ukdropshipgroupreview

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Esources.co.uk review scam reviews and smear campaigns

If you have been on the internet for any length of time, you will know that it is becoming more apparent that particular companies are using dirty tactics against their competition, and the tactics being used by esources.co.uk are just about the lowest you can use. Esources.co.uk are purposely creating forums, Reviews, false scam blogs, and more to blatant lie about their competitors.

Most companies would concentrate on pushing their own company, BUT, when like esources.co.uk, your business has a very bad reputation, one would decide to take two forms of action:

1: Repair your reputation by creating better value, and service to your customers.

2: Decide you are going to defraud the very customers who put food on your table.

Unfortunately for their customers, esources.co.uk have decided on the latter. Esources have decided to create multiple false forums, false blogs, and pages, and saturate Google with false positive content about their own websites.

Not only that, and of course that is bad enough, but esources.co.uk have not stopped there. What esources have also decided to do, is slander ALL their competition, by fabricating THOUSANDS, UPON THOUSANDS of negative remarks against many, many companies.

If you dont know the background. Esources used to sponsor most of the forums in the industry, UNTIL many of their customers started placing very many complaints again them, on these same forums.

Esources threatened legal action against the forum owners, and even tried to blackmail them into removing the negative posts.

Of course, the forum owners decided not to be blackmailed, and this is when esources.co.uk decided to try and get their own back.

What esources dicided to do, was hire an Indian marketing company, to systematically created false reviews, false scam complaints, and much more against their competition, with the intention of placing all these false review websites right at the top of Google.

There are many instances of evidence to support this:

Esources WholesaleForum.com Scam

eSources.co.uk Reviews, Review scam, spam, forum, telephone number, complaints and fraudsters?

http://www.dropshippingforum.co.uk/dropship/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2232/eSources-esourcescouk-scam

http://www.dropshippingforum.co.uk/dropship/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8956/Esourcescouk-Scam-Destroys-Wholesalepagescouk-Reputation

http://www.dropshippingforum.co.uk/Esources-co-uk-reviews-scam/

More recently, esources have been found supply false reviews against another of their competitors: WholesalePages.co.uk. Of course esources.co.uk deny the claims every time.

But the evidence is overwhelming!

If you, yourself, or your company have been a victim of the esources.co.uk review scam smear campaign, then please let us know on the dropshipblog.

Also, if you found this page looking for a whoelsale/dropship directory, and do not want to be scammed by esources.co.uk, then there is a free dropshipping directory here:

Click Here

Tags: esources scam esources.co.uk esources.co.uk reviews esources reviews esources.co.uk review esources complaints

esources-co-uk-complaints esources-co-uk-smear-campaigns fake-esources-forum esources-co-uk-spam esources-co-uk-scam

esources.co.uk, Wholesaledeals.co.uk

Esources.co.uk, wholesaledeals.co.uk Reviews, Scams, Fraudsters?

Well, those are the questions, and if the negative reviews around the internet are anything to go by, then we advise that you steer WELL clear of them.

Directory scams, Validations scams, you name it, it is ALL associated with esources.co.uk, and Stefano Carboni.

Is it true? You decide, but read this first….

Where do you start with esources.co.uk? The negative press they have received around the internet must make them one of the most talked about companies on the internet today, and not for the right reasons.

Looking for a wholesale directory? Avoid esources.co.uk? Read on…

Most people looking for wholesalers, or dropshippers will come across esources.co.uk when searching for their chosen product ranges on Google, or other search engines. On the face of it, esources seem fairly straight-forward, and a website that just offers a compiled directory of wholesale and dropshipping suppliers.

Esources claim to have 60,000+ VALIDATED (remember that word) suppliers across the internet, with 178,000+ customers who have joined their services.

Ok, you might think, but think about this. Esources.co.uk claim to validate their suppliers, yes? So if they did not validate their suppliers, then their customers would not pay them their fees? Of course not, why else would you use esources.co.uk over any other free directory, if they were not claiming to validate their suppliers – not when they are endless free directories out there, like www.thewholesaler.co.uk. Customers simply would not use esources.co.uk unless they lived up to their validation claims.

But, are esources.co.uk really validating their suppliers?…….. NO, NO, NO, and NO !!!!!

You see, as the internet has grown, many of these companies are being found out for what they really are. We can prove, and have proven that esources.co.uk are NOT validating all of their suppliers – if any.

