Did you know that Alibaba.com is the leading platform for global wholesale trade?
They have millions of products for you to choose from on their platform. Inside this blog, I give you my step-by-step guide to buying products from Alibaba.com.
In particular, I show you how to use Alibaba.com to research and find the best quality suppliers. Furthermore, I help you come up with product ideas for your business.
Lastly, I walk you through how to get products shipped to you or the fulfillment center where you are selling your products.
If you're a beginner and are ready to find the perfect product for your eCommerce business, you'll want access to this guide…
Watch the video below:
(Click here to watch on YouTube)
Are you ready to find great quality products for your eCommerce business? CLICK HERE to start browsing on Alibaba.com!
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This is a beginner's guide to buying on Alibaba.com.
When starting an eCommerce business there are two decisions that you need to make. First, you need to find a profitable product and then you need to find a way of sourcing that product.
From my personal experience, Alibaba.com is one of the best websites for sourcing high-quality suppliers and manufacturers. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to find great quality products for your business on Alibaba.com. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Research Products On Alibaba.com
If you have no idea what you want to sell, Alibaba.com is the best place to find high-quality products and suppliers from all over the world. See which products are trending, open up an Evernote file and make note of the products that interest you.
In the month of March, Alibaba.com has its March Expo. This is the best time to work with them. During this time of the year, there are usually a lot of tradeshows and exhibits happening where suppliers promote new products. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, the in-person expo isn't happening this year.
Instead, Alibaba.com is hosting an online tradeshow where you can join in on a 24/7 live stream. You can interact with different suppliers and manufacturers from different parts of the world, get virtual factory tours, and experience live presentations.
If you already have an idea of a product that you want to sell, you can simply search for keywords on Alibaba.com.
Let's say that you wanted to source a wine opener.
When it comes to typing in a product like that in the search bar, you also want to think of different variations of that keyword. For example, “wine opener set” or “wine opener USB” or “electric wine opener.”
Once you find a keyword you like, I suggest that you filter it by Trade Assurance. This is a service that offers you protection when you make an order through Alibaba.com. They offer payment security and extended support.
If the quality of the product you ordered is not up to your standards, you can get a refund for up to 30 days. You also want to filter by Verified Supplier.
This is someone who has been assessed, certified, and/or inspected by an independent third-party institution. When you're first starting out, I recommend that you utilize both of these services.
Step 2: Communicate With Suppliers
Based on the suppliers that you researched in step #1, you are now going to communicate with them. You want to ask them a lot of questions. It will help you determine which are the best suppliers to work with.
Chatting with suppliers on Alibaba.com is the first way to get in touch with them. From there, you can decide if you want to transition to communicating with them via Skype or WeChat. Make sure that whomever you are talking to has clear communication with you.
Are they professional, prompt, and responding back to your questions in a timely manner?
When you're choosing a supplier, keep in mind that you're choosing who you want to work with, long-term. That's why you want to establish a good professional relationship with them from the get-go. Here are some questions to ask them:
- What is the minimum order quantity?
- Can you send me a sample to review?
- What are your product customization options?
- How much does it cost to ship the product, by air or plane?
- Are there product customization options?
- What is the size and weight of the product?
- What is your lead time?
Step 3: Order Samples From Suppliers
Once you find your top 3-5 suppliers, you now want to order samples from them so that you can make sure that the quality is what they promised it would be. This process will help you determine which sample will be best suited for your business success.
Another thing that you may want to consider is actually buying from competitors. For example, if you're going to sell your product on Amazon, I encourage you to browse Amazon, find some of the top products, and order from them.
Yes, this is an expense. However, if you're committed to building an eCommerce business, you want to see how your product will stack up against your competition.
When it comes to ordering the sample, reach out to the supplier and ask them to send you one. Keep in mind that you will be expected to pay for the shipping cost.
Step 4: Choose The Best Supplier And Confirm Details
Based on all of the above information that you receive, the next step is to choose the best supplier that you want to move forward with. However, before you start working with your supplier, you need to confirm some important information.
First, you need to confirm the price of the products, based on how many units you order and the price of the packaging.
Second, you want to confirm what the payment terms are. You will likely make a deposit so that the supplier can start production, which is usually 30%. The balance will be due once the products are finished and ready to be shipped to you. Again, make sure that you get Trade Assurance so that you are protected.
Lastly, you want to confirm the shipping method and price. Weigh the options of shipping via air or by boat. You can ask for an itemized invoice so that both you and the supplier agree to the terms as well.
Step 5: Make Payment To Start Production
Once you've confirmed everything with your supplier, you can make your deposit through Alibaba.com, bank transfer, wire transfer, debit, or credit card.
Conversely, you can do the pay later option if you're qualified in the U.S. as a buyer. Once you make the payment, your supplier will start production!
Step 6: Inspect And Ship The Products
If you decide to use the Trade Assurance service, Alibaba will hold the money until you receive the product and are able to verify that it is of high quality. I encourage you to ask your supplier to take high-resolution pictures and videos of the products and send them to you.
Furthermore, you can look into getting insurance to ensure that you are protected if your products get damaged en route to you. You can hire a third-party inspection company that will go to the warehouse and inspects the products. Alibaba.com has a great quality inspection service that costs from $100-$300.
Once the above steps are finished, you will be ready to make the final payment on the balance that is owed.
This is my step-by-step guide to buying from Alibaba.com.
Finding high-quality products and reliable suppliers is key to your business success. There is no better place to look than the biggest eCommerce website in the world. Happy buying!
Are you ready to find great quality products for your eCommerce business? CLICK HERE to start browsing on Alibaba.com!