For those of you, like me, who don't speak the lingo, from Google:

Drop shipping: "To move (goods) from the manufacturer directly to the retailer without going through the usual distribution channels."

 

I do some parts sourcing for the oilfield companies I work for. My test question ALWAYS is "where is the part?" In an actual money making business, I want to know if the part is on a shelf in country, or if it even exists...
A recent pump part was 16 weeks...that means it doesn't exist and they may build some more when they get enough orders or do a specific run for those parts. Also, even on Amazon, you sometimes have to read closely to determine if Amazon actually has the parts or they're just "drop shipping" from somewhere in China. EVEN with an assured delivery date, there's NO guarantee; only a refund at best and lost downtime. I enjoy the challenge, but it's not as easy as it used to be for sure. Dealing with reputable outlets might seem to cost more; but usually ONLY if you place no value on your time.