How to Find Dropshipping Suppliers in 2026: The Complete Vetting Guide

How to find reliable dropshipping suppliers - comparison chart showing supplier evaluation criteria

I've helped hundreds of new store owners find suppliers. The #1 mistake I see? Picking the first supplier they find and hoping for the best. That's how you end up with angry customers, refund requests, and a store that fails within months.

In this guide, I'll show you exactly how to find good suppliers and avoid the bad ones. You'll get our data on 12 popular suppliers, a simple 5-step checklist to test any supplier, and the warning signs that scream "stay away."

Quick Answer: Find suppliers through directories like Spocket or Doba, agents like CJDropshipping, or by searching Google for "[product] + dropship supplier." Always order samples first, check their shipping times, and make sure they actually allow dropshipping. Use our free supplier comparison tool to compare 12 top suppliers side by side.

Why Your Supplier Choice Makes or Breaks Your Store

The dropshipping market hit $343 billion in 2026 and grows 22% every year, according to Statista's e-commerce data. That's a huge opportunity. But here's the problem: 80-90% of new dropshippers fail in their first year.

Why? Bad suppliers.

84%

of dropshippers say finding good suppliers is their biggest challenge

64%

say shipping delays hurt them most

4-6

suppliers tested before finding one that works

A bad supplier doesn't just mean slow shipping. It means chargebacks (when customers dispute charges with their bank), bad reviews, frozen PayPal accounts, and a dead business.

Real Example: One seller on r/dropship shared how their supplier stopped replying after 200 orders. They lost $7,500 in refunds and got their PayPal frozen. Don't let this happen to you.

The good news? You can spot bad suppliers before they cost you money. Here's how.

The 3 Types of Dropshipping Suppliers

Before you start searching, you need to know what you're looking for. There are three main types of suppliers, and each works differently.

1. Marketplaces

Think of these like Amazon, but for suppliers. You browse products from thousands of sellers, pick what you want, and the marketplace handles the payment.

Popular ones: AliExpress, Spocket, Modalyst

Good for: Beginners who want to test lots of products without big commitments

Downsides: Less control over quality. Longer shipping from China. Everyone else sells the same stuff.

2. Sourcing Agents

These are middlemen who do the hard work for you. They find factories, check product quality, store your items in their warehouse, and ship orders. You pay a bit more per item, but you save tons of time.

Popular ones: CJDropshipping, Zendrop, HyperSKU

Good for: Growing stores that need faster shipping or custom packaging (like your logo on the box)

Downsides: Costs more per item. Some need minimum orders for the best prices.

3. Wholesalers

These are traditional suppliers, often based in the US or Europe. They sell products at bulk prices with fast domestic shipping.

Popular ones: Doba, Wholesale2B, DropCommerce

Good for: Stores targeting US/EU customers who expect fast delivery (3-7 days)

Downsides: Higher product costs. Smaller product selection. Some charge monthly fees.

Type	Shipping Speed	Product Cost	Best For
Marketplace	12-25 days	Lowest	Testing products
Agent	7-15 days	Medium	Scaling up
Wholesaler	3-8 days	Highest	Fast US shipping

Not sure which type fits your store? Our supplier comparison tool lets you filter by shipping speed, location, and price range.

The Supplier Reliability Index (2026)

I got tired of reading the same generic "top 10 supplier" lists that don't actually compare anything useful. So we built our own database.

We tracked 12 popular suppliers and scored them on what actually matters: Do they ship on time? Do they respond to messages? Do orders arrive without problems?

Here's what we found:

Supplier	Type	Reliability	Shipping	MOQ	Rating
CJDropshipping	Agent	92%	7-15 days	1 unit	4.5/5
Spocket	Marketplace	90%	3-7 days	1 unit	4.4/5
Doba	Wholesale	89%	3-8 days	1 unit	4.0/5
HyperSKU	Agent	88%	8-15 days	1 unit	4.3/5
Zendrop	Agent	87%	5-15 days	1 unit	4.1/5
AliExpress	Marketplace	85%	12-20 days	1 unit	4.2/5
Wholesale2B	Wholesale	84%	5-10 days	5 units	3.9/5
Modalyst	Marketplace	83%	5-12 days	1 unit	4.0/5

MOQ means "minimum order quantity" - how many items you need to buy at once. Most suppliers let you order just 1 unit, which is great for testing.

Compare All 12 Suppliers

Filter by type, shipping time, pricing, and more. Free to use.

