If you’re in a dropshipping business or looking to get started with dropshipping, chances are you’ve heard of Oberlo. This ingenious helper is designed to connect your online store with the suppliers and manufacturers of the products you want to sell.
With Oberlo, it’s possible to run your store from almost anywhere in the world and connect to a global audience of potential customers.
However, the platform isn’t suitable for everyone as it only links Shopify stores with retailers who list their wares on AliExpress. That said, it’s an invaluable tool for streamlining your dropshipping business and is packed full of beneficial features that will make your life a breeze.
What’s more, the Oberlo Chrome extension is incredibly easy-to-use and included in the free starter plan. In this article, we will be looking at the Oberlo Chrome extension to see whether it’s all it’s made out to be…
What is Oberlo?
Oberlo is an online platform that enables you to streamline your dropshipping business. It’s full of useful learning resources to aid you with anything from building your business to perfecting your marketing strategy and everything in between.
In addition to being full of useful advice and guidance to help you make the most out of your dropshipping venture, Oberlo also acts as a link between the Shopify store (where you sell your products) and AliExpress (where you find your suppliers). At the time of writing, these are the only platforms Oberlo integrates with. However, seeing that AliExpress hosts over 100 million different products, odds are you’ll be able to find the perfect items for your store here.
Oberlo has three different price points, perfect for helping you get your dropshipping business off to the best possible start or for aiding experienced dropshippers looking to take their business to the next level. The lowest price plan is completely free of charge, so it’s effortless to get started with your new venture.
What is the Oberlo Chrome extension?
The Oberlo Chrome extension is arguably one of the most useful features of Oberlo, as it allows you to effectively run your dropshipping business in just a few easy clicks.
By adding the Oberlo extension to your Chrome web browser, you can easily pick products you’d like to stock from AliExpress and integrate them effortlessly into your Shopify store.
There’s even an auto-filled checkout form to help you deal with customer orders and ensure your dropshipping business is as straightforward and streamlined as you could possibly want.
The Chrome extension is available with every Oberlo subscription, including the free version, so it’s not considered a premium feature of the platform. However, the usefulness of this tool cannot be understated.
There are loads of benefits to this software, but three of the top perks include:
- You can import products directly from AliExpress into your Shopify store.
- You can sort your products by your preferred shipping options on the AliExpress website.
- You can process orders containing AliExpress orders faster and reduce manual work thanks to the Oberlo extension’s automation options.
How do I get the Oberlo Chrome extension?
To install the Oberlo Chrome extension, you need to sign up to Oberlo. The extension is included in all the packages, even the free one, so you’ll be able to utilize this tool no matter which subscription you go for.
Once you’re signed up, you’ll need to head to the Google Chrome store and locate the Oberlo extension.
Next, click “Add to Chrome”. Then, click “Add Extension.”
The Oberlo Chrome extension icon should then appear in your browser bar.
It’s important to note that the Oberlo Chrome extension will only work with the Google Chrome browser – so you can’t download it to go with Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other browsers – and it’s only compatible with Windows or Mac OS operating systems. You cannot install the extension on a mobile or tablet, so you will need a desktop or laptop computer to use it.
How to use the Oberlo Chrome extension
Using the Oberlo Chrome extension is really simple and makes importing products from AliExpress.com a breeze.
Initially, the Oberlo icon will be a purple-grey color. This lets you see that it’s installed yet inactive. When you can use the Oberlo Chrome extension on a webpage, the icon will change to blue/active.
When the icon is blue, this shows you that the page you’re on has products that are compatible and can be connected to your Shopify store via Oberlo. To add your desired items, follow these steps:
1. Finding Products
The first thing to do with the Oberlo extension is make importing products from AliExpress simple.
First, you need to find a fantastic product that you want to sell in your store. Do this by using the categories or search bar on the AliExpress.com website.
You can’t import products from the home page or a supplier’s own page. Keep an eye on the Oberlo icon to help you find and sort products: it will turn blue when you’re able to import. It’s also important to consider the country you intend to sell to. Make sure these details are correct so that you don’t have problems with availability, shipping costs, or shipping methods. Don’t forget to check the currency, too!
