No matter how much we say it, it’s still hard to believe it. The world has truly become a global market. Thanks to the advancement of the internet, technology, and shipment methods, every corner of the world is now connected. Only a decade ago this was unimaginable, but here we are now.
The people behind the biggest shipping companies are billionaires in every sense of that word. Today, we rely on companies such as Alibaba, Amazon, and AliExpress to ship us our goods. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying stuff as an individual or you’re sourcing products for your company.
While these companies are legit, you can often get into the wrong side of internet orders by making some simple mistakes. It’s not the companies’ fault if you’re not fully grasping the matter on hand. To help you have your goods delivered to you without too much fuss, we are going to write this article. So, first thing first, we need you to read carefully.
This is not going to be complicated writing. Also, we’re only going to focus on one supplier – Alibaba. While most of the companies in this domain work on the same principles we’re going to give you the five tips on how to avoid common mistakes when ordering Alibaba.
1. Don’t Go In Without a Clear Niche
Niches are important when you’re dealing with Alibaba. If you’re going to look for merchandise on this website, you need to have a clear idea of where your focus is going to go.
If you’re not clear on your niche, you’re better off spending some time finding it before you’re a regular on this website. If you’re planning on being a seller of any type of goods in large quantities, you need to have a plan. Buying is easy, selling not so much.
So, if you want to use Alibaba to find what you want, you’re in a lot of trouble. The sole reason is that the offering is too large, and you’ll get lost. Find a niche first. If you’re having issues with this, maybe you could put your efforts in someone else’s hands. We don’t know, maybe maplesourcing.com could be your starting point.
2. Don’t Rush Anything
With Alibaba, it’s all about finding the right supplier and the right products. While this might seem like something ordinary, it’s not. No, you need to dig deep into this process, and it can’t be rushed. While a single product might be found with speed on some occasions, don’t expect it to be the same way with the supplier.
When it comes to finding an ideal supplier you should understand that time consumption is going to be on a high level. You need to keep everything tight and steady. While some people got rich quickly, don’t count on it as a sure thing. It’s how they say it in Serbia: Still waters run deep.
3. Get Your Samples
There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. This is not a fruit market where you’re blushing because your mother is trying grapes one by one. When it comes to ordering from Alibaba, on their website, or any other similar one for that matter, you only see products in pictures. While they might catch your eye, it is never wise to buy anything this way.
The reality is often different, and if you want to enter the world of sales, you need to be careful about this particular matter. Asking for samples is not only common sense, it is also common practice, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for them.
This is the only way to know that you’re going to receive the goods that you want. Sometimes a bad sample will cause the change of supplier. Sometimes you’ll show the manufacturer what they can do better and you’ll be working together again in the future.
4. Don’t Fall on the First Obstacle
When it comes to international shipping and working with off-shore companies, you need to know a few things. This is a vast sea, and while there are beautiful creatures, there are also sharks all over the place. Don’t be afraid to swim, be afraid to enter the water at the first beach you encounter.
If you want success in this business you must make contacts. The more the merrier. Finding the right supplier is not as easy as it might seem. Those that look good on the first contact maybe aren’t as honest as they appear.
It’s not wise to trust everyone on this platform. No, you need to be careful and choose your partner wisely. We’re not being paranoid. This is advice that’s gathered from many people with both positive and negative experiences.
5. Inquire on The Price
Like in many other spheres of business price is all that matters. Well, some other things do too, but the price is the pinnacle of trading. When you’re investing time and money in Alibaba trading, you need to be careful about the price.
The system is designed in such a way that some people sell, and others buy. What’s the same for everyone is that they’re there to make a profit. You should never order anything before you’re clear on the matter of the price with your seller.
You should always bargain, and that’s not out of option, but you also need to know when t stop and accept the price. If you’re new to the business, it will be hard to fight for a lower price. But, with time and experience, you should be able to handle this matter. Of course, with time you’re expected to work with the same suppliers, and the quantity should increase.
When these two things combine, you should be able to strike a bargain with your regular partners. In the beginning, this might seem like something that’s not achievable, but with time, you’ll be able to come over it. Also, you’ll be able to talk about the payment methods, the time frame of every payment and many other things. But first, see that you know the price of everything.