Reviews on dropshipping program

japancool

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  • Jul 11, 2013
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    One answer on Quora suggests it's poor.

    Personally, I don't understand what's so difficult about it.

    1) Identify the product you want to sell
    2) Do some market research to determine demand and pricing
    3) Find a supplier who will dropship
    4) Work out your profit margins
    5) Work out your marketing plan
    i) Where will you sell your products?
    ii) How will you get your products in front of your intended audience? And how much will it cost? Once this is taken into account, is 4) still acceptable?

    ALL of these things are what you would do anyway if you want to start up an e-commerce (or, come to that, any commerce) offering. The only difference is the supplier and the fact that you don't need to worry about logistics.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    Have you found any verifiable success stories as a result of his courses?

    Just looked on his Instagram. Seems to have “results” on saved stories but that’s it. But the lifestyle he’s living must be accompanied by having success Initially. Looks as if his USP is earn money from Instagram without any advertising or spending money on ads. To me that looks too good to be true but this chap seems to have made millions from it.

    I just don’t want my best freind who got made redundant to waste his redundancy money and have nothing to show for it?

    However I would love nothing better for it to work for him. I don’t want him to get sucked into a program whereby he loses and nothing to show.
     
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    fisicx

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    Most of these types of people make money selling their ‘system’ rather than using the system themselves. If the system was so good they would be raking in money from that not selling their secret methods.

    If your friend has been made redundant buy a ladder and bucket and start washing windows, they will make more money than they will doing dropshipping.
     
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    japancool

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    Looks as if his USP is earn money from Instagram without any advertising or spending money on ads.

    Oh. So what he's really selling is a course on how to build a social media following.

    Those are ten a penny, and almost all of them are worthless. Don't waste your money.

    We've had people on here touting courses like that.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    Most of these types of people make money selling their ‘system’ rather than using the system themselves. If the system was so good they would be raking in money from that not selling their secret methods.

    If your friend has been made redundant buy a ladder and bucket and start washing windows, they will make more money than they will doing dropshipping.

    That’s what I did think. Why would you give away secrets when you could use them yourself…

    Do you think they are selling there system they used when they first started though so it’s has proven success, but doing all this without ads on Instagram. I said to him seems too good to be true.
     
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    Ozzy

    Founder of UKBF
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  • Feb 9, 2003
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    Drop shipping will not make any money, the only ones making money are the people selling courses
    Most of these types of people make money selling their ‘system’ rather than using the system themselves.
    ^^^^ Basically both of these, and that's coming from someone I know who sells the courses on how to do it and a system his customers subscribe to that runs it.
    They make good turnover but very little profit.
     
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    japancool

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    Do you think they are selling there system they used when they first started though so it’s has proven success, but doing all this without ads on Instagram.

    To be honest, it sounds like you're trying to find a reason to convince yourself that it's worth spending money on.

    Please, please, please don't. If he really was successful, there would be a trail. What website did he run? What was its verifiable turnover? How much profit did it make? Or which mug did he sell it on to, and for how much?
     
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    Solve My Problem

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    Just searched him, seems to have a lifestyle of luxury? Surely to sell courses you’ve had to had success first yourself to share?
    I was drop shipping 16 years ago, started with swimming pools one summer. Took my daughter to Spain and used a mobile to connect to the Internet. It paid for the trip + more.

    If you want to believe the hype that's fine but I can assure you drop shipping, Print on Demand, Amazon FBA do not make the money that people want you to believe, the cost of advertising is extortionate, building a brand organically is truly difficult and margins are tiny. China in recent years sell direct, the drop shipping sites are saturated and the cost of setting up a decent site to convert is high even doing it yourself.

    I am all for trying anything and giving everything a try but I have been in eCommerce since the 90's, the people who make the money now are the people who sell courses.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    ^^^^ Basically both of these, and that's coming from someone I know who sells the courses on how to do it and a system his customers subscribe to that runs it.
    They make good turnover but very little profit.
    So the courses of selling the dream. But in reality it’s going to be hard to make any profit”

    Correct me if I’m wrong but what happened
    To be honest, it sounds like you're trying to find a reason to convince yourself that it's worth spending money on.

