How to buy on Alibaba (with images) – Wikihow, how to buy on Alibaba: everything you need to know

How to order on Alibaba

Step 3 : Launch the tender and wait for the suppliers to answer you

How to buy on Alibaba

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Alibaba is an online sales site that allows companies and individuals to buy and sell products in their own country and internationally. Look for the product of your choice and find a verified supplier with a good transaction history. Contact the supplier to negotiate the price per unit, the minimum quantity you will order and the delivery method. Use a secure payment method, such as Paypal or a trustee deposit service. If you import products from abroad, hire a customs broker to facilitate the customs clearance process and payment of taxes.

Search for good products

Image entitled Buy from Alibaba Step 1

  • You will not need a wholesaler license to create an account. Nevertheless, if you sell products on Alibaba, you will be subject to business law in your country and will have to pay your taxes.
  • Find out to create a business on the Internet and consult your country’s official sites on the subject [2] x reliable source of the UK government website go to the source page .

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  • You can also search for products using the categories, on the left side of the home page. Pass your cursor on a category, then click on a subcategory to review the products.

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  • For example, looking for “jeans”, you will see around 500,000 products appear, but you can check boxes on the left of the page to specify your search. By checking boxes like “men’s jeans” or “denim” and adding keywords, like a particular color, your results will be reduced significantly and it will be much easier for you to review products.
  • You can also filter the products in your search according to the country of the supplier. This will help you find suppliers in your country, which will allow you to reduce the costs and delivery times [5] x Research source .

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  • If you have worked with a supplier in the past or know a supplier specializing in the product you are looking for, you can use this search tool to find it more easily than with product search.
  • The search results page will also allow you to filter your results according to the country of origin of the supplier.

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  • Enter a keyword corresponding to your product and provide the desired quantity in the spaces provided for this purpose. In the body of the text, you can add any other precision concerning the product.
  • Below the body of the text, you can add details regarding the delivery destination and your favorite payment method.

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  • THE A&V check indicates that the supplier has passed the authentication and verification inspection carried out by Alibaba and an external verification service.
  • THE Onsite check certifies that the premises of the suppliers based in China have been verified by Alibaba, in order to ensure that on -site operations do exist.
  • THE Assessment begging check certifies that the supplier has been verified by an external service.

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  • Avoid suppliers who use non -professional email addresses, such as Gmail or Yahoo accounts.

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  • Many suppliers, for example, have a warehouse in Europe. If you choose a supplier who does not have a warehouse in your country, you will have to work with the supplier to manage customs clearance using the Alibaba logistics service. Furthermore, when you provide abroad, it is preferable to hire a customs broker to help you manage customs clearance.

Communicate with the supplier

Image entitled Buy from Alibaba Step 9

  • On Alibaba, purchase procedures are generally done in English, make sure your message is understandable. Suppliers could translate your message with Google Translate: Use direct language to avoid misunderstandings.

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  • When you contact the supplier, ask him if he can adapt to your quantity needs. Ask “the Moq listed of 500 units is negotiable ? Would you accept an order of 400 units ? »»
  • You could also ask “from how much do you offer discounts ? “If buying more units reduces your costs and you are sure you can sell this stock, it would be better to order a larger amount to obtain a reduction.

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  • Ask “the price range indicated from 2 to 3 USD is FOB ? Could you provide me with a more precise FOB quote for 400 units sent to Marseille, France ? »»
  • Note that all prices and delivery costs presented on Alibaba are in American dollars [15] x Research source . To obtain a precise exchange rate, contact your bank or a exchange office or use an online conversion tool: https: // www.10th.com/Currencyconverter/

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  • Ask the supplier something like “what is the best price you can make for this product ? Could you do 2 USD per unit ? It will help me convince myself to regularly provide me with you in the future ”.

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  • Ask the supplier “Submit samples ? What is the price difference for samples ? »»

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  • If you do not see your message in your shipment box, you will have to reiterate it. To avoid having to write your message a second time, copy to collect it on a separate document (for example a Word document), before sending it.

Execute a secure transaction

Image entitled Buy from Alibaba Step 15

  • Note that only suppliers located in continental China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are eligible for the use of the secure payment service.
  • Avoid Western Union transfers, which you should only use to send money to someone you know very well.

