Just like the old tale, a trip to AlibabaThe website can discover many treasures or lead you on a path to destruction.
Either way, shopping from Alibaba can be quite the adventure.
Your first visit to Alibaba can be a little intimidating. You have probably heard stories of people being cheated on the site and are probably wondering if that could happen to you.
If you are looking for Dropshipping Suppliers, best to skip to our other Best Dropshipping Companies article to consider Alibaba alternatives.
Here's the truth:
Shopping from Alibaba is relatively safe if you know where to buy from. There are good and honest suppliers on Alibaba, but there are also some unwanted ones lurking on the platform. This is a common view in any market.
What if I tell you that there is a way for you to have a pleasant, safe and profitable experience through Alibaba by spending another two minutes? I can guarantee your safety.
Well, here's how you can have a great shopping experience on Alibaba:
Trad Assurance can save you money
Screencap Trade Assurance
Then you are ready to search for your next business supplier.
You will now see a filter under the search box - check all three, especially 'Trade Assurance'. These three boxes are practically the first steps to find good suppliers in Alibaba.
Trade Assurance can be considered as custody protection, as the money you send will go directly to the supplier's bank account, but if something goes wrong, you will have some form of protection.
Choose gold suppliers
What's so special about gold suppliers? I'm glad you asked.
Screencap Gold Suppliers
The truth is:
There are still some nasty gold suppliers that can make your order wrong or hinder your purchase, but a gold supplier is an exclusive association for selecting sellers in Alibaba. They get more product exposure and other benefits from Alibaba.
Gold Supplier membership is expensive, so it must offer a base of protection against scammers. After all, they worked hard to get there. A better way to use the Gold Supplier rating is to use it in conjunction with the number of years for which it has been a Gold supplier.
The more the better, like these guys, for example:
e-commerce return policy
Check for a vendor review
Here is the third of these three magic boxes and possibly the most important of the three.
Some say that on-site verification is good, but if you really want that additional layer of trust, it won't hurt to select only suppliers who have had a Supplier Assessment.
A supplier assessment basically means that a third party has checked out the company and its factory. Achieving this assessment is difficult, but you can sleep better at night knowing that you are dealing with a company that has gone above and beyond to be recognized for its export. feat.
Supplier Evaluation Screencap
For example, this company, when viewed, shows that it has been verified on the spot by a third party inspection company.
On the left, you will find details about resources, business performance and other additional information, such as the trade shows you attended.
Validate what they are saying about themselves
If you have a contact in China who can validate the company, great! If you can go to the factory, even better!
However, most of us will find that going to China would defeat our economies of scale, but there are ways to validate a company without leaving the couch.
You have marked the Supplier Assessment and are sure about third-party validation. WHOIS Survey
A whois search will shed some light on your website ownership, check the email and see if anything is suspicious.
You can also use Google to check your company name next to the word "fraud" or "fraud" in quotes.
What are other people saying about your supplier?
Let's stop for a second:
Remember how you asked about that special someone before you got married / started dating?
It is the same with business and dealing with suppliers on Alibaba. Asking is generally good practice, especially if you want to start a business relationship.
There are many forums, but a good forum for checking a supplier, a category or a product is the Alibaba forum itself.
A simple Google search, like the one shown in the image below, isolates all your queries using quotes for the respective Alibaba forum.
You don't just love these busca?
Search Engine Operators
I repeat, you cannot buy branded items wholesale from Alibaba
Here's the deal:
If you are buying Alibaba branded items, keep an eye on your supplier.
Parent companies of branded items have strict distribution policies with their factories in China.
So if anyone claims that they can export branded items in bulk, it's probably a scam.
Check out the company's history
Use this at your own discretion. Beside the information about the specific product you are looking at, you will find this:
Diamond Supplier
These diamonds are an indication of the transaction-level points earned by the company for its transactions granted by Alibaba.
Alibaba explains the following:
Alibaba Diamond Guide
According to Alibaba, the level of trading is "based on an accumulated score awarded for the volume and total amount of the online transaction".
The higher the score, the better the volume and quantity, so to speak.
In addition, when you go to the business page, there is usually a section called Transaction history. Here you will find a summary of how many transactions were processed in the year.
Supplier Transaction History
There are two ways to interpret this data, one is that you can probably trust a company that has done a lot of transactions in the past.
I mean, why don't you do it?
Larger transactions mean that they are currently in business and that they have been in business for a while now.
You may also be looking for a new and reliable company that does not involve scamming practices and actually sells quality items.
The decision is entirely up to you, but generally I almost always choose those with substantial transaction history.
There is a difference between manufacturers and traders
I understand. So many choices.
A manufacturer will be able to offer you a better deal, because what a trader does is, well, just negotiate. If you are looking for a long-term supplier, it is better to look for a manufacturer than a goods trader.
They will be able to offer you more competitive prices and you will be able to develop a long-term relationship with them - which comes with many benefits!
Order a sample before you leave
Don't be part of the statistic. We know many people who will find a lot with a legitimate supplier and start ordering 100,000 units without even making a first assessment. It doesn't work like that.
Have you ever bought a suit or dress without trying it on? No. Everyone has a "looked different online" story and you don't want one, especially in any large-scale business.
It is the same thing, you will want to be a good entrepreneur and part of that process is to check if your product meets your standards. Failure to do so is a recipe for an anticipated loss of revenue.
It's all about the money
This is a part you don't want to spoil, so pay attention. A genuine company will have several options for you to pay and, as we said earlier, it is sometimes more desirable to transact with companies that offer guarantees through Trade Assurance.
Make sure that you are very clear about everything that was stipulated in your negotiation, including any hidden costs or anything in fine print.
You will receive an invoice as soon as you finish negotiating the probabilities and the ends of your supply and check that all the details match those mentioned in Alibaba.
If Paypal is an option, then pay via Paypal.
Make sure you are ready to receive the shipment
Take a moment to think about how the products will reach their destination.
You will be able to practice with the sample product you asked to send it to you, if that is the case. Some suppliers will be able to arrange the entire shipment for you, but you need to make sure they do.
You can hire a shipping broker to help you if you have any specific concerns about importing or not.
However, a quick way to find out more information is to ask the supplier itself. the shipping price may surprise you, but sometimes you will find that they brought you along with the cost of their products.
So, if you follow these simple rules, you are on a good path to finding your ideal supplier while on the safe side. Remember, trust your instincts and your gut is usually correct.
Alibaba can help you set up your own dropshipping business when done right. If so, visit our article 'The best way to quickly set up a direct shipping business' to learn more before you start.
In any case, always ensure that the supplier has a return policy before placing the order. Things can go wrong and if the shipment never arrives, you will have to raise a dispute with the shipping agent.
ShoppingAlibaba's is an easy but safe task only if you do it accurately.