What does this mean? esources.co.uk are committing Fraud?

We will leave that up to you to decide is esources.co.uk are committing fraud against their customers. Although, if they are not validating all of their suppliers – and they are not – then how can it be anything else?

More, and more dropshippers are now coming forward on forums, to claim that they have never had any dealings with esources.co.uk, and that they were included in the suspect directory WITHOUT consultation, and WITHOUT any kind of contact, OR validation – In simple terms they were not, and never have been validated by esources.

This means that esources.co.uk are most definitely taking money under false presence? Again, that is up to you to decide, but the evidence is absolutely rock-solid.

The amount of bad publicity against esources.co.uk is HUGE.

If you do a search on Google against esources.co.uk, esources scams, and esources.co.uk reviews, you will quickly see that there is literally an avalanche of negativity including, but not limited to the following:

• Esources.co.uk sending Scam emails offering fictitious jobs.
• Esources.co.uk creating smear campaigns against competitors.
• Esources.co.uk sending countless spam emails to customers.
• Esources.co.uk taking payments they were not due.
• Esources.co.uk cancelling customers accounts.
• Esources.co.uk stealing whole databases from their competition.

And much, much more.

In fact, go to Google and type in Stefano Carboni esources and you will be totally shocked at what you find – of that, we guarantee.

For forum details about esources.co.uk customer complaints see here:

http://dropshipforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=159739#159739

http://www.dropshippingforum.co.uk/dropship/viewtopic.php?f=12&p=12672#p12672/Re:-eSources-esourcescouk-scam

These are from genuine esources.co.uk customers, you will see esources themselves debating on some of these forums.

Again, you be the judge of whether this is true or not, but can so many people really be wrong, when dealing with esources? Hmmm, I can already read your mind as to your conclusions.

Forum, after forum contain countless unsatisfied Esources customers..

It is true, esources.co.uk have been banned from industry forums, for the fact that they were antagonistic and rude to their customers who complained – the evidence is still on forums for all to see.

Esouces have also developed a reputation of taking customers to court, and traders to court who have spoken out against them, on public forums.

The result? What are Esources.co.uk doing about this shambles?

That is what is interesting, because what esources.co.uk have done, is to create a forum:

wholesaleforum.com – Fake forum – fake members, fake posts – All of which can be proven beyond doubt.

New fake forum created by esources.co.uk:

Dropshipforum.com – Fake Forum – fake members, fake posts – All Can be proven.

On this forum, the staff at esources.co.uk, or more likely Stefano Carboni, has set about listing derogatory and libellous comments against as many dropshippers and wholesalers as he can – in a attempt at revenge.

Stefano Carboni has also sent various emails to these dropshippers, blackmailing them into removing content, in return for esources removing content from their fake forum.

We have proof of such emails.

The conclusion on esources.co.uk ? Scam, Fraud, or what?

Again, you will have to decide this for yourself, but if esources.co.uk are not validating their suppliers, which they are not – we have proof – then this could very well be the biggest fraud of it’s kind on the internet today.

Spam emails, no validation of suppliers, cancelled accounts, payments taken without the consent of their customers, stealing of databases, threats with court action if you speak out? etc. etc. These are all accusations put to esources.co.uk from THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS.

And now esources.co.uk is abusing the trust of genuine researchers, by fictitiously and falsifying forum posts on their forum, in a direct attempt to direct new customers to their esources.co.uk website – a website that has been proven to attempt to dupe customers out of their hard earned money.

Our recommendation about esources.co.uk?

Avoid esources.co.uk like a CANCER!

If you have been a victim of esources.co.uk then please leave your comments below.

If you have been a victim of wholesaledeals.co.uk then please leave your comments below.

Esources.co.uk  found creating false negative scam reviews against competitors

Tags: esources scam esources.co.uk esources.co.uk reviews esources reviews esources.co.uk review esources complaints

esources-co-uk-complaints esources-co-uk-smear-campaigns fake-esources-forum esources-co-uk-spam esources-co-uk-scam

Got What It Takes?

An interesting question, I am sure you would agree. And I also hope that the stated question is very much thought-provoking. The reason I ask such a question, is because I personally see people starting dropship businesses, as well as other ecommerce businesses every single hour of the day, and the questions that come from prospective, and future owners of such businesses can be quite disturbing.