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  • Rights and taxes will vary depending on your geographic location and that of the supplier [22] x Research source . Remember to try to find a supplier with a warehouse in your country to avoid international transport costs.
  • You can also get an idea of ​​the customs duties of your goods using a special calculator. Simply enter the information from your product and the countries of departure and arrival of goods in the corresponding fields. You will get an estimate of the cost: https: // www.dutycalculator.com/.

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  • It could cost you a few hundred dollars, but break the laws could be fine of thousands of dollars and you could get in trouble with justice.
  • To find a customs broker, do an online search.

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Have your goods delivered from the port of destination. If your goods have traveled to sea by container, you will have to organize transport from the port to where you are. The page Logistics D’Alibaba can help you transport your goods on earth, using a carrier like Fedex or by train, depending on your situation [24] x Research source . If you do not live very far from the destination port, the cheapest option will be to use a road carrier or rent a truck to get your goods [25] x source of research .

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  • You will have to send photos of the goods showing the points that do not satisfy you, as well as the initial agreement, payment documents and all exchanges between the supplier and yourself [26] x source of research .
  • By researching the supplier before making a transaction, you will make sure to buy goods that match your standards. Make sure the supplier is checked and remember to search the Internet the possible negative complaints and comments issued by his past customers.

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  • If you buy brand goods on Alibaba and receive counterfeits, you can put a dispute and send photos of the products you have received in Alibaba customer service. If you have paid by the secure payment service or a trustee deposit service, you will have a good chance of being reimbursed.

How to order on Alibaba

Buy on Alibaba from France: the Packlink guide

You want to buy products on Alibaba ? But you don’t know exactly how to do it ? We will give you all the necessary information so that you know about the procedure. All you have to do is place your order afterwards !

What can we buy on Alibaba from France and how it works ?

Alibaba is a site that allows individuals as well as companies to buy and sell products in their own country, but also internationally. Within the Alibaba site, you can find different categories of products such as service equipment, homemade or garden products, elements in the field of construction, objects for children but also for the whole family or still electronic products for the general public. Obviously, this list is not exhaustive. You can easily find other items to buy, depending on your needs.

To order on Alibaba, there is nothing simpler:

  • You must create an account. Without the latter, you will not be able to make purchases via the Alibaba site.
  • You must click on an object you need. You have to pay attention to the number of pieces that you will have to order at least, especially if you are special.
  • All you have to do is find the offer that suits you and add it directly to your basket, as on any e-commerce site.
  • You will then have to choose the suitable payment method and pay your order.

Also note that if you have a question or need a personalized order, it will be possible to contact the seller directly from the product sheet that interests you.

Can we buy on Alibaba as individuals ?

As we have been able to mention in the previous part, it is perfectly possible to buy products on the Alibaba site as a particular. Nevertheless, we strongly advise you to pay attention to the minimum quantity that you must order. It is quite rare to see products that you can only order once.

Alibaba vs aliexpress customs fees: what differences ?

When you place an order on a foreign site like Alibaba or Aliexpress, there are certainly customs fees to pay. Since July 1, 2021, a new tax has appeared on sites like Alibaba, Aliexpress, Amazon or Shein. This therefore concerns commercial sites that are not part of the European Union. It is simply a tax that enters the competition rule: the aim is to promote European companies rather than those from abroad and which often meet prices much lower than what we could usually find In France.

So when you are going to buy on Alibaba or Aliexpress, you will necessarily have customs fees. Here are the notorious differences that we can see between these:

  • Alibaba opts rather for a B2B positioning unlike Aliexpress. On Alibaba, you will buy roughly and customs costs can therefore be higher.
  • Aliexpress is rather on a B2C positioning. Customs fees will be less excessive on this platform.
  • Customs costs also depend on the country where you are going to buy the products. Indeed, the latter may be higher or lower depending on the provenance.
  • Alibaba does not charge customs fees directly to the buyer. It is up to the latter to verify the regulations in force at the time of its purchase.

Alibaba delivery: carriers, prices and delivery times

When you decide to buy from Alibaba, various carriers are possible such as DHL, Fedex or UPS. Prices therefore vary from one carrier to another, but also from the weight of your order. Carriers also have a minimum weight to be respected so that your order can be taken care of. The delivery time is generally between two and six weeks. But in some cases it can go up to 45 days.

You will understand, Alibaba is a platform where you can easily find everything you are looking for. But you will have to pay customs fees, without forgetting that the delivery time can be really long.