Open Supplier Comparison Tool

What I learned from this data:

Agents beat marketplaces on reliability. CJDropshipping (92%) and HyperSKU (88%) score higher than AliExpress (85%). Why? They check products before shipping.
Fast shipping costs more. Spocket ships in 3-7 days but charges more than AliExpress. You get what you pay for.
Almost nobody requires bulk orders. Only Wholesale2B needs 5+ units. Everyone else lets you test with single orders.

7 Ways to Find Good Suppliers

Now let's get practical. Here are seven methods I've used (or seen work) to find suppliers worth working with.

1. Start with Supplier Directories

Directories are like pre-screened dating apps for suppliers. Someone already checked that these suppliers are real and legit.

Best directories:

Spocket - 30,000+ suppliers, mostly US/EU based
Doba - US wholesalers, been around since 2002
Modalyst - Works directly with Shopify, Wix, and BigCommerce
SaleHoo - 8,000+ checked suppliers, one-time $67 fee

Pro Tip: Directories charge fees ($30-70/month or one-time), but think of it as insurance. One scam supplier can cost you thousands. A directory fee is cheap protection.

2. Use Sourcing Agents

Once you find a product that sells, agents help you scale. They'll find you better prices, faster shipping, and can even put your logo on packaging.

Top agents:

CJDropshipping - 1.7 million products, warehouses in US and China
Zendrop - US warehouses, great for beginners
HyperSKU - Known for quality checks

When to use an agent: After you've sold 20-50 units of a product and know it works. Agents make sense when you need speed or custom branding.

3. Search AliExpress (Carefully)

AliExpress has millions of products at rock-bottom prices. But it's also full of bad sellers. Here's how to find the good ones:

My AliExpress checklist:

Seller rating above 95%
Store open for 2+ years
At least 500 orders on the product you want
Reviews include real photos from buyers
Offers ePacket shipping (faster than standard)
Replies to messages within 24 hours

Important: Not every AliExpress seller allows dropshipping. Some will put their invoice in the package with the wholesale price. Always message them first and ask: "Do you support dropshipping with no invoice?"

4. Contact Factories Directly

This is advanced, but if you're doing serious volume (100+ orders/month), going straight to the factory cuts out the middleman.

Where to find factories:

Alibaba - The biggest factory directory
Google "[your product] manufacturer" or "[your product] OEM"
Ask your current supplier who makes their products

Reality check: Factories usually want bigger orders (100+ units minimum) and won't hand-hold you through the process. This isn't for beginners.

5. Google Search Tricks

Simple Google searches can find suppliers that aren't on the big platforms.

Search queries that work:

[product] dropship supplier
[product] wholesale USA
[product] private label
[niche] dropshipping program

Power move: Add -AliExpress -Amazon -eBay to your search. This filters out marketplace results and shows you direct suppliers.

6. Check Reddit and Facebook Groups

Real dropshippers share real experiences in communities like r/dropship and r/dropshipping.

What to look for:

Specific supplier names with details ("I've used X for 6 months...")
Warning posts about bad suppliers
Real shipping time reports
Negotiation tips that actually worked

Watch out: Some "recommendations" are paid ads in disguise. If someone only has good things to say with no specifics, be suspicious.

7. Go to Trade Shows

This is old school but still works. Trade shows let you meet suppliers in person, touch products, and negotiate face-to-face.

Big ones worth knowing:

Canton Fair (China) - Twice a year, the world's biggest
ASD Market Week (Las Vegas) - US wholesale focus
Global Sources Summit (Hong Kong) - Electronics and fashion

Is it worth it? If you're spending $10k+/month with suppliers, yes. The relationships you build in person beat any online connection.

The 5-Point Supplier Vetting Framework

Found a supplier that looks promising? Don't send money yet. Run them through these five checks first.

Most people skip this and regret it later. Don't be most people.

Step 1: Check If They're a Real Business

What to look for:

Business license or registration number (ask for it)
Real address you can find on Google Maps
Phone number that someone answers
Been in business for 2+ years

Red flag: If they won't share basic business info, walk away. Real companies have nothing to hide.

Step 2: Order Test Samples

This is the most important step. Never, ever sell a product you haven't held in your hands.

My sample testing process:

Order to your home address first
Then order to a friend's address (some scammers send good samples to known test addresses, then ship junk to real customers)
Check the packaging - is it crushed? Cheap?
Test everything. Does it work? Does it match the photos?
Write down exactly how many days shipping took

Budget: Set aside $50-100 for samples. It's the best money you'll spend.