You see, we live in an age where everything is done for us. If you live in the UK, then apart from having your bum wiped (unless you have private medical care , then you are pampered hand over foot. We live in a so-called tolerant society, if you listen to the labour government anyway, which really means, ‘do what you can, mate, and if you cannot be bothered, we will take money from the rich and look after you anyway’..

Think about it. Most people are naturally lazy, and if one day they woke up to find half a million, in cold hard cash in their bank accounts, then it would be taken as gospel, that they would never lift an idle finger ever again. Fair enough, you might say.

BUT, what we are talking about here, is running a business – a real business; not some pie-in-the-sky Americanised, nonsensical dream, where you may get ‘lucky’. No, I am talking about the kind of ‘real’ business, where you actually have to get off your backside, and make things happen – otherwise you may find that you wake up one day, and society is making your life-decisions for you – and you don’t really want to be in that place!

Sacrifice..

Another question: Are you really prepared to sacrifice what is required, in order to secure your family’s future? To make sure, that once you reach retirement age, that you and your dependants and not reliant of the dire state our country is in, in order to simply live?

Please allow me to enter your ‘real’ conscious mind for a second, and actually ‘jolt’ your senses of reality.. Listen, we are on this earth ONE TIME ONLY. You do not get a second chance in this game. I call it a game, because that is exactly what it is -  a game of life. There are winners, and there are those that spend their days wondering what the hell just happened to the last 25 years of their life. A truly miserable existence for most.

You might say: “Hey, Steven, not everybody wants to be successful”. And I would say, “well what the hell are you reading this blog for?”

I was watching a documentary recently, about the 1985 snooker final, between Steve Davis, and Dennis Taylor. I actually remember watching that match as a child, but I digress.. During the documentary, the interviewer asked Stephen Hendry, and a few other great snooker players what they thought about the final, and who they were ‘rooting’ for to win. And what was interesting, was the theme of the conversations and general census, that WINNERS, and people who are used to winning on a consistent basis, always vote for other winners; they have no time for people who finish second, because their mentality has been honed, and trained over many years only to fill their subconscious mind with a pure, and winning mentality – Second best does not even enter the equation.

Running a business is no different, and you must make sure that you really are prepared to sacrifice what is necessary to go the full distance. If you are not prepared to sacrifice what is required to win, then I would say “GIVE UP NOW – AND DO IT QUICKLY”.

A bold statement, I am sure you would agree. But, think about it for a second, we are talking here about making hard cash; pure profit from a business-world populated by people who would think nothing of biting your right arm off, just to get a foothold in business; people who are so ruthless, that business is absolutely everything to them. Such people have been trained to seek out and destroy weak, and vulnerable competitors.

So are you saying it is too difficult to actually create a viable business?

NO. It is not ‘too’ difficult, but what must be understood, at least when starting a business in which the aim is to be a success, is that you must absolutely be prepared to sacrifice short-term pain, for long-term gain. That is a given, or just don’t start a business and expect to make any notable gains.

A few fundamentals, and mind-set changes, that must happen:

Very many people talk about price being the only factor that can make a sale. This is folly, and actually a very child-like view they place on business. If all that was required to make a profit, was to seek out the cheapest product, then we would all be millionaires, wouldn’t we? All you would have to do, is go down to your local beach and grab a few handfuls of sand, and sell each grain for 1 pence a pop.

I am being facetious, of course, but think about this for a minute. How many people would buy your grains of sand? Nobody; not even a sand fly would be interested. This must surely lead to the question, then, that you have to be promoting and selling a product, or service that somebody wants, and based on value? Agreed?

Ok, so then what we are really trying to say, is that we need to be promoting our ‘wares’ based on what potential customers want, and need? Understood, so then the difference between the people selling these ‘wares’ must be what separates the people who make profit, and people who don’t? And more importantly, what these people DO, is what separates them for the dreamers in society.

THAT is the basis of a successful business.

I would advise you to read that last paragraph again before going further, or even considering starting a business. As only then, will you begin to understand what is required to be a successful business owner.

You see, and going back to what was mentioned earlier, we live in an age where everything is handed to us on a plate – easy come, easy go – and the same can be said for all the online opportunities that are presented around the various avenues, and facets of the internet. Let’s be honest, there are very many sharks on the internet, offering what can only be described as rubbish, and for the very same reason I just explained – it is EASY to create such a business, and this on it’s own creates problems – and it could be a problem for you, too..

