simpler Return Process
92% of customers will continue to do business with your store when the returns process is easy. But returning goods to China can be a challenge. US suppliers are a simple solution. Because they're in the same country as your customer. Plus, there's no language barrier or lengthy response times.
The USA Is One Of The Best Countries In The World For Dropshipping
The United States has the biggest consumer market in the world. With revenue from retail e-commerce equaling $768 billion in 2021. Over 300 million online shoppers are predicted for 2023 (91% of the population) making the USA one of the most profitable markets for dropshipping globally.
The Attraction Of Made In The USA Inventory
It's not just Biden's 'Buy America' commitment. 80% of American consumers prefer items made in the USA. And 60% are willing to pay up to 10% more for American products. Selling American-made inventory increases trust with your customers.
Superior Customer Service
They’re not always completely honest. Have a reputation for notoriously poor customer service. And less than 1% of the Chinese population speaks English. This communication barrier may create misunderstandings. Or even prevent them from responding altogether.
English-speaking American suppliers offer superior customer service. And most have a staff of support teams dedicated to handling concerns. USA wholesalers value customer satisfaction and appreciate professional business relationships. But unfortunately, you can't always count on the same with Chinese suppliers.
What To Look For In A US Dropshipping Supplier:
Vetting your suppliers is crucial to your long-term success. There are a few characteristics to consider when deciding on your wholesaler. Some of the non-negotiables should include:
Decent Prices
You want the highest profit margins possible. So you need to connect with suppliers that sell inventory for reasonable prices. Establish your pricing strategy. You can use one of a combination of methods depending on the products you sell.
- Cost-Based Pricing
- Market-Oriented Pricing
- Consumer-Oriented Pricing
It's important to contact multiple suppliers selling your products. See who is willing to negotiate the best prices and if they have pricing recommendations.
Exceptional Customer Service
You're looking for dropshipping suppliers who have a dedicated customer service team 24/7. And communicate on a few different platforms (email, text, WhatsApp, etc.). They should also have clear refund and exchange policies and a variety of shipping options.
High-Quality Products
7.5% of online returns are because of quality issues. 80.2% returns due to damaged items which is reduced when not shipping overseas. Selling sub-par inventory leads to charge-backs and your ad account getting flagged by customers. Connecting with a US dropshipping supplier mitigates a lot of issues around quality.
Fees & Associated Costs
- Production & Manufacturing
- Order Fulfillment & Shipping
- Per Order Fees ($2-$5/order)
Not every supplier charges the same amount. So take the time to speak with several suppliers and compare. You need to be clear about what they offer for their price tags. But you want excellent customer service if you're paying a 20% order fee, and that means quick, reliable shipping.
Quick Order Processing
One of the attractions of using US suppliers is fast shipping times. So don't get stuck waiting for them to process orders. Look for wholesalers who can process orders in a day (instead of 2-3). And get a jump on shipping times for better service.
Best US Dropshipping Suppliers 2024:
Here are the 14 best US dropshipping suppliers for 2024. Including contact information. Pros, cons and relevant details. Everything you need to make an educated decision and choose the best wholesaler for your niche and product selection.
1. Sunrise Wholesale
Sunrise Wholesale offers over 30,000 products in more than 20 niches. And online Sales Analysis tools. Including eBay and Amazon listing and research systems. So you can sell your products on a number of platforms. Integration with Shopify and Big Commerce streamlines the process.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Fast Shipping Time (next day shipping for orders received before 10 am PST).
Higher than average membership fee.
Built-In Tracking-real time shipping status.
Expensively priced products & Challenging catalog to navigate.
No Minimum Order.
No international shipping (mainly to the US and Canada).
2. Wholesale2b
Wholesale2B has over one million products. However, not all are US-made. But it's free to set up an account and they provide automatic integration with your drop shipping store platform.
Pricing
- $29.99/month: import to your existing store
- $37.99/month: import to marketplaces
- $49.99/month: store creation & hosting
A few pros and cons of Wholesaleb2 worth noting include:
Pros:
Cons:
Automatic inventory & order processing.
Pay-per-platform can be pricey.
Automatic sync tracking.
Only supports up to 100 suppliers.
One-click import of product details & order execution.
Not all products are US-made.
3. Suppliersdata
Suppliersdata is a database of over 1800 US-based dropship and wholesale businesses. With over 40 niches to choose from. Save time and money researching for suppliers and get access to their eComRepository. A regularly updated list. Including growth hacks, guides, resources, and case studies.
Pricing:
$49.00 (lifetime access/one-time fee) regularly $79.00
Pros:
Cons:
Filter capabilities: category, keywords, location, etc.
No advanced features.
Autonomous list for bookmarking potential suppliers.
No integrations.
4. Dripshipper (coffee niche supplier)
This coffee niche supplier ships out inventory in three days or less. Seamlessly connect with your Shopify store with an automated fulfillment process.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Eliminates research with a curated list of high-quality US-based coffee roasters.
Limited to the coffee suppliers on their platform.
Shipping costs are added to the total cost of each order.
No control over shipping & logistics.
5. Greendropship (natural & organic niche supplier)
Famous for their natural, gourmet, and specialty products. Greendropship ships directly to customers from marketplaces and integrates with most platforms.
Pricing:
$149 annual membership (cancel anytime on 30-days notice for pro-rated refund)
Pros:
Cons:
Inventory feed updated multiple times per day.
Niche product specific.
Fast delivery times & affordable pricing.
Shipping is only available in the contiguous US (lower 48 States).
6. Spocket
A reputation for being one of the best drop shipping apps in the industry. Spocket offers over 28,000 US/EU suppliers in over 16 niches and automated order processes and integration.
Pricing:
Additional pros and cons worth noting include:
Pros:
Cons:
No commission or cut (the only fee is Stripe processing charge).
