Checklist: How to Find the Right Supplier on AliExpress

Posted 5 years ago by Lina Vashurina, 51视频 Team

Your product can only be听as听good as听the听people who supply it. It听doesn鈥檛 matter whether you鈥檙e ordering raw materials or听finished goods, finding the听right supplier can be听a听game changer in听the听e-commerce business.

Fortunately for听you, the听days of听scouring factories across the听country are over. Platforms like AliExpress make it听extremely easy to听source virtually anything听鈥� spare parts, supplies, and听finished products.

However, finding the听right supplier on听AliExpress isn鈥檛 easy. Which is听why we鈥檝e compiled this checklist to听help you choose the听perfect supply partner on听AliExpress.

Manufacturers, Distributors, and听Drop Shippers: Understanding the听Differences

Before you start, it鈥檚 important to听understand the听difference between manufacturers, drop shippers and听trading companies before you go听about sourcing from China.

Manufacturers

Manufacturers make products. They operate factories that have materials, machines, and听staff to听make the听product from scratch. Most established manufacturers also have designers who鈥檒l work with you to听develop product ideas.

You鈥檒l go听to听manufacturers when you have a听product idea and听want help turning it听into reality. Most manufacturers will ask for听a听minimum order quantity (MOQ) before starting the听manufacturing process.

Wholesalers/Distributors

A听distributor is听a听company that buys goods in听large batches and听sells those goods in听smaller batches to听retailers or听traders.

You鈥檒l go听to听distributors when you want to听source large quantities of听an听existing product and听resell it听in听your home country. For instance, if听you want to听sell LED lamps in听the听US, you鈥檒l go听to听a听LED lamp distributor.

Dropshippers

Drop shipping is听a听retail fulfillment method where the听store doesn鈥檛 keep the听products it听sells in听stock. The products are stored by听the听drop shipper who takes care of听fulfilling individual orders on听behalf of听the听reseller.

As听soon as听the听reseller receives an听order, it听is听forwarded to听the听drop shipper for听fulfillment. The store never sees the听product that is听shipped to听the听customer.

You鈥檒l go听to听drop shippers when you want to听run a听store but don鈥檛 want to听keep an听inventory or听deal with shipping.

Traders

Trading companies buy multiple kinds of听product from different factories and听sell to听other businesses.

The difference between traders and听distributors is听that the听former usually stocks small to听medium quantities of听a听lot of听products, while the听latter keeps large quantities of听a听limited range of听products.

For instance, an听electronics trading company might sell everything from mobile phones to听LED lamps. A听phone distributor, on听the听other hand, will usually only stock phones of听a听particular brand or听type.

Difference Between Alibaba and听Aliexpress

You might be听wondering: what is听AliExpress and听how does it听differ from Alibaba?

Alibaba is听arguably the听more famous platform听鈥� it听is, after all, the听name of听the听founding company.

AliExpress, on听the听other hand, is听a听relatively new platform and听serves a听very different clientele.

We鈥檒l show you how to听choose between the听two below.

Alibaba

Alibaba is听ideal for听businesses that want to听place large quantity orders to听get the听cheapest price per unit. You will mostly find manufacturers and听wholesalers on听Alibaba.

Business owners can also have a听custom product made by听the听manufacturers or听buy certain types of听products they specialize in听and听private label them under their own brand.

There is听no听shopping cart on听Alibaba; you鈥檒l have to听work with manufacturers to听negotiate a听price and听minimum order quantity.

Use Alibaba if听you want to听directly work with manufacturers, develop a听private label of听your product or听to听place bulk orders at听the听cheapest price.

Aliexpress

Aliexpress operates at听the听consumer level听鈥� a听retail version of听Alibaba. It听enables buyers to听purchase goods in听lower quantities at听factory prices. You get a听shopping cart听鈥� just like any听retail store听鈥� and听don鈥檛 have to听negotiate with suppliers

Because it听caters largely to听retail buyers, AliExpress doesn鈥檛 have as听many manufacturers on听it. Instead, you鈥檒l find a听lot of听trading companies and听smaller distributors.

