• LAVA Moderator: Shinji Ikari

Is this a viable alternative to dropshipping

keyex

Greenlighter
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
8
So, I'm starting a new company dealing in real estate, but I'm also looking at a side project whenever I have down time. I'm entertaining the idea of an ecommerce store that sells a certain type of product, where I'll have products from over 50 different manufacturers.

I cant afford to stock 5000 parts that are all 500-8,000 each, so of course dropshipping would make sense, but finding a dropshipper for all these specific parts and manufacturers is impossible (literally, they dont exist for this market). I'm just trying to figure out if it's a viable option to take a customers order, then use their information to order a part from the manufacturer and send it to their address. I cant figure out if that would be legal, or it would fall under identity theft or something. Sending their order to a dropshipper is one thing, but typing their information into a form, or using it on the phone to order their parts to their house is a bit different. The question is if you think that is a real possibility, or I should find another way?
 
What you're describing is something more like direct fulfillment.

You are going to have a tough time finding vendors that will do that for you, most only want to ship to the address your business is registered at. You will probably be asked to provide a copy of your Tax ID certificate if you are dealing with legit businesses.

Or are you creating some sort of unregistered fly-by-night operation?
 
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