Wholesale Starter Guide
The following content is compiled from our clients' most frequently asked questions for quick reference.
1.What payment methods are accepted on your website?
We accept PayPal, Debit & Credit Cards, Klarna (4 interest-free installments), AfterPay (4 interest-free installments), Bank Transfer, and Alipay (CNY only).
2.Can we apply our own logo to products?
Yes. We offer customized woven labels and hangtags with your brand identity that can be attached to wholesale garments. Our design team will assist in creating these brand markers according to your specifications.
3.Do products carry Elppis branding?
All products come completely unbranded (no Elppis markings) while supporting full brand customization through tailored woven labels, hangtags, and other brand identifiers - enabling you to establish your own brand presence.
4.Are there minimum order quantities (MOQs) for custom products? What's the customization process?
Customers provide high-definition picture designs, MOQ is more than 200PCS/color, you can mix sizes
1. We will offer you an estimated quotation and estimated minimum order quantity based on what you provide
2. After the you accept the quotation and minimum order quantity, we will make samples for the you to confirm.There is generally 7-10 days to make the sample and sample fee is US$35/pc ,After you formally place a large order, the sample fee will be refunded
3. After you confirm the sample. You send us 50% of the payment, and we will arrange production immediately after receiving the deposit.
PS: Generally speaking, the produce time is about 2-4 weeks, depend on the quantity you order, and we will confirm it before you pay. If you have woven labels and hangtags, you can send them to us and we can hang them up for you for free; we can also make woven labels and hangtags for you. You need to confirm the relevant matters with the sales manager before ordering.
5.Which shipping methods do you offer? What are processing/delivery timelines?
We ship internationally via UPS, DHL, FedEx, and air freight to most countries/regions. Orders are typically dispatched within 2 business days. For the United States:International express (UPS/DHL/FedEx): 5-7 business days; US-based warehouse items: 3-5 business days via express; Sea freight option available for orders ≥50kg: 25-35 business days. For other countries/regions:International express (UPS/DHL/FedEx): 7-12 business days.
6.What discounts are available for bulk orders?
We have New Customer Exclusive Benefits:1.First-Order Discount: Receive a $10 sitewide coupon upon registration(valid on orders over $99). 2.APP-Exclusive Bonus: Download our APP to claim an additional $15coupon(APP−only,valid on orders over $99). 3.General Discount Discounts:5% off orders over $1,000, 10% off orders over $2,500, 15% off orders over $5,000. 4.VIP Members:Enjoy exclusive discount according to your order amount over $10000
7.What's your return policy for unsatisfactory products? Describe the process.
Returns are possible but subject to case-specific conditions. Below is a detailed analysis of applicable scenarios:
Return Policy for Defective/Quality Issues
1.Reporting Window: Contact your account manager via email, whatsapp,messages or other contact ways within 3 days after you receive the order.
2.Evidence Submission: Provide clear photos/videos demonstrating product defects.
3.Resolution:Verified defects: Full refund to original payment method or Elppis account balance within 1 business day (no return required).
PS:Insufficient evidence: Return all items in original condition for refund/replacement (customer pay the return shipping fees).
Return Policy for Non-Defective Items
1.Cancellations: Orders can only be canceled before shipment.
2.Return Eligibility:Returns/exchanges accepted within 3 days of delivery. Customer responsible for both return and reshipment costs
3.Exceptions (No Return Required):Carrier-confirmed lost/damaged packages. Incorrect items/sizes/prints shipped by us
8.What does "pre-order" mean? How long does fulfillment typically take?
1.Pre-sale items are non-in-stock products. After placing your order, you'll need to wait for product arrival. We will arrange shipping according to order sequence. The specific arrival cycle has been clearly marked on the product detail page (e.g., ""Estimated Shipping Date: XX/XX/XXXX""). Please review this information carefully before order.2.We ship products within 24 hours of their arrival at our warehouse; we complete sorting and dispatch, then email you tracking number to ensure real-time package progress monitoring.
9.Can I order pre-order items below MOQ? If a style has 6-unit MOQ per color, can different colors be combined?
The preorder style does not meet the minimum order quantity and cannot be ordered. The MOQ for single preorder products is 12 pieces per color (can mix size). Partial special styles require 6 pieces/color. Specific requirements are as annotated on product detail pages.
10.If an order contains pre-order and in-stock items, must they ship together?
To minimize your waiting time, we support split shipping for combined in-stock & pre-sale orders: If an order contains both in-stock and pre-sale items, the system will automatically split packages. In-stock items will be prioritized for dispatch within two working days after payment, while pre-sale items will ship separately according to their arrival dates specified on product detail pages. No additional packaging/shipping fees.
11.How do pre-order discounts work? Is the 5% discount style-based (12+ units per product) or pre-order collection-based?
The pre-sale discount is a form of compensation we provide to customers for the extended waiting period during product fulfillment. Have 5% discount when ordering 12+ pieces per style (meets Minimum Order Quantity requirement)
12.Is custom hangtag attachment allowed for dropshipping orders?
