Is it a dropshipping webshop? See the signs before you buy
Dropshipping means the shop sells an item without holding it in stock. The order is passed to a supplier, who sends the item directly to you. The model is not illegal and is not automatically fraud.
The problem appears when a shop hides the process, pretends to be local, or makes returns unreasonably hard.
What signs does Shopeye look for?
Shopeye looks for a combination of signals such as:
- a Danish domain or a Danish-sounding shop name
- claims to be a Danish or local shop
- no verifiable Danish company or CVR
- delivery from Asia or another country far from the claimed shop
- a delivery time of more than about a week
- a return address outside Denmark or the EU
- unclear or contradictory company details
The classic pattern is an “Anne Copenhagen”-style fashion shop with a Danish front, but no real Danish company and goods sent directly from Asia. When several of those signs appear together, Shopeye can show a strong or critical warning.
Shopeye does not prove dropshipping from one sign
A long delivery time can be a backorder. A foreign return address can belong to a legitimate international company. A new Danish brand can lack reviews.
Shopeye therefore writes “signs of dropshipping” or describes the concrete observations. The assessment should not be presented as certain proof unless the shop’s own information actually documents the business model.
Why can hidden dropshipping be a problem?
You may experience:
- that the item differs from photos and description
- very long or unclear delivery
- extra costs on import
- expensive return shipping to a country outside the EU
- difficulty getting hold of the seller
- that the same item is much cheaper on a large marketplace
Transparency is the point. If the shop clearly says who the seller is, where the item is shipped from, and how returns work, you can make an informed choice.
How to investigate a shop yourself
- Read the delivery and return terms before paying.
- Find the CVR, legal name, and physical address.
- Look for wording such as “7–20 working days” or different delivery times on different pages.
- Check which country the item and the return parcel are sent from.
- Compare the product name and description with larger marketplaces.
- Do not pay by bank transfer if you are in doubt.
Read more about company details, return address, and whether the shop is actually Danish.
Are all dropshipping shops bad?
No. A serious retailer can use an external supplier and still take responsibility for the product, customer service, delivery, and returns. Shopeye especially assesses the risk of the hidden, “fake-local” variant — not the business model alone.
In short
Shopeye looks for a pattern: a Danish front, a weak or unverifiable company, and delivery or returns from abroad. The more signs that fit together, the more important it is that you look closer at the shop.
Read all the signals Shopeye checks.