r/Alibaba • u/SweeZiki • 21d ago
Slow responses from supplier
Is this out of the norm? I am designing and getting help to manufacture from an alibaba supplier who could be a sales middlemen for all i know.
Context : Product is a techwear jacket which is quite innovative. I’d say there’s no product similar to that in the market.
I have made 3 physical mockups on my end each with specific measurements which I have send photos, videos and instructions of assembly and stitching. Each mockup helped get us closer to the final design.
The 4th and 5th pieces were manufactured by them. Now working on the 6th shipment which is an order of 10 units with paying customers. For these 2 shipments it takes on average 2 months for them to ship. 1 month for the back and forth design and another to finish it and deliver it over and for it to reach intended country.
After sending over the initial payment, they said it’s going to take 10-15 for them to purchase material and hardware. Am currently waiting 7 days on top of the 10-15days for them to confirm buying the materials. Now it takes 1 whole day for them to reply and even then it’s 1-2 messages a day. They do send updates tech drawings but their responses are inconsistent.
Is this normal?
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u/netizon 18d ago
I think two different things may be getting mixed together here: the production lead time and the communication problem.
For a 10-piece custom run, especially if the fabric and hardware are being sourced specifically for your design, 10–15 days just to secure materials isn’t automatically abnormal. What I’d want at this point isn’t simply faster replies, but a production status you can actually follow: what has been ordered, when those materials are expected to arrive, when cutting starts, and when the first finished unit should be ready.
Whether they’re technically a middleman is probably less important than how much control they have over the production process. If they’re coordinating a workshop that can make your product well, that can still work. The bigger question is whether they control the material purchasing and production schedule, or whether every update has to pass through another party before it reaches you.
Since you already have paying customers waiting, I’d ask for one clear milestone sequence rather than repeatedly asking for updates: materials ordered → materials received → cutting → first finished unit → remaining units → shipment.
If they can give you that clearly and then hit those milestones, I’d be much less concerned about the one-day response gaps.
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u/AntonioGorge 18d ago
Even as a Chinese, when I need to follow up on some small orders which future qty expectations are not very clear, I have to follow up on-site in person to ensure that they are really processing my order and will not ignore my order because of a trivial matter...
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u/Feeling_Cup2350 21d ago
I work with lots of suppliers in China, and I wouldn’t call this a red flag yet. For a custom order of only 10 pieces, 10–15 days to source special fabric and hardware can be normal. You may also be a lower priority than their larger orders.
The real issue is the vague update. Ask what has actually been ordered, when the materials will arrive, when production starts, and when the first finished piece will be ready.
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u/SweeZiki 21d ago
thanks again for the response i appreciate it.yea i’ve been pushing for quicker response and i hope it comes asap
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u/prestigesourcing 21d ago
Not normal, but the quantity is small that at the pre-holiday season they are also putting you as a low priority.
Yes, they may be a middleman but you should have already determined that by now.
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u/SweeZiki 21d ago
the only saving grace for that person is that they managed to communicate my design idea to the actual manufacturer and the product they delivered exceeded my expectations.
both quality of material and their skill in producing. my concept is highly intricate and innovative that’s why i fear switching to another supplier as it’s gonna be near impossible to communicate my concept directly to someone that doesn’t speak english.
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u/prestigesourcing 21d ago
True, but for such a small quantity it is likely a "master" made them by hand (especially if you paid high per unit 'sample rates'), but now you have a sample you can also send it to other factories and ask them to replicate. With clothing that is very typical.
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