The point being made, is that due to the fact that it is all too easy to create a business; buy a website, start selling on eBay, and all the rest of the ‘businesses’ being offered, then it is all too easy, to start thinking that: “if everybody else is doing it, surely all I have to do is follow x,y and z, and I will be making money, too”

WRONG!!

And this is where the problems begin. You need to forget what everybody else is doing, and get down to raw, and hard facts. No matter how commerce is represented to you, the basics remain the same, you HAVE to generate value, and unique selling points in order to devise a viable, and sustainable business. You have to seek out ways, often using very many, painful man hours, just to keep your nose ahead of your competition.  Devise ways to increase revenue. Spend at least 2/3/4 hours per day researching new ways to attract business.

Important Question: If you spent 6 hours per day, in a white-hot burning desire, to find 100 new ways to attract business, then how far ahead of the competition do you think you would be at the end of the first week? the first month? the first year? How many of your possible competitors do you seriously think, spend endless hours looking for ways to generate extra profit; researching customer’s needs, wants, designing new marketing strategies, testing variables, and results, and implementing new ideas on pure instinct? Very few, I sure you would agree.

Therefore, do you now see, what I am trying to achieve here? I am trying to prick your consciousness to actually understand that you CAN achieve outstanding success, if you will only focus on what really matters, and forget most of the nonsense that is branded about, about what is the ‘best way to start a business’..

You must decide, that you really are prepared to sacrifice what is required to create the business you desire. Do that, and there is no reason why you will not be the very next internet millionaire – it is there for the taking – it really is – and the crazy thing about this situation, ladies and gentleman, is that your competition are making it easy for you – if only YOU decide that the sacrifice is worth the desired result. That is all it takes. The rest is just time.

It is a big sacrifice, when you look at the harsh reality of it. Endless hours of work, testing, working late into the evenings, or early mornings. Your spouse and loved ones must also be on your side, and share your ambitions and financial dreams, or you will not have the harmony required to get to second base. All these factors add up to just the start. THEN, once you have organised your priorities, and decided the sacrifice is worthwhile, does the hard work begin.

It is an enjoyable journey, and absolutely worthwhile; but it must be worthwhile to you, too. Only you, will be able to decide if you are prepared to give, what the business world, and natural progression, demands..

There is only one way – the right way, and with the right understanding of what is required.

Best of luck in whatever business you decide to start – and make sure you have enough reasons to want to make it happen. Without enough reasons, you will not develop the stamina, will power and sheer ruthlessness to make your financial dreams a reality.

My advice would be, to take a serious measure of time, to deciding on your commitment to the cause.

Make the right decisions, and for the right reasons, and you will know what is possible.

Take Care, and take positive action.

dropship forum

Dropship forums can educate, entertain, and much more. If you require dropship suppliers, free help, advice and support, then dropshipping forums can provide this and more.

If you have just discovered this fascinating world of dropshipping, then where better to visit than a public arena, where you can extract all the advantages you require – absolutely free

Dropshipping Forums..

You have now found yourself being drawn to the great business model, known as dropshipping. A business model that the home business industry has been crying out for, for many a year.

No longer do you have to place Kleeneze, and Betterware magazines into people’s letterboxes, just to make £50 a week (although, I am sure many of their distributors earn much more). No, with the start of the internet revolution, there has been very many so-called ‘business opportunities’ that have been branded around, and brought to the table.

Let’s be honest, most of what you read on the internet about making money, and securing additional income, is absolute nonsense, and most written by people who themselves, have never run a serious business. All these people have done, is latched onto the fact that there is something ‘new’ happening – The Internet (or ‘tinterne’, as some refer to it).

Dropshipping is not new, and actually started in the United States many years ago; before being recognised in the UK, as a viable opportunity for many people looking for supplemental income. The main reason it has now entered the mainstream in the United Kingdom, is partly, because of the internet becoming so accessible to almost every house-hold.

eBay has also played a major role in creating the train that is dropshipping. Dropship suppliers suddenly started appearing all over the show (like people do, when they smell a trickle of cash – they decide to take a piece for themselves).

BUT, with so much competition, comes the responsibility of business owners to create unique selling points (USP’s) to differentiate themselves from everybody else – their competition. THIS is why, enlarge, forums, not just dropship forums, but forums in area industry, have started to appear in every Google search.