While you won鈥檛 get as听cheap rates as听on听Alibaba, you won鈥檛 have to听order large MOQs either. This makes it听perfect for听small and听new businesses who want to听get started with e-commerce.

Also:

Checklist for听Finding the听Right Supplier

Your supplier is听one of听the听most important cogs in听your e-commerce machinery. A听reliable supplier of听quality products can give you a听massive edge against the听competition.

However, with millions of听competing suppliers on听AliExpress, finding the听right one can be听a听daunting (and expensive) task.

To听make better decisions, follow these 10听guidelines.

1.听Choose reputed sellers with positive feedback

This is听perhaps the听most important thing while evaluating AliExpress suppliers. As听a听rule of听thumb buy from suppliers that have 95% and听higher positive feedback.

The 聯Feedback Score聰 shows the听seller鈥檚 sales volume and听the听聯Positive Feed Rate聰 represents the听feedback that supplier has received.

A听supplier with more than 95% Positive Feedback Rate and听2,000听Feedback Score is听considered a听reputed seller.

This, of听course, does not mean that a听supplier with a听500听Feedback score can鈥檛 be听trusted or听all suppliers with the听1000+ score are genuine. Think of听it听as听a听general measure.

Also, note the听number of听years the听store has been in听business.

To听find top rated sellers, sort products by听seller rating.

2.听Compare prices against competitors

The old adage holds especially true on听AliExpress: if听it听looks too good to听be听true, then it听probably is.

When you first land on听AliExpress, you鈥檒l be听surprised (and excited) to听find some products being sold at听dirt cheap prices (relative to听competitors). These are usually offered by听new suppliers with little to听no听feedback.

You have to听tread with caution in听such cases. Sometimes, the听lower prices are because a听new seller wants to听make a听mark in听the听marketplace. But more often than not, it鈥檚 either a听scam or听you will be听compromising significantly on听quality.

Be听sure to听compare by听different suppliers. If听a听number of听sellers have similar prices for听the听same product, but one seller has a听significantly lower price, take this as听an听indication that the听product is听likely not genuine.

AliExpress has a听handy tool for听filtering out very high or听very low priced products. When you hover over the听聯Price聰 bar on听the听product page, AliExpress will show you how many people bought products in听that price range.

If听very few people are buying products in听a听low price range, it听likely isn鈥檛 a听very good deal.

3.听Check for听product authenticity

Unfortunately, fake products are a听large problem on听both Alibaba and听AliExpress. With the听number of听products on听offer, filtering out fake products can be听a听massive challenge.

For example, when you search for听聯Xiaomi TV聰, you鈥檒l see over 1,800听results;

Most of听these would be听genuine, but you can never really tell fake from real when you have only a听few product images to听go听by.

There are a听few alternate tactics you can use to听filter out tell if听a听product is听fake or听not:

Seller &听product feedback score

Just like on听eBay, feedback score matters a听lot to听sellers. Reputed sellers wouldn鈥檛 engage in听any听malpractices that might endanger their feedback score.

Besides the听seller score, you can also check product feedback by听clicking on听the听聯Feedback聰 tab on听the听product page.

In听the听above case, both the听product and听the听seller have very high ratings.

Check seller鈥檚 other products on听sale

A听seller that offers only one type or听brand of听products is听likely to听be听more authentic than someone who sells virtually everything under the听planet.

You can check this by听looking at听the听聯Seller鈥檚 Categories聰 in听the听left sidebar. In听this case, the听seller largely focuses on听accessories from upcoming brands:

Check warranties and听price

Again, if听the听price is听too low, it鈥檚 likely to听be听inauthentic.

Similarly, also check seller warranties. You can see them in听the听聯Seller Guarantees聰 tab on听the听product page.

If听you still can鈥檛 be听sure, try ordering a听single product to听ascertain quality and听authenticity.

4.听Communicate with the听seller before making the听purchase

Proper communication with suppliers is听a听must since products come directly from them, not AliExpress.

The best way is听to听straight away write to听the听supplier. Clear all your doubts and听ask them any听item鈥檚 specific details, shipping or听delivery questions.

