5 Dropshipping ‘Truths’ That Are Actually Holding You Back: Debunking
In e-commerce forums, you often find comments like:
- “Dropshipping is dead.”
- “It’s too late for this business.”
- “I won’t waste my time and money starting again.”
” Many people think this way, but they misunderstand how the model really works.
The truth is that success isn’t stopped by tough market forces. It’s often blocked by a misunderstanding of them. To build a profitable store, you need to understand and overcome these common myths. This article will discuss five common “truths” about dropshipping that hurt your success. debunking
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1. You’re not competing with Amazon; you’re targeting a different shopper.
Many new dropshippers wonder why customers would choose them. After all, Amazon offers fast shipping. Why wait 2-3 weeks for a product when it can arrive in two days?
The short answer? They won’t. Those who look for the best deal on a product were never our customers. Successful dropshippers aren’t trying to win over the price-sensitive researcher. Instead, they target a completely different customer: the impulse buyer.
Research shows that 44% of people buy products online on impulse. This trend is growing. Among Millennials, that number jumps to a staggering 80%. These customers see something unique, feel a strong bond, and buy immediately. debunking
This strategy focuses on selling products that trigger strong emotions. Customers should feel, “I need to buy this now.””
• Successful Example: An LED dog collar that made hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ads for this product scared dog owners. They showed how many dogs die in car accidents each year because they are not seen.
• Unsuccessful Example: A generic hoodie with the word “vision” in a plain white circle. This product is dull, uninspired, and easily found on larger marketplaces. It doesn’t create an emotional spark or a sense of urgency.
The goal isn’t to be the cheapest or fastest option. It’s to be the most compelling. By offering unique products like the “Freaky Pet” hoodie, you tap into emotions. This way, you avoid direct competition with Amazon.
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2. Charging more isn’t a scam; it’s the price of discovery. debunking
Some people say that selling a product for a higher price than it is elsewhere is a scam. This argument fundamentally misunderstands the value a dropshipper provides. The higher price isn’t just random; it shows the cost of finding and building the brand.
There are two key points to this counterargument:
1. You Add Value Through Curation and Advertising. Without your ad, the customer likely would have never known the product existed. In fact, many customers are grateful that the advertisement reached them. You paid to put that unique item in front of them, and that advertising cost is factored into the final price.
2. Entrepreneurs Are Not Obligated to Offer the Lowest Price. Pricing is subjective and is determined by the maximum amount a customer is willing to pay. Think of two coffee shops across the street from each other. Coffee Shop A might sell an excellent coffee for $3, while Coffee Shop B sells a worse one for $4. Shop B isn’t running a scam; it’s simply a different business with different pricing. debunking
The customer is always in control of the final decision. Be clear about your terms, especially shipping times. This shows you run a legitimate business.
You present the customer with a price, and it is up to them to decide whether it’s worth it. If Freaky Pet runs a marketing campaign that raises hoodie sales at a higher price and offers clear shipping times, they deserve that sale.
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3. “Saturation” is a product problem, not a business model problem.
Perhaps the most bizarre claim is that dropshipping is dead because “it’s saturated.” Frankly, when I see comments like this, it blows my mind because the statement makes no sense.
Let’s define our terms. debunking
• Market Saturation: This occurs when a market has maximized a specific product. In other words, nearly everyone who would want that product has already bought it.
– **Dropshipping**: This is a method where a seller sends an order to a manufacturer. The manufacturer then ships the product straight to the customer.
A fulfilment method cannot become saturated; only products and niches can. Many believe dropshipping is saturated. They focus on the same crowded niche: “cheap women’s apparel and accessories.” I’m surprised people still ask for store reviews in videos where I warn them not to.
Even a massive retailer like Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy. Its failure wasn’t due to its fulfillment method. It struggled due to the intense competition in a highly skilled and saturated niche. debunking
The solution is simple: find and sell unsaturated products. The “Freaky Pet” store succeeded by finding a unique product that few others offered. They showed it to an audience that would love it. Saturation is a product selection problem, not a business model problem.
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4. The “ePacket Apocalypse” never happened.
ePacket was the cheap, fast shipping choice from China for years. It powered many dropshipping stores. In 2018, the Trump administration warned it might pull the U.S. out of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). This threat caused panic in the community. The fear was that the low shipping rates would disappear, killing the business model.
When the news broke, I shrugged. I was confident that even if ePacket disappeared, an alternative would quickly emerge. And that’s precisely what happened.
The UPU held an emergency meeting in September 2019 and struck a new deal. The US can now charge up to 70% of the domestic postage rate for packages from China. In real-world terms, a shipping cost that was before $2 might now become $4. For a business with 20-25% profit margins, this is a small change. It’s not the “literal death of drop shipping.””debunking
Furthermore, backup plans are already in place:
• They have launched a new shipping option, AliExpress Standard Shipping. It’s similar to ePacket.
• More AliExpress suppliers are opening fulfillment centers in the U.S. This means 4 to 7 day shipping.
The feared apocalypse was just another manageable challenge. The industry adapted.
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5. The 99% failure rate isn’t about luck; it’s about the learning curve.
Here is a harsh truth: the vast majority of people who try dropshipping will fail. But it’s critical to understand the reason for this high failure rate. It’s not a lack of information. In the internet age, an abundance of courses, videos, and guides overwhelms us.
The real reason people fail is that they are unwilling to go through the learning curve of marketing. No course or guru can let you bypass the need for real-world experience.
Consider these analogies:
• If you read five books on being a barista, would you expect to make a perfect latte on your first try?
• If you read five cookbooks, would your first meal be a “fine dining masterpiece”?
Of course not. Marketing, like cooking, is a skill that requires practice. You cannot learn it without active engagement. You need to do the work. Run ads and watch how people in your niche respond. Then, make changes based on that real-world data.
This learning curve sets successful entrepreneurs apart. Some blame Amazon (Point 1). Others complain about prices (Point 2). Some say the market is “saturated” (Point 3). A few quit after minor changes in the industry (Point 4). Many people fail because they seek shortcuts. When they don’t find one, they often do the worst thing: they give up.
Most people want fast, easy money, not actually to learn how to make real money.
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Conclusion: Are You Asking the Right Question?
The main barriers to success in dropshipping aren’t Amazon or shipping costs. They are internal—mental hurdles built on incorrect assumptions.
Instead of asking questions like, “How long will it take?” or “Is $200 enough to start making money?” the successful 1% focus on a different kind of question. If you want to succeed, you need to stop looking for guarantees and instead ask yourself this:
Will I spend the time and money to master marketing and sales? Can I learn from my mistakes and find success?
