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The secrets of Alibaba.com

  • avatar

    by: chinawholesaler
    SaleHoo Senior Member
    137 posts

    The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 29 Feb 08 8:32 pm.

    we were a golden supplier at alibaba. I would like to disclose some secrets of alibaba.com.

    I will answer:

    Usually a company care about it's customers most. Who are the customers of Alibaba.com?

    Why the buyers at alibaba will receive a lot of spam emails?

    Who should use alibaba

    If you are a buyer at alibaba.com, the truth is that: once you post buying thread on alibaba, all the gold suppliers can see your email address.

    And once you send a inquiry to one supplier, it will be send to all the suppliers that have the same kind of product.

    So usually once you post a thread there, you will receive over 30 replies in the first day.

    Due to the intensive competition caused by alibaba spam, suppliers will give you extremely low price. However they won't tell you the hidden fee there, since they want to convince you that their price is the lowest.

    and finally when you decide to order, they will ask you pay 30% in advance, usually via bank wire transfer or western union. The risk is there though.

    When they tell you your order is ready to ship, at this time, they will tell you the hidden fee. and you have no choice since you already paid 30%.

    The ordering process is very complicated.

    That's true, since Alibaba is not good for buyers, since alibaba only concern how to gain expensive membership fee from the supplier and can't get a penny from buyer. Sending buyer's info to suppliers will make supplier happy and would like to pay for the membership fee.

    The membership fee they charge for golden members starts from $8000 USD a year. The highest membership fee is $24,0000 USD.

    So the suppliers at alibaba are their real customers. Buyers pay nothing to alibaba, so they don't care about buyers. That's why it's useless to complain to alibaba if you were cheated.

    Who should use Alibaba.com?

    Only if you want to purchase very big order. For example, over $300,000 USD once. At this point, alibaba is your best choice.

    ======================================================
    And also please note that: the profile of a supplier at alibaba.com is not real! Alibaba allows suppliers to change their English business name, and company type any time! Most 'manufacturers' there are trading companies.If you want to order a lot, you'd better do a lot of search to make sure you are buying from a manufacturer or a trading company.
    ==========================================================

    However, most manufacturers there are only good at production, not selling.

    So I can't say if it's good for you to buy from a manufacturer or a trading compnay. Many manufacturers don't like to sell directly since they would like to focus on production only. That's why many real manufacturers don't accept orders lower than 1 million.

    So if you are not running a big company, and you don't hope to get in trouble, you can just order from online wholesalers based in China, especially based in Shenzhen, where most manufacturers locate.
  • avatar

    by: chinawholesaler
    SaleHoo Senior Member
    137 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 2 Mar 08 5:07 am.

    Hmmm.

    it's seems this topic is not interesting, although it's original
  • avatar

    by: naronson
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    47 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 2 Mar 08 7:36 am.

    I learned a lot! Thank you!
  • avatar

    by: malana
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    18 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 5 Mar 08 4:45 am.

    Thank you.....I have noticed while on Alibaba (I am still hurting by being scammed) that once you send inquiry, the' seller' or better 'scams' start sending you emails with their websites....and PUTIAN seller is a big NO NO NOOOO....Being listed as Gold Supplier is no guaranty. Those from Putian are I guess paying those fees as a group to pose as one reputable company. They are all over the place and you think WOW......

    It proves my point though, deal wit China just then when you have some real money in order to make more money. Otherwise be smart, and if you must...buy small, test and test some more. And this ONLY with non brand items. There aren't any Ipods or Nockia phones or Designer Clothing from China that are legit for you to buy in order to resell.
  • avatar

    by: jimmy_huber
    SaleHoo Master Member
    2868 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 5 Mar 08 11:25 am.

    im going to make this a sticky as this is very valuable information and will help alot of members. Thanks

    Wholesale Directory by SaleHoo

  • avatar

    by: alansele
    New SaleHoo Member
    1 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 7 Mar 08 10:02 pm.

    Well,
    What could you expect when they have that name.

    Only, it does not sem that that this Alibaba needs 40 thieves.

    But, have they forgotten what happens in the end?
  • avatar

    by: sircaesar
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    11 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 4 Apr 08 2:40 pm.

    I have to say, chinawholesaler is correct, i got scammed, about 3 times
    using a website called link hidden alibaba and other china B2B tradewebsites.. thinking i was purchasing iphones, playstations, etc.. and dell laptops..

    my first scam, i ordered original 8gb the supplier sent me fake iphone
    luckily their is a market for the fake iphone, its called the iphone clone..and i was able to resell and break even..

