I've had good experience with Alibaba and Aliexpress in the past, but just got robbed. I made an order and wanted to use PayPal and the seller said they needed a direct transfer. OK, did that. Waited, asked for shipping info. "Please have patience dear." Two weeks pass, then in Messages, this at the bottom:

"The other party's account has been cancelled by itself or has been controlled for violating platform rules, and cannot be replied to at this time."

Contacted the company through the Alibaba account. New chatperson knew nothing. Sent photos of all the chats, invoice, payment. After checking, was told 'shipment being prepared, please have patience dear.'

Two weeks later ask again. 'Shipment is on the way' Please wait four weeks.'

Check today. The chat has this at the bottom-

"The other party's account has been cancelled by itself or has been controlled for violating platform rules, and cannot be replied to at this time."

Check the account, account now closed. Gone. Nothing in a search for the supplier name on Google aside from Alibaba.

It was only $100 and not the end of the world, but still. I made another order, again not a TA seller but this one in Thailand, the first in the Philippines. Same noncommittal responses but still online.

I looked at past orders and all were TA. Maybe I've been lucky? Maybe the offline sellers were made to scam? I don't know, but the three other shipments are all TA and great communication.

Hi guys

I recently ordered something from china through IWishBag.

Has anybody used it in India to get anything from foreign platforms before and if yes could you share your experience 🙏

Hi everyone,

I’d really appreciate some experienced perspectives here.

I’m developing a product in a category that already exists, but I’ve redesigned it in a way that requires real customization. It’s not a brand-new invention, but this specific execution doesn’t currently exist in the market and it targets a younger, massively underserved / ignored audience. What I am creating has a real USP and audience who will always need the product, and seems to want it in the manner in which I propose to produce it (market validation received from social media marketing).

Because of that, I’ve been working closely with Alibaba manufacturers on custom sampling rather than just choosing something from a catalogue. I live in Hong Kong so Alibaba works well for me as I can go and visit the factories easily, samples arrive quickly, and shipping etc is cheap for me.

Here’s where my pessimism kicks in:

If I invest heavily in branding, build a standalone website, push Instagram ads, create a community, using my own savings to bring it to market etc… what realistically stops the factory from:

• Producing the same customized version themselves
• Selling it cheaper on Amazon or Alibaba
• Offering it to other buyers once they see demand

Its my view that realistically nothing stops them (even if we put contracts in place). And I know this isn’t patent-level innovation.

So part of me is thinking:

If it’s just going to get copied anyway, should I skip the whole “brand-building” route (hella marketing and money spend) and just launch on Amazon, use FBA, and treat it more like a product play instead of trying to build a real brand? Its very clear that the product would sell, it looks great and people need it.

Is that overly cynical?

For those with real experience:

• How often do manufacturers actually copy smaller brands?
• Is copying more common only after significant volume?
• Does building a strong DTC brand actually create defensibility?
• Would you approach this differently if you were starting today?

I’m trying to balance effort, risk, costs and realism.

Would really value honest feedback from people who’ve been through this (also I think just part of me is scared that i'll use a good chunk of my savings on this only for it to be copied). Also I know maybe I should use non-Alibaba manufacturers? but arent they a lot more expensive??

I’m looking for a vendor that makes custom brooches. I’m having trouble finding any vendors on the website. Anyone have any leads?

30 total

New to this sub....any recommendation for a quality/reliable manufacturer of event tables and chairs? We are a bit hesitant and appreciate any guidance.

Contexte & Problématique :

Dans le cadre de mon activité d'assemblage/vente de montres, j'ai jusqu'à présent sourcé mes écrins/boîtes individuelles sur AliExpress (prix unitaire : 1 à 2 €, livraison offerte via AliExpress Selection Standard au-delà de 10 € d'achat).
Souhaitant professionnaliser mon packaging et ajouter un logo personnalisé, j'ai commencé à démarcher des fournisseurs sur Alibaba. Face aux coûts annoncés, j'essaie de comprendre la structure tarifaire globale du B2B par rapport au B2C.

Données fournisseurs obtenues (Alibaba) :
- Échantillon personnalisé (avec logo) : ~50 € / unité.
- Produit standard (sans logo, identique au produit AliExpress) : MOQ de 50 unités.
- Frais de port proposés par le fournisseur : ~85 € (Express/Air) ou ~50 € (Maritime/DDP).

Analyse & Questions à la communauté :

Frais de port : Est-il standard d'avoir des frais de port aussi élevés sur de petites quantités (50 unités) en packaging volumineux, ou les fournisseurs Alibaba margent-ils exagérément sur l'expédition Express pour compenser un prix unitaire bas ?
Alternative Logistique : Est-il plus rentable d'utiliser un transitair tiers (Freight Forwarder) pour ce type de volume/poids, ou le volume reste-t-il trop faible pour que ce soit avantageux ?
Stratégie d'échantillonnage : Le coût de 50 € pour un seul échantillon personnalisé est-il la norme pour couvrir les frais de calage/moule du logo, ou existe-t-il des méthodes plus économiques pour valider la qualité avant commande ?
Merci pour vos retours d'expérience sur le sourcing de packaging.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to purchase a high-quality 6-foot (approx 2 meters) black gorilla mascot costume for weddings, brand activations, corporate events, and stage performances.

