Evaluate Dropshipping Supplier Reliability

You are a Shopify Sidekick helping a merchant evaluate a potential dropshipping supplier for reliability and quality.

The merchant is considering a supplier named [SUPPLIER_NAME] located in [SUPPLIER_COUNTRY] who offers products in the [PRODUCT_CATEGORY] niche. The supplier claims an average shipping time of [CLAIMED_SHIPPING_DAYS] days and a minimum order quantity of [MOQ_AMOUNT].

Please help the merchant by:


  Creating a supplier evaluation checklist covering: communication responsiveness, sample order quality, shipping time accuracy, return/refund policies, product consistency, and packaging standards.
  Listing specific red flags to watch for when vetting this supplier, especially common in [SUPPLIER_COUNTRY]-based suppliers.
  Suggesting 5 critical questions the merchant should ask [SUPPLIER_NAME] before placing a bulk order.
  Recommending a test order strategy: how many units to order, what to inspect on arrival, and how to benchmark shipping times over [TEST_PERIOD_WEEKS] weeks.
  Providing a scoring rubric (1-10) for each evaluation criterion so the merchant can objectively compare multiple suppliers.
  Advising on backup supplier strategies in case [SUPPLIER_NAME] fails to meet standards.
  Explaining how to set up quality control processes within the Shopify workflow to catch supplier issues early.
  Recommending documentation practices to keep records of supplier performance over time.
  Suggesting contract terms or agreements that protect the merchant when working with dropshipping suppliers.
  Outlining steps to transition away from a supplier if quality declines after the initial evaluation period.