Next, open the Oberlo settings by clicking on the Oberlo icon. Make sure your country, shipping, and currency options are all set to your preferences. Click ‘Update Settings’ to confirm your options.
By altering the details in the extension, you’ll be able to see the shipping prices for every item to your chosen country, which makes selecting the right products even more straightforward. It will also automatically fill in this information when fulfilling orders.
2. Importing Products
Once you spot a product that you like the look of (and is in the right area), click on it to view more information.
If everything looks good, look for the blue button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen that reads “add to Oberlo.” When you click here, the Oberlo extension will add the product to your import list.
3. Customization
Once you’ve added an item to your import list, you can then customize it for SEO and to suit your store tone of voice. This includes editing the description, images, title, and even adding tags to make the items more discoverable.
4. Placing and Fulfilling Orders
In addition to being able to import products from AliExpress into your Shopify store, the Oberlo Chrome extension is also convenient when it comes to the placement and fulfillment of orders.
Single Orders
Once you’ve imported your chosen products to the Orders Page, click the orange “Order Product” button beside the item you wish to purchase.
Clicking this will redirect you to the AliExpress purchasing page. Here, Oberlo will automatically complete the product and shipping information on your behalf.
Once you’ve checked out, the extension will also automatically update the status of the order to “In Processing.”
Bulk Orders
The Oberlo extension can also handle bulk orders when you purchase one of the two paid plans, which really streamlines the whole dropshipping process.
For bulk orders, simply check all the products you want to buy from the Oberlo Orders page, then click “Place AliExpress Orders.”
Again, Oberlo will automatically fill in all the shipping and product information on the AliExpress purchasing page, and you can proceed to payment.
In the upgraded subscription plans, Oberlo will also enable you to track the shipments and will continue to update the shipping information until the orders can be marked “fulfilled.”
How do I connect Oberlo Chrome to my Shopify store?
Before you can start using Oberlo to import and customize items for your Shopify store, you need to connect the two platforms. The process is slightly different depending on whether you already have Shopify or if you’re making a new account.
Existing Store
To connect your existing store to Oberlo, follow these steps:
- Go to the Oberlo Admin page and click “create or connect a store.”
- A pop-up will load, asking for the URL of your store. Type or paste the URL here and click “connect my store.”
- Once you click “connect my store,” you’ll be prompted to install the Oberlo app.
- Click “install app” to finish integrating your Shopify and Oberlo accounts.
New Online Store
If you don’t have an account with Shopify, Oberlo can help you complete this process and get the two platforms integrated immediately.
- Go to the Oberlo Admin page and click “create or connect a store.”
- Beneath the URL bar on the pop-up, there will be a link to “start your free trial of Shopify.”
- Click this, then fill in the requested information on the Shopify website to create your account.
- Once you’ve completed the sign-up process with Shopify, you’ll be able to return to the Oberlo page.
- From here, navigate back to the Admin section of your Oberlo account, and click “create or connect a store” again.
- You can now follow the instructions for connecting your existing online store to your Oberlo account.
It’s worth remembering that an Oberlo account can only ever be connected to one Shopify store. If you wish to connect Oberlo to another online store, you will need to create a new account.
Does Oberlo work with other websites?
It’s only possible to use Oberlo to connect your Shopify store with suppliers listed on AliExpress. You can, however, use your Shopify platform to sell products on other channels, including Facebook and Instagram.
You’ll be able to see when you’re on a page featuring products that are importable via Oberlo when the extension icon turns blue.
You may also be able to use Oberlo with your third-party eCommerce platform via Shopify’s Buy Button sales channel, which embeds the products available on your store into your own blog or website. Using these buttons, buyers can purchase from your store without ever leaving the website they’re on, and Oberlo can aid with the process.
