As ecommerce merchants look for a single touchpoint for all things dropshipping, brands like Hypersku seem like a bespoke solution.
Hypersku is one of the newest players in the dropshipping space, and they’re quickly making a name for themselves with their innovative solutions and white-glove service.
But are they all that they’re cracked up to be?
In this Hypersku review, we’ll take an in-depth look at their features, pricing, and support to help you decide if they’re the right dropshipping platform for you.
What is Hypersku?
Hypersku is a cloud-based dropshipping platform that enables merchants to source and sell products from a single interface.
The platform includes powerful automation tools that streamline the dropshipping process, making it easier for merchants to manage their inventory, orders, and shipping.
Hypersku also offers a built-in marketplace that gives merchants access to a curated selection of dropship suppliers. Or so they claim.
Along with end-to-end services in the ecommerce supply chain, Hypersku also advertises US warehouses for inventory storage. Now, that’s something you don’t see every day.
While they’re still a relatively new company, Hypersku is headquartered in Hong Kong with an office in Shenzhen, China.
Who can use it?
One of the reasons why Hypersku has managed to create a buzz in the ecommerce space is that they do not have a barrier of entry. This means, they are open to do business with brands that generate all the way from 10 to 10000 orders a day.
So, you will have one-man army shops as their customers, and they’re also open to enterprises. Scale does not seem to be a problem for Hypersku. But it very well may be for an ecommerce merchant. We will explain this in a bit.
What are the key features of Hypersku?
It’s not surprising that ecommerce brands these days seek to automate the tedious and time-consuming tasks in their business so they can focus on more important things.
And this is exactly where Hypersku shines because they offer a range of automation tools that can help streamline your dropshipping business.
1. Sourcing from vetted factories
Hypersku claims that they have a network of 2000+ vetted factories that you can source products from.
They also have a team of quality control experts who inspect each product before it is shipped to your customers. This is to ensure that the products meet your quality standards. You have the option to order samples, as well as pre-stock inventory for up to a week to avoid bottlenecks.
That said, you have to take them by their word. They do not share the contact details of the suppliers. This means, you won’t have direct connections with suppliers to verify the pricing and access their latest catalog.
2. No monthly subscription
Unlike other dropshipping platforms that charge a monthly subscription fee, Hypersku only charges a commission on each order that you make.
What’s more is that there’s no cap on the number of orders that you can place or products you can import. So, you only pay for what you use. This is advantageous for small ecommerce businesses that are just starting off.
3. Product customization
If you want to add a personal touch to the products you sell, Hypersku also offers product customization services, both white labeling and private labeling.
For white labeling, they will add your brand logo and packaging to the products you source from their network of factories.
Private labeling, on the other hand, is a bit more involved as they will help you develop a new product from scratch. This includes everything from design to manufacturing.
4. Automated fulfillment
Hypersku offers one-click integration with Woocommerce and Shopify. Once you sync your store with their platform and import products, they will automatically fulfill your orders as well as update tracking details.
In theory, this means, your customers will receive their orders on time, and you don’t have to worry about stock levels.
In addition, Hypersku also provides real-time tracking so you can keep tabs on your orders and inventory.
5. No MOQ for Chinese suppliers
Startups often look for suppliers with no MOQ, and Hypersku says they can help you find such suppliers. This is a big plus because most reputed agents and Chinese suppliers usually have high MOQs.
This may seem like an advantage at first. But brands with some experience will know that working with such suppliers can often be a double-edged sword.
First of all, it’s difficult to ensure that inventory levels are maintained. Second, the quality of such products is often questionable.
So while it may be tempting to go with suppliers that have no MOQ, it does not always work in your favor.
They do have a 500 MOQ for their US warehouse stocking.
6. Global express shipping
Hypersku ships to 72 destinations around the world and offers express shipping to all of them including 7-12 day shipping to key markets like the US, UK, and Canada. If you choose their USA warehouse plan, they also offer 3-5 day shipping to the US.
However, one thing to keep in mind is that their global express shipping is not free. The charges depend on the destination and weight of your shipment.
Related reading: Best Shipping Apps for Shopify
The benefits of Hypersku
As a brand or an ecommerce vendor, what are the benefits of using a service like Hypersku? Let’s find out.
1. Single platform for the entire operation
The biggest draw for using Hypersku is the fact that it’s a one-stop solution for your entire dropshipping business.
You can find suppliers, source products, automate fulfillment, track inventory, and do a lot more from their platform. This can be a big time saver because you don’t have to juggle different tools for different aspects of your business.
2. One click integration
Hypersku also offers one-click integration with Shopify and Woocommerce. This means, you can sync your store with their platform and import products with just a few clicks.
Making customizations to the store interface as well as making further changes to the SKU does seem cumbersome. But even then, one click imports is a big time saver.
3. No need to worry about MOQs
As we discussed earlier, one of the advantages of using Hypersku is that they can help you find suppliers with no MOQ. This means, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of maintaining high inventory levels.
The downside, of course, is that the quality of such products may not be up to the mark. But if you’re just starting out, this could be a good option to consider.
4. USA based warehouse
Hypersku has a warehouse in California where they can store your products. This is a big advantage because it means you can offer 3-5 day shipping to your customers in the US.
In addition, it also allows you to take advantage of Hypersku’s inventory tracking features. The downside, however, is that their USA warehouse stocking plan has a 500 MOQ.