Forums can definitely help you. They can help you to become educated on a subject that you previously were not knowledgeable about. Of course all forums comes with their ‘clowns’; you know, people who ‘think’ they know something about every topic imaginable, but in reality, just like the sound of their own voices – we have all seen them ;-p

Although, such people also add to the light entertainment that forums can create – some would say, a community can also be created via forums. I personally think that there is no community in forums. Saying that, many people on forums, really do spend a large portion of their day, helping others on their chosen topic – In this instance: Dropshipping. Such people can be invaluable to your business research. All forums have a hardcore of key members who CAN help you. And these are the people you need to listen to.

Visit the dropship forum below, and learn from people who have been in the exact position you are in now – eager to learn, and in need of the RIGHT information, in which to start your new dropship business.

Click Here To Visit The Dropshipping Forum

The sponsors of the dropshipping forum, are giving away a brand new website every single week – complete with free dropship suppliers, and free business package, for all participants. To enter the Free Website competition, new forums members are simply required to enter 5 genuine, and participating postings.

what is dropshipping, need help?

In all seriousness, with such a popular business model, there will of course be pitfalls, and if you are new to this industry, then you will need a reliable source of information, to help with your research, as well as concrete your business plan.

As with any business you are looking to start, you need to begin with as many advantages as possible…

Dropshipping is not new, it has been around for very many years, although with the popularity of the internet, it has been brought to the forefront of the business opportunity world.

Is dropshipping viable?

Of course it is viable. Dropshipping is simply another form of mail order, which has always flourished, and will continue to do so. The difference with ‘dropshipping’ is that it is more business oriented. By this, I mean it has now become an actual ‘opportunity’ open to the masses.

With such exposure, comes the pitfalls that surrounds most popular vehicles. And THIS is where you may need the guidance and support – from people who are seasoned professionals in their field, and not just using the same old, re-hashed nonsense, that they themselves probably read about in a magazine on a train.

Dropshipping Help

No, think about this seriously. Dropshipping is about starting a business; YOU creating an online business that is going to be providing you income. It is a serious game.

Would you trust the care your children to people who have never had children themselves, strangers without any knowledge of the well-being of a child? Of course you wouldn’t. It would be crazy, right?

The same can be said for business. There will always be people who like to hear the sound of their own voices, and are quick to press their ill-judged opinions onto others – Without the experience, knowledge, or know-how to pass such important information. Forget that!

When dealing with a ‘commodity’ that is creating value for yourself, and your loved ones, you need to ensure that the information you decide to accept, has come from sources experienced enough to give such advice, and dropshipping is no different.

The following website, has been a fantastic source of REAL help, for many years. Help from people who know the drop shipping industry inside out, and are perfectly placed to help you, advise you and point you in the right direction with your new found business. We suggest you check the website out:

http://www.dropshiphelp.co.uk

The name is quite apt, I am sure you will agree, and the following topics are just some of the benefits to be gained from such an experienced community:

1. Dropship forum community – 9000+ members all looking to help and advise.

2. Free dropship suppliers, including discussion points on each.

3. Free video help – visual support.

4. Website and ecommerce help – for anybody with a website.

And much more..

dropship help

As mentioned in the first part of this report. If you are interested in starting a dropshipping business, then you absolutely must gain support, help and advice from the right people. Dropshiphelp.co.uk can provide such support to you.

Visit today: http://www.dropshiphelp.co.uk

DropshipLand

Profile #2 – DropshipLand.com

Overview
DropshipLand is a well established UK dropshipper based in the North of England, selling CDs, DVDs, lingerie, beauty products, football souvenirs and more.

Costs & Ordering
To join DropshipLand you just have to pay a small fee, they have two options – 1 Year Membership for £29.95 or Lifetime Membership for £79.95, they also sometimes have special offers. The product prices are not shown on the main website if you aren’t registered however if you contact them they will send you a sample price list. They accept paypal, as well as credit and debit cards – and there is no minimum order when ordering products.

Don’t let the sign-up fee put you off, especially if you are new to dropshipping. Although it costs you now a sign-up fee does help you because it discourages some people from joining which means less competition for you when selling their products and it also stops consumers buying direct from the dropshipper.

