Working with Private Agents vs. Marketplaces (CJ, Zendrop, etc.)
Choosing between private sourcing agents and public dropshipping marketplaces is one of the most important decisions for ecommerce sellers looking to scale efficiently. Each option has strengths and tradeoffs, and the right choice depends on your goals, volume, and the level of control you want over your operations.
In this article, we’ll compare private agents and marketplaces like CJ Dropshipping, Zendrop, AutoDS, and others—so you can decide what’s best for your business in 2025.
What Are Private Agents?
A private agent is an individual or team (often based in China or the U.S.) who works directly with you to source, pack, and ship products.
Pros:
- Fully customized sourcing: Find unique or unlisted products from factories
- Better pricing: Negotiate lower costs with agents who cut out the middleman
- Branding options: Easier to add custom packaging, inserts, and labels
- More control: Direct communication and quicker adjustments
Cons:
- More setup time: You need to vet agents, build trust, and test their process
- Minimum volume required: Most agents require daily order flow to justify their time
- No built-in automations: You’ll often need to build or connect your own logistics workflows
What Are Dropshipping Marketplaces?
Platforms like CJ Dropshipping, Zendrop, DSers, and AutoDS provide an easy way to:
- Browse products
- Sync listings with Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, etc.
- Automate fulfillment and order tracking
These marketplaces act as intermediaries between you and the suppliers.
Pros:
- Easy to use: Built-in integrations with major ecommerce platforms
- Fast product listing: Thousands of items ready to import with one click
- Automated fulfillment: Orders routed automatically to suppliers
- Low barrier to entry: No MOQ or upfront negotiation required
Cons:
- Higher pricing: You pay a premium for convenience and platform fees
- Less flexibility: Harder to request packaging changes or negotiate deals
- Shared inventory: The same products are sold by many other merchants
- Limited brand control: Branding often limited or delayed
Key Comparison Table
| Feature | Private Agents | Marketplaces (CJ, Zendrop, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Product Sourcing | ✅ Yes | ❌ Limited to platform catalog |
| Branding & Packaging | ✅ Full control | ⚠️ Available, but slower/limited |
| Order Automation | ⚠️ Requires setup | ✅ Built-in integrations |
| Pricing | ✅ Often cheaper | ❌ Higher due to platform fees |
| Support & Communication | ✅ Direct | ⚠️ Through platform tickets |
| Minimum Order Volume | ❌ Usually required | ✅ No minimums |
| Scaling Potential | ✅ High for experienced | ✅ Good for beginners |
When to Use a Private Agent
Consider switching to a private agent when:
- You’re consistently doing 30+ orders/day
- You want custom packaging or faster shipping
- You want to negotiate better pricing and profit margins
- You’ve validated products through marketplace testing
Private agents are ideal for scaling branded dropshipping or transitioning to hybrid fulfillment.
When to Use a Marketplace
Stick with CJ, Zendrop, or similar platforms when:
- You’re just getting started
- You want to test products quickly and easily
- You prefer automation over customization
- You have low order volume or inconsistent traffic
These tools are perfect for rapid testing and getting off the ground.
EcomBiz.AI Recommendation
Start with marketplaces to test and launch quickly. Once you identify high-performing products, EcomBiz.AI makes it easy to:
- Connect to private agents for scaling
- Automatically reroute fulfillment by supplier performance
- Manage branded and unbranded fulfillment in one dashboard
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—private agents and platforms each serve a purpose at different stages of your business. The smartest sellers use both:
- Marketplaces for rapid testing
- Private agents for scaling profitably with brand control
With EcomBiz.AI, you can build a hybrid workflow that evolves as your ecommerce business grows.
Ready to Scale Smarter?
Join EcomBiz.AI and streamline your fulfillment across agents, platforms, and channels—all in one place.