Category: Alibaba

Sourcing & Vetting Suppliers on Alibaba Using Available Data

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

Vetting suppliers on alibaba

Alibaba.com is the most comprehensive database of, primarily Asian, manufacturers in the world. It’s also somewhat misunderstood.

While some expect it to be some sort of ‘one stop shop’, we prefer to see it as a comprehensive self service supplier database. In this article how to source and vet suppliers, using data available on Alibaba.com – including the Company Overview, TrustPass Profile and Third Party Supplier Assessment Reports.

Notice: This guide only explains how to make an initial supplier selection. In other words, a shortlist. Before moving forward, the suppliers must be verified. The sole purpose of the initial selection is to ensure that you don’t waste time on suppliers that are obviously not qualified.

1. Company Overview: First Step of the Supplier Vetting Process

The company overview is, unlike the TrustPass profile, not made of up verified information. However, it can tell enough to decide whether or not we should further analyze this supplier: Continue reading Sourcing & Vetting Suppliers on Alibaba Using Available Data

Alibaba Suppliers – The 3 Biggest Myths and Misconceptions

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

Myths about Alibaba

You’ve heard the stories. Small businesses importing from China run into issues every day, and Alibaba is often (wrongly) blamed by buyers. But things are not always as simple as they may seem to be. In this article, we explain – and debunk – the three biggest myths and misconceptions about Alibaba.com, and its listed suppliers.

Myth #1: All Gold Suppliers are suitable for your product and quality requirements

We receive emails on a regular basis, from desperate importers that picked the wrong supplier online. Sometimes it regards payment frauds, but more often quality and compliance issues. This comes as a very unpleasant surprise for these importers, as they did their due diligence and picked a proper Gold Supplier. Continue reading Alibaba Suppliers – The 3 Biggest Myths and Misconceptions

Chinaimportal.com featured on Bloomberg TV

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 3 Comments

Alibaba Group is going public this Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. That’s big news, as the Alibaba IPO is expected to become the biggest ever – raising around US$25 Billion. As we are not in finance, we’re not qualified to say anything but the IPO itself.

However, as leading experts on product compliance and supplier sourcing in China, we do have a few things to share on buying from suppliers listed on Alibaba.com. This week, we did get the opportunity to share our views with financial journalist Mia Saini, on Bloomberg TV. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to New York this time, but watch the video and learn why buying from Alibaba listed suppliers takes a lot more than simply pressing a “buy now” button.

Continue reading Chinaimportal.com featured on Bloomberg TV

Buying from Aliexpress: A Guide to Safe Imports

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 9 Comments

Buying from Aliexpress

Aliexpress.com is a transaction-based wholesale platform for importing small volumes from China. It’s a huge resource for innovative and profitable products that cannot be found elsewhere in low quantities. While ordering products from Aliexpress is simple, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risks and increase your chances for long-term success. This article tells you why!

Based in America, Europe or Australia? Read this first!

Many products listed on Aliexpress are manufactured for the Chinese domestic market. These products may be just fine, but most are not compliant with product safety directives in Europe, America and Australia. Importing non-compliant items is illegal, and may result in a forced recall or major fines, in case anyone is injured or damaged.

Notice that it’s always the importer that is responsible for ensuring that imported items are compliant with relevant standards and directives. Chinese suppliers, including those selling on Aliexpress.com are not responsible.

If you still wish to import items from an Aliexpress supplier, you shall consider a laboratory test before making a larger order. You must also confirm which standard and/or directive is applicable to your product, in your country.

But there is help to get. You can either hire a China sourcing consultant, or purchase our Starter Package – which includes confirmation of applicable product safety directives for your product, and sourcing of compliant suppliers. Click here to read more.

Step 1: Source products and suppliers

Aliexpress is home to small Chinese trading companies and unlike Alibaba.com, where you have a lot of verified information on each Gold Supplier, you have very limited information on a Aliexpress supplier profile. This makes the supplier selection harder to define, but Aliexpress ]compensates for this shortcoming with customer feedback. For this reason, the supplier selection shall be based on buyer feedback to a large extent. The positive feedback number is a good start, but you’ll get a more balanced impression of the supplier if you review the negative feedback as well. Continue reading Buying from Aliexpress: A Guide to Safe Imports