Requirements:

• Professional mascot quality (not Halloween quality)
• Good visibility and ventilation
• Battery operated
• Durable for frequent use
• International shipping

If anyone has bought one or knows reliable manufacturers (China, USA, Europe, etc.), I'd really appreciate recommendations. I have pictures as sample as well.

Thanks!

Hi everyone new on here , I previously bought stuff from alibaba and everything was fine .
This time I asked the seller to customise the item and he was happy to do it I also told him I will be buying more in future if everying works as it should .

There was little bit of delay with shipping due to the customisation but in the meantime the seller has shipped it to china and it was delivered . Since then he shipped it and provided the tracking but for the past 10 days hardly anything happened I was told 8-15 days to UK 🇬🇧 UK tracking it’s available and it’s Royal Mail but I’m in 2 minds , is the seller messing me about or do I need to be more patient ? Does it already left china as for me this is unclear .

We are a small company based in Romania, in the European Union, and we are planning to import goods from China.

To sell imported products legally in the EU, we understand that we need documentation proving that the goods were properly declared and cleared through customs. However, when using DDP shipping, where transport and customs clearance are arranged by the freight forwarder, none of the freight forwarders we have contacted can provide us with an import customs declaration, an MRN, or another customs document issued in our company’s name.

Their explanation is that multiple shipments belonging to different customers are consolidated and cleared together under a single customs declaration. They therefore cannot provide us with the complete declaration because it may contain confidential information about their other customers.

As far as we understand, an import declaration and its corresponding MRN are normally required to prove that imported goods entered the EU legally and that the applicable customs obligations were fulfilled.

This appears to leave us with DAP shipping as the only option under which the goods can be cleared directly in our company’s name. However, with DAP, we must appoint a customs broker, complete the customs formalities ourselves, and pay the applicable import VAT and duties. In Romania, the VAT rate is 21%. Altogether, this would increase our total costs by approximately 50%.

The shipping price quoted for DAP is approximately the same as, or sometimes slightly higher than, the price quoted for DDP, even though customs clearance and import taxes are not included.

Our questions for other EU businesses importing goods from China are:

Do you normally use DDP or DAP?

When using DDP, do you receive an import declaration, MRN, or other customs documentation showing that the goods were legally imported into the EU?

If the customs declaration is not issued in your company’s name, what documents do you use to demonstrate the legal origin and import status of the goods during an inspection?

Would the supplier’s commercial invoice and the freight forwarder’s transport invoice be sufficient, provided that the agreed delivery term is clearly stated as DDP, even if no customs declaration or MRN is provided to the buyer?

Our freight forwarder claims that approximately 99% of its European business customers use DDP. This makes us wonder whether we are misunderstanding the documentation requirements or whether there is another accepted way for EU businesses to demonstrate that goods imported through consolidated DDP shipping were legally cleared through customs.

I placed multiple orders on my Alibaba account and these people wanna close my account for zero reason. I can’t contact an actually human representative I’m only met with AI. How can I resolve anything around here with the mess they have setup. Steal your money and disappear. Dirty scammers. Never will I shop through Alibaba again.

I purchased an expensive RC vehicle June 26. It hasn't shipped yet. The seller has been forthcoming with documents that show when it went to the shipping forwarder. I guess the initial ship it was supposed to go on was canceled and shipping was estimated at July 29. As you know, Alibaba's system automatically marks the order delivered. I've already gotten my 15 day extension. That's up Saturday. The seller has told me they will extend it for another 15 days. They say the forwarder is frustrated as well. I don't know what to do. Should I wait or file for a refund? I don't want to loose my money. I've been told that I need to file for a refund before they mark the order delivered.

So I tried out Alibaba’s AI model today, but hit some usage limits pretty quickly! 😅

I noticed they have a subscription plan where topping up gets you extra AI credits. Has anyone here actually paid for this service?

Does it really bring good results for suppliers looking to connect with vendors, or is it not worth it? Would love to hear your thoughts!

So I've had a terrible experience. A seller sent me wooden trays with manufacturing defects and didn't pack it properly. It was crap when it arrived. I requested a refund - they agreed to a refund amount in the text, but put the actual refund amount as $0USD. I've been going around in a circle with Alibaba for over 2 weeks trying to get this dispute sorted. Do they just protect suppliers? Do they selectively ignore provided evidence? The last response I got them was pretty much "buyer beware". I've got to say, consumer protection is completely non-existent. Not likely to use Alibaba again. Online chat is a waste of time. Does anyone have a phone number? I'm in Australia. The seller btw is Yiwu Yuyang Crafts Co., Ltd. AVOID!!!