Marketplaces information

  • Shein customs fees
  • Aliexpress customs fees
  • Amazon customs fees
  • Amazon feedback
  • Zalando feedback
  • Aliexpress return and refund
  • EBay feedback
  • Vinted relay point
  • Aliexpress package monitoring
  • Zalando package monitoring
  • How to send a vintéed package
  • How to send a parcel the right corner

Categories

  • Transport company
  • Shipping advice
  • emmerce
  • International
  • News
  • Logistics

��Comment buy on alibaba ? Become 7 -step expert

Buy-alibaba-future-expert

Any professional in the import and supply field has already heard of Alibaba, the largest directory of wholesalers and suppliers in Asia.

In a few clicks, it allows you to get in touch with suppliers around the world. Alibaba’s rise made it possible to make the purchase large as simple as online purchase. This guide will allow people who do not know the site, to buy on Alibaba safely . We will explain how it works, how to find reliable suppliers, organize quality inspection and international shipping.

Small note: DocShipipper is a Supply Aid Company based in Hong Kong, which helps SMEs and individuals like you to buy and import products safely from Asia, and more particularly from China. Send us the product you are looking for by filling out this form or Get immediate answers To your questions by calling our experts.

How does Alibaba work?

What is Alibaba?

To start, it is A B2B platform . It will link actors and sellers around the world to make communication simpler. It makes them simpler thanks to the selection of its products, from payment to logistics arrangement, ect. Unlike Ebay, Amazon or others that we often use, Alibaba is more like an online living room. Buyers and suppliers cover lots of different areas. As well electronics that of clothing Passing by the beauty.

On Ali Baba, Articles have A MOQ requirement , This means that if you want an article but you don’t take enough, it will send you to another site. The MOQ requirement goes from $ 1000 to 3000. If the requirement is not respected, it will be necessary to turn to Aliexpress or other similar sites.

A very important point on Alibaba . Indeed, it is a site or everything can be found, but some are to be avoided. For what? Because there is a good chance that you get false products and that importation be refused or too complicated. Here is The 3 main categories ::

  • Brand products like iPhone/Nike/ect shoes.
  • Alcohol/cigarettes/drugs
  • Food products

Is this the best place to stock up ?

You should know that your local suppliers will not satisfy you forever. Indeed, a time will arrive when the level of profitability will not be at the top. So you will also plan to use Ali Baba . He has also become the number one site for many businessmen. But a question remains to be enlightened. Does it correspond to the model of your business? Are there any other platform in case it does not correspond?

Docshipper advice: If you are new on the platform and in this area, a supply assistance service is recommended. Instead of wasting time in search of a supplier and risking falling on a scam, let them come to you.

2 methods to find suppliers on Alibaba

The most natural way to search for suppliers on Ali Baba East Direct research . It works like most sites. You type your search in the search bar and then have thousands of suppliers. When you see the suppliers appear, you will be able to decide the skills you want. You have access to his qualifications, to his old transactions, etc.. Thereafter, you can request to those who suit you. Ali Baba also Alibaba RFQ (Request for quotation), this allows global buyers to see purchasing requests and manage quotes on Alibabarfq.

Then against direct research we have the tender . Thanks to the tender, you can obtain 10 quotes very quickly after the purchase requests sent. You can notice it, in the search you have done, there are several kinds of suppliers. We find there Gold beg , Trade insurance, etc.. In view of the large amount of supplier, we advise you to take this as your best choices.

To help you understand the platform, we will show you concrete examples. To find the right supplier.

Contact-Suplier-Alibaba

Method 1: Direct research

Direct research will allow you to know the price range directly. Thus, select the one that seems most affordable and send a request.

Here we will send 15 requests for information for cooking trays.

Step 1: Go to Alibaba and type what you’re looking for

2nd step: Select the main supplier to send the request

Step 3: Get in touch with the supplier by pressing the Alibaba site button

Step 4 : Take and compare the different offers

Alibaba-RFQ call

Step 5 : Choose 2-3 good suppliers for more advanced communication

Method 2: Call for tenders

The steps to follow to make a call for tenders also called request for quotation are as follows:

Step 1 : Go to my main Alibaba call for tender page

2nd step : Fill out the supply request form as below

Step 3 : Launch the tender and wait for the suppliers to answer you

Step 4 : watch and compare the offers offered

Step 5 : Choose 2-3 to get in touch with them

After using these two methods, the results are clear. Direct research forces you to seek each supplier capable of answering you. Thanks to the tender It’s much simpler. It is all the faster than effective.