More expensive than other options.
High-profit margins (products are discounted).
Customized packaging isn't available.
No sales or order limits & worldwide shipping.
No option to brand products.
7. SaleHoo
Salehoo is one of the most extensive wholesale drop shipper databases globally. Plus, they offer 2.5 million products and their internal team verifies all suppliers and you can contact them directly to negotiate prices.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
No minimum orders & low-cost inventory.
Not all suppliers are US-based.
100% satisfaction guarantee & affordable pricing.
Only a directory-not a fulfillment service.
8. Sellvia
Developed by AliDropship. Sellvia buys products from Asia and stores them in their US warehouses. This system allows them to offer shipping and delivery in 1-3 business days, and they list 10,000+ best sellers and promo codes.
Pricing:
Pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
Cons:
Fast shipping & delivery.
Shipping costs aren't factored into potential profits (which can be misleading).
Product descriptions provided.
Global shipping limitations (US only).
Excellent customer service & support.
Limited product options (just over 1000).
9. DropCommerce
Boasting over 300 US and Canadian-based suppliers and thousands of products. Suppliers guarantee a minimum 30% discount on retail prices and are carefully vetted.
Pros:
Cons:
Only Canadian & US-based suppliers with fast shipping times in North America.
Products can be expensive.
Fast shipping times throughout North America
Limitations with lower membership plans.
10. Worldwidebrands
A directory of verified sellers, suppliers, and drop shippers. With direct access via their dashboard. Product demos and previews are available. Plus, they have a dedicated customer support team, including videos and eBooks.
Pricing:
$299/lifetime access
But there are a few pros and cons:
Pros:
Cons:
Directory divided by category & niches for quick research.
Not the most cost-effective directory.
No transaction or monthly fees.
Not all suppliers are US-based.
11. Shopoo (fashion niche supplier)
A dropshipping automation software that allows drop shippers to add their logo and brand products for their dropshipping stores.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
No extra fees & easy return policy with outstanding customer support.
Fashion based niche with limited inventory in additional niches.
12. My Online Fashion Store (fashion niche supplier)
With their priority shipping options, customers get their items quickly. The platform also has positive reviews from their members
Pricing:
- 1 item: $3.75
- 2-3 items: $4.75
- 4-5 items: $5.75
- 6-7 items: $6.75
- 8-9 items: $7.75
- 10 or more items: $8.75
Pros:
Cons:
Free returns service.
Pre-populated inventory.
Excellent customer service & support.
Fast shipping comes with additional costs.
13. Inventory Source/US Direct
Get access to over 200,000 products and Inventory Source syncs your wholesalers' stock directly to your store.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
No added markups on suppliers' pricing.
Expensive platform with an additional $2 fee for each supplier order.
E-commerce platform integrations.
Integration is challenging to set up.
14. Brandsgateway (luxury fashion niche supplier)
Earn up to 250% off the wholesale price and have your items shipped directly to your customer in 5 days or less. Brandsgateway works with EU and US suppliers to deliver the best inventory and offer automatic inventory updates.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Automated integration with Shopify & WooCommerce.
Pricing plans are expensive.
Real-time syncing & currency converter.
No ability to add your logo or brand packaging.
US vs. Chinese Suppliers:
Know when and how to use Chinese suppliers. Use sites like AliExpress for product research and testing and vet suppliers from this platform and taking note of things like:
Once you find one, you need to message them. Build rapport and make sure they're a real person. But the only time you should use AliExpress is for product testing and research. It's not the best option if you want to grow your dropshipping business. Other reasons to consider finding US-based dropshipping suppliers include:
Comparing US vs. Chinese Suppliers
US vs. China
Time difference (only dealing with 4 hours max).
Up to 24 hours (always a lag time for responses).
US vs. China
Close proximity (easy to visit their factory face-to-face).
Need a VISA and expensive travel costs to meet in person.
US vs. China
More control over production (can meet with the manager).
Limited control over production (need translators).
US vs. China
You can go to the supplier-no middleman.
Have to pay tariffs and duties on certain products.
When you start selling 5-20 products a day. Move to a site like Eperlo (like Ali Express they ship from China). But this app offers better shipping methods for a bit more money. Then when you start hitting consistent sales, you need to secure US-based suppliers to stay competitive.
Additional Ways To Finding US-Based Suppliers:
Ali Express and Alibaba should be used for product testing and research. But if you find the suppliers that might work. Check to see if they ship from the USA. Then, double-check by contacting them via the platform.
Ask for a sample tracking number and where their warehouse is based. If they have a warehouse in the USA, they could be a possible long-term supplier. But this is when you need to go through your vetting process and determine if they're a good fit for your dropshipping business.
Questions to ask potential suppliers are things like:
You can also find suppliers using Google and eBay. Or even search brands sold by sites like Walmart and Webrestaurant Store.
Look for products you might be interested in selling. Use the advanced search button to see where they're located and if they offer the 'become a distributor' option. Then find suppliers located close to where you want to ship and contact them directly.
Conclusion:
You need reliable drop shipping suppliers to make money with the business model. The key is to find wholesalers who can get inventory to your customers fast. People won't wait 30-40 days for shipping from China. In fact, data suggests that 38% of customers never buy again because of a negative delivery experience. In 2024, shoppers expect fast shipping, and you'll lose money if you can't deliver. But fast shipping times are only one variable with drop shipping.
Dropshippers let wholesalers take care of some of the most critical aspects of their business, like product quality and packaging. So unlike the local lead gen model, where you're in full control over every facet of your online business. With drop shipping, you depend on a third party to handle all of the order fulfillment. But by connecting with a US-based dropshipping supplier, you can secure fast shipping and quality inventory.
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