You can find the听seller contact details in听the听left sidebar on听the听product page:

5.听Pay attention to听the听responsiveness of听suppliers

After you send the听message through chat or听messaging, notice how quickly supplier responds to听your query.

This will give you an听idea how responsible the听seller is. Remember that your supplier is听also your business partner. A听seller who can鈥檛 respond quickly to听your requests or听is听unreliable in听his response time will likely make for听a听bad partner.

Keep local China time (UTC +8) in听mind before you do听this.

6.听Negotiate prices on听bulk orders

When you鈥檙e buying in听bulk from AliExpress, most sellers will offer you a听small discount for听bulk orders.

You can see this on听the听product page under 聯Bulk Price聰.

Understand that this price is听completely negotiable, especially if听you have a听large requirement than the听seller鈥檚 mentioned bulk price.

In听the听above case, you can likely negotiate a听few extra %听points for听100+ piece orders.

Always negotiate before making a听purchase commitment.

7.听Read item details/description carefully

Never place an听order without reading the听item鈥檚 description no听matter how pretty the听photos look. Sometimes useful information is听included in听the听details section.

8.听Look out for听seller guarantees

Sellers offer their own set of听guarantees. When you鈥檙e buying a听branded item make sure to听look for听聯Guaranteed Genuine聰 tag.

If听the听product is听still found to听be听counterfeit, you will get your full refund including shipping cost.

9.听Understand that Custom/Import duty may be听charged

Expensive products usually get under the听scanner of听the听custom department. If听it听happens to听you, there is听a听good chance you will need to听pay import duty for听the听products.

Different countries have different rates at听which import duties are charged. Keep in听check the听duty you might have to听pay before purchasing the听product.

How to听Contact AliExpress Suppliers

Email is听the听preferred mode of听communication for听most of听suppliers. They will likely use Google Translate to听translate your emails so听make sure you keep the听text concise, well formatted and听to听the听point.

This will not only help the听supplier but also get you better replies. Here is听a听template that you may consider as听a听guideline before contacting the听suppliers.

Hi,

My听name is听[Your Name]. I听am听interested in听your [Insert Product Name or听Item Code].

I听have several questions:

1.听What is听the听price per unit?

2.听What is听your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?

3.听What is听your expected delivery time, including customs?

I听would like to听place an听order for听a听sample before placing full order.

Can you please send over the听sample cost including shipping to听the听US?

I听look forward to听building a听great business relationship with you. Thank you.

[Your name]

[Designation]

]Company Name]

[Email]

What to听Do听When Things Go听Wrong

Things can听鈥� and听will听鈥� go听wrong sooner or听later. That鈥檚 just part and听parcel of听doing business.

Having established processes to听deal with such situations can make your job a听whole lot easier.

Here鈥檚 what to听do听when something goes wrong:

1.听With product quality

Unfortunately, all the听due diligence in听the听world can鈥檛 protect you from poor product quality. It鈥檚 not unusual for听sample products to听be听very different from the听final product.

In听such situations, you can rule out litigation听鈥� American/European court judgments don鈥檛 apply to听Chinese companies.

Also understand that if听you鈥檝e already made the听payment, you will have very little leverage over the听seller.

This is听particularly true for听large sellers with lots of听feedback听鈥� the听odd bad review isn鈥檛 going to听impact them much.

When you receive a听poor quality product, here鈥檚 what you can do:

Ask if听it听is听a听manufacturing error: Often, poor product quality is听because of听a听one-off manufacturing defect. Sometimes, it鈥檚 also because the听manufacturer is听in听the听process of听upgrading to听new machinery. In听such cases, sellers might be听able to听make up听in听the听next order.
Hire a听third-party inspection company: Because of听quality risks, a听number of听businesses hire third-party inspection companies in听China to听ensure product quality. Google 聯third party inspection China聰 to听see a听list of听such companies.

AliExpress鈥� Buyer Protection will give you 60-days to听get a听refund or听start a听dispute. You can do听this by听going to听the听order under 聯My Orders聰 and听clicking on听聯Open Dispute聰.

If听this doesn鈥檛 work, you can escalate the听dispute straight to听AliExpress.

2.听With delivery time

Delivery times on听AliExpress vary wildly depending on听the听seller, the听product type and听the听country it听is听being shipped to.