    Please, please, please don't. If he really was successful, there would be a trail. What website did he run? What was its verifiable turnover? How much profit did it make? Or which mug did he sell it on to, and for how much?

    This is his company: I think- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12892788

    That’s the website https://www.takeriskstoday.com/

    My best freind did however tell me you can’t just have his mentorship you must have a website by him also so I’m guessing around £600 for this course and website etc then monthly fee of £55.00 or so he said.

    My mate come across him on Instagram from an video ad.
     
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    Ozzy

    Founder of UKBF
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  • Feb 9, 2003
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    So the courses of selling the dream. But in reality it’s going to be hard to make any profit
    Basically yes. A business is pointless if you don't make the profit, and the profit is selling the courses and systems to "dreamers" and not in shifting products for a few pounds here and there.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    Basically yes. A business is pointless if you don't make the profit, and the profit is selling the courses and systems to "dreamers" and not in shifting products for a few pounds here and there.
    To me it seemed to good to be true. Do you think them results are fake? On his Instagram. Of people saying they’ve had big sales etc.

    Drop-shipping to me I always wonder how you make money when you consider people waiting for item for China can be a long time I guess and then having to give refunds.

    My mate has been really taken in by this saying stuff like “he hopes he can buy a house from this” etc worryingly really, as he’s intelligent.
     
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    Ozzy

    Founder of UKBF
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  • Feb 9, 2003
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    Of people saying they’ve had big sales etc.
    Oh I'm sure they are having big sales, but it's the profit that is import. I'd rather have a sale of £100 at 75% profit than a sale of £1,000 at a 5% profit.
     
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    japancool

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    This is his company: I think- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12892788

    That’s the website https://www.takeriskstoday.com/

    My best freind did however tell me you can’t just have his mentorship you must have a website by him also so I’m guessing around £600 for this course and website etc then monthly fee of £55.00 or so he said.

    My mate come across him on Instagram from an video ad.

    OK, but how much of that came from actually successfully selling dropshipped products, rather than courses?
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    OK, but how much of that came from actually successfully selling dropshipped products, rather than courses?

    That’s the million dollar question. When you think courses or mentorship whatever you want to call it £500 a year x 1000 it’s not a bad result. I think my mate just see his life and thinking he wanted some of that success.

    The richest people I know aren’t on Instagram or showing off. They always seem to have physical stock aswell. ?‍♂️

    I think he’s just seeing a big fat chunk of cash and seeing is believing as they say and he’s been taking in by it. It’s a real shame because I thought he had his head screwed on. I mean he was made redundant because company closed down and he was a Senior manager/ Director.
     
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    Solve My Problem

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    Some people radiate online, they have the personality to engage people and can grow a following. Others put as much effort in but don't have what it takes. However growing a social platform takes lots and lots of work. a 1 minute video can easily take over an hour to edit.

    All of these things made people a lot of money back in the day.

    I have a friend who started buying items from China when Covid hit. He is selling anywhere from £4000 - £5000 a month every month, all low cost items. eBay and Royal Mail make more than he does, it supplements his income and covers his rent but as soon as he hits the VAT threshold the business is dead. It's a short term venture to make a few k overall, it's time consuming and prone for losses with delays from China and eBay controlling how many items he sells.

    Everything looks easy from the outside, when you are in the thick of it, it's very different.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    Some people radiate online, they have the personality to engage people and can grow a following. Others put as much effort in but don't have what it takes. However growing a social platform takes lots and lots of work. a 1 minute video can easily take over an hour to edit.

    All of these things made people a lot of money back in the day.

    I have a friend who started buying items from China when Covid hit. He is selling anywhere from £4000 - £5000 a month every month, all low cost items. eBay and Royal Mail make more than he does, it supplements his income and covers his rent but as soon as he hits the VAT threshold the business is dead. It's a short term venture to make a few k overall, it's time consuming and prone for losses with delays from China and eBay controlling how many items he sells.

