Getting Started Checklist: From Signup to First Order
Step-by-step: create your account, connect Shopify, top up your balance, and ship your first test order in under 20 minutes.
Welcome to Peregrine Ship. Congratulations on taking the first step toward seamless China fulfillment. This guide walks you through everything you need to ship your first order.
Step 1: Create your account
- Navigate to platform.peregrineship.com
- Click the "Sign Up" button
- Enter your email and a password
- Confirm your email address from the inbox link
Step 2: Connect your Shopify store
Two ways to do this. Pick whichever you prefer.
Option A: from the Peregrine dashboard
- Open the Peregrine Ship dashboard
- Navigate to Stores, then Add Store
- Click "Connect Shopify"
- Complete the Shopify authorization flow
Option B: from the Shopify App Store (fastest)
- Open your Shopify Admin search bar
- Search for "Peregrine Ship"
- Click Install
- Shopify redirects you to Peregrine and signs you in automatically
Configure store settings
Once connected, set your store country and market so we know how to size and route orders.
- Navigate to Stores, then your store name, then Store Details
- Select your Store Country / Market
- Verify the "Connected" status indicator turns green
Set up your fulfillment location
Shopify changed how fulfillment services work in 2024. To ensure your orders route correctly to Peregrine, set up the fulfillment location properly.
- Open Shopify Admin, then Settings, then Locations
- Find "Peregrine Ship" listed as a fulfillment location
- Go to Products and assign inventory to the Peregrine Ship location
- Keep any non-Peregrine inventory at your merchant-managed location
Step 3: Connect with our team
We provide dedicated WhatsApp support for every Peregrine client. This is your direct line for order questions, sourcing requests, urgent issues, and general support.
Open WhatsApp and message us here.
What to include in your first message
Copy this template and fill in the brackets:
Hi! I just signed up for Peregrine Ship. Store name: [your Shopify store name]. Store URL: [yourstore.com]. Products I sell: [brief description]. Monthly order volume: [estimated orders per month]. Any questions: [anything you are unsure about].
What happens next
- We verify your store connection (usually within a few hours)
- We create a dedicated WhatsApp group with the team members assigned to your account
- You receive a welcome message with next steps and your sourcing manager contact
Your dedicated team includes Customer Support, your Sourcing Manager, and Operations (looped in when needed).
Step 4: Understand how Peregrine works
The simple version:
- Customer places order on your Shopify store
- Order automatically syncs to Peregrine
- We source the product from our factory network
- We perform quality inspection, packing, and shipment
- Tracking updates automatically back to Shopify
- Customer receives order within 7 to 15 days
Two ways we work with you
| Service Type | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Dropshipping | New stores, testing products | We source and ship per order. You pay product cost plus shipping per order. |
| DTC / Inventory | Established brands, consistent sellers | You send inventory to us. You pay shipping only. Lower cost per order. |
Not sure which fits? Ask us on WhatsApp. We help you decide based on your volume and AOV.
Step 5: Understand pricing and balance
How the balance system works
Peregrine uses a prepaid balance. Think of it like a wallet you top up, then we deduct as we ship.
| Balance Type | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Total Balance | $500.00 | Everything in your account |
| Available | $350.00 | What you can use right now |
| Occupied | $150.00 | Reserved for orders in progress |
When we start processing an order, we reserve (occupy) funds to cover the product cost and shipping cost. Once the order ships, occupied becomes "charged" and is deducted from your balance.
What you pay per order
For dropshipping clients:
| Cost Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Cost | The cost to source the product from the factory |
| Shipping Cost | Based on weight, dimensions, and destination country |
For DTC / inventory clients:
| Cost Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Shipping Cost | Based on weight, dimensions, and destination country |
No product cost on the order itself, since you have already sent us inventory.
How to get a price quote
Option A: use the Sourcing Calculator
- Open your dashboard and find the Sourcing Calculator
- Paste an image URL of the product
- View the instant price breakdown
Option B: use the Shipping Calculator
- Open your dashboard and find the Shipping Calculator
- Enter weight and destination country
- View the estimated shipping cost
Option C: submit a Custom Sourcing Request
- Open the Custom Sourcing section in your dashboard
- Provide product details, images, and specifications
- Receive a quote within 24 to 48 hours
Option D: ask on WhatsApp
Send us the product link or description and we get you a quote fast.
