DocumentationStore Operations
Dropshipping
Browse a conditional supplier catalog, choose fulfillment, price variants, and add an eligible item to Products.
Use Dropshipping to evaluate supplier-listed items and prepare selected variants for your store when catalog and fulfillment data are available.
Why and when to use Dropshipping
Use this section when you want to source an item without manually creating the entire product record. You still need to choose a fulfillment route, review costs and delivery estimates, set retail prices, select variants, and confirm the resulting product in Products.
Availability and prerequisites
- Supplier catalogs, destinations, warehouses, shipping methods, prices, and products depend on current provider access and availability.
- A visible Dropshipping page or loading card does not prove that a particular item can be imported.
- Some workspaces can show Source products in chat; this cross-link is conditional.
- Before adding an item, confirm the destination you serve, a usable shipping method, and a retail price for every selected variant.
- Provider connections can be managed elsewhere in Runner. The exact connection shown to you can vary.
Open Dropshipping
Entry path: Workspace → choose a store → Store Operations → Dropshipping
Main controls
Browse and filter controls
| Control | Why you use it | What happens when selected |
|---|---|---|
| All categories | Narrow the catalog by product category | Reloads the current page using the selected category. |
| All warehouses / Ship from | Narrow products by warehouse country | Reloads results for the selected source country. |
| Cost range | Limit results by listed cost | Opens Min and Max fields. |
| Apply | Use the entered cost range | Closes the cost popover and reloads matching results. |
| Clear | Remove the cost filter | Clears Min and Max and reloads the unfiltered range. |
| Search products... | Find supplier-listed items by words | Reloads results after a short delay. |
| Product card | Evaluate one item | Opens the first image, name, category, variant count, wholesale information, fulfillment choices, and pricing controls when details are available. |
| Image zoom | Inspect a product image | Opens a larger view of that available image. |
| Source products in chat | Ask Runner to help with sourcing | Opens the project conversation when this conditional entry is enabled. |
Product setup controls
| Control | Why you use it | What happens when selected |
|---|---|---|
| Back | Return to catalog results | Leaves the detail view without adding the item. |
| Ship from | Choose a supplier warehouse | Resets later destination and method choices, then checks valid routes. |
| Ship to | Choose a supported destination | Loads shipping methods for the selected route. |
| Shipping method | Compare delivery, cost, and estimated margin | Selects the quote used to unlock pricing for the current setup. |
| Margin control | Set a target take-home margin | Recalculates selected retail-price suggestions using the current quote and fee. |
| Apply to all | Select and price all variants | Applies the current target calculation across all available variants. |
| Match suggested | Use the displayed supplier suggestion where valid | Applies it to the current selection, but never intentionally goes below the enforced minimum retail floor. |
| Round to .99 | Adjust current selected prices | Rounds eligible selected prices while respecting the shown floor. |
| Variant checkbox / Select all | Choose which variants to add | Adds or removes variants from the pending selection. |
| Your price | Set a retail price per selected variant | Updates the pending price and displayed profit/margin estimate. |
| Add to Store | Submit the configured item | Becomes available only after required setup; on confirmed success, the item is added to Products. |
Evaluate and add an item
- Search or filter the supplier catalog.
- Open a product card and review its first image, name, category, variant count, and listed wholesale information.
- Choose Ship from, Ship to, and a shipping method. Wait until Runner says pricing is unlocked.
- Compare delivery estimate, cost per unit, and margin. Treat these as the current displayed quote, not a permanent promise.
- Set the target margin, then select only the variants you intend to sell.
- Review and adjust Your price for every selected variant.
- Confirm the status says Ready to publish, then select Add to Store once.
- Wait for Runner's explicit success message. Open Products and inspect the new row, variants, prices, status, and description.
States and limits
- No products found means the current search and filters returned nothing; it does not mean the provider has no catalog.
- Checking destinations and Loading shipping methods are in-progress states, not proof that a route exists.
- No shipping methods available for this warehouse means the selected route cannot proceed as configured.
- A selected variant needs a price, and the price cannot be negative.
- Runner can reject a price below the current minimum retail floor.
- Delivery, cost, fee, profit, and margin displays are estimates based on the currently selected route and inputs; recheck them before adding the item.
- Add to Store adds a catalog item after success. It does not by itself prove the storefront is published or that a real supplier order can be fulfilled.
Troubleshooting
- No results: Clear the cost filter, choose All categories and All warehouses, shorten the search, then try again.
- Ship to is unavailable: Wait for destination checks or choose a different warehouse.
- No shipping method: Try another source warehouse or supported destination; do not invent a route.
- Complete setup to publish: Select at least one variant, warehouse, destination, method, and valid price for each selected variant.
- Add to Store fails: Keep the visible error, recheck current quote and selections, then retry only if Runner has not already reported success.
- The item is not in Products: Refresh Products and look for the exact item name. A loading state or button click alone is not proof of import.