Did someone already worked with Alibaba?

[Mélissa]

Hello !

I need some help regarding the suppliers on Alibaba, did someone already work with them? (I am currently looking for a dropshipper who could provide me dance dresses).

Maybe it's me who doesn't understand but it seems very complicated for the following reasons:

- When I look to the supplier products, it seems that every product has different conditions in delivery, payment, size chart, color chart, refund policy, customization of the dress etc...just impossible to make a resume of all theses differences...
- At the end of the page about the detailed information of the product, there is always a "contact supplier" box with the supposed photo of the seller...but many times it's not the same person (for the same "supplier" website!).
It seems like a lot of middlemen grouped under the same company page!
- I had some emails exchanges with a few suppliers, at the beginning of course very friendly, but who don’t answer my emails any more.

Does someone already have some experience to share with me concerning Alibaba?

Thanks in advance for your comments

[Sven]

That's a double post Melisa, everyone reads everything so no need for that ;-)

[jtwilber]

I looked into Alibaba and decided that I'd better do inhouse first with lower margins to get a "feel" for it. I'm sure Alibaba has its place and Id be interested in hearing peoples experiences. Within 12 months I'll be looking off shore again and am a bit lost. good topic.

Jonathan

[kamakiri]

(I am currently looking for a dropshipper who could provide me dance dresses).

Maybe it's me who doesn't understand...

You are right. You clearly are asking the wrong questions (both here and I would assume Alibaba). There just aren't any viable places who produce things and drop ship them. Source your product then find a drop shipper.

Just out of curiosity, how many units are you selling a week?

[TimW]

They don't answer your emails because you aren't within their customer demographic.

These companies are manufacturers. They make stuff that OTHER companies sell. Then they ship all that stuff to those companies, who then sell the stuff, either to distributors/retailers or the the end-user.

They are not, will not, and don't want to be "drop-shippers".

The reason they have so many "different colors, styles" etc. available? Because they're OEM manufacturers. If you don't understand what that is, look it up, because you're nowhere close to being someone in need of the OEM capabilities of these companies.

No, I haven't worked with Alibaba, but I worked FOR Global Sources, another directory of OEM Manufacturers.

Simply put, they won't return emails because you're wasting their time.

[jtwilber]

Thats helpful to me too Tim. Thanks.

1. What unit volume or revenue volume do you think opens the door with this group?

2. How do beginers learn how to avoid the scam artists that I assume are in the mix?

3. Would you reccomend that unless you can fly over, meet, walk over factory and meet other customers it may be risky?

Your input is valuable.

J:cool:

[kamakiri]

jt - Like I mentioned earlier, asking the wrong questions will not get you anywhere. People quickly see a time waster. Just ask any used car salesman about tire kickers and you will know what I am talking about.

The proper place to start is in the idea testing department. There is a saying in the restaurant business, "sales cures all ills".

The volume is whatever the minimum order of your product is, and that is across the board. With a supplement it could be $5000 worth. With custom gloves, my minimum order was 200.

You can fly anywhere as long as you have money. Walking the actual factory floor is a thing of the industrial age though.

As for #2, it is relatively easy to avoid the scam artists. The world is full of fools. All you need to do is do you due diligence and ask some questions, insist on escrow services, and use your head. Any actual scam artists will lose interest very quickly and move on tot he next mark if they get the idea that you are smarter than the average turnip who is their bread and butter.

[bjung]

I've started looking on alibaba. They also have an extensive forum over there that may be helpful to you.

Most companies on alibaba are manufacturers with high MOQs, but there are trading companies listed as well which you can contact. (and drop shippers listed as well, just search).

[ScottVA]

I have used Alibaba to purchase some products for my own personal use in bulk.. which I am thinking i could turn into a great muse.

But I noticed that the caculators are wild.. you can try to email the supplier, work out different terms..

Shipping from them to you will cost the most..

But finding the good suppliers is hard.. and if you look at the DVDs on there be careful.. many are just plain illegal copies..

[calaha]

I'm glad this discussion is already going, because I'm knee-deep in trying to figure out how I can leverage Alibaba, and there are a few things that are puzzling me.

I'm looking to start out with some low-volume manufacturing (50-100 custom units per design in ceramic and blown glass), and I can't see how anyone does it with the shipping options I see. Freight is unbelievable, and I have seen the calculators mentioned on the Ali Express site and cannot figure for the life of me how UPS shipping for a single small item could be over a hundred dollars.

It seems like there SHOULD be crate-sharing services, where a buyer could direct manufacturers to send items to be shipped together, and receiving centers in the destination port could uncrate and ship the contents to the respective domestic locations.

Does anyone know if this or some better option for lower volumes exists?

[TimW]

cannot figure for the life of me how UPS shipping for a single small item could be over a hundred dollars.

As one who ships internationally a LOT, it does, indeed, cost that much. Sending a 1 pound package to Switzerland via US Postal Global Express costs about $34-$38. Takes 4-6 days to get there.

UPS International, with 3-5 day service, will cost around $80-$90 for that same package. Over $100 if I need to express it, and even then, that's only 2 days.

See if they won't ship by their postal service. Only downside is no tracking and generally uninsured.

[johnpauljames66]

Yes, better ask the right question so that you'll get the right answer. Stratight to the point.

[theglen]

Did I imagine it or did someone say hat booking enquiries have gone quite?....they certainly have here.... I havent had one now for over a month

What is everyone else experiencing?

[DrummerDave]

You might find out costs for shipping though EMS.
It ships through the postal systems from one EMS location to another, but has tracking.
Also a lot cheaper than the standard couriers (ups & dhl)

[qpec]

Well, i havenot dealed with Aliexpress, but i heard my friend had some problem in tracking her goods. I heard Chinabuye is best, you get prompt reply and services from them. They are well known for modern technological gadgets, try them!:)