When I first started exploring a career in ecommerce, dropshipping was the first business model I learned about—not because I was particularly interested in it, but because it seemed to be everywhere.
Every blog I read, every YouTube video I watched, every ecommerce group I joined, and even the email newsletters I subscribed to—it was all about dropshipping. That made me wonder: Why is dropshipping so popular?
And that’s where I made a mistake I’d later regret—I jumped on the bandwagon, assuming that just because everyone was talking about it, it must be the right business for me. If I had looked into it more carefully, I would have thought twice and chosen a different business model.
Looking back, I now realize something that had crossed my mind but I ignored before starting my dropshipping business. Most of the content creators I followed claimed to be successful dropshippers in their videos and articles.
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Jumping into dropshipping without proper research can lead to costly mistakes, as hype often overshadows the challenges of the business.
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Success in dropshipping depends on selling unique, problem-solving products rather than blindly following trends.
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Starting a dropshipping business requires upfront investment in marketing, product testing, and store setup—it’s not a zero-cost venture.
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Dropshipping is not passive income; it demands constant management, including customer service, order fulfillment, and supplier coordination.
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Relying entirely on suppliers for quality control and logistics can backfire, making it crucial to vet suppliers and set clear expectations upfront.
At one point, I wondered—if that were true, why were they still making content? If they were really making serious money from dropshipping, wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on that instead? Now that I reflect on it, I guess they weren’t being completely honest about how profitable it really was.
I don’t blame them, but I can’t deny that I would have made a better choice if their content had been more transparent. I don’t want anyone else—especially beginners in ecommerce—to make the same mistake I did. So, I’ve put together this simple list of common dropshipping myths. Hopefully, it helps you make a more informed decision. Let’s get started.
You Can Sell Anything and Be Successful
When my dropshipping store kicked off, I thought I could just pick any trending product and make sales. But just because something is popular doesn’t mean it will sell well in a dropshipping store.
Some products are better suited for dropshipping than others. If an item is too common (like phone cases or generic clothing), you’ll be competing with big retailers who can sell them for much cheaper. If it’s too niche, there might not be enough demand.
A 2024 report by Printful highlights that offering distinctive, hard-to-find products that solve specific problems can enhance a dropshipping store’s appeal. For example, portable posture correctors, pet hair removers, and niche home improvement gadgets have consistently performed well because they target a specific pain point.
Instead of chasing trends, focus on products that solve a problem, have a passionate audience, and aren’t easily found in big-box stores. Research your market, study competitors, and validate demand before investing in ads. Remember, if you’re not solving a problem, you’re just adding noise to the market.
You Don’t Need Any Money to Start
A lot of people claim you can start dropshipping with zero money. Technically, you can set up a free Shopify trial and list products, but making sales without investing in marketing is nearly impossible.
Running ads, ordering samples, setting up a professional website, and using apps like Zendrop or Ecomhunt all require money. When I started, I underestimated how much I needed. My first few ad campaigns flopped, and I realized that without a decent budget for testing, I wouldn’t get anywhere.
Marketing professor David Bell from Wharton Business School emphasizes that in ecommerce, customer acquisition costs are often higher than people expect. The cost to acquire a customer online is rarely free, even with organic strategies, there’s still a cost in time and effort.
If you want to start dropshipping, be prepared to invest at least a few hundred dollars to properly test products and drive traffic.
As the successful Canadian venture capitalist Paul Lee puts it, “Be comfortable with losing at least $500 before you start to become profitable. Opening up an actual retail store involves spending nearly $10,000 before any revenue comes in, so spending only $500 on an ecommerce business is an extremely small investment that can change your life.”
Dropshipping Is Completely Passive Income
Many people assume that once you launch a store, sales just roll in while you sit back and collect money. I wish that were true!
Dropshipping requires daily management. You have to deal with order fulfillment, customer inquiries, refunds, and supplier issues. Shipping delays, defective products, and difficult customers can quickly turn into a full-time job.
Serial ecommerce entrepreneur Kevin Zhang, who built a multi-million-dollar dropshipping business emphasizes in his videos that dropshipping is a real business that requires real effort. The only way to make it passive is by automating processes, and even that takes work upfront.
The reality is, if you’re not actively optimizing your ads, improving your website, and handling customer service, your business won’t last long. It’s not passive income—it’s a business that requires ongoing effort.
Suppliers Handle Everything for You
I was naïvely excited when I first started. I thought I wouldn’t have to worry about shipping, packaging, or product quality because my supplier would handle everything. That’s literally what dropshipping is, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Many suppliers—especially those on AliExpress—don’t prioritize quality control. I once had a supplier send customers the wrong color of a product, and I had to deal with dozens of complaints and refunds. Worse, shipping times were so slow that many buyers canceled their orders before they even arrived.
According to Amazon, even a seemingly small miscommunication with your dropshipping supplier can lead to negative reviews and a poor customer experience. Unfortunately, this is one of the toughest supplier-related issues that dropshipping businesses face in their first year.
Before you work with a supplier, order samples to check the product quality and shipping times yourself. A bad supplier can ruin your business.
Returns and Refunds Are Easy
I assumed that handling returns would be as simple as a regular online store. But with dropshipping, it’s much more complicated.
Since products ship directly from suppliers (often overseas), returning items is a nightmare. Many suppliers don’t even accept returns, leaving you to either refund customers out of your own pocket or deal with angry buyers.
To avoid this, set clear refund policies, work with suppliers that offer returns, and factor refund costs into your pricing. Be prepared to handle some losses—it’s part of the business.
The More Products You Sell, the More Money You Make
I once believed that filling my store with hundreds of products would increase my chances of making sales. But all it did was make my store look messy and unfocused.
A well-branded store with a few winning products will always outperform a cluttered store selling everything. Focus on quality over quantity. Pick a niche, build a strong brand, and market a few great products instead of trying to sell everything under the sun.
If I had known these things before I started, I would have saved time, money, and frustration. Hopefully, this guide helps you make a smarter decision about whether dropshipping is right for you.
