How to get started with CJdropshipping

CJDropshipping is a dropshipping supplier based in Zhejiang, China, offering a wide range of items and features like warehouses around the globe, integration with ecommerce platforms, affordable fee structures, and tools to let you manage products and stayhands-off.

In this article, we’ll cover how to set up a store on CJdropshipping, the platform’s benefits and features, and tips to help make the most of your experience.

Key takeaways

• CJDropshipping has a large catalog of items you can sell in your online shops.
• CJDropshipping offers many ways to make your product stick out with custom packaging or custom photos and video.
• Navigating CJDropshipping's website and policies can be confusing at times, but you have access to 24/7 customer support to help you.

A typical CJDropshipping journey

A typical dropshipping process with CJDropshipping follows these steps:

1. Choose the items in the catalog you want to sell. These items live in a CJDropshipping warehouse and not at your physical business location. 

2. Link your online shop. Whether you’re selling on Shopify, WooCommerce, or eBay, you can connect through an “app” integration or more manually with their APIs. Once connected, you can list products available from CJDropshipping directly on your site.

3. When someone orders an item, CJDropshipping handles the shipment. As a seller, you’re responsible for managing the connections between your shop and CJDropshipping, marketing the items you’re selling, and paying for CJDropshipping’s fulfillment services.

How to set up an ecommerce store with CJDropshipping

It's free to make an account with CJDropshipping. Once your account is set up, link it to your online shop. Your shop can either be hosted on a platform like Shopify or BigCommerce, or on your own website. As of November 2021, CJDropshipping supports integrations with the following ecommerce platforms:

• Shopify
• eBay
• WooCommerce
• ShipStation
• Lazada
• Shopee
• Etsy
• Shoplazza
• Squarespace
• Magento
• BigCommerce
  

In addition, CJDropshipping has an API that you can use to connect your account with your storefront on other platforms. If you're handy with code, you can do this yourself. If not, you can hire someone to code it for you. Gig websites like Fiverr or Upwork list lots of freelance coders.

Once your storefront account is fully connected, log into your CJDropshipping account to choose which products you want to sell. They'll automatically be uploaded to your storefront, but you will want to check that the product images, descriptions, and any associated SEO metadata that will get auto-populated make sense for your customers.

When someone places an order, it'll be shipped directly to them.

CJDropshipping benefits & features

There are several benefits to using CJDropshipping.

1. Quality control

If you stock items from a CJDropshipping warehouse, the company will perform free quality control checks before sending orders out to customers.

However, if you choose to stock an item in your shop that's not already in the CJDropshipping catalog, you'll need to pay an additional fee for the service.

2. Live chat support

CJDropshipping offers 24/7 support via chat or WhatsApp with live agents who can answer questions about the company’s fulfillment services.

3. Fulfillment and order management

CJDropshipping’s fulfillment services are more flexible than those of its competitors. You can set up automatic orders so that they're shipped out automatically. Your customers are given tracking IDs for their orders.

If you don't have automatic orders set up, you can also input orders manually or import them from a spreadsheet. You’ll have the ability to split orders or combine them however you’d like before they ship.

You can also order samples or tests to make sure the items you're adding into your shop are high quality.

4. Large product catalog

As of September 2021, CJDropshipping’s catalog had nearly 650,000 items. These items are stored in CJDropshipping’s warehouses and are free to stock in U.S. warehouses. You’ll be charged an additional fee for international warehouses.

If you want to sell an item that's not available in CJDropshipping's catalog, you can submit a sourcing request for the company to go out and find a supplier of that item. If they don't find the item you want to sell, you'll need to find another supplier to source it from.

5. Custom product media assets

You're free to use the videos or photos provided on the product page for any of CJDropshipping's items.

But if you're looking to stand out from the crowd, you can also request product shots or custom videos from CJDropshipping. It maintains its own in-house photography studio to assist you. To find out how much it'll cost for each item, you'll need to submit an order and ask for a quote.

6. Multi-store support

You're not limited to just one store with CJDropshipping. You can connect multiple stores on different platforms. You can even create sub-accounts so your employees or virtual assistants can log in and help manage your shop.

7. Supports various payment methods

You'll have plenty of ways to pay CJDropshipping. As of 2021, the company accepts a number of different payment methods, including:

• PayPal
• Wire transfer
• Credit card
• Preload your “CJ Wallet”
• WeChat Pay

8. Custom packaging and branding

You're probably familiar with the generic, mass-produced feel of dropshipping products that are purchased at major online retailers. One way to differentiate your products is to ship them in custom packaging, and add your logos, designs, or other company features.

With CJDropshipping, you can customize your product in your account. You can design the packaging, connect the design to the products you’d like customized, and pay the fee for packaging. When it arrives at the warehouse where your products live, CJDropshipping will use that packaging to fulfill any orders for that product.

9. U.S.-based warehouses

As of 2021, CJDropshipping has two warehouses in the U.S. You can search for products that are stocked in a specific warehouse on the CJDropshipping catalog. It also maintains six other warehouses across China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Germany. This worldwide distribution helps speed up shipping times and can lead to lower delivery costs if an item is closer to your customer.

Disadvantages of CJDropshipping

Even though CJDropshipping reviews are largely positive, there are a few drawbacks you should be aware of when choosing the right dropshipping supplier for your business.

1. Confusing website navigation

CJDropshipping isn't the easiest website to navigate and can be confusing, especially if you're new to the dropshipping world. They have help articles and FAQs available, but they also have many complicated features to understand. Make sure to allot enough time to understanding the website.

2. Extra fees may apply

CJDropshipping has a relatively low fee structure. If you choose products available at a domestic warehouse, you won’t have to pay extra fees apart from the product and shipping fee (along with any extra services, like custom packaging).

However, if you opt to have CJDropshipping store and ship your products, you will have to pay a warehousing fee. As of 2021, this fee is waived for new customers for the first 30 days, after which you'll be charged $0.80 per cubic meter. If the item stays in inventory longer than expected, you'll be charged a higher rate of $1.50 per cubic meter. Additionally, if the product you want to sell isn’t available at the closest warehouse, you will have to pay a shipping fee to relocate the items to the warehouse nearest you.

3. Complicated refund and return policy

CJDropshipping has a complicated system of rules, requirements, and limitations for returns and refunds.

For example, CJDropshipping requires proof for refunds or returns. If an item is damaged when a customer receives it, you'll need to ask the customer to provide photos or videos to prove the damage. Then, you'll need to pass those on to CJDropshipping along with a screenshot of the customer complaint before a return or refund can be processed.

In order to know which, if any, options you have available to you, you'll need to contact customer service or check through its list of return and refund policies.

CJDropshipping Timelines

The amount of time it takes for your customer's orders to reach them depends on many things, including:

• The size and weight of the item
• Where your customers are located
• The shipping method you're using
• The CJDropshipping warehouse their order is shipping from

You can check shipping timelines and costs by using CJDropshipping's cost calculation tool.