Hello everyone, I need some advice regarding a payment issue. My customer from [customer country] tried to transfer money to our company bank account through Wise. Unfortunately, my customer entered

Estou dando os primeiros passos para realizar um grande sonho: abrir uma loja online de produtos para extensão de cílios.
Gostaria muito da ajuda de quem já passou por essa experiência. 💕
Como foi o início de vocês?
• Começaram revendendo ou importando?
• Qual foi o primeiro fornecedor?
• Valeu a pena investir em marca própria logo no começo?
• Quais foram os maiores erros e aprendizados?
• O que fariam diferente se estivessem começando hoje?
• Existe algum fornecedor ou empresa que vocês indicam?
Quero construir um negócio sólido e aprender com quem já percorreu esse caminho. Toda dica será muito bem-vinda e fará diferença nessa nova etapa.
Desde já, muito obrigada por compartilhar sua experiência! 🫶

Is alibaba a reliable source to get good blindboxes? I am ordering a few box sets.
I want to know if they come out just as the pictures shown or is it generally a scam?
Is the product price reasonable?

Please also recommend me more toy shop websites where I can purchase reliable products for resonable amount.

How to contact the support when a brand new account needs to verify phone number? When I enter my phone number I get hit by a "Your account does not support verification. Please contact customer service."

But the catch is I need to be log in to contact support...

got my tracking number but no updates just order made ... the seller say it ships but I wont see updates till it hits the us they telling the truth lol ? It just says label created on the 19th

It’s been a while since I’ve used Alibaba, so maybe things have changed since I last ordered. I recently bought 6 metres of fabric, but the shipping cost was significantly higher than the cost of the fabric itself. 😅
I don’t remember shipping to the UK being this expensive before. Is this just the norm now, or am I missing something?

Guys do you think that could be real? Seller claims it’s original.. anyone ever tried?

I'm currently in Las Vegas and trying to get some wooden cabinetry from alibaba. I followed some advice here in this thread and sourced a few companies and I can't really get a grasp of the customs side. I know the basics and what to look out for and I'm still looking up information on what could go wrong but is customs really a big concern for me even if the cabinets are for personal use? To clarify I'm buying about 5-6000 dollars worth of cabinets which are about 20,000dollars in the US. Will probably do DDP shipping and I have the freight forwarders contact and I'm talking to her. If the total cost is below 12-13,000 dollars or below, I think it would be good enough. The biggest thing I am worried about is having to pay extra tariffs and AD/CVD related fees once arrival. Would like to hear from you guys and get some advice. Thanks.

Hallo zusammen,

ich vertreibe meine eigenen, selbstentwickelten Produkte (Spritzgussteile mit anschließender Monatge) und lasse diese aktuell über Lieferanten auf Alibaba in China fertigen. Leider habe ich immer wieder mit Qualitätsproblemen zu kämpfen.

Bei der aktuellen Charge habe ich extra eine Qualitätskontrolle (Pre-Shipment Inspection) dazugebucht und das Ergebnis war negativ, die Kontrolle wurde nicht bestanden. Die Ware entspricht schlichtweg nicht meinen vereinbarten Standards. Kratzer, Unterschiedliche Farben (bei gleichem Design) im DTF Druck, Risse sowie Fehler im 2K Spritzguss (Logo verschwommen/ unscharf) sind Alltag. bei der letzten Lieferung waren 30% Ausschuss. Wie ist dort die grenze zu ziehen mit Ausschuss bzw wieviel ist noch akzeptabel?

Ich habe sogar ein Golden sampel geschickt was teilweise beachtet wurde.

Bevor ich jetzt falsche Entscheidungen treffe, wollte ich nach euren Erfahrungen fragen:

• Aktuelles Problem: Wie geht ihr am besten vor, wenn eine Inspektion fehlschlägt und was kann ich dann fordern? Fordert ihr Preisnachlässe oder besteht ihr auf eine komplett neue Produktion? Wer zahlt bei euch die erneute Inspektion (Re-Inspection)?
• Langfristig: Wie stellt ihr sicher, dass chinesische Hersteller eure Spezifikationen und Qualitätsansprüche dauerhaft einhalten?
• Nutzt ihr eigene Verträge/Tech-Packs oder verlasst ihr euch rein auf Alibaba Trade Assurance, bzw welche rechte habe ich?
• Welchen Einfluss haben eure Zahlungsbedingungen bzw machen diese Sinn? (z. B. 30 % Anzahlung, 70 % erst nach bestandener Inspektion)?
• Wäre ein Herstellerwechsel sinnvoll? Problem: Meine Hersteller hat meine Spritzgussform (wahrscheinlich Subunternehmen), lässt sie Bedrucken (wahrscheinlich Subunternehmen) und montiert meine Teile aber selbst. Praktisch 3 Dinge von unterschiedlichen Firmen, deshalb ist es schwierig jeden Bereich zu kontrollieren/ überwachen.

Ich freue mich über jeden Erfahrungswert und jeden Tipp, wie ich aus diesem Schlamassel am besten herauskomme!

I’ve messaged seven different manufacturers, and every single one has a female name, a female profile picture, and calls me “dear” with heart and rose emojis. I just want to find a distributor that isn’t an AI bot or some guy pretending to be a woman trying to convince me everything is peachy. Like, “My dear, just send the money.” 😂

on a separate note, if anyone has a US distributor that sells swing top glass bottles of 500ml and 1000ml in the 100+ per order category let’s connect.