Answers to Common eCommerce and Dropshipping Questions

Shopster eCommerce Overview

What is Shopster? Top

Shopster is a solution for anyone doing retail business online. Yes that’s pretty broad so let us explain. Unlike traditional online ecommerce software that offer you an online store or links to suppliers and very little value, Shopster has taken a new approach to eCommerce. We have developed a marketplace for sellers and dropship suppliers to connect with each other, do business with each other, and best of all we’ve made it easy (so you’re no longer wasting time finding suppliers, managing relationships, or organizing orders) and affordable...well it’s FREE.

This means by joining Shopster, suppliers have access to thousands of online retailers, while retailers have an easy way to find and sell the products their customers want to buy.

There’s a whole lot more to Shopster but I won’t bore you with stuff like the FREE online storefront, the one click data-feed exports, or the fact that anyone can upload and download products to and from the Network; I’ll let you discover those yourself.

For a full list of Shopster network and free online store features click here

I know it’s FREE but I hear there’s an upgrade. What’s the difference? Top

That’s right, Shopster is free for anyone to use but we have several options if you have grown past some of the limitations of the free package. The best deal is to upgrade to the PowerMerchant Pro package for only $69.95/month. This package has all the bells and whistles but most importantly your product limit for the Network and Store are increased from 15 products to 2,500. You also have the option to upgrade through the a-la-carte menu, which means you are only paying for features you need and use. For full details on the differences between packages click here.

The Shopster Network

What is the Shopster Network? Top

The Shopster Network is what makes Shopster so unique and valuable from other e-Commerce solutions. It’s the first and only network where suppliers and sellers can connect with each other to sell products online. The Network offers suppliers exposure of their inventory to thousands of potential resellers, while sellers instantly have access to over a million different products that can be sold in their online stores or other websites.

How can the Shopster Network help my online business? Top

Whether you’re just starting or have an established online business, one of the largest crutches for any seller are the costs associated with carrying inventory. Often these costs can run in the tens of thousands of dollars, with no guarantee of sales. The Shopster Network eliminates this risk! Every product in the network is only paid for after you have sold it. Not only does this take away any risk for you as a seller, it gives you a tremendous opportunity to test what products your customers want to purchase.

Can I sell and supply products with the same account? Top

Absolutely! The Shopster system allows you to set both a network price and a retail price for each product. If you decide to use our online store, the retail price is what will be displayed. Shopster merchants will see and purchase your products for the network price that you set.

Does Shopster offer me more than the Network? Top

The Network is only a piece of the entire Shopster solution. When you join Shopster you get complete access to the Network, a powerful fully hosted free web store, a shopping cart, order management tools, data-feeds for product exports, and so much more. Our customers are given the tools and resources necessary to build a successful online business.

Miscellaneous eCommerce and Dropshipping Topics

What is dropshipping? Top

Wikipedia: Dropshipping is a supply chain management technique in which the retailer does not keep goods in stock, but instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to either the manufacturer or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods directly to the customer. As in all retail businesses, the retailers make their profit on the difference between the wholesale and retail price.

What are the benefits of dropshipping? Top

Wikipedia: Two main benefits of dropshipping are - no upfront inventory to purchase and a positive cash flow cycle. A positive cash flow cycle occurs because the seller is paid when the purchase is made.

Other benefits of dropshipping include:

• Eliminates duplication of effort as the supplier of the product will pick, pack and ship the product thereby reducing costs in the supply chain.
• Reduces total inventory management and shipping costs which can be passed on to the customer by the retailer.

Can I quit at any time? Top

Yes. There is no contract on your Shopster account. You will not receive a refund for already billed periods, but there is no penalty for quitting and you will not be billed again for any subscription fees after you quit. You can cancel your account within the system.

Shopster for Online Retailers

What if I already have an online storefront Top

Great! Shopster provides you with another viable sales channel. Easily import your product list and you’re now instantly selling through the Network. Start building your own reseller network and grow your sales immediately. You might even find you like the Shopster online store software so much you begin using it as your primary solution. Either way, the Shopster Network offers a great way to get your products in front of more customers and grow your revenues.

How does the order flow work? Top

When you receive an order from a customer for your own product(s)

• You receive payment from the customer
• You ship the product to the customer

When you receive an order from a customer for another merchant’s product(s)

• You receive payment from the customer
• You pay the merchant at the network price for the product(s)
• The merchant ships the order to your customer with a packing slip that includes your brand

When you receive an order from a network merchant

• You receive payment from the merchant
• You print a packing slip from the system that includes the seller’s brand
• You ship the item to their customer

How do the Shopster sales fees work? Top

When you make a sale, Shopster charges a transaction fee on the final selling price. The fee percentage is based on your Shopster package. The same fee is applied to network product sales, which is charged to the supplier of the product. All fees are collected monthly on the sales made in the previous month.

Can I host my online storefront on my own website address? Top

Yes. It’s simple to point your Shopster online store to the URL of your choice.

What’s the value of using Shopster to have others sell my products? Top

• Have thousands of new sellers connect with you and adding your products to their stores instantly
• All inventory is seamlessly managed through the system
• All your orders are managed from the same interface
• The Merchant profile provides you with the information you require from each one of your sellers

Do I need my own payment gateway? Top

Yes, you will need your own payment gateway to accept payments. You can use your PayPal account or you can use one of the several gateways that we integrate with. If you don’t already have a payment gateway we recommend using PayPal Website Payments Standard, it’s free to open and you can use your existing PayPal account to get started.

Is Shopster an online store software? Top

Shopster offers all users an online store for free but that’s just part of the Shopster solution. When you sign up, you get your own world class, customizable store that Shopster hosts. You’ll be able to sell your own products on your online store. Your products can also be made available in the network for other merchants to sell. You’ll also be able to list and sell other merchant’s products you choose on your own store.

Shopster for Dropship Suppliers

How do I get paid? Top

You always receive payment for your products through your own payment gateway before you ship. If you’re just getting started, we recommend trying PayPal Standard as your payment gateway. All you need to do with PayPal Standard is to create a PayPal account and connect that with your Shopster account.

Can I add products to the Shopster Network that I do not ship myself? Top

No. In order to list products to the Network for resale by other Shopster merchants you must own and have the inventory in your presence. You may not list products for resale that are dropshipped by a 3rd party company.