Calculate your sample costs and potential margins with our profit margin calculator.

Step 3: Know Your Real Shipping Costs

Shipping costs can kill your profits if you don't plan ahead. And they change based on where you're shipping from and to.

Use our shipping calculator to get real numbers, but here's a quick reference:

Route	Cheap Option	Fast Option
China to US	$3-8 (12-20 days)	$15-40 (5-10 days)
China to UK	$4-10 (15-25 days)	$20-50 (5-12 days)
US to US	$5-12 (3-7 days)	$15-30 (1-3 days)

Hidden costs people forget:

Drop fees: $2-5 per order (the supplier's handling charge)
Custom packaging: $0.50-2 extra per item
Returns: Who pays for return shipping?
Currency conversion: 2-3% if you're paying in different currencies

Step 4: Test How They Communicate

Send them a message with questions. How they respond tells you everything about how they'll handle problems later.

My communication test:

Send a message with 3 specific questions
Wait and see how long they take to reply (good = under 24 hours)
Check if they actually answered your questions or gave generic copy-paste responses
Ask a follow-up question to see if they're consistent
For big suppliers, ask for a video call

What good communication looks like: Clear answers within 24 hours. They address your specific questions. They're helpful, not pushy.

What bad communication looks like: Days to respond. Vague answers. Pressure to buy now. Can't answer basic questions about their products.

Step 5: Calculate Your Real Profit

Don't guess. Do the math.

The formula:

Your Real Cost = Product + Drop Fee + Shipping + Payment Fees

Profit Margin = (Selling Price - Real Cost) ÷ Selling Price × 100

Real example:

Product from supplier: $8
Drop fee: $3
Shipping to customer: $5
Stripe/PayPal fees (3%): $0.90
Your real cost: $16.90
You sell it for: $34.99
Your profit: $18.09 (52% margin)

Target: Aim for 30-40% profit margin minimum. Below 30%, you don't have enough cushion for returns, refunds, and ads. Use our profit calculator to run the numbers.

Calculate Your Actual Margins

Plug in your numbers and see if a product is actually profitable.

Open Profit Calculator

9 Warning Signs of Supplier Scams

Scammers are everywhere in dropshipping. Here's how to spot them before they take your money.

1. Prices That Are Too Good to Be True

If their prices are 40%+ below everyone else, something's wrong. They're either selling fakes, bait-and-switching with garbage quality, or planning to disappear with your money.

What to do: Compare prices across 5+ suppliers. The average is usually the real price.

2. They Won't Show Business Documents

Real suppliers have business licenses. Scammers don't.

What to do: Ask for their business registration. If they dodge the question or get defensive, run.

3. They Want Wire Transfers or Crypto

Legit suppliers accept credit cards and PayPal. Scammers want wire transfers, Western Union, or cryptocurrency because those payments can't be reversed.

Safe payment methods: Credit cards, PayPal, or the platform's built-in payment (like Alibaba Trade Assurance).

4. Stolen Product Photos

Scammers steal photos from real suppliers or use stock images.

What to do: Drag their product images into Google Images or TinEye. If the same photos show up on 50 other sites, that's suspicious.

5. No Real Address or Phone Number

Real businesses have verifiable contact info. Scammers hide behind anonymous email addresses.

What to do: Google their address. Call their phone number. If nothing checks out, move on.

6. High-Pressure Sales Tactics

"This price is only good today!" or "We're almost sold out!" - these are manipulation tactics designed to make you act before thinking.

What to do: Any real offer will still be there tomorrow. If they pressure you, that's your sign to slow down.

7. They Don't Answer Questions Clearly

Ask about shipping times, return policies, or product specs. Scammers give vague or evasive answers because they don't actually have the products.

What to do: If you can't get a straight answer to a simple question, find someone else.

8. No Return Policy

Real suppliers have written policies for returns and refunds. Scammers avoid putting anything in writing.

What to do: Get the return policy in writing (email or chat) before you place any orders.

9. Fake Reviews or No Online Footprint

Search "[supplier name] review" and "[supplier name] scam."

Red flags: All 5-star reviews that sound the same. No reviews at all. No social media presence. No one on Reddit or forums has heard of them.

