Chris, drop shipping is a legitimate business practice, but where live reptiles are concerned, it's risky business.
I have a photograpy business. A band comes to me, and says they want 1000 promotional photos. I do the shoot, add graphics, and tweak the photo to their satisfaction. Then, I send the photo to the factory; the factory then sends me a "proof", which I either accept, or make corrections.
Once the pic is right, I order 1000 copies to be delivered directly to the customer. The customer pays me, I pay the factory, and make my profit.
With animals, the scenario plays out differently:
Guy takes your money, and your order for 6 anacondas, then calls a wholesaler, and says, "I want to buy 6 anacondas, and please ship them to (enter your address).
Guy pockets the difference between what he paid, and what he charged you.
Problem is, you never know what the hell you're gonna get, and if there is a problem with your order, things are likely to get messy. It all depends on the character of the people involved.
Bottom line, a drop shipper in this biz, is simply a salesman selling you something he has never even seen, and taking a profit.
Risky business.