Shipping
They ship all goods in plain and protective packaging with no mention of the company so the customer will think the product has came direct from you. Although UK based they do ship orders to customers worldwide with low cost shipping rates – £3.00 or £3.75 depending on the part of the world being shipped to. Shipping is also only £1.50 to the UK, which is very reasonable. 90% of orders are shipped inside 24 hours.

Website & Currency
Once signed up their website is very easy to use, as we also have a ‘new member q&a database’, as well as telephone support. The only currency used on the website is pound sterling but if you are located in the US or Eurozone paypal means you can still use the DropshipLand service.

Website Option
If you decide to take Dropshipland’s website option (Platinum membership), then you can have your own website activated inside an hour, ready to make profits. All stock is fully updated, automatically, on a daily basis. You can also add your own products to your website. In fact, Dropshipland actually give you a 300+ software package bundle for you to sell, free of charge, to sell on your new website. You gain free technical support for your website, including telephone support and ticket system. Full details of the Dropshipland Review website option can be seen here: http://www.dropshipland.com/your-website-i-23.html where you can quickly see the benefits.

Immediate Access. Once you have joined Dropshipland, you will be automatically directed to full access details, including how to create your account, as well as activate your website. The software used on the website you receive is a much improved version of the popular Zen Cart shopping cart system, which is very easy to use, even for beginners. The website is already populated with stock, and the only action you have to take, is insert your paypal email address, and you are ready to start trading. It could not be easier.

Product Example
I can’t give a product example like I did on the Chinavasion review because the 2 websites work differently but at DropshipLand they do sell the following products at prices significantly lower than the RRP – CDs up to 40% lower, DVDs up to 75% lower, lingerie up to 40% lower, Inkjet ranges up to 25% lower, beauty ranges up to 30% lower, ties & cufflinks up to 40% lower, souvenirs up to 35% lower than the RRP. From those prices you can see there is room for decent profit margins, especially if you sell from your own website, not eBay. Also, remember, that because Dropshipland have so very many products for you to promote, along different ranges, you will always create the possibility of passive sales from one range, to another.

Conclusion
DropshipLand is a very well established dropshipper and have been dropshipping for over 4 years. They continue to increase their product range which is brilliant from a sellers point of view and they also provide quality customer service – on their website they have a phone number, address etc so it is super easy to get in touch with them. If you want to sell a broad range of products and want a dropshipper you have full confidence in then DropshipLand Review is ideal. You can be safe in the knowledge, that you would be using a dropshipper that has stood the test of time, and is well known for excellent customer services.

Other Notes
As with any dropshipper, DropshipLand will go out of stock of products from time to time, however they do have a clever system in place which lets you check if products have gone out of stock giving you enough time to control your sales. This is a great benefit because there is nothing worse than making a sale and finding the dropshipper has sold out of the product!

The people who run Dropshipland, have some of the widest dropshipping knowledge available, which means you would be working with a company who were one of the first dropship companies in he UK, and who know the industry better than most.

Website
Visit the Dropshipland website to learn more about them and sign-up for their service.

Dropshipland’s own blog can also be found here:

http://www.dropshipland.com/review-blog

Please note all figures quoted and information was correct at the time this page was published.

Don't Let The Economic Downturn Deter You

START-UP FINANCE – banks are now taking less risks and lending less money. If you are setting up for the first time they may see you as quite high risk, even with a very good business plan. Luckily dropshipping requires a lot less start-up capital then a traditional retail business. Try and use personal savings and ask for small loans from different friends and family to raise the money you need to star your business.

COST OF WAREHOUSE - a massive benefit of dropshipping is not having to hold stock, you can run the whole business from home. Although the property market may be falling banks are making it harder for you to ‘get your foot in the door’ (see what I did there!). Last year 85%-90% LTV (loan to value) was readily available from commercial banks, today LTV’s are much lower, typically 65%-70%. So if you need a business premise you have to raise more equity. As a dropshipper forget paying for an office, run the business from home!

LOW RUNNING COSTS - running your business from home means much lower running costs. Working from home you can also claim back a percentage of your gas/electricity etc costs from HMRC. Energy costs are also surging, some large companies are facing the prospect of a 100% rise in annual energy bills!

ECONOMIC CYCLES - all economies go in cycles, we have been in a long upturn and have now entered into a downturn (slowdown). This is a natural cycle. Start making money from dropshipping now and when the economy starts to pick up again your business should really thrive.

