Dropshipping FAQ
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The basics
Section titled “The basics”What is dropshipping in Posty5, and what does my store still own?
Section titled “What is dropshipping in Posty5, and what does my store still own?”A supplier stores and ships the products, and your store sells them. The shopper, the order, the payment, returns and support stay with your store. Posty5 sends the order to the supplier for you.
Which suppliers are supported?
Section titled “Which suppliers are supported?”CJdropshipping, BigBuy and AliExpress. Each connection is new, so try each one in test mode and with one small real order before you rely on it.
Which plan do I need?
Section titled “Which plan do I need?”The Pro plan or higher. The Free and Starter plans do not include dropshipping.
What does it cost in credits?
Section titled “What does it cost in credits?”Importing a product uses the same credits as adding a product by hand. Sending, paying and tracking supplier orders use no credits.
Connecting a supplier
Section titled “Connecting a supplier”Where do I get my CJdropshipping API key?
Section titled “Where do I get my CJdropshipping API key?”In My CJ, open Apps, then Install App, then API. On the API page, press “Add API”, choose API Key and copy it. The CJdropshipping page of this guide has the details.
Do I have to give Posty5 my supplier password?
Section titled “Do I have to give Posty5 my supplier password?”No. You paste an API key, or sign in to AliExpress yourself. The key is checked with the supplier, stored encrypted and never shown again, to you or to anyone.
What is the difference between test and live, and can I test an order?
Section titled “What is the difference between test and live, and can I test an order?”CJdropshipping and BigBuy have sandboxes. A test connection sends orders there, never charged and never shipped. AliExpress has no sandbox, so a test connection there browses and imports but never orders. Live places real orders.
Can I connect two suppliers, or two accounts of the same supplier?
Section titled “Can I connect two suppliers, or two accounts of the same supplier?”You can connect every supported supplier, each once per store. A second account with the same supplier is not possible, so it is always clear which account ships a product.
The connection says unhealthy or paused. What now?
Section titled “The connection says unhealthy or paused. What now?”After repeated errors a connection pauses itself for a while, and orders wait instead of failing. Press “Test” on the “Suppliers” page. If the key stopped working, paste a new one, and with CJ, check that API access is still active.
What happens to my products if I disconnect a supplier?
Section titled “What happens to my products if I disconnect a supplier?”Your keys are deleted. Imported products stay in your store and from then on are treated as shipped by you.
Money and payment
Section titled “Money and payment”Who pays the supplier, and with what?
Section titled “Who pays the supplier, and with what?”You do, from your own account with the supplier — your CJ balance, your BigBuy wallet, or your AliExpress account. Posty5 can make the payment for you, from that account only.
Does the shopper’s payment go into my supplier balance?
Section titled “Does the shopper’s payment go into my supplier balance?”No. The shopper pays your store, and that money reaches you through your own payment methods. You top up your supplier account yourself.
What are the manual, submit and submit-and-pay levels?
Section titled “What are the manual, submit and submit-and-pay levels?”Manual sends nothing until you press “Send to the supplier”. “Submit automatically” creates the supplier order when your order is confirmed. “Submit and pay automatically” also pays it from your supplier balance.
Can a cash-on-delivery order be sent to the supplier automatically?
Section titled “Can a cash-on-delivery order be sent to the supplier automatically?”Only if you turn on “Also send orders the shopper has not paid yet” on the “Automation” card. Otherwise it waits with the reason “The customer has not paid yet” until you send it.
What are the cost ceiling and the cost percentage?
Section titled “What are the cost ceiling and the cost percentage?”“Most an order may cost at the supplier” stops any order that would cost more. “Most the supplier cost may be, as % of what the shopper paid” stops an order whose cost would eat your margin. A stopped order waits for you.
What if my supplier balance is empty?
Section titled “What if my supplier balance is empty?”The order waits with the reason “Your supplier balance is too low”. Top up at the supplier, then press “Retry”.
The supplier’s price changed after I imported. What happens?
Section titled “The supplier’s price changed after I imported. What happens?”Sync keeps the product’s cost current. If the change is large when an order is sent, the order waits with the reason “The supplier price changed”. Check your margin, then press “Retry and accept the new cost”.
Can I be charged twice if I press Send twice or a job retries?
Section titled “Can I be charged twice if I press Send twice or a job retries?”No. Each supplier order carries your order number, and Posty5 checks the supplier before creating or paying, so an order already created or paid is found, not repeated.
Products and sync
Section titled “Products and sync”How do I import products, and do they arrive as drafts?
Section titled “How do I import products, and do they arrive as drafts?”Open “Import from a supplier”, pick products and variants, and choose Draft or Active before you import. Up to 50 products at a time.
How is my selling price set, and can I change it later?
Section titled “How is my selling price set, and can I change it later?”Your price rule turns the supplier’s cost into your price when you import. You can edit the price at any time, and change a product’s rule and recalculate on its “Fulfilment” tab. Sync changes the price only if you ticked “Price”.
How is the delivery fee handled?
Section titled “How is the delivery fee handled?”The shopper pays your store’s one delivery fee, whatever the parts. To cover the supplier’s freight, turn on “Include the estimated shipping cost”, which adds it to the product’s extra delivery fee.
What does the hourly sync overwrite, and what does it never touch?
Section titled “What does the hourly sync overwrite, and what does it never touch?”It changes only what is ticked on the product’s “Fulfilment” tab — stock and cost by default, and price if you tick it. It never changes your images, your description or anything you left unticked. Only “Sync now” replaces the images or description, and only if you ticked them.