Also, we came across customer reviews on messaging boards that claim that orders were shipped from Chinese warehouses instead of the US ones as claimed by the service. That’s what lack of transparency can mean.
5. Global express shipping
Another big advantage of using Hypersku is that they offer global express shipping to 72 destinations around the world. This means, you can ship your products to your customers anywhere in the world without any hassle.
What’s more, is that you can choose from economy and express shipping. The express shipping takes 7-12 days to key markets.
The top 5 drawbacks of Hypersku
Now that we have discussed the advantages of using Hypersku, let’s take a look at some of the drawbacks.
1. No barrier
Hypersku does not screen the merchants they choose to work with. Even a one-man operation can sign up with them. Normally, this would not be an issue. But when it comes to customer service, it can be a potential problem, especially for a merchant.
You see, newer ecommerce businesses often go through a trial and error process where someone has to hold their hand and guide them through the various stages. This takes a toll on the support team as they are often inundated with support requests.
For a more experienced merchant, this means that they do not get the one-on-one attention they deserve. They are clubbed under the same support plan as everyone else.
This can be frustrating, to say the least. So, if you’re looking for a platform that offers personalized attention, Hypersku is not the right choice for you.
Sourcingbro’s solution: Low barrier
We are all for working with merchants who have just started out. But we also believe that each merchant deserves personalized attention.
This is why we have in place, a low barrier of entry. As long as you are currently generating 10 orders a day, we can work with you.
Time and again, we also work with startups who have faith in their product and some experience in the ecommerce industry.
We have a dedicated team who are ready to answer your questions and help you grow your business. So, if you’re looking for a platform that offers one-on-one support, Sourcingbro is the right choice for you.
2. Not transparent on the product source
Many fulfillment services claim to have a large network of suppliers and vetted factories. But the reality is often different.
In most cases, these fulfillment services work with just one or two suppliers who source products from China. And when it comes to quality control, they often rely on these suppliers to do the job for them.
Often, this comes to the fore when you have generated a lot of orders and are now facing quality issues with the products. The lack of transparency on where the products are sourced from becomes a major issue at this stage.
Sourcingbro’s solution: Get access to the supplier’s contact information
This is where Sourcingbro is different. We believe that as a merchant, you have the right to know where your products are coming from.
This is why we give you access to the supplier’s contact information. Because we want you to know:
- The market price from a verified supplier.
- How much you’re paying for our services.
- We’re not keeping you in the dark, at any stage.
3. Inventory is not guaranteed
Remember what we mentioned earlier about them having ‘No Barrier’?
The nature of every dropshipping platform is that they require more sales from more and more merchants.
If you’re selling the same items as other dropshippers, how do they decide who’s order gets shipped first if they don’t have enough inventory to fulfill them with?
In some cases, there’s no stock available in the market., This often leads to delays in delivery as it takes anywhere between 2-4 weeks for the products to be manufactured and shipped.
And if there is a delay in manufacturing, then you have no idea when they will receive the products. This often leads to them over-promising and under-delivering to the merchant.
Sourcingbro’s solution: DFY inventory management
At Sourcingbro, we take guesswork out of the equation by managing your inventory for you.
We’ll help you track your inventory levels on a daily basis and raise a purchase order with the supplier as soon as the stock levels dip below the reorder point.
This ensures that you never run out of stock and have to deal with the repercussions of delayed inventory refills. For this reason, we always advice our merchants to stock up at least 2 weeks of inventory.
This gives us enough buffer to deal with any delays in manufacturing and shipping. And it also helps us keep the lead time to a minimum.
4. Shipping weight is based on estimations
When you are looking to ship products internationally, the shipping weight of the products is a major factor that determines the shipping costs.
But in most cases, the dropshipping fulfillment services do not have the accurate weight of the products. So they base the shipping costs on estimations.
This often leads to them overcharging the merchant as they add a buffer to account for any discrepancies.
Sourcingbro’s Solution: Get accurate shipment billing for each parcel
At Sourcingbro, we make sure that you only pay for the exact shipping weight of the products.
How do we do this?
We sync the shipping weight from our couriers and update it to your client dashboard.
The result? You only pay for the exact shipping weight of the products and nothing more.
This might not seem like a big deal but it can make a huge difference to your bottom line, especially if you are shipping lots of multiple unit orders.
5. No payment credit
At Hypersku, you have to pay upfront for the orders to begin the fulfillment process. This might not be an issue if you are ordering small quantities.
But what if you want to order large quantities?
You see, most Chinese suppliers do not offer payment credit for large orders. So, if you want to order in bulk, you have to pay the entire amount upfront.
This can often be a strain on your cashflow since the payment processors take weeks days to process the payments.
Sourcingbro’s solution: We offer weekly payments
At Sourcingbro, we understand that paying for large orders upfront can often be a strain on your cashflow.
To help you with this, we offer weekly payments for all orders. This means that you only have to pay each week for the total numbers of orders generated that week. You do not have to pay us every day to initiate fulfillment.
We only request a minimum budget of $1000 on inventory to get started.
This ensures that you have enough cashflow to place large orders without any financial strain. It helps you redirect your finances to other areas of your business and scale at a much faster rate.
Final thoughts
Hypersku is one of the many dropshipping fulfillment services available in the market. While they might seem like a good option at first, there are many hidden factors that you need to be aware of before you use their services.
We hope that this article has helped you understand the potential risks of using Hypersku and why opting for a service that offers one-on-one support can be a much better option in the long run.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about our services, feel free to get in touch with us.