The more I think about it, the more I don’t like the article. It’s a gossip piece, taking us into the lives of a small group of people who live in a way we might all want to (they escaped the rat race, live in material comfort and tropical paradise) but written in a way to provoke easy feelings of moral superiority. It’s not very informative about drop shipping, how big it is, who’s doing it, etc. I have to imagine that most drop shipped products make their way from China to western countries without expats in Bali connecting the fb ad dots...
Hmm, good point. It's written as an authoritative investigation into dropshipping, but it seems to be showing just a marginal part of the trend.
Similarly, it's hard to distinguish what exactly is being condemned. Unethical riches by dropshipping? Or the double-disconnected "digital nomad" phenomenon in cheap South-East Asian towns?
but written in a way to provoke easy feelings of moral superiority
Unfortunately, that's what makes it nice to read. People like to feel good about themselves and their ethical jobs. Makes it easier to not have the critical thoughts you have here :)
In real life, Vestil is less obnoxious, albeit grandiose and prone to speaking in a mixture of pop psychology, corporate jargon and quasi-Buddhist philosophy.
LOL. Sounds like he's about to start writing a stereotypical self-help book.
“I see money as a tool, and making more money is like putting more tools in a big garage, and you don’t even use the tools to create anything. It’s just meaningless.”
Easier to say after having the money, but a useful analogy. I guess you gotta have the right amount of money to get the right tools.
After university, he criss-crossed Europe and the US by bicycle, earning money doing freelance web design. By the time he arrived in Bali in May 2016, he was broke.
This was a good cautionary tale. I'm vaguely dreaming of doing this (not dropshipping! the bike stuff) in a more sustainable and rewarding way. @bill, you running Readup from your RV is inspiring.
I am both sad and intrigued to see how people are running after making easy money. I did not know much about dropshipping, but this article makes it crystal clear.
Uf, dropshipping (and some of the online course schemes teaching how to do this...or the courses teaching you how to make courses 🤯) is such bad news. Sell garbage you've never seen to people you never interact with, just middle-manning for the garbage bin. ICK
I think I already knew all this about Dropshipping – that it's essentially unethical and wasteful – but felt satisfied reading this is indeed the case :D
Fascinating. What I don’t know that goes on in the world. However, sounds like a dreadful way to make a living.
The more I think about it, the more I don’t like the article. It’s a gossip piece, taking us into the lives of a small group of people who live in a way we might all want to (they escaped the rat race, live in material comfort and tropical paradise) but written in a way to provoke easy feelings of moral superiority. It’s not very informative about drop shipping, how big it is, who’s doing it, etc. I have to imagine that most drop shipped products make their way from China to western countries without expats in Bali connecting the fb ad dots...
Hmm, good point. It's written as an authoritative investigation into dropshipping, but it seems to be showing just a marginal part of the trend.
Similarly, it's hard to distinguish what exactly is being condemned. Unethical riches by dropshipping? Or the double-disconnected "digital nomad" phenomenon in cheap South-East Asian towns?
Unfortunately, that's what makes it nice to read. People like to feel good about themselves and their ethical jobs. Makes it easier to not have the critical thoughts you have here :)
Nice read!
LOL. Sounds like he's about to start writing a stereotypical self-help book.
Easier to say after having the money, but a useful analogy. I guess you gotta have the right amount of money to get the right tools.
This was a good cautionary tale. I'm vaguely dreaming of doing this (not dropshipping! the bike stuff) in a more sustainable and rewarding way. @bill, you running Readup from your RV is inspiring.
That's exactly the type of news I'd intend to spread if I was a dropshipper
I know I shouldn't be surprised that people still find new ways to make money, but I am...always.
I am both sad and intrigued to see how people are running after making easy money. I did not know much about dropshipping, but this article makes it crystal clear.
Loved the words from Despin - money is a tool, hoarding it is meaningless, it needs to be used for good.
Nice writeup. Teaches us that short-term, shallow marketing & product performance never wins.
Great read! What a depressing way to earn a living.
I really enjoyed reading this. Loved her writing style and the content was interesting and oddly satisfying
Uf, dropshipping (and some of the online course schemes teaching how to do this...or the courses teaching you how to make courses 🤯) is such bad news. Sell garbage you've never seen to people you never interact with, just middle-manning for the garbage bin. ICK
I think I already knew all this about Dropshipping – that it's essentially unethical and wasteful – but felt satisfied reading this is indeed the case :D
yep, felt the same way. I had a good friend obsessed with it for a while and it always gave me the ick factor