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  #23  
Old 05-30-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

In 2008 I was scammed 3x. They either never sent the item, or sent the wrong item. After 2010 never been scammed again. What I did differently? 1) I flew to China more than once to do business face to face. 2) hired a part time in China. 3) did business only with contracts and 4) hired an attorney in China for legal advice. It was an investment but they know who to cross and who not to cross.
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  #24  
Old 08-11-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

On AB i have only bought from sellers producing custom items for me, and only sellers who have been on there for a lengthy ammount of time with good reviews and trade assurance....i often go on regular google and look up their company name and see if their address really exists.....usually the scammers are sloppy and unintelligent with their business priorities
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  #25  
Old 08-12-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

I personally buy anything outside the USA anymore. Alibaba from my experience is full of people the sell either phakes or unbranded goods. The quality is usually low and for those items you can sell you have to order in huge quantity to pencil out and can be a problem either getting through customs or having a tariff.

Like one of the other users mentioned custom made goods might be an avenue but trust me if these sellers could create eBay accounts to sell their goods and they were worth while they wouldn't have been kicked off already.
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  #26  
Old 08-12-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Funny how people who claims Alibaba is mostly for phake items came up with conclusion because they, well... Searched for phake items! Make a search for legit items in Alibaba and you will find millions of items from legit sellers. In many cases high quality too. Just a matter of what you are looking for. And you can find suppliers that accept lower quantities.
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  #27  
Old 08-12-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

I sourced all my products for alibaba/aliexpress.

You just have to know the bits and bobs and you are all set. ask around the forum(here or any other country specific forum about business/wholesalers etc) about certain sellers for advice etc, im sure you are good to go.

of course there is always risk in business.
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  #28  
Old 08-14-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

alibaba is not mainly phake items at all!!! as for unbranded, what is wrong with that?

I prefer ab, as I started with them years ago and decided to stay...they have been good overall...
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  #29  
Old 08-14-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

manufacturers aren't always cheaper. With the stuff I sell it works roughly like this:
distributor/reseller makes $100,000-500,000 order and gets 20-25% discount then they sell at 10% mark up so often buying from distributors is cheaper for me. The manufacturers try and tell the distributors not to sell below a certain price but once you know them they'll sell to you at a 10% or even 5% mark up as theres 10-15 distributors all selling the exact same product competing on price only
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  #30  
Old 08-14-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

ali has decent non brand stuff but as others say expect some crap quality at times
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  #31  
Old 08-23-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

alibaba just a platform to source products only. You need to verify the supplier or the products by yourself from small small orders or sample order.
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  #32  
Old 08-23-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdaz View Post
ali has decent non brand stuff but as others say expect some crap quality at times
Yes - bit of hit and miss
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  #33  
Old 11-03-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

You really need to research before buying anything on there. A lot of little tricks like have been posted. But if you are getting replica items stay away, almost all are garbage. Now I did buy a bunch of those little rubber pill/oil containers and those worked nice. Something like that is different. If you are looking for a quality replica something you need a different browser.
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  #34  
Old 11-03-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Some valued and unbranded products are also profitable.
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  #35  
Old 11-03-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Lot of research is in order - ask for samples when able to
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  #36  
Old 11-03-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Quote:
Originally Posted by gonzoman View Post
There is one thing with alibaba that I personally always check.
There are trading companies and there are manufacturers and some companies are both.
I would go with contacting manufacturers only. They are more trustworthy
when it comes to the product they sell since they are the ones who actually produce it.
You will also have better control on what you are getting and often will be able to
customize your product for your needs (changing colors, size, packing etc).
I would stay away from trading companies. You can check their profile and see if they
are manufacturers or trading companies. Another way to tell is if you see a company that
offers totally different kind of categories. Check their products list, and if, for example, they
offer babies car seats and bathroom tiles, I would think twice if I want to deal with them.

I also agree that the bigger your order is the better chances you have to get exactly
what you ordered. The only real issues I have had when placing smaller orders is getting
different colors, or packing not as good as I thought it will be.


He has great advice:

ALSO: Be warned. China can steal your money and not give you anything. No recourse.

So here is some advice to STICK TO. NEVER DIVERT to communicating outside of ALIBABA email correspondence. If you get scammed, you can talk to alibaba, show them all the emails, invoices, etc. The Chinese will try to get you to contact them at a different email because they say it is easier. Tell them you wish to stay on the alibaba email system to communicate from start to finish.
I got scammed and lost THOUSANDS of DOLLARS because I could not prove I sent money to the company on Alibaba. I had emails to a different email address etc. NO RECOURSE. Was not a good experience.
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  #37  
Old 11-03-2015
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

If you truly want to talk to manufacturers other than China. You will need a resale license, business license, etc. Companies only deal with legit entities.
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  #38  
Old 12-31-2016
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Quote:
Originally Posted by muzzie View Post
All brands at Ali are phakes. Cheap ones are disgusting garbage made by lame hoblins, expensive ones (still 5x cheaper than the original) are quite decent, but phake anyway.
thats not always true its true 99% of time tho. I agree tho the cheaper but more pricy ⊗⊗⊗⊗ are decent. I got this vaporizer for 100$ off and it works like the real one and the warranty is decent. They pay for the first repair even the shipping.
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  #39  
Old 01-01-2017
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Research, research, research.

Also take steps to protect yourself.

Pay with PayPal. If you can, pay with a credit card through PayPal. This provides you with two layers of protection. (PayPal buyer protection and chargeback).

Good luck.
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  #40  
Old 02-19-2017
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

In Alibaba Looking at the shop details to see the company or researching it will not tell you if it is a manufacturing on Re-sellers company .
all those are fabricated 80% of the time.

Once you take a trip to china , then you will understand my messages .
you will be able to tell who is a small seller and who is truly a Gold seller .
75% of the sellers are selling from a little Stool in a big open buildings with about 9/10 floors .
they have people doing all the Gold star for them and the Vid ,

They do all the manufacturing right in the little stall ,

the main manufacturing firm will not be in Alibaba .

Go to Canton Fair and take a trip in china you will see ,

All major Factory are hidden

you will not come across one manufacturing factory.

Be very Careful ,

Only buy unbranded goods

buy and pay with Escrow payment .

All brand goods form all Ali sites are Phkers .
couriers companies like DHL/Fedex will not Return them back to china for you .
you will be in 100% Lost

All the Best!!
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  #41  
Old 02-19-2017
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Alibaba is a good place to find manufactories if you want to produce your own things. I will never deal with them if they have hundreds of stocks on one listing for brand items. 100% are phakes.

However if you see there're only 1 or 2 pieces on a listing, and the size (I sell clothes) are not completed, usually they are good, a lot of factories are brand OEM factories, they have to resell those extras or rejections from one batch orders to cover their loss. That's how I find my suppliers and so far so good.
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  #42  
Old 03-05-2017
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Default Re: What is alibaba like?

Regarding to clothing ,alibaba is a good platform to source OEM factories as long as you have your own design and you just ask the factory to source the fabric and make the clothing for you.But if you want to purchase their own design,it will be not a good choice,since they are not good at design at all.
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