TOUGH TRADING CONDITIONS – This has become a popular phrase amongst retailers but don’t let it make you think starting a retail business is a bad idea. Online sales are still rising so it is still a great time to become an online retailer. Tough trading conditions also mean you have to excel to succeed, this will keep you on your toes and make you get the most out of your business. Tough trading conditions will also mean companies going bust, including big companies, watch your competitors fall as you get bigger and you know you are on the right track!

I posted in May about why now is an ideal time to invest in your e-commerce site despite the economic downturn. This post ties in nicely with that one so I highly recommend you also read that post.

Sources: The energy cost figures were taken from the “Surging energy costs hit UK plc” article and LTV figures were taken from James Caan’s article “Opportunity knocks when the gloom seems deepest” , both articles were published in yesterday’s Sunday Times.  

The First Customer Payment!

Whether it takes 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or even longer after fully trading on your own ecommerce website it is a great feeling and in some ways signifies the real birth of your business. It shows your website can convert customers; your price, payment options and website all satisfied the customer enough for them to buy. It is important to build on your first sale and continue pushing your business.

I like to think everyone has their own ‘business ball’, the faster you can get it rolling the more profit you make and the more growth your business can experience. Your first sale is like the first roll off the start line, you only reach the finish line when you sell the business in many years time for lots of money!

Now you have started your business ball rolling you want to build up momentum, know what you are good at and really work on it, and what you are not so good at get someone else to work on it! Try and find out how your first customer came to your website, if it was a particular form of advertising then repeat it over and over again (as long as it makes financial sense!) . Soon you might work up to an average on 10 customers per month, then build up to 20, then to 40, and before you know it you have hundreds of happy customers every month!

Many online businesses lose momentum (not just dropshipping ones), sometimes because the owner loses interest and sometimes the business ends up completely fizzling out and disappearing. Get your business ball rolling and don’t stop pushing, keep pushing and the business will eventually have a large customer base and be bringing in regular good quality profit.

You can only stop rolling when you sell the business and the money is safe in your bank account!

Avoid The Baddies!

What is a Scam? This is when a website just takes your money and runs. This is illegal and it is important you avoid falling for a scam.

Here are the telling signs of a middle-man or scam website:

• Contact details – these are very rarely listed on middle-men and scam websites. Real dropship businesses will normally list their email, phone number & physical address (needed for returns!). If a website only has an email address listed then email them asking for a phone number and physical address, if they don’t reply or give you the details then avoid them. Some middle-men may list a phone number, however it may just be an unanswered line. So if you are unsure about the website give the number a call, if they answer then enquire about a product. If you ring 5 times and they don’t answer then you know the score! Checking out contact details is probably the best single way to find out about a website/company.
• Payments – scams often have high value products listed with payment via a payment processor like e-gold. If a website only offers a processor like e-gold as an option then avoid them.
• Substantial set-up fees – Many legitimate dropshippers charge a fee to join (for various reasons) so don’t assume all dropshippers charging a fee are a scam, because they aren’t. However the ones that charge a ridiculous amount, EG £100, are to be avoided. Once you have paid and are in the members area you will likely see a crappy product range with prices that leave no profit margins for you.
• Product pricing – scammers often list high-value products which have big demand (ipods etc) at prices which are way below the retail price. Suprise suprise the product never turns up and your emails aren’t being answered. On the other hand be wary of companies who don’t list prices at all on the front-end of the website and expect you to pay to join them. Give them a call and ask them if they would kindly email you a price list of products for members. If the answer is NO then stear clear of them.
• How professional is the website/communication – look out for spelling errors, bad design, poor quality images and poor grammar. A professional business will make sure all of these are not present on their website. When you call/email the company how quickly do they respond, is the response concise and professional, did they even answer your question?

Conclusion
The points listed in this article WILL NOT make you bullet proof, you could still fall into a scam or end up selling products via a middle-man which could cost you financially and lead to you having to pick up the pieces of unhappy customers. If you have applied the points in this article to a website you are thinking of using and are still unsure about them then ask for further opinions on forums.

If we all avoid these middle-men and scams then eventually they will disappear, even if it takes years! If we cut out all the middle-men then the dropship industry would be more trusting and honest which would encourage more sales and dropshippers to expand benefiting all of us!

If you have other ways of spotting a scam or middle-man please make a comment below or drop me an e-mail.