Dropshipping mode and DTC mode
Which one you are in, what changes, and how to switch.
The switch
Top of the sidebar, two options: Dropshipping and DTC.
It changes how the app is set up for the way you work. It is a view, not an account type. Pressing it does not change your plan, your pricing or your data, and you can switch back immediately.
The difference is stock
Dropshipping. You hold none. An order arrives, we buy that item and ship it. Nothing to pay for up front, nothing to run out of, no storage. The trade is that every order includes the time to buy the item, so it is slower than shipping from stock.
DTC. You hold stock in our warehouse. Orders ship from what is already there, so there is no sourcing step and parcels move faster. The trade is that you have paid for the stock and it has to sell.
| Dropshipping | DTC | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock up front | None | Yes |
| Speed | Sourcing, then dispatch | Straight to dispatch |
| Risk if it does not sell | None | You hold the stock |
| Storage cost | None | Free while it moves |
| Custom packaging | Possible | Common |
Which one are you
Start on Dropshipping if: you are new, you are testing products, or you would rather not buy stock for something unproven. This is most people, and it is the right answer while you do not yet know what sells.
Use DTC if: a product sells consistently, you want the faster dispatch, or you are building a brand with your own packaging and your own production runs.
Most people end up doing both. Test on demand, and move the winners onto stock. That is the normal path, not a failure to commit.
What changes in the app
Both modes show the same orders, the same billing and the same stores. The framing shifts to what matters for how you are working, and the Inventory screen becomes central in DTC where it is nearly idle in Dropshipping.
Your products carry their own Type badge, Dropshipping or DTC, on My Products and Inventory. That is per product, so a single account can hold stock on some items and source others per order.
Moving a product onto stock
When a product is selling well enough to hold:
- Work out how many to hold, based on what it sells and how long a restock takes. Factory restock runs 2 to 3 days after production.
- Get it produced, or buy it in.
- Create an inbound so the warehouse knows it is coming.
- Stock goes live against your product once received and counted.
Storage is free while it is moving. See Storage.
Frequently asked
Will switching lose my data? No. Does it change my prices or plan? No. Can I run both? Yes. It is per product. I picked the wrong one at signup. Use the switch. Which is cheaper? Per unit, holding stock usually prices better. Overall, on demand is cheaper for anything unproven, because unsold stock is the expensive part.
Still need help?
Real humans on every reply. Average response under 2 hours during business hours.