Alibaba verified supplier

[Steve Carrigan]

@Steve Carrigan If you're serious about this project, your best option (in my opinion) is to go to China, visit 3 - 6 factories you've shortlisted after thorough research, see the factories with your own eyes, ask all the questions you need to ask, speak to the owners and management, check the components, certificates and quality control. Then test what you're buying.

Anything else, you could be taking risks.

Thank for your comments. There is only 1 factory I am interested in as they are the only one that makes this particular scooter. All the rest are similar, but cheaper versions/similar/copies etc. I have now found out from the Manufacturer that Horeca are a distributor from them and many other scooters.
I am still in discussions with the Manufacturer, but I think my chances are slim, as the UK distributor is a big outfit with many branches and already some dealers. But there agreement with the Manufacturer ends in Feb 2025, so maybe they are losing the exclusivity but I’m not sure. I can’t compete with that size of operation.
I was only looking at this as a small/semi part business. Something I could build up over time and then manage it during retirement a few days a week.

 

[MOIC]

I was only looking at this as a small/semi part business. Something I could build up over time and then manage it during retirement a few days a week.

If it's a small/semi part-time business you're looking at, I would buy from a UK supplier, your profit will be less, but so will your problems.

 

[Steve Carrigan]

If it's a small/semi part-time business you're looking at, I would buy from a UK supplier, your profit will be less, but so will your problems.

Thanks again.
Yes that may be the best option

 

[paulears]

Totally disagree - I have four suppliers who I regularly buy from via alibaba, and price delivery time and consistent quality work great for me?

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

The Sales Director of a major UK based supplier of fitness equipment who's customer's included the like's of Argos once told me that they'd lost over £100,000 on a dodgy deal. They'd visited the huge shiny new factory several times, the last time when the goods failed to arrive, only to find it completely empty, apparently everything removed a day after the up front payment had cleared! That's what you call being well organised...

 

[MOIC]

It really depends on the product, quantities, branding, and what specifications you're looking for.

If it's a bona fide factory, Alibaba is hit and miss. (Mostly miss)

If you're buying low quantities (<100) and you don't mind buying from a trader, then Alibaba may be OK, as long as you evaluate the supplier, confirm samples, agree all details on the pro forma, have the goods checked before you pay the final balance, and use a shipping agent that doesn't rip you off.

(There's lots more to do)

Horses for courses.

 

[paulears]

There's a great book called Poorly Made in China - it's on amazon and explains about how things work. It's really an eye opener into the differences we don't even think of. Lots of it is available for reading on the Amazon site to give you a flavour.

 

[Kixoponev]

Is this really verified as an app? I have never tried alibaba, temu and etc

 

[paulears]

Alibaba is really for people buying in small to large quantities, and the problem for people buying personally just one is that they price as a sort of random guess. So with my type of purchases, I might search for certain product or model number and it might say price $200-300. You enquire and it gets quoted at 325. You then say "I did ask for the air freight price, delivered to my address in the UK - and they need your details - so Fred Smith, 12XXX road, Lowestoft, UK NR1 1XX - that gives them the info for UPS or similar freight and the $325 gets maybe $60 freight added. You might then get 20% plus £12 added by UPS. I have never lost money via alibaba.

Temu are a sell to customer type operation and I have bought cheaper stuff from them and it worked fine. With Aliexpress you are generally dealing with smaller agents their end, but oddly, sometimes cheaper than the bigger firms. Some of the bigger firms also have direct sales to business users - so one brand I buy direct from the real manufacturer, who also sell to agents who advertise on Aliexpress. So buying regularly is easier - I email the supplier, he sends me an alibaba payment request. alibaba costs them to use, but while I get alibaba protection, so does he - so it works. Just remember all these costs are factored in EXCEPT currency conversion, VAT and any delivery fees. If they are on aliexpress, in pounds and you pay on a debit or credit card - sometimes you get a charge from your bank. Alibaba always gets a fee because you pay in dollars, A £600 Alibaba order can get £10 charged by Santander, our end.

Safety wise, it is better than doing iban or swift bank transfers - with those the money is just incidental to the transaction. With alibaba - there is a link and while it isn't really escrow, there is a delay between you paying, and them receiving the funds - giving time to query?

EDIT As I was typin - I've just had an email from Bajaao - which appears to be an Indian supplier. I'm going to investigate.

 

[Newchodge]

So are you saying the Alibaba verified supplier means nothing ?

It means exactly what it says. Alibab has verified they are a supplier. Not what they supply, quality or anything else, but they are a supplier. Not worth anything.

 

[MOIC]

It means Alibaba has verified that the person exists, nothing else.

The first rule of working with any China 'supplier' on Alibaba, is to not believe what they say.

Carry out due diligence on every aspect of the process including, but not limited to:

• supplier details, including business registration, status, registered addresses, export license . . .
• supplier product, including specifications, components, manufacturing quality, certifications . . .
• supplier certificates, for safety and compliance, required standards, is relevant to your order . . .
• supplier contract, including full details of the company, as well as product, bank details, warranty, customer returns, delivery dates, payment terms, incoterms, packaging, packing, carton markings . . .

The above scratches the surface.

Is it overkill to cover all the above?

It depends on your order quantity and what you're prepared to lose.

 

[DoolallyTap]

I have imported from a variety of Alibaba suppliers for several years and so far had no problems with any of them. I always pay using Paypal so there is more security.

 

[MOIC]

I have imported from a variety of Alibaba suppliers for several years and so far had no problems with any of them. I always pay using Paypal so there is more security.

An electric scooter, which is the product related to this thread, is vastly different to Croc widgets.

 

[DoolallyTap]

An electric scooter, which is the product related to this thread, is vastly different to Croc widgets.

I had not read the opening post so did not know it was an electric scooter, the guy only wants to order one so what's the problem. The OP can get them to send it air freight, costs about $14 per kilo. He would get it in a few days instead of waiting weeks for a container. One electric scooter will not cost much, paid by PayPal with some security.

More important is why bother, the market for electric scooters is saturated, the margins are poor, will be very hard to carve out a piece of that particular cake.

 

[fisicx]

The OP can get them to send it air freight, costs about $14 per kilo.

Are you sure? There are all sorts of restrictions about transporting batteries that will incur additional precautions and packaging.

 

[MOIC]

I had not read the opening post so did not know it was an electric scooter, the guy only wants to order one so what's the problem. The OP can get them to send it air freight, costs about $14 per kilo. He would get it in a few days instead of waiting weeks for a container. One electric scooter will not cost much, paid by PayPal with some security.

More important is why bother, the market for electric scooters is saturated, the margins are poor, will be very hard to carve out a piece of that particular cake.

Continue reading the thread.

It was one to test, then to order a quantity.

There is always context when answering.

Air freight for an electric scooter with a lithium battery? I don't think so.

 

[paulears]

It also means the escrow type system has been implemented. I forgot to confirm deliver of one order and got this, showing that the supplier had been paid as I had not confirmed it or requested a refund.

Dear Paul Johnson，

We acknowledge that you are satisfied with the shipping information for the Trade Assurance Order 226656XXXXXXXXXXX (as you neither confirm the shipment nor request a refund within the given time period). Now we suppose the goods shipment has been completed, and the supplier’s Assurance Amount of 905.00 for this order has been unfrozen. View order details: <https://biz.alibaba.com/ta/detail.htm?orderId=22665xxxxxxxxxxxx> Wishing you the very best of business. Alibaba.com