International buying made easy
How to source products on Alibaba.com
- Find products and sellers around the world.
- Connect with sellers and customise your orders.
- Place and protect your order with Trade Assurance.
- Pay on Alibaba.com using WordFirst international wire transfer.
- Save money with our competitive FX rates.
- Ship and receive your goods with transparent multi-modal shipping solutions.
Step 1: Find products and sellers
Use the search bar: Enter product or relevant keywords, then narrow your choices from there.
Go to pavilions: Check out themed pavilions ranging from top-ranking products to a specific country’s exports.
Send a Request for Quotation (RFQ): Specify what you’re looking for and sellers will bid for your business.
Step 2: Connect with sellers
Write a detailed message: Start an inquiry by clicking “Contact Seller” on the product detail page.
Keep track of conversations: Find all your messages within “My Alibaba” in the Message Center.
Use the mobile app: Simplify communication with real-time translation and video chat features.
Attend online trade shows: Save time and money by attending category-specific digital events to network and assess industry trends.
Step 3: Assess potential suppliers
Ask the right questions: Look at their profile’s information. Dig deeper by sending a message.
Look at their badges: Badges on a seller’s profile help you know what steps they took to prove they are a trusted partner.
Gold supplier: Alibaba.com members that have been verified as businesses with commercial or industrial capabilities.
Verified Seller: A Gold Supplier whose company profile, management, production capabilities, product, and process have been assessed, certified, and/or inspected by third-party institutions.
Trade Assurance Supplier: Gold suppliers who accept payment through Alibaba.com, enabling Alibaba.com payment and order protection. (Chinese suppliers)
Read full article here.
Step 4: Place and protect your order
Ways you can protect your order:
Detailed purchase orders: Create a purchase order (PO) detailing all aspects of the order and shipping.
Request a sample: Ensure the product meets your specifications before placing the full order.
Production monitoring and inspection services: A local team will visit the seller’s location to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Intellectual Property (IP) protection: The security and privacy of Alibaba.com customers and merchants is a top priority. They pride themselves as the global leader when it comes to IP protection.
Step 5: Pay on Alibaba.com using WordFirst
Access the Alibaba.com payment platform through:
Option 1: “All Orders” Page: Find the order you would like to pay for and click “Make payment”
Option 2: Order details page: Select “Make payment”
Option 3: Payment links: Get directed to your order when your supplier shares a link in Message Centre
Select “Wire transfer”, then select “International wire transfer”. Verify your payment amount information and select “View account information”.
Download or print the international wire transfer account information page. This has the important information you will need to set up a payment beneficiary.
Complete the wire transfer via the WorldFirst online portal or over the phone with one of our dedicated relationship managers. Make sure to include your alibaba.com order ID in the remarks.
Read full article here.
Step 6: Ship and receive your goods
Alibaba.com has partnered with major players in the industry to provide customers with reliable and transparent multi-modal shipping solutions.
Did you know you can source your items on Alibaba.com and sell them wholesale on the platform as well? WorldFirst is proud to be Alibaba.com’s Global Service Partner and together we have created an exclusive offer to help you expand your wholesale business into global markets.