What Shipping Times Actually Look Like

This causes more customer complaints than anything else. Here's the truth about shipping:

Supplier Type	What They Say	Reality	If Things Go Wrong
AliExpress	15-30 days	18-35 days	40-60 days
CJDropshipping	7-15 days	10-20 days	25-35 days
Spocket (US/EU)	3-7 days	5-10 days	12-18 days
US Wholesalers	2-5 days	3-7 days	8-14 days

The stats:

64% of dropshippers say shipping delays are their biggest headache
Stores with US-based suppliers get 35% faster shipping and 20% more repeat customers
Adding 3-5 extra days to your shipping estimate prevents most complaints

My Rule: Whatever the supplier quotes, add 5 days when you tell customers. If they say 7-15 days, tell customers 12-20 days. Under-promise and over-deliver. Customers are happy when packages arrive "early."

Estimate your shipping costs by route with our shipping calculator.

Case Study: How Sarah Found Her Supplier

Let me share a real example. Sarah (name changed) started her home decor store in early 2025.

Her first attempt: She found a supplier on AliExpress with great prices and placed 30 orders. Half arrived damaged. The supplier blamed shipping. Customers were furious.

What she did differently:

Used our supplier comparison tool to find alternatives
Picked three suppliers to test (CJDropshipping, Spocket, and one AliExpress seller with 98% rating)
Ordered samples from all three
Tracked shipping times, packaging quality, and communication

The result: CJDropshipping won. Slightly higher prices than AliExpress, but:

Products arrived in proper packaging
Shipping was 7 days faster on average
They responded to questions same-day

Six months later, she's doing $15k/month with a 34% profit margin. The extra $1-2 per product was worth it.

Building a Long-Term Supplier Relationship

Finding a supplier is step one. Building a relationship that grows your business takes ongoing work.

Talk to Them Regularly

A quick weekly message keeps you in the loop on stock issues, delays, or new products. It also keeps you on their radar as someone who matters.

Pay on Time, Every Time

Suppliers remember who pays promptly. They'll prioritize your orders, offer better rates, and solve problems faster.

Tell them when products arrive damaged. Tell them when customers love something. Good suppliers use this info to improve.

Negotiate When You Scale

Once you're sending 50+ orders per month, you have leverage. Ask for better pricing, faster shipping options, or custom packaging.

Always Have a Backup

Never put all your eggs in one basket. If your main supplier has issues (factory fire, shipping delays, quality drop), you need a backup ready to go. Keep 2-3 suppliers vetted and ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many suppliers should I work with?

Start with 1-2 to keep things simple. As you grow, expand to 3-5 for variety and safety. Most successful dropshippers test 4-6 suppliers before finding their long-term partners. You don't need more than that - it just adds complexity.

Should I use Chinese or US suppliers?

Both have their place. Chinese suppliers (like AliExpress) offer lower costs and huge variety - great for testing products. US suppliers (like Spocket or Doba) cost more but ship in 3-7 days instead of 15-30. Many successful stores use Chinese suppliers for testing, then switch to US suppliers for winners.

How do I know if a supplier allows dropshipping?

Ask them directly. Say: "Do you support dropshipping? Can you ship without invoices or your branding?" Not all wholesalers allow it. Some will include their invoice showing the wholesale price - your customer sees what you paid. Always confirm before listing their products.

What profit margin should I aim for?

Target 30-40% minimum after all costs (product, shipping, drop fees, payment processing). This typically leaves you 15-20% net profit after ads and returns. Below 30%, you have no cushion for problems. Use our profit calculator to check your numbers before committing.

How long does it take to find a good supplier?

Plan for 2-4 weeks if you do it right. That includes: researching options (3-5 days), ordering and receiving samples (7-14 days), testing communication (2-3 days), and calculating real costs (1 day). Rushing this is the #1 cause of supplier problems.

What if my supplier stops responding?

This is exactly why you need backup suppliers. If one goes silent: 1) Immediately stop selling their products, 2) Contact customers with pending orders and offer refunds or alternatives, 3) Report the issue to your payment processor, 4) Document everything in case of disputes. Then switch to your backup.

Your Next Step

You now know how to find suppliers and separate the good ones from the bad. The next question is: what products should you sell through those suppliers?

That's where most people get stuck. They find decent suppliers but waste money on products nobody wants to buy.

ProductLair fixes this. We analyze real sales data from Amazon and eBay to show you what's actually selling. Our 16-point scoring system rates products on demand, competition, and profit potential - so you're not guessing.

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More Resources

Supplier Comparison Tool - Compare 12 suppliers by reliability, shipping, and pricing
Shipping Calculator - Get real shipping costs by route and carrier
Profit Margin Calculator - Check if products are actually profitable
How to Start Dropshipping With No Money - Complete beginner's guide
25 Dropshipping Products That Actually Make Money - Product ideas with profit data