Here is a simple method to order and buy products on the Alibaba.com website, an action that at first glance may seem very simple but in reality, it often turns out to be full of pitfalls.
Step One: Search and find the right product on Alibaba.com
You can find products on Alibaba in three ways: by using the “Product Search” or “Supplier Search” search bars or a “Buying Request” on the dedicated page.
If you know English, it is advisable to use the English version of the site, so as not to rely on translations that are often incomplete (especially for product descriptions) and with a site that has limited functionality.
However, there is the Italian version of Alibaba , its options are called respectively “Product Search” and “Supplier Search” (you can find them on the search bar of the site shown in the figure) while the third option (“Buying Request”) is not available.
The “Supplier Search” function is more recent and offers superior and comprehensive functionality than the other two:
Choice A – Product Search
Enter the name of the product you want to buy, and you get a list that could contain 500 to 500,000 results. You will then gain access to a very large amount of products, but you will not get any information addressed to suppliers.
Choice B – Supplier Search
We proceed with a search by product, but what we will get is a list of suppliers who make the product we are looking for. In this type of search, the main advantage is that you will have additional information called “matching products”, where “X” is the number of similar products offered by the supplier. This is important information for these reasons:
- The more products in a given category a supplier is able to offer, the more the chances increase that it will be a professional and reliable manufacturing company or wholesaler for the type of product you are looking for
- A supplier who specializes in a given range of products will usually offer lower prices, better quality, and the ability to make the product in a shorter time. The supplier is expected to have experience in complying with certification standards, which is essential if the product is to be legally imported into Europe
- Conversely, a supplier with a very limited number of products might be an intermediary with very limited knowledge of the product, i.e. a supplier not to be contacted
- Most Chinese suppliers do not have the experience or interest to make goods that comply with European standards, this could be a problem, such as CE or REACH. If you still don’t know what guidelines your product will have to comply with, then we recommend that you consult an expert.
Choice C – Post a request: “Buying Request”
It is a very interesting function. You are provided with a description of the product, the maximum price you are willing to pay, the mode of transport (Incoterms) and the payment method you prefer.
The Request for Quotation (RFQ) will therefore be accessible to many suppliers. Keep in mind, however, that a large number of the quotes you will receive will concern products and prices that have nothing to do with our request.
Second step: Contact with supplier and order samples
Communication with Chinese suppliers is not easy. Many would-be importers tend to quit before they even start because they are ignored by suppliers who are considered more serious.
Many suppliers, on the other hand, are frustrated by the fact that many importers have a habit of sending inaccurate requests for quotes and do not bother to send a clear list with a product data sheet.
Following some forums on Alibaba, some answers posted by suppliers can be seen:
“If you want to get an answer you should send a request that contains some information about the materials, the packaging, the country of import and the level of customization of the product.”
“We only answer precise and specific questions. When the requests are too vague and general, it is difficult for a supplier to formulate a definite answer.”
Here is a list of the most common reasons why a supplier on Alibaba.com might ignore the request for a quote:
- No precise list of product specifications is sent
- No product required certification standards
- It is not specified whether you are interested in a product that already exists on the market or in a customized product
- No personal details are provided (apart from the email address)
Suppliers receive dozens or hundreds of requests for quotes, and do not know the difference between a serious importer and a beginner
Receive a quote
You expect to receive a response from about half of the suppliers who are contacted in the case of an email complete with information, in the other case much less.
It is important to check that the quotes received contain the following information:
- Product images or product page links on Alibaba.com
- Product Specifications
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
- Price
- Incoterms
- Export Packing
Order samples
Product samples are rarely free. If the supplier agrees not to charge them, you will still have to bear the shipping costs. Here is the process for obtaining samples:
- Order samples from some suppliers
- Specify the type of product and the number of samples you want to receive
- Communicate to the supplier that the finished product is expected to have the same characteristics as the samples
- Indicate the delivery address and remind the supplier to declare the package as “sample items”
Step Three: Place Your Order with Your Chosen Supplier
Selection criteria
The most important criteria are those to follow when selecting a supplier are as follows:
- Samples meet required product specifications and quality standards
- The price is fair
- The minimum order quantity is not too high (compared to the budget)
- Communication with the supplier is good and not too problematic
Months of negotiations are often necessary. However, you should not rush to place your order in case a supplier increases the price at the last minute or sends you samples that do not match the product you requested.
In this case, we suggest that you contact one of the suppliers you had previously rejected or, alternatively, start over with the selection process.
Payment
Right now, payment through Alibaba Trade Assurance is becoming an increasingly used method.
It is still the importer’s responsibility to negotiate payment terms with the supplier.
Usually, 30% of the agreed price is paid before the start of the production phase and the remaining 70% at the end of production, before the goods are sent.
The advice is to avoid the following payment methods:
- Transfer money using Western Union. No serious provider will ask you for such a thing while it is a dangerous payment method as the transaction is untraceable
- Pay 100% of the requested amount in advance. If something goes wrong during the production phase, you must have a (firm) tool to convince the supplier to produce again or “fix” the goods. This tool is represented by 70% of the payment, which should be paid only after verifying the quality of the goods (i.e. after the production phase)
Can Alibaba vouch for the quality of the products?
No, Alibaba is a business to business directory. Essentially, it is responsible for providing supplier databases, including their catalogs and a set of company information.
So, just as Shopify or Amazon don’t guarantee you that you’ll generate a profit using their respective platforms, Alibaba doesn’t offer guarantees about the quality of the products that will be purchased.
It is the importer’s job to audit suppliers and manage the entire import process.
Although finding a ‘qualified’ supplier is an important part of the process, the fundamental phase is that of order management, starting from the arrival of the samples to transport, through the sales agreement and quality control.
Can I buy customized or branded products on Alibaba?
It is important to clarify that you do not buy from ‘Alibaba’, but Alibaba is a B2B directory, i.e. it offers a list of suppliers.
On the platform, it is possible to find both manufacturing companies, i.e. production companies capable of making a customized product with their own brand, and wholesalers, who can usually only sell factory products.
Can you buy samples on Alibaba?
Yes, most of the suppliers on Alibaba will be willing to send you samples, before placing the mass order.
Need help importing products from China?
Our agency is specialized in supporting customers in all phases of projects, in order to import any product category without problems.
Rely on ImportazioneFacile.it experts who will check all the documents and verify that the products you want to import comply with CE certifications.
Send us a free consultation request, where you can explain your project and we can evaluate together the best way to make it happen!