Track your balance
- Open your dashboard and navigate to Billing
- View the complete history of top-ups, deductions, and balance movements
Step 6: Add balance (top up)
- Open your dashboard and navigate to Balance, then Add Balance
- Choose your payment method
| Method | Speed | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe (credit or debit card) | Instant | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Bank transfer (Wise, Airwallex, or direct) | 1 to 2 business days | No fees |
Bank transfer details
For the best exchange rates, use Wise.
Send your transfer to wise.com/pay/business/peregrinegrouplimited.
- Take a screenshot of the transfer confirmation
- Send it to us on WhatsApp
- Balance is added within a few hours
Step 7: Create your first test order
Before going live, create a draft order in Shopify to confirm the full sync works end to end.
Create a test draft order in Shopify
- Open Shopify Admin, then Orders, then Create Order
- Add a product from your store
- Add a test shipping address (use your own address for the test)
- Click Save as Draft
- Wait 1 to 3 minutes for the sync to complete
- Double-check the order details
Check the order in Peregrine
- Log in to your Peregrine dashboard
- Open the Orders section
- Find your test order in the list
Step 8: You are ready to sell
- Store connected and showing "Active"
- Store country / market selected correctly
- WhatsApp group set up with our team
- Test order synced successfully
- You understand pricing (or you have asked us for specific quotes)
What happens when a real order comes in
- Order syncs automatically within minutes
- Product sourced from the factory network
- Products arrive at our warehouse (1 to 3 days for dropshipping)
- Quality check performed
- Packing and shipment completed
- Tracking updates automatically to Shopify
- Customer receives the order
View order details and cost breakdown
- Open your dashboard and navigate to Orders
- Click on any order
- View the full breakdown: product info, cost breakdown (product cost plus shipping), order status, tracking
Export orders
Need to analyze your orders or costs in a spreadsheet?
- Open your dashboard and navigate to Orders
- Select orders using the checkboxes (or select all)
- Click Export
- Download a file with full details: order info, product details, cost breakdown per order, status, tracking
Auto-fulfillment settings
By default, auto-fulfillment is turned ON. Orders process automatically as they come in.
| Setting | What happens |
|---|---|
| ON (Default) | Orders automatically move to processing |
| OFF | Orders wait for your manual approval before processing |
Turn it OFF if you want to review each order before we process it.
Working with your own supplier?
If you have your own supplier and want to send inventory to our warehouse:
- Open your dashboard and navigate to Inventory, then Add Inventory
- Select the items you are sending
- Enter the quantity for each item
- Add the inbound tracking number
- Submit for warehouse receipt
Need help?
Our team is available Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm Beijing Time (GMT+8). Closed Sundays and Chinese public holidays.
| Channel | Best for | Response time |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent issues, quick questions | Under 2 hours | |
| Email (support@peregrineship.com) | Detailed inquiries, documentation | Under 24 hours |
| Help Center | Self-service guides and FAQs | Instant |
Welcome to the team
You made a great choice partnering with Peregrine Ship. We are here to help you scale your business without the logistics headaches.
Your next step: message us on WhatsApp and introduce yourself. We cannot wait to help you ship.
Frequently asked questions
How long until my customer receives their order?
Typically 7 to 15 business days, depending on destination. USA: 7 to 12 days. Europe: 7 to 14 days. UK: 8 to 12 days. Australia: 10 to 14 days.
Do you provide tracking?
Yes. Full tracking is provided and syncs automatically to Shopify. Branded tracking on your own subdomain is also available.
What if a product is out of stock?
We notify you immediately and help find alternatives.
What happens if my balance runs out?
Orders pause until you top up. We alert you before this happens so you can top up in advance.
Can I get a refund on my balance?
Yes. Unused balance can be refunded. Contact support to request it.
Can you source any product from China?
Almost anything. We specialize in fashion, accessories, home goods, and general merchandise. Some restricted items (lithium batteries, liquids, weapons) have limitations.
Do you do quality control?
Yes. Every item is inspected before shipping.
Can you do custom packaging or branding?
Yes. We offer custom packaging, thank-you cards, and branded inserts on the Brand plan. Ask us about it on WhatsApp.
Still need help?
Real humans on every reply. Average response under 2 hours during business hours.