With the call for tenders, we received our first offer only 10 minutes after. And the others came between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. So we were able to select the quotes that interested us.

Docshipper info : Always do your research Before switching to supplier/manufacturer. There is Many crooks On popular B2B marketplaces, prices are not always real and there is no guarantee that you will get the product you want. DocShipipper will help you find a reliable manufacturer or wholesale, we negotiate the price you want and ensure the right delivery of your order. Contact us to receive a quote or call our advisers directly.

How to choose the supplier best suited to your needs ?

After launching all the research, the rest of the things is to select some.

If we take up the example above, we Examine the product from the supplier. While based on the specialization of the product, the communication and the reactivity . In the next paragraph, each aspect will be explained. You need to know the little type of supplier that exists on Alibaba to find out which ones to avoid.

The 3 types of suppliers on Alibaba

Bulk, 3 types of suppliers exist : gold suppliers, checks and free suppliers. Some suppliers support commercial insurance. Their icons allow people to identify them quickly. For each type, you can choose between different manufacturing and trade companies.

3 types of suppliers on Alibaba

“>Supplier type “>Property level “>Product display (max)
“> Gold supplier, paid “> Top “> Unlimited
“> Member verified “> 2nd level “> 300
“> Unbenacious member “> 3rd level “> 50
  • Golden supplier : This is a paid premium membership in Alibaba. They were authenticated by customers but also people from Alibaba thanks to a on -site check.
  • Verified supplier : this icon indicates that the supplier has been verified and approved by an organization other than Alibaba. However, it does not pay attention to commercial reputation unlike gold suppliers.
  • The supplier who supports commercial insurance : he agrees to use commercial insurance to protect the interests of customers. This in the event of a quality or delay problem.

On the basis of which criteria should be selected ?

Thanks to our experience with many suppliers, we will give you the criteria to find the right ones. At least what is getting closer to your request. To start, a good supplier allows you to do win time. If he is an expert in your product, he will understand what you want.

1. Specialized product portfolios

Once the quotes of suppliers have been received, the first thing to do is Watch the product category.

For example, even if you have a price that is really worth it. But that by inquiring, the ordered product is not in the predilection field. This should make you perplex as to the completion of the order. With that a sorting is already taking place.

2. Good communication, effective

Then knowing the supplier level of communication is simple. You just have to look when it answers you how.

A good supplier who treats his communication, will answer all Questions and criteria that you asked for. That it is as clear and understandable as possible. Know and see that the supplier knows what he does.

3. Professional knowledge of international trade

We believe that a supplier, having many years of experience in international trade, will be able to resolve imports of import and export. Especially if you are starting in this area. All the questions we ask ourselves, the supplier will be able to answer them clearly. Discard all our concerns and solve our problems.

For example, if you want to develop a new product. New product that requires the creation of everything. It will take the mold opening, the personalization of the product and the packaging. In this case, it will be a question of taking with us a partner who will fully understand our expectations. With the ability to change our ideas into real products.

To conclude, the price is not at all the first criterion to watch. Above all, we should not be based on that. On the basis of 3 criteria just above , The selection is made quickly and in addition to that it is a question of good supplier . After its stages, negotiations are strengthened.

How to negotiate the price with Suppliers on Alibaba ?

After choosing some suppliers, you have to negotiate To have the best price. This requires techniques. You will have to understand what really matters to suppliers. So get a Good price, the desired quantity, payment mode, packaging, ect . Then you will balance and weigh to get what matters most this time. In general, a large quantity and a favorable payment like the T/T paid in advance will give you a greater negotiation power.

How to communicate with suppliers ?

From the moment you get in touch with the supplier on Alibaba, there are several choices to chat with him. You can choose to click on “Chat Now”. Alibaba has its own online communication platform. Also you can contact him by email. There is also Whatsapp, Skype, but still WeChat which is widely used in Asia.

Pre-production sample

After the prices set, the next step is to Personalize the pre-production sample. This sample is very important. Indeed, it will serve as a quality standard for the rest of the production.

Docshipper alert: It is very common not to receive answers from Chinese suppliers, and particularly by email. Indeed, suppliers will favor requests for contact in Chinese or lower measure in English. Our sourcing agents are multilingual and will be able to contact the suppliers, negotiate prices, but also the sending of samples. To find out more about our prices and services, contact us ! A question ? An advisor awaits your call.

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