Unlocking TikTok Shop Delivery Times: Every Seller and Shopper Needs to Know

You’ve probably heard the saying: “Price = Cost × 2.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it?But anyone who’s done dropshipping knows — if you really follow that, you’ll basically end up eating dirt. This article will walk you through, step by step: where your profits actually go, and how to calculate a realistic pricing strategy to avoid the nightmare of “the more you sell, the more you lose.” The Cost Components of Dropshipping  Don’t fool yourself into thinking the cost is just what you pay on 1688, AliExpress, or Temu. The real cost = product price + shipping + fees + marketing expenses + returns/customer service + taxes + your own salary/profit expectations. Let’s break it down: Cost Item Example Data (Selling One T-shirt) Product Cost ¥20 (AliExpress cost) International Shipping ¥15 (ePacket or Yanwen small package) Platform Fees ¥5 (e.g., PayPal + Shopify transaction fees) Marketing Cost ¥30 (Facebook ad spend) Returns/After-sales Allocation ¥3 (average 1 return per 10 orders) Other Expenses ¥2 (Shopify subscription, domain, customer service, etc.) Total Cost ¥75 Note: This doesn’t include your profit expectations yet. How to Calculate Your “Bottom-Line Price”   Many people set prices on a whim: “The product cost is ¥30, so I’ll sell it for ¥60. That should be enough to make a profit.” But in dropshipping, this kind of pricing is basically suicidal. Your costs are much more than just the product price — you have shipping, advertising, platform fees, after-sales costs, and more. If you don’t calculate these clearly, you might think you’re making money on a sale, but in reality, you’re losing. So let’s get clear on a crucial concept — the bottom-line price. What is the bottom-line price?The […]

Should I focus on high-profit products or high-volume products? At first glance, the answer seems obvious. High margins sound attractive, while high sales volume feels safer. But in reality, dropshipping success rarely comes from choosing one extreme over the other. The most sustainable stores are built by sellers who understand how to balance profit margins and sales volume—and how that balance shifts depending on product type, traffic source, and business stage. This article breaks down the real economics behind dropshipping products, explains why many stores fail despite “good margins,” and shows how to select products that can scale without destroying cash flow, ad performance, or operational stability. 1. Understanding the Two Forces That Drive Dropshipping Revenue 1.1 Profit Margin: What You Earn Per Order Profit margin is usually calculated as: (Selling Price – Product Cost – Shipping – Transaction Fees – Ad Cost) = Net Profit High-margin products: Leave more room for advertising Absorb returns and refunds more easily Require fewer orders to be profitable But they often face higher resistance to purchase. 1.2 Sales Volume: How Many Orders You Generate Sales volume is driven by: Market demand Price sensitivity Ease of understanding the product Impulse-buy potential High-volume products: Move fast Generate social proof quickly Help stores look “alive” But they can suffer from thin margins and operational pressure. 2. Why Chasing Only High Margins Often Fails 2.1 The High-Margin Illusion Many beginners believe: “If I make $40 per sale, I only need a few orders a day.” In practice: High-margin products usually require stronger branding Conversion rates are lower Customer trust becomes a bigger barrier Without brand authority, expensive products are hard to scale. 2.2 Higher Prices Mean Higher […]

When running an independent website, payment collection is a critical issue. Only by successfully receiving payments from customers can transactions be completed and revenue generated. So what payment methods are available to independent websites? And how do payment preferences vary across different markets? Today, let’s dive into a comprehensive analysis! Common Payment Methods for Independent Websites PayPal PayPal is one of the most popular payment platforms in the world, so it’s pretty much essential for anyone selling stuff abroad. It works with loads of the big e-commerce platforms out there, like Shopify, WooCommerce and AliExpress, making things so much easier for merchants. People trust PayPal, so it’ll boost your conversion rates and is super important for transactions on independent websites. It’s also got solid buyer protection policies, which give consumers more peace of mind in case there’s any drama. And for those selling stuff, PayPal’s got your back with seller protection to help you avoid losing out on money to fraudulent transactions. OK, so the transaction fees might be a bit on the steep side, but it’s totally worth it for the convenience and the fact that it can really boost your conversion rates.Just keep an eye on how you handle disputes when you’re using PayPal, and make sure you’re getting the most out of your transactions. Credit Card Payments  Credit cards are a popular choice for cross-border e-commerce transactions, especially with big names like Visa and MasterCard. Their popularity makes them a great option for cross-border sellers looking to connect with international buyers. They’re easy and flexible, and most people like them. This means that merchants can expect to see higher conversion rates. But, as with anything, there are […]