I plan to launch a dropshipping business and would like to hear honest accounts of people losing money from dropshipping. My plan is nothing fancy. The degree I am studying is business-related so I'm motivated to gain experience from running my own business. If it makes money that is a bonus.

However the sheer amount of marketing in e-commerce makes me suspicious. The marketing for platforms such as Wix and Shopify is very aggressive, the same style as for crypto and investment "training courses". There's endless stories about people making it big - that seems like some hard survivor bias.

Learning about why dropshipping fails is not easy. There is less reflection on the technical side of running a business, and a tendancy to blame the personal attributes of the businessperson. As an example, if you google "why dropshipping business fails" (or similar) your results will be flooded with articles which discuss that:

• The dropshipper did not do enough research.

• The dropshipper expected instant gratification.

• The dropshipper is lazy.

• The dropshipper chose the wrong market.

• The dropshipper chose the wrong niche. etc.

These are not criticisms of business operations, but of the personal attributes of the business owner. Then, not surprisingly, the articles will link the reader to premium learning courses and free 7-day trials. Seems like failed dropshippers are then a market.

So to the failed dropshippers, I'd like to know how much you lost. (In accordance with the sub rules: not MADE, but LOST). I am not very interested in winners and their stories about how they "grinded" but just the negative side. The more disheartening your story the better.

I started dropshipping just over three months ago, and honestly, I didn’t expect to sell anywhere near as much as I have. Last week, I hit 1,000 orders, and it’s still growing! I’m making more money than I ever imagined, and it’s honestly amazing – now I just hope it keeps going!

If you’re looking to boost sales, definitely leverage platforms like TikTok Shop, Etsy, eBay, and Amazon – they’ve been incredibly effective for me.

For those curious, my profit margin is around 32%, and after all expenses, my total profit has reached £18,065.66.

I only dropship from AliExpress, and I’ve seen plenty of people claiming that making money from AliExpress in 2024 is impossible and that the platform is terrible. That’s just absolute nonsense.

Don’t give up – it’s absolutely possible!

Lastly, to Chinese agents and manufacturers: Please don’t DM me. I’m not interested in your services.