    Everything looks easy from the outside, when you are in the thick of it, it's very different.

    Well this is it isn’t it. I was thinking wow I’ve been doing it wrong all my life. Why haven’t I just gone ahead and done it.

    So what’s your telling me is to my best mate to run away from this as fast as he can or take the money and put it on red or black.
     
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    fisicx

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    My best freind did however tell me you can’t just have his mentorship you must have a website by him also so I’m guessing around £600 for this course and website etc then monthly fee of £55.00 or so he said.
    100 people paying £55/month is £60k per year. Don't know about you but I could live quite comfortably on that. Setting up a dropshipping business is ridiculously simple. Making money from dropshipping is hard work. His system doesn't even need to work, he just needs enough suckers to pay him each month to be very well off.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    100 people paying £55/month is £60k per year. Don't know about you but I could live quite comfortably on that. Setting up a dropshipping business is ridiculously simple. Making money from dropshipping is hard work. His system doesn't even need to work, he just needs enough suckers to pay him each month to be very well off.
    Also with the upfront cost of £500 for the “website must be made” as requirement of his course.

    I mean he’s making ten times that, his house looks well over a million and some very nice cars from his Instagram.

    I’m guessing his finance everything and loves a debt lifestyle in order to get more to buy his course.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    Hi there,

    Just an update.

    My best friend who was going to join his course I’ve managed to persuade him from it. There is no reviews on he’s success stories all he said he sees on his Instagram is names scribbled out unable to look one he did find “didn’t have an Instagram account after searching the username”. I know people might not want to show there success in worry for competition from other drop shippers etc. but there must be one or two literally nothing. It smells extremely fishy.

    So what he’s doing now is:

    Making his own garden website and holding stock and driving sales through ads etc. What I think is a better solution of a real hands on business.

    He done a test purchase from Ali express he said and it took two and half weeks to arrive meaning how many customers would actually wait that long for something to arrive before requesting refunds. When we’ve all come use to Prime and next day delivery as standard.

    Once I showed him the replies “he called himself an idiot” and said he was sold a dream but would turn into a nightmare extremely quickly.

    He even said “the business is not a business timeline and shipping and customs not worth it” customers getting charged unexpected taxes etc.

    Saved himself £600 I think.
     
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    MBE2017

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    Most actual business people use this dropshipping model of selling through Instagram, Facebook etc to test out products, say sell a qty of 50 items, but then sell physical stock when they decide they have found an item with demand.

    Plenty of free YouTube etc advice, no need to pay.

    As for believing pictures of cars, watches etc, in a world of photoshop you cannot believe any of it. Stand in front of a car and take a picture does not make you the owner.

    Serious advice, people with money tend not to talk about their wealth.
     
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    Mcdougal

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    Mar 22, 2022
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    Most actual business people use this dropshipping model of selling through Instagram, Facebook etc to test out products, say sell a qty of 50 items, but then sell physical stock when they decide they have found an item with demand.

    Plenty of free YouTube etc advice, no need to pay.

    As for believing pictures of cars, watches etc, in a world of photoshop you cannot believe any of it. Stand in front of a car and take a picture does not make you the owner.

    Serious advice, people with money tend not to talk about their wealth.
    You know this is so correct. I known someone for a long time. I only found out the millionaires by chance, but doesn’t drive anything that shouts out money. Just a VW 4x4.
     
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    UKSBD

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  • Dec 30, 2005
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    Dropshipping is only as good as the company you are dropshpping fors logistics and delivery service.

    I drop shipped for one supplier, but never knew when they would be delivering, weren't kept informed and everything was a big hassle as I couldn't keep my customers informed.

    Changed to a different supplier with almost guaranteed next day delivery, good tracking, instantly told if possible delay, they handled any returns which resulted in no hassle.
     
