One of the most popular Shopify Dropshipping Apps, Oberlo, is going out of business. Its last day will be June 15.
Yes, Oberlo is going out of business, and since May 12, it has been taken off the Shopify App Store.
In 2017, Shopify bought the App from a Lithuanian startup. Even though it was being used by more than 100,000 people, the eCommerce giant decided to end the service.
Why did they choose to stop using the app? Shopify says that the best interests of merchants are the most important thing, and that it’s normal to shut down an app to give users the best ways to reach their customers.
What does it mean for Oberlo users?
Oberlo is going out of business, and the app has been officially delisted, so you can’t add it to your store anymore. If you already have it, you can use it until June 15, though.
The FAQ page says that after this date, the App will be taken out of your store by itself.
Make sure to download all your historical data as soon as possible if you don’t want to lose any.
Once you have all your important data saved, it’s time to start looking for Valida alternatives. There are several dropshipping apps that offer the same services as Oberlo, but it might be a good idea to switch to a supplier who can offer you extra services like private labeling and put you in touch with some of the best suppliers out there.
How to choose an alternative to Oberlo
Now that we know for sure that Oberlo is going out of business, it is very important to find a good replacement.
Some people recommend installing DSers, which is a platform that works a lot like Oberlo and lets you import listings from AliExpress and export orders.
You might want to step up your business game, though, and choose a provider who can give you all the services your business needs and more.
Don’t forget that if you use the above app, you’d still have to send your orders to AliExpress suppliers, who, among other things, would charge you more for your products and ship them at times that you couldn’t count on.
What to look for in your new Dropshipping App
In 2015, Oberlo was added to the Shopify App Store, and since then, we can safely say that a lot has changed.
You can start dropshipping with Dropship-Empire.
People used to open a new store for every new product trend, but as advertising costs have gone up, more and more dropshippers are moving away from this method. Instead, they are focusing on creating ONE store with their own brand and offering a service that will keep customers interested and coming back.
This is why, when you choose your new Shopify Dropshipping App, you want to improve your services while still enjoying the ones you already have.
You want to find suppliers you can trust and who can help you at every step.
With the APP that Oberlo suggests as its replacement, you won’t be able to choose the quality of the items, customize the service (like with private label items or custom packaging), or choose the shipping method.
So let’s look at what the best dropshipping app for your store should have.
Get the features you love
Since Oberlo is going away, the first thing you should do is find a new app that has all the features you’re used to. From automatically adding listings to automatically importing tracking numbers.
Automated product listing
One of the reasons Oberlo was so popular was that it let its users automatically upload AliExpress Product Listings on their store. When looking for a new dropshipping app, the first thing you should look for is the ability to import a product to your store with just a few clicks, including pictures, descriptions, and shipping prices.
Automatic and unlimited order fulfillment
Done wasting time waiting to pay for your orders? Then it’s time to set up the order fulfillment to happen automatically. Paying for each order separately can be a pain once you start growing your business, and it can even become your full-time job if you start making steady money and selling a lot of products.
You need to find an app that will automatically take care of your orders after your customers pay.
Be careful, though, because many apps limit the number of free orders you can fill. Find one that can be filled as many times as you want.
Automatic Tracking Number Notifications
Another feature that can save you a lot of time is the automatic tracking notifications to your customers. Ideally you’d want your customers to know the tracking information on their parcels as soon as they are shipped out.
Sharing the tracking numbers automatically will help you save time on customer care and also help make your clients happy, as they will be able to track the progress of their products independently.
B2B quotations in Real-Time
In just a few steps, Oberlo made it easy to add AliExpress listings to your store. Now, you should keep in mind that the vast majority of AliExpress is made up of resellers who sell their products directly to end customers, or at B2C prices.
Keep in mind that the same products you found can be found by your customers at a lower price. This means that while you worked hard to advertise your items and persuade people to buy them, the money will go to someone else.
AliExpress does have a lot of deals every day, but the prices of their products change a lot, and this is not a good way to run a business in the long run.
This is why you need to find a supplier who can buy your goods directly from some of the best Chinese manufacturers at B2B prices in real time.
Features that can help boosting your revenues
After talking about Oberlo’s and similar apps’ basic features, it’s time to look at other features that can help you build your empire.
B2B Prices Stock Discount
It is very important that you choose a supplier who can get your products at B2B prices.
AliExpress resellers usually don’t care how many of the same product you buy, and whether you buy 50 or 1000, you pay the same flat rate. If you want your business to do well, you should try to find a supplier whose prices go down as you buy more. This will help you increase your margins once you start shopping.
Bundle sales
Bundle sales
AliExpress is a great place to look for new products to sell to your clients. However, different people/companies often sell different products. Because of this, you can’t have bundle sales or ship multiple items in the same package.
Try to find a supplier who can help you sell your products in groups. This will not only make your customers happy, but it will also save you money on shipping costs. One stone to kill two birds!
Free Warehouse Space
You might want to buy a stock of a product once you start selling more of it.
This can help you save money on the cost of a single product, which can help you make more money and cut down on the time it takes to make the product.
There aren’t as many suppliers who give away free warehouse space as there used to be, because it costs money to store and manage items properly. Find a supplier who will store your items for free, keep track of your stock, and take care of the logistics of shipping.
Pro tip: You should always know how much inventory you have so you can keep track and restock when you need to. Find someone who can let you know how many items are in stock in real time.
Personalize your Clients Experience
If you don’t personalize their experience, it can be hard to be competitive and get customers to remember your store and keep coming back to buy. So how can you make sure your customers remember what they bought?
Private Label Dropshipping
Putting a brand name on a product or service is the best way to remember it, which means you should make your own private label items. Some suppliers let you customize things, like putting your logo right on the product or making your own packaging. If you want your business to be successful for a long time, you may want to put money into building a good brand.
Original Product Photos and Videos
One of the easiest ways to find a product somewhere else is to use the pictures to do an image search. While shopping on AliExpress, you may have noticed that many sellers use the same packaging for the products they sell.
But if you have brand-new pictures, do the following:
They will be better than what your competitors are selling;
Your brand will look like it has more value;
It will be harder for your customers to find your products elsewhere;
Conclusion: The best Alternative to Oberlo
Even though Oberlo is shutting down, dropshipping is still going strong. You just need to make sure that your new suppliers/Shopify app will be a good replacement.
Now you might be wondering how in the world you can get all of these services without having to install a million different apps and forget which one does what.
Well, that’s easy!
Because Dropship-Empire offers all of these services and a lot more, too.