Custom hangtag/woven label are unavailable for dropshipping orders
13.What order value qualifies for free shipping?
At present, our wholesale website calculates shipping fees based on the actual shipping costs from international logistics carriers, and no free shipping policy based on order amount. You can view accurate shipping fee estimates in real-time on the order page, which are generated according to product weight, volume, and destination, to ensure transparency and fairness in pricing.
14.Is business license required for wholesale purchases? Can individuals order?
Yes.To lower the procurement threshold and support diverse customer needs, our platform maintains a high degree of openness toward registered user types, allowing both individual purchasers and business clients to place orders.
15.How to start dropshipping? Explain product listing, pricing, synchronization, and sales activation.
First, connect your store to our dropship site. We currently support Shopify stores, WooCommerce stores, and TikTok stores. Sign in ds.elppis.com, click on [Store] in the left sidebar navigation, and follow the on-screen instructions to link your store.
After connecting, configure inventory synchronization, product description rules, and other settings. Then navigate to [General Settings] from the left sidebar to adjust price multiplier rules.
Enter the shipping tool at https://ds.elppis.com/h-shippingTool-default.html to configure your shipping rates, then input these shipping settings into your storefront's backend system.
To start selling, locate the [Push to Store] button in any product display section on ds.elppis.com and click to activate your product listings.
When orders are placed, they will auto-sync to ds.elppis.com. Simply go to the Orders section to process payments for each order, and we'll handle shipping within two business days.
16.Do custom-labeled products have the same lead times as standard items?
No. If there are more items in the order, custom - made woven labels / hang tags will generally be shipped about 5 - 7 working days later than standard products.
17.Is tax ID mandatory for orders?
It depends on the shipping method you choose. Based on the U.S. tariff policies in effect at that time, we offered air/sea freight DDP services (including pre-paid duties), with full customs clearance handled by the carrier without requiring a tax ID. Currently, international express shipments to the U.S. are temporarily unavailable. We will reassess and confirm express shipping fees with our international courier partners after verifying the actual duty rates under the new tariff policy effective May 2nd. International express delivery will resume only after this review. At that time, if you wish to use international express for your order, you MUST provide a valid tax ID number and handle customs clearance independently.
18.Do you offer discounted shipping methods? How to reduce logistics costs?
Yes. We recommended Air Freight Express Line: Our flagship cost-effective logistics solution offering fully tax-included service for hassle-free international shipping. Please note that transit time may be slightly longer than standard international logistics services. To optimize cost efficiency, we suggest finalizing procurement schedules 10 days in advance. Exclusive Benefits: New customers enjoy first-order discounts, while returning clients receive progressively higher discounts based on shipping volume. Actual promotional terms will be displayed at checkout as per our dynamic pricing policy.
19.How to obtain free samples?
The "Free Samples" campaign is exclusively available to new users. After signing up/logging in, click on the 【Free Samples】banner at the top of the homepage to choose any 3 samples for free, with only pay the shipping fees.
20.What if sample order shipping fees are prohibitively high?
You can combine sample products with other in-stock items in one order – the more you purchase, the lower the shipping cost, effectively reducing expenses.
21.Will you adjust DHL/FedEx/UPS rates post-tariff implementation?
Please rest assured that our freight pricing system will remain stable. If you choose self-clearance channels such as DHL, FEDEX, UPS (tax ID required), all tax fees will be borne by the consignee. To avoid tax risks, we strongly recommend prioritizing DDP air/sea services which include full tax coverage and customs clearance.
22.Can DDP shipping guarantee timelines? Current air shipments face 20+ day customs delays (vs. advertised 12-15 days).
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Historical data shows the customs inspection delay probability is approximately 3%, which constitutes an uncontrollable administrative process. We are actively tracking the customs clearance progress of this shipment, but the actual release time depends on customs enforcement. We will continuously update you with the latest logistics tracking information.
23.Should orders be postponed until May tariff details are finalized?
We currently provide air and sea freight DDP services (full duty paid by Elppis), with no additional customs clearance fees required. Do not wait for May's tariff details to place orders – summer peak season has arrived. AIR shipping may take 10-15 days. We strongly recommend stock preparation now to meet summer sales demand.
24.Will product prices decrease in response to tariff changes?
Our product pricing already incorporates full market competitiveness, with no current price adjustment plans. To minimize tax burdens, you may flexibly choose DDP air/sea tax-inclusive channels to enjoy door-to-door tax-covered transportation services.
25.Any plans to expand overseas warehouse SKUs?
Overseas warehouse expansion plans are under internal evaluation. Implementation details will be officially communicated to all partners through designated channels once finalized. Thank you for your interest in storage services.
26.Will tax-inclusive solutions be offered for increased parcel channel tariffs?
Our current Yunexpress small parcel logistics to the U.S. also operates under DDP service terms. No additional tariff payments are required.
27.How to resolve inventory overstock issues?
