Dropshipping from China typically offers lower product costs and a vast product selection. However, the new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports are a wake-up call—depending on just one supplier or sourcing from a single country is risky.

One of the best practices is to find dropshipping suppliers from the USA that offer the perfect mix of convenience, reliability, and speed. Now, more than ever, we’re adding a new one called eBay, which is the right fit. We have shared everything that you should know when starting.

What is eBay?

eBay, as one of the largest e-commerce platforms worldwide, offers an excellent opportunity for dropshipping by connecting with numerous trusted and reliable suppliers with various sources of products.
While dropshippers commonly use it as a marketplace, many overlook its potential as a reliable supplier. Dropshipping from eBay is an attractive business model, where you purchase products from eBay sellers and resell them on your store at a markup. When a customer places an order on your store, you buy the product from an eBay seller and have it shipped directly to the customer.

With a clear understanding of eBay, let’s explore the benefits of dropshipping from eBay:

• Wide Product Selection: eBay hosts millions of sellers across various categories, making it easy to find products in almost any niche for your dropshipping business.
• Global Supplier Network: Relying on one supplier or country is risky, especially with new U.S. tariffs. eBay’s international sellers let you source from multiple regions like the U.S. and Europe, reducing shipping times and offering unique products.
• Secure Transactions & Buyer Protection: eBay safeguards transactions with buyer protection policies, ensuring refunds for undelivered or misrepresented items. Shopify integration extends this security to your store, boosting customer trust.
• Reliable Customer Service: Strict seller performance metrics ensure high-quality service, encouraging reliable suppliers and a better buying experience.

Understanding eBay’s dropshipping policies

So, the crucial question is, “Does eBay allow dropshipping?” According to eBay, dropshipping (or product sourcing) is allowed as long as you fulfill orders directly from a wholesale supplier.

However, listing an item on eBay and then purchasing the item from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your customer is not allowed on eBay.

When using eBay as a source for dropshipping, it is essential to understand and comply with their policies to avoid potential issues:

1. Handling Returns and Refunds

eBay sellers have different return policies, so you must verify the return terms before listing a product.

If a customer requests a return, you’ll need to coordinate with the eBay seller to facilitate the process.

Some eBay sellers may charge a restocking fee, which you should account for in your pricing strategy.

2. Order Cancellations

eBay sellers may occasionally run out of stock, leading to order cancellations.

To minimize the risk, use automation tools to monitor stock levels and avoid listing items that frequently go out of stock.

3. Shipping and Delivery Compliance

eBay sellers offer various shipping methods, but you should prioritize those with fast and trackable shipping options.

Be transparent with your customers about delivery timeframes to avoid disputes.

Avoid sellers who use unreliable or untrackable shipping methods.

4. Avoiding Policy Violations

Avoid using eBay product descriptions and images verbatim; instead, modify them to prevent potential copyright issues.

Do not misrepresent product details or delivery times to customers.

Make sure you familiarize yourself with these policies and keep them updated. Moreover, in addition to these policies, you should prioritize excellent customer service. Managing expectations and communicating clearly with customers will help you build a loyal customer base and grow your business in the long run.

How to dropship eBay products with Zopi

Zopi now integrates eBay as a product source, making browsing millions of products across various categories easy. Currently, we only support the US market for eBay-sourced products. Although global dropshipping is still possible, some eBay products may not be eligible for international shipping.

Simply import your chosen eBay products to your waiting list, allowing for easy editing before publishing – saving you valuable time. Plus, Zopi helps you automatically fulfill eBay orders with just a few clicks, ensuring smooth and fast processing without manual effort.

Import products from eBay source filter

Products from eBay will be listed under Zopi’s Find Product feature. You can import products with just one-click using the following method:

Steps

1. Login to Zopi and go to the Find product page.

2. Click the Source filter below the search bar and select eBay. The page will refresh to show the relevant products crawled from eBay.

3. Hover over any product card to reveal the Quick View option in the top left corner—this lets you preview key details instantly.

4. Click Import / Push to store.

5. (Optional) Click on a product card to view in-depth details.

• On the product detail page, click the source icon and supplier name under the product name to redirect to the product’s original page on eBay.
• (Optional) Click Add to import list / Push to store.

Fulfill eBay orders

All eBay orders are required to be fulfilled via the Zopi Extension.

Steps

1. Log in to Zopi and go to Order Center.

2. Access the New orders tab.

3. Click Fulfill order on the Order Card of the order that you want to place.

4. In the Order Confirmation card, review the order details and click Confirm.

* Afterward, you will be redirected to the Checkout of eBay.

5. Click one payment method (Card, PayPal, Google Pay, etc.) to complete the payment.

6. Click Submit order to complete the process.

Remember that you need to be familiar with eBay’s specific return policies, which effectively address buyer concerns.

That’s the end of this beginner’s guide to eBay dropshipping. So, are you eyeing the growing world of eBay dropshipping in 2025? Let us know in the comments below.