Oberlo Benefits
By now, you’ve probably realized how helpful the Oberlo Chrome extension can be when it comes to creating an import list, customizing products, and fulfilling orders with AliExpress and Shopify. But when you click the Oberlo “add to Chrome” button, there are many other benefits too:
1. Changing Product Suppliers
When you’re shopping for products from AliExpress, you may notice that one product can have multiple potential suppliers. The Oberlo Chrome extension can help you select the best supplier for your needs based on cost and delivery times.
2. Updating Inventory
When you import products using the Oberlo Chrome extension import list, Oberlo will immediately communicate with Shopify to update your inventory. This also runs the other way so that you never need to worry about selling out-of-stock products. Not only will this save time and effort as you won’t have to run manual inventory reports, but it also improves the customer experience as they won’t be ordering unavailable items.
3. Customizing Your Products
The customization option offered by Oberlo is probably one of the best features and an excellent reason to install the Oberlo Chrome extension. When you import products from AliExpress using the Chrome extension, Oberlo will allow you to customize the product information. This includes creating your own product title, writing a captivating and SEO-friendly description, and even adding your own images to the listing.
4. Updating Product Pricing
Oberlo also makes running your business easier by enabling you to update pricing in bulk. This is great for setting promotions or sales or for adjusting your prices to maintain a profit margin.
5. ePacket delivery
Because AliExpress predominantly works with suppliers in China, getting products to customers quickly can be a concern. However, with the Oberlo Chrome extension, you will have the option to use ePacket delivery: an agreement between the USPS and China or Hong Kong delivery services that expedite small package deliveries. This means that items can be shipped within 7 days, rather than a month. This package also includes free returns if an item is undelivered, and premium accounts can benefit from door-to-door tracking.
6. Order Processing and Tracking
The Oberlo Chrome extension also offers the ability to track delivery and shipping of items when you sign up for a paid package. To use this feature, you need a premium or basic account, then click the Oberlo “Order Product” button as usual to complete the customer order. As the order is processed, Oberlo will monitor the shipment status and provide updates so the customer can track their order from door-to-door.
7. Multiple User Accounts
Again, this feature isn’t available with the free Oberlo package. However, the ability to integrate multiple user accounts is a fantastic feature for premium dropshippers. As your business expands, Oberlo will enable you to delegate roles and responsibilities to other team members and provide separate log-ins to help streamline the business.
Oberlo pricing plans
Oberlo offers three pricing plans to ensure you’re always able to find the right level of service, no matter how amateur or advanced your dropshipping empire might be.
Please note, these are only Oberlo’s prices, and won’t include other dropshipping costs such as your Shopify fees, domain charges, marketing, etc.
Explorer
Explorer is the starting point for most Oberlo users and is free of charge to get set up with. This package includes:
- Access to two digital courses with Level Up.
- eBooks, guides, and blogs.
- Dropshipping products up to 500 per month.
- Unlimited monthly orders
- The Oberlo Chrome extension
Graduate
The graduate package is the next level up from Explorer. Prices start at $7.90 per month. It includes all the features of the Explorer package, plus:
- Unlimited courses with Level Up
- Members-only Real Talks with Oberlo advisors
- Trending product reports
Boss
The Boss package is the most advanced option for Oberlo users. Prices start at $29.90 per month. This subscription includes everything offered in the Explorer and Graduate packages, plus:
- Up to 30,000 dropshipping products per month.
- The ability to complete bulk orders.
- Shipment tracking.
- The ability to create multiple staff accounts.
- An affiliate program.
- Variant mapping.
- CAPTCHA solver.
Oberlo Chrome extension summary
Even as a free service, the Oberlo Chrome extension is a highly beneficial tool for anyone looking to improve and streamline their dropshipping enterprise. By almost instantly allowing you to import products from AliExpress to your online store, making order fulfillment a breeze, and even offering customization options via the chrome extension, Oberlo is a dropshipper’s best friend.
You can take it even further by upgrading to one of the more premium packages. While these do come with a fee, the ability to complete more orders, import more products and enjoy access to even more learning resources are brilliant for the more advanced dropshipper.
Remember, the Oberlo Chrome extension will only work in a Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or Apple OS.
