Affiliate stores and dropshipping are both forms of e-commerce that can fall under different categories depending on how they operate.

An affiliate store is a type of e-commerce that falls under the business-to-consumer (B2C) category. In affiliate marketing, an online retailer partners with affiliates who promote the retailer's products on their website or social media platforms.

When a customer makes a purchase through an affiliate link, the affiliate earns a commission on the sale.

Affiliate stores typically do not hold inventory or handle the shipping of products, as these tasks are handled by the retailer.

Dropshipping, on the other hand, is a form of e-commerce that can fall under different categories, depending on how the business operates.

Dropshipping involves a retailer selling products that are shipped directly from a manufacturer or supplier, without the retailer ever handling the product themselves. In this model, the retailer acts as a middleman between the supplier and the customer, handling the marketing, sales, and customer service aspects of the business.

Dropshipping can fall under the B2C or B2B categories, depending on whether the retailer is selling to consumers or other businesses.

In summary, affiliate stores fall under the B2C e-commerce category, while dropshipping can fall under either the B2C or B2B categories, depending on the target market.