Two Step Dropshipping Guide
Two-Step Dropshipping Guide
After you make a sale on eBay, there are two ways to get the item to the buyer:
- Ship directly to the buyer
- Ship to yourself/warehouse first, then forward to the buyer
What Is the Two-Step Method?
The two-step method involves shipping the item to your own address (or warehouse) first, then forwarding it to the buyer.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the two-step method:
Pros
- No need to use TrackTaco to mask Amazon tracking numbers.
- You can swap Amazon packaging before forwarding (most buyers don’t care, but the option is there).
- Sales tax angle: if you have a resale certificate in your state but not the buyer’s, sending to yourself first can avoid paying your state’s sales tax on that inbound leg (e.g., I’m in NJ at 6.67%; that’s what I save per order I receive first).
- eBay likes that your outbound package ships from a ZIP code near your business address.
Cons
- Slower fulfillment (it takes an extra hop through your address).
- More work: you’ll need to drop off the package.
- Extra cost: you’ll pay for the outbound shipping label to the buyer (direct-ship would’ve been free).
Updated on: 01/25/2026
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