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    Stroud

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    Sep 7, 2022
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    Hi... I joined Take Risks Academy back in Nov 2021. I saw the guy driving around my town in his cars. So I thought, het lets try this.... Outlay was about £400 I think, and then £55 per month for 'mentoring' he set up my shopify shop, and populated with crap goods in the 'niche' of my choice. There was ZERO assistance or guidance for the first few months. Just automated repsosnes and automated ' GREAT JOB' etc etc etc ... As this went on I dived deep into everything E-commerce and it became then obvius that this 'acadmey' is a con. A well marketed con. And there is hardly ANYTHING online about him... I had to join this UKBF to write this. As there is no other info about him. And this is making me very mad.... Do not invest in this guy. S
     
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    Adam448

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  • Jun 26, 2020
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    Hi... I joined Take Risks Academy back in Nov 2021. I saw the guy driving around my town in his cars. So I thought, het lets try this.... Outlay was about £400 I think, and then £55 per month for 'mentoring' he set up my shopify shop, and populated with crap goods in the 'niche' of my choice. There was ZERO assistance or guidance for the first few months. Just automated repsosnes and automated ' GREAT JOB' etc etc etc ... As this went on I dived deep into everything E-commerce and it became then obvius that this 'acadmey' is a con. A well marketed con. And there is hardly ANYTHING online about him... I had to join this UKBF to write this. As there is no other info about him. And this is making me very mad.... Do not invest in this guy. S
    sorry to hear that. are you still going to continue e commerce?
     
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    Truth

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    Sep 26, 2022
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    Hi there,

    Just an update.

    My best friend who was going to join his course I’ve managed to persuade him from it. There is no reviews on he’s success stories all he said he sees on his Instagram is names scribbled out unable to look one he did find “didn’t have an Instagram account after searching the username”. I know people might not want to show there success in worry for competition from other drop shippers etc. but there must be one or two literally nothing. It smells extremely fishy.

    So what he’s doing now is:

    Making his own garden website and holding stock and driving sales through ads etc. What I think is a better solution of a real hands on business.

    He done a test purchase from Ali express he said and it took two and half weeks to arrive meaning how many customers would actually wait that long for something to arrive before requesting refunds. When we’ve all come use to Prime and next day delivery as standard.

    Once I showed him the replies “he called himself an idiot” and said he was sold a dream but would turn into a nightmare extremely quickly.

    He even said “the business is not a business timeline and shipping and customs not worth it” customers getting charged unexpected taxes etc.

    Saved himself £600 I think.

    Your friend definitely dodged a bullet in my opinion.

    Louis Cooke has 155k followers on Instagram. Even if only 1% of them people are paying him £55 per month for his "management", then that's over £85k per month. This does not include the initial set up fees etc that he asks for. Well done to him for doing well, but giving off the impression that it's all from dropshipping is misleading in itself.

    I was in a similar situation as your friend last year, so I contacted Louis Cooke to see what the process was. He has a mind-game pressure sell style strategy. I was a bit cautious so I was asking for websites he had set up etc to see an actual example of a finished product. He replied with things like "I will never share that information" (why not? Surely it's no different from advertising the products for sale with a link to the site. I wasn't asking for contacts of suppliers).

    He also said things like "if you don't want to work it's fine". Where he tries to make it seem as if your own motivation is the problem, knowing that you're probably in a position where you're hoping this will be a lifeline to get you out of your current situation.

    He posted up a video a week ago "driving" his Mercedes G-Wagon, but a quick check shows it hasn't been taxed since June. Not sure if he's as well off as he makes people believe, or if he rents/leases cars, houses etc for his insta image.

    I'm not saying Louis Cooke is a scammer or fraud, but he's just selling an idea and a "copy and paste" style of mentoring. I suppose it partly will depend on each person for how much effort they put into it, but it's not as profitable as he makes it look.
     
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    Dandan2

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    Nov 25, 2014
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    Drop shipping will not make any money, the only ones making money are the people selling courses
    Completely disagree with this.

    I currently run 3 dropshipping websites in the UK and they all make money. They all turn a revenue of more than £150k per year.

    Also just add, most online retailers dropship. John Lewis, Argos to name a couple.
     
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