Why is a variant marked unavailable?
Section titled “Why is a variant marked unavailable?”The supplier stopped offering it. Sync marks it unavailable with zero stock instead of deleting it, so your product and its history stay intact.
Can I link a product I already sell to a supplier product?
Section titled “Can I link a product I already sell to a supplier product?”Yes, from the product’s “Fulfilment” tab. Linking changes who ships it, and never your price, images or description.
Can the same product come from two suppliers?
Section titled “Can the same product come from two suppliers?”Not in this release. A product is linked to one supplier product.
Why did the import say a product is a duplicate?
Section titled “Why did the import say a product is a duplicate?”You already imported that supplier product. The preview names repeats before anything is charged, and imports a second copy only if you confirm that is what you want.
Your shoppers
Section titled “Your shoppers”What does the shopper see, and do they see the supplier’s name?
Section titled “What does the shopper see, and do they see the supplier’s name?”They see “Shipped by a partner on behalf of this store” on the product page and a short badge on cards. The supplier’s name is shown only if you turn on “Name the supplier”.
Can I change or hide the disclosure?
Section titled “Can I change or hide the disclosure?”You can change the wording with “Badge text”, hide the badge on cards, and switch the badge off for a single product. At checkout the basket still shows “Ships from a partner”, and that cannot be hidden.
Why is the order split into parts, and does the shopper pay twice?
Section titled “Why is the order split into parts, and does the shopper pay twice?”Items that ship from different places arrive separately, so each has its own part and tracking. The shopper still pays once, with one delivery fee.
When does the order show as shipped if one part is late?
Section titled “When does the order show as shipped if one part is late?”Only when every part has shipped. Until then the shopper sees how many parts have shipped, for example 1 of 2 parts shipped.
How does the shopper track each part?
Section titled “How does the shopper track each part?”The tracking page shows a card for each part, with its status, carrier, tracking link and delivery estimate.
Orders
Section titled “Orders”When exactly is an order sent to the supplier?
Section titled “When exactly is an order sent to the supplier?”With an automatic level, when the order becomes confirmed — by you or by an online payment. With manual, when you press “Send to the supplier”.
What does each Needs attention reason mean?
Section titled “What does each Needs attention reason mean?”Each reason says what stopped the order and what to do. “How to use” lists all of them, one line each.
Can I take a part over and ship it myself?
Section titled “Can I take a part over and ship it myself?”Yes. Press “Fulfil it myself” on the supplier order card. That part then follows your usual shipping.
How do I cancel, before and after the supplier ships?
Section titled “How do I cancel, before and after the supplier ships?”Before it ships, cancel the order or press “Cancel supplier order”, and the supplier order is withdrawn where the supplier allows it. After it ships it cannot be withdrawn, so handle it as a return.
How does refunding my shopper relate to the supplier order?
Section titled “How does refunding my shopper relate to the supplier order?”They are separate. A refund in your store does not change the supplier order, and any refund from the supplier goes back to your supplier account.
How are returns handled for a supplier-shipped item?
Section titled “How are returns handled for a supplier-shipped item?”Through your store’s usual returns. Settling with the supplier happens outside Posty5 in this release.
Why does a supplier order say sent but unpaid, with a Pay button?
Section titled “Why does a supplier order say sent but unpaid, with a Pay button?”The connection is on “Submit automatically”, which leaves payment to you, or AliExpress refused automatic payment. Press “Pay now”, or pay on AliExpress.
How often does tracking update?
Section titled “How often does tracking update?”When the supplier sends a notification, and otherwise about every 30 minutes. A parcel can take a day or more to show its first tracking event.
Staff and reports
Section titled “Staff and reports”Which staff permission lets someone send or pay supplier orders?
Section titled “Which staff permission lets someone send or pay supplier orders?”The permission to send and pay supplier orders. It is separate from editing products, because paying a supplier spends your money.
Can an accountant see supplier costs without importing products?
Section titled “Can an accountant see supplier costs without importing products?”Yes. Give them only the permission to see suppliers and their costs.
Do supplier costs appear in my profit reports?
Section titled “Do supplier costs appear in my profit reports?”Reports use each product’s cost, and sync keeps that cost current. The supplier’s freight and fees are not added to reports yet.
Individual suppliers
Section titled “Individual suppliers”How do I try CJdropshipping safely?
Section titled “How do I try CJdropshipping safely?”Start with a test connection, which uses CJ’s sandbox and is never charged. Then switch to live and keep sending by hand for your first real orders.
BigBuy pays when the order is created. What does “Submit automatically” mean there?
Section titled “BigBuy pays when the order is created. What does “Submit automatically” mean there?”Creating a BigBuy order pays for it from your wallet, so “Submit automatically” sends and pays in one step.
Why does AliExpress ask me to pay on its site?
Section titled “Why does AliExpress ask me to pay on its site?”AliExpress allows automatic payment only for accounts it has approved for it. Otherwise the part shows “Pay at the supplier”, and Posty5 notices when you have paid.
Why are AliExpress short links refused?
Section titled “Why are AliExpress short links refused?”A shortened link does not say which product it opens. Open it in your browser and paste the full product link instead.
Can Posty5 switch a supplier off for everyone?
Section titled “Can Posty5 switch a supplier off for everyone?”Yes, if a supplier has a serious problem. You see the reason on the “Suppliers” page. Your connection and products are kept, sync pauses, and new supplier orders wait on the “Needs attention” page. Once the supplier is back, press “Retry”, or fulfil them yourself.