Be a Dropshipper who is good at Handling Shipping Times
DropShipping is getting the way doing business with ease without worrying about many inventory issues as in conventional Warehouse model but yes the logistics delays steal the show.
The long delivery times have always been a concern in dropshipping. Once a shopper has made the decision to purchase a product from your online store the first two questions they will ask are: how much will it cost and when will I get it? And, unfortunately, one of the biggest obstacles preventing new entrepreneurs from starting an eCommerce store is dropshipping shipping times. We’re here to tell you, it doesn’t have to be that way.
The first questions you need to know are:
What Is The Total Delivery Time Of An Online Order?
Total delivery time is how long the entire process takes, from start to finish.
This is the amount of time that lapses between when a customer clicks “buy” on your website, and their shiny new product arrives at their door. It is also the period of time that matters most, from a customer service perspective.
Total Delivery Time = Order Processing Time + Shipping Time
This is why you want to look carefully at the processing times available for any dropshipping supplier you consider partnering with. Along with what carrier options are available to you.
There are some ways you can deal with long shipping times when dropshipping.
1.Just don’t limit yourself to a single package carrier as this limits your reach, try engaging multiple channel partners preferably engage a courier consolidator/ aggregator who can help you with multiple options on single platform enhancing your reach.
2.Cooperate with reputable vendors: Pick vendors who place a high priority on quick shipping and effective order processing. Look for vendors who have a history of on-time deliveries and satisfied clients. To learn about the typical processing and shipment periods of your providers, communicate with them.
3.Track the performance of the supplier: Evaluate your suppliers’ performance on a regular basis in terms of order processing timeframes and shipping effectiveness. When delays or subpar performance become a regular occurrence, think about moving to more dependable providers.
4.Address customer inquiries promptly: Respond to customer inquiries about delivery times quickly and professionally.Sometimes, customers may ask questions like where their packages are, you should keep in mind that try to reply to them as soon as possible and when you are replying to customers, try to be polite and send tracking information to them. If delays occur, provide transparent explanations and offer solutions or alternatives whenever possible.Some customers would be willing to wait for 2–3 weeks for products that they couldn’t buy locally or not available in other online stores. As long as you clearly state the shipping times on your site, they would buy from you. A few sales less are better than spending so much on customer service and chargeback fees. You’ll also avoid getting banned by the payment gateway you’ll use if you don’t have a high rate of refund requests. Keeping customers Concerned well abreast the package transit status which will add to your brand value and you will have more of returning customers who will help you grow.Good customer service is important when handling long delivery times.
You might be transparent with your shipping times, but some customers would like to email support for their questions and issues. Having someone to provide timely assistance can assure customers that there’s a real person on the other end, and they’re not being scammed. Although you can automate some responses with bots, some issues need human intervention, and these are things that your customer support should attend to.And, if there is a serious delay, you should offer a discount on your own initiative which can reduce the customers’ complaints and even make them happy. There is data that 99.5% of shipping complaints can be resolved in this way. And if your customers ask for refunds, follow your standard returns and refunds policy, as well as offer a discount.
5.Continuously optimize: Regularly review and optimize your delivery process. Analyze feedback from customers, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements. As your business grows, explore options like bulk ordering or fulfillment centers to streamline operations and reduce delivery times.
6.Sell unique products that are hard to find: When you sell a unique product that is not easy to find anywhere, people would willingly buy from you, no matter how long it will take to ship it. Find a product or niche that people can’t buy on brick and mortar stores or from other dropshipping stores. This will reduce if not eliminate the issue on the long shipping times.
Dropshipping can be a profitable business that you can run for long-term. However, you don’t need to deceive people to earn more money. Being honest and upfront with your shipping times may get you a few sales less, but it will not affect your business that much. It will help you avoid problems that can ruin your business such as refunds, chargebacks, and bad reviews. Remember, while you may not have direct control over the shipping process in dropshipping, selecting reliable suppliers, setting clear expectations, and maintaining open communication with customers will help you tackle delivery times effectively and provide a positive customer experience.
