How to buy safely from Alibaba using DocShipper?

Like any site, there are risks of purchasing counterfeit goods from Alibaba. You should take Certain factors into consideration when buying from Chinese suppliers. If you can take a moment to read and understand these tips, they will help you to look like a more seasoned buyer. So without further ado, here are some basic tips to buy safely from Alibaba sellers:

Communication

Out of all the risks, communication is by far the most important. If you are able to speak directly with a supplier, find one that can either speak English or is willing to use translation software as a way to communicate. Ask frequent questions and get answers quickly. Make sure that there is strong and open communication between you and your supplier before you send over the money. Once you have found a good Alibaba seller online, do not forget to leave reviews on their profile after purchasing from them. These reviews will hopefully prevent other potential buyers from falling into scams by making the companies more trustworthy.

Shipping details

The most common reason for someone getting scam by an Alibaba seller is not careful with the shipping details. A reliable and safe way to buy from Alibaba is to negotiate the shipping with the supplier when you want to place an order, especially if you are buying in bulk. Ask your Alibaba Seller which port they will use, who will be responsible for clearance and forwarding charges, and how they handle international logistics. If you are also having them ship directly to your client, make sure to include this in the MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) of your order.

Do your research

Know what you want. Use Alibaba to research and identify reliable manufacturers. Keep in mind, though, the best stuff gets bought up quickly on Alibaba. Don’t expect to find the exact product that you want right off the bat. Also, use common sense. If a company has been around for a while and only has a few reviews, there’s probably a reason why it doesn’t have more reviews. Or if a seller wants your money quickly for whatever reason (usually because they are running out of stock), beware. 

If a seller or manufacturer tells you that they can fulfill an order in weeks or months, know that this will typically not happen without a postponement fee or some sort of guarantee from you that if they cannot deliver on time, there will be no repercussions on their part. Just be realistic about all of these things and if you still get scam, then just chalk it up as a painful but invaluable lesson learn for your next purchase.

How to avoid being scammed when sourcing

Unfortunately, most “suppliers” you talk to on Alibaba and other sourcing platforms are scammers. Fortunately for you, most of this guide explains how to identify and eliminate these individuals. Most of them are easy to spot, but some are more difficult to identify. If you’d like to learn more about scams and self-protection, check out our in-depth guide, which discusses strategies you can adopt to protect yourself from fraudsters and scammers.

Let DocShipper walk you through it!

We’ll help you identify reliable suppliers, negotiate attractive prices, and control the quality of manufactured inventory and organize international transport, including customs clearance. From the development of specifications to procurement, quality control, and international freight, DocShipper takes care of everything!

Our service is design to take care of all aspects of your business in China, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your own business development. Contact us anytime to let us know how we can help you, by emailing [email protected] or filling out the form on our website.

There you have it: the most comprehensive (and hopefully useful) Alibaba buying guide on the web. If you’re looking to buy products from Alibaba, especially if these are large bulk orders, remember these tips and tricks to help avoid scams and fraud. And, of course, if you ever get scamm or just have a question about a particular seller, don’t hesitate to reach out or leave a comment.