For most smaller items, AliExpress offers its own shipping for听free.

If听your order still hasn鈥檛 arrived after the听mentioned period, here鈥檚 what you can do:

Track order status: Obviously, the听first step听鈥� check whether the听order is听in听China, in听your country, or听en-route. You can do听this by听going to听聯My Orders聰, then click on听聯Track聰 next to听your order name.
Check if听the听order is听stuck in听customs: Packages being held at听customs is听the听usual culprit in听shipping delays. If听this happens, customs will notify you via post of听your shipment and听tell you how you can retrieve it. This can add several days to听the听usual delivery time. Most courier tracking services will tell you when a听package has reached Customs.
Ask the听seller for听guidance: If听you鈥檙e shipping products to听Europe or听USA, most sellers would already be听familiar with shipping to听your country. Ask them for听guidance as听to听what could be听holding back the听delivery, and听if听there is听anything you can do听to听speed things up.

3.听With customs

Packages being stuck in听customs is听a听routine complaint of听anyone who imports from China. The customs in听some countries is听particularly notorious for听holding up听packages.

Your shipping service provider should be听able to听tell you when the听package is听in听customs. After this, customs will send you a听notification (in writing) as听to听why your product was held up听and听what you can do听to听get it听released.

In听case the听seller claims that the听product is听held up听at听customs, here鈥檚 what you can do:

Ask for听a听bill of听lading:听Ask the听seller to听furnish a听bill of听lading to听prove that the听package has, indeed, left the听seller鈥檚 warehouse.
Contact shipping service to听confirm the听goods arrival in听your home country. In听the听US, if听your carrier fails to听inform you within 15听days of听the听goods arrival (and you fail to听act on听customs communication), your package will be听shifted to听a听聯General Order Warehouse聰 (GO). This can make retrieving the听items expensive and听time-consuming.

Understand that this is听a听very subjective issue听鈥� customs procedure vary from country to听country. Refer to听your country鈥檚 customs office to听learn more.

4.听With payments

Most sellers on听AliExpress accept a听massive number of听payment options.

Since AliExpress offers its own Buyer Protection, you are secure against any听payment fraud. Within the听60听days of听Buyer Protection, you get full refunds in听case of听non-receipt 辞蹿听颈迟别尘蝉.

In听case you do听encounter any听issues, you can open a听dispute to听get refunds.

To听do听this, log into your buyer panel and听locate your order under 聯My Orders聰.

Next, click on听聯Open Dispute聰 next to听the听order:

On听the听next screen, choose 聯Refund聰 to听start the听refund process:

You can鈥檛 use PayPal on听AliExpress. Unless suppliers have their own private PayPal account, so听they could send an听invoice with item description and听price. AliExpress has its own credit card payment system, which resembles Paypal in听many ways and听offers the听same security. Also if听you use a听bank transfer, debit cards or听the听Western Union, you have no听option other than relying on听AliExpress.

5.听With copyright and听branding

Intellectual property theft is听a听major issue in听China, so听it听shouldn鈥檛 be听surprising if听you find your unique idea copied by听a听supplier.

Unfortunately, Chinese law makes it听next to听impossible to听enforce any听patents or听get any听redressal for听IP听theft. Consider that even .

The best you can do听is听to听open a听dispute (see above) and听request AliExpress to听remove the听seller.

This, however, will still not stop your IP听theft.

Consider this part of听the听risk of听doing business in听China.

Over to听You

AliExpress isn鈥檛 perfect, but it听does have a听lot of听advantages over sourcing products locally. For one, you get access to听a听massive inventory with no听MOQs. You also get extremely low prices, including free shipping on听most items.

On听the听downside, you will have to听contend with communication issues and听the听occasional seller dispute. To听mitigate this problem, AliExpress offers robust buyer protection and听an听easy to听use communication system.

On听the听whole, you鈥檒l find AliExpress to听be听a听very valuable partner when sourcing suppliers for听your e-commerce store.

Learn more:

听

About The Author

Lina is a content creator at 51视频. She writes to inspire and educate readers on all things commerce. She loves to travel and runs marathons.

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