I Tried Dropshipping Business For 24 Hours (DON’T START)

Dropshipping has been hyped as the “easiest way to make money online.” With countless YouTube gurus promising six-figure incomes with minimal effort, it’s no wonder so many people are tempted to try it.

But is dropshipping really that easy? Or is it just another overhyped business model that leaves most people frustrated and broke?

I decided to test it myself-launching a dropshipping store in just 24 hours-to see if it’s worth the hype.

Spoiler alert: You probably shouldn’t start.

Here’s my full experience, the mistakes I made, and why I don’t recommend dropshipping in 2024.

What is Dropshipping?

Before diving into my experiment, let’s clarify what dropshipping actually is.

Dropshipping is an e-commerce model where:

• You don’t hold inventory.
• You list products from suppliers on your store.
• When a customer buys, you order from the supplier, who ships directly to them.
• You keep the profit difference between the selling price and supplier cost.

Sounds simple, right?

The problem? Everyone is doing it. Competition is insane, profit margins are shrinking, and platforms like TikTok and Facebook are cracking down on cheap, scammy products.

My 24-Hour Dropshipping Challenge

Step 1: Finding a Winning Product

Most dropshipping gurus say product research is 90% of the business. So, I spent the first few hours looking for a “winning product.”

Where I Looked:

• TikTok Ads – Scrolled through #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt for trending items.
• AliExpress Dropshipping Centers – Checked “Trending Now” section.
• Facebook Ad Library – Searched for recent ads with high engagement.

The Product I Chose:

After hours of scrolling, I found a “magic hair remover roller”—a cheap beauty gadget selling like crazy on TikTok.

• AliExpress Price: $2.50
• Planned Selling Price: $19.99
• Profit Margin: ~$15 after ads & fees

Seemed perfect… until I dug deeper.

The Problem:

• Over 500 stores were selling the exact same product.
• Negative reviews mentioned slow shipping (3-4 weeks).
• Facebook had banned ads for similar products due to complaints.

But I decided to test it anyway.

Step 2: Setting Up the Store

I used Shopify (since it’s the go-to for dropshipping) and picked a basic theme.

Store Name & Branding:

• Name: “GlowGadget” (sounded generic but “trustworthy”).
• Logo: Made a quick one on Canva.
• Color Scheme: Pink & white (to appeal to beauty shoppers).

Product Page Optimization:

• Fake scarcity – “Only 37 left in stock!”
• Urgency – “Sale ends in 24 hours!”
• Fake reviews – Imported 5-star reviews from AliExpress.

(Yes, this is shady, but it’s what most dropshippers do.)

Step 3: Running Facebook Ads

Here’s where things got expensive.

Ad Strategy:

• $20/day budget (testing 2 ad sets).
• Targeting: Women 25-45 interested in beauty gadgets.
• Creative: Used a trending TikTok video of the product.

The Results After 12 Hours:

• Spent: $12.50
• Clicks: 87
• Adds to Cart: 9
• Sales: 0

Ouch.

What Went Wrong?

1. Ad Fatigue – Too many competitors running the same ad.
2. Low Trust – My store looked generic, no real branding.
3. Slow Shipping – People saw “3-4 week delivery” and bounced.

---

Step 4: Trying TikTok Organic (Free Traffic)

Since paid ads flopped, I tried posting viral-style TikTok videos.

What I Did:

• Recorded a fake “unboxing” (I didn’t even have the product).
• Used trending sounds & hashtags (#BeautyGadget #MustHave).

Results After 6 Hours:

• Views: 1,200
• Likes: 47
• Comments: 8 (“Where to buy?”)
• Store Visits: 28
• Sales: 0

Again, no sales. People were curious but didn’t trust my store enough to buy.

Why Dropshipping is a Terrible Business in 2024

After 24 hours, I spent 32.50∗∗(Shopifytrial+ads)andmade∗∗32.50∗∗(Shopifytrial+ads)andmade∗∗0 in sales.

But my failure wasn’t just bad luck—dropshipping is fundamentally broken in 2024. Here’s why:

1. Saturated Market

• Every “winning product” is already being sold by 100+ stores.
• Customers recognize dropshipping stores and avoid them.

2. Facebook & TikTok Bans

• Ads get rejected for “low-quality products.”
• Accounts get banned for policy violations.

3. Long Shipping Times Kill Conversions

• Nobody wants to wait 3 weeks for a $20 product.
• Amazon Prime has trained customers to expect fast shipping.

4. No Real Brand = No Trust

• Dropshipping stores look scammy (fake reviews, stock images).
• Customers prefer established brands.

5. Razor-Thin Profits (Or Losses)

• Ad costs eat into profits—you might spend 50tomake50tomake20.
• Returns & chargebacks destroy margins.

What You Should Do Instead of Dropshipping

If you want a real e-commerce business, try these better alternatives:

1. Print-on-Demand (POD)

• Sell custom designs on T-shirts, mugs, etc.
• No inventory (like dropshipping) but more brandable.

2. Amazon FBA (Private Label)

• Sell real branded products with faster shipping.
• Higher trust & conversion rates than dropshipping.

3. Affiliate Marketing

• Promote other people’s products for commissions.
• No inventory, no customer service.

4. Build a REAL Brand

• Find a unique product (not just AliExpress junk).
• Focus on long-term growth instead of quick cash.

Final Verdict: Don’t Start Dropshippin

My 24-hour dropshipping experiment was a complete failure—but it taught me valuable lessons.

• Dropshipping is NOT easy money.
• The market is oversaturated.
• Customers don’t trust generic stores.
• Ad costs make it unprofitable for most.

Instead of chasing get-rich-quick schemes, focus on building a real business.

Would I Try Dropshipping Again?

No. The golden age of dropshipping is over. If you’re serious about e-commerce, choose a better model.

FAQ

1. Can You Still Make Money Dropshipping in 2024?

Yes, but only if:

• You find a unique product (not saturated).
• You build a real brand (not just a Shopify store).
• You have a big ad budget ($5K+ to test).

2. What’s the Biggest Dropshipping Mistake?

Choosing a bad product. Most people sell the same junk as everyone else.

3. Is Dropshipping Dead?

Not dead, but extremely difficult for beginners.

4. How Much Money Do You Need to Start?

At least 500−500−1,000 for ads, Shopify, and testing.

Final Thoughts

Dropshipping isn’t the easy side hustle YouTubers claim it is. My 24-hour experiment proved that without experience, budget, and luck, you’ll lose money.

If you’re looking for a real online business, skip dropshipping and try a better model (like POD, Amazon FBA, or affiliate marketing).