1.We completely understand the apprehension that comes with investing in inventory. Maybe you can start with drop-ship, no need to stockpile inventory. If you want to know more: https://ds.elppis.com/
28.Reasons for recent logistics cost increases and mitigation strategies?
1.Thank you for your continued support and positive feedback on our product quality. The recent price increase is indeed due to overall adjustments by our shipping providers, and with winter products being heavier due to the materials used, shipping costs have risen. We fully understand how important logistics costs are to boutique owners. If you're making smaller weekly purchases, we recommend using our dropshipping option, which includes more affordable but slower shipping choices. Alternatively, you could consider bulk purchasing. For packages over 20kg, we offer more economy shipping options. And of course, if your bulk purchase exceeds a certain amount, we provide discounts as well.
kindly note there will be money-off discounts when your item order amount reaches the target as follows:
5% discount over $1000
10% discount over $2500
15% discount over $5000
29.Causes of delayed DS logistics delivery times?
Dropship usually use international logistics service like Yunexpress, delivery times according to different country. If your primary market is the U.S., we recommend selecting in-stock items from US warehouses for sale (details via link: https://ds.elppis.com/collections/dropshipping-usa-warehouse). When customers place orders through your storefront, products will be shipped directly from US warehouses. Beyond offering lower pricing compared to shipments from Chinese warehouses,delivery times are obsivously reduced – orders reach your customers about 3-5 working days.
30.Can you explain Boutique product pricing strategies and profit models?
Yes. Retail stores in the clothing industry generally maintain gross profit margins between 50% to 60%, calculated as (selling price - total cost) / selling price. Therefore, we recommend setting your product prices at twice or more than your wholesale cost (single item price + average shipping cost). For example: If a top's item price + average shipping cost totals $10,the suggested selling price should be $20 or higher. The gross profit would then be calculated as: Suggested selling price - Item price - Average shipping cost.
31.How are DS logistics invoices handled?
1. Create Draft Orders:You can create a draft order in Shopify and then send an invoice to the customer from that draft.
This works great for custom orders, phone/email sales, or wholesale requests.
2. Send Invoices via Email:
Shopify emails the invoice directly to your customer with a “Complete Your Purchase” link.
The customer clicks the link and checks out like a normal online purchase.
3. Customizable Payment Options:
You can apply discounts, add taxes, or include shipping costs.
Choose to accept full payment online or partial payments depending on your setup.
4.Track Invoice Status:
You can see whether the invoice has been sent, viewed, paid, or is still pending.
5.Payment Gateways:
Customers can pay whatever payment methods you’ve enabled
32.What determines DS product pricing strategies?
Clothing industry store sales generally maintain 50%-60% gross profit margin, calculated as (Selling Price - Total Cost)/Selling Price. For dropshipping, you must configure separate shipping fees in your store backend. After setting actual DS-based shipping rates, these costs become negligible. Considering clothing industry margins, we recommend using ds.elppis.com for dropshipping with product price multipliers set at double or higher.
33.How do you ensure sizing accuracy?
Our products usescientific sizing systems: both standard sizes (S-2XL) and plus sizes (XL-4XL) strictly comply with international standards. Product detail pages include US size conversion references - switch to US size for precise measurements.
34.Why do cart items show MOQ requirements at checkout?
Popular product inventories fluctuate constantly. When out of stock, items enter pre-sale status with minimum order requirements. We strongly advise immediately order preferred products. Orders will ship sequentially based on payment time.
35.What are your current best-selling product recommendations?
Find the "bestseller" entry in website navigation to view all recent top-selling styles.
36.Reasons for pre-order shipment delays?
Pre-sale product shipping agreement: We strictly follow order sequence for fulfillment. During unexpected order surges, shipments may delay by 1-2 working days (we sincerely apologize). For transparency, we'll provide real-time updates while expediting orders. We deeply appreciate your understanding and pledge to minimize wait times.
37.DL charges 10x shipping fees vs Shein/Temu for identical product images. Does DL profit from shipping fees despite matching Shein's products?
1.We understand your concerns about shipping costs and want to clarify how Elppis operates. Unlike platforms like Shein or Temu, we focus on providing a curated selection of high-quality products and flexible solutions like wholesale dropshipping and customization, tailored specifically for boutique owners. Our shipping fees reflect reliable and faster services to ensure your orders arrive on time and in excellent condition.2.For boutique owners, product quality is very importance—it builds customer trust, encourages repeat purchases, and justifies premium pricing. Elppis‘s curated selection ensures you’re providing your customers with pieces that elevate your brand and drive long-term growth for your business.
3.Of course, we encourage everyone to explore different business models and find what works best for their unique customer base. Every boutique has its own path to success, and experimenting with strategies is part of the journey. Our goal is to support you in creating a model that resonates with your audience and drives your business forward.
4.We truly value your feedback and are constantly working to improve. If you have suggestions or specific concerns, feel free to share them with us—we’re here to help.