    2nd deal i was supposed to recieve a macbook air laptop
    got sent a white playstation 3 instead.. i was able to retrive about 80% of my money

    the first 2 scams are known as bait and switch..
    they bait you in with a hot selling product, then
    send you a product of lower value..

    the last scam again i sent for an original iphone this was
    from an alibaba gold supplier.. this was a total lost/bust

    the only smart thing i did, was place small orders, all of these were for only 1 unit, none the less i was still mad cause my average order was $200 usd, any amount of money scam is a lost and it hurts.. let me tell you all they are very convincing.. they get on msn messenger or yahoo, and will be as nice as possible, like chinawholesaler said, they offer you to good to be true pricing,, and they will hunt you down everyday wanting to know when you will place this order.. its very easy to fall for this.. even the best of them.. because they are very subtle in how they do it.. all i could think of was the profit i would make, so my greed in the end is what blinded me.

    and as chinawholesaler mentioned.. all of the goods they do actually have are fake anyway. a valuable lesson to be learned..
    stay away from Alibaba, and other China B2b websites, alibaba is not the only one.. their is tradekey, ecvv, ec2, and hundreds of others..

    also last but not least.. they will always get you to send payment thru western union, moneygram, moneybookers, or bank wire.. all 100% high risk payment options to the buyer.. if you want to test a real overseas supplier
    ask him if he will accept link hidden , or cod.. i don't know how effective the international credit card chargeback policies are.. maybe one of you can give me some insight on that..

    link hidden is probably the safest way to do business
    especially internationally.. because the funds are put into a secure place
    and let me mention only use link hidden cause their hundreds of other fake fraudulent escrow services..

    jimmy also mentioned link hidden as being the only approved
    escrow service with ebay..

    FYI CHINA WHOLESALER , i could have used this advice about 2 months ago!!
    thanks anyway
  • avatar

    by: randomxs
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    21 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 4 Apr 08 10:57 pm.

    i have to add something positiv: i did 3 times cooperation with 3 different alibaba companies and all of them where real and they delivered what they promised. But I got many scam mails too.. dont worry...

    First I check their website with an WhoIs Website to look, when they did register the site... if they are new.. then let the finger away from them...

    If they exists for about 2-5 years - then probably they are Ok.
    Also the data and under which name they registered their homepage is very important.

    What I will do next is to go to china and attent a china trade fair to get their real contacts - also can test their products by myself their..

    maybe u should consider this also.

    One more thing.. dont expect or trust anyone on alibaba who tell you, that they can sell you 'brand' items!
  • avatar

    by: gomezed
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    13 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 10 Apr 08 8:59 am.

    my experience is almost the same, but i can tell you 3 different steps to avoid the bloody cheaters. First of all the only good way to good business with chines company is go there.
    On the other hand to get back to the topic, the majority of the alibaba electronics suppliers are frauders. They just want to scam money. THats funny. Every time when i bought on alibaba something else than original playstation laptops or mp3-4 whatever, i never ever been cheated. Ok thats true i have bought trough alibaba only 9 times (scooters, and clothes) and those supplier all the time have normal website with normal address not xeun18938474793.com or link hidden email that they using. So the lession is
    How the alibaba site looks like are they selling those products that they wrote to you into the email
    Do they have real website, with real email address. Real means normal name website and related email not yahoo msn or whatever.
    If yes how it is looks like. If it is some kind of free flash engine one, thats suspicious. But ive seen scam site with really massive flash design and engine.
    Do they have phone? Can they answer when you are calling them?
    And finally i think the trusthpass members are ok. But if you just receive email from trustpass memer who starting his letter with 'please email me to the link hidden or hotmail.com whatever, than delete that message. That alibaba acc has been stolen. Report it. Ive got 1000 letters from trustpass members with saying hey man we can supply nokia n95 black edition for 4 dollars seventy 3 cents. Please place your order at link hidden ( he is a real scammer from UK by the way) when i cchecked the alibaba message senders profile i realized they are selling diesel engines not cell phones and they were honest company. when i called them they changed their password to alibaba instantly and they were so sorry. So they are trustpass members and they are honset ones, but someone used their alibaba acc, and sending the fake offers. By the way alibaba really doesnt care about the buyers. Thats true. forget about the complain. really. THey dont care at all. I have lost 3 laptops already. And i learned the lession. Alibaba sux and the real good wholesallers and manufacturers are somewhere else, i dont know yet where:)

    take care guys, and never never never never never never send money to funjian province. Everything that far away from honkong is shit over there. Sorry for the term....

    Cheers
    adam
  • avatar

    by: planes
    Forum Moderator
    843 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 11 Apr 08 6:16 pm.

    I have a problem with posters who are obviously sporting Chinese as their original
    language and are saying its ok to buy from Alibaba.

    Something smells funny to me. I rarely hear from someone from the US who has a good experience with them.
  • avatar

    by: gomezed
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    13 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 12 Apr 08 12:20 pm.

    I have a problem with posters who are obviously sporting Chinese as their original
    language and are saying its ok to buy from Alibaba.

    Something smells funny to me. I rarely hear from someone from the US who has a good experience with them.
    Are you talking about me?:) I hope not . Especially because i did not write it is good to buy from alibaba... But maybe my language problem if that is what you got from my post... sorry about it. I was going to write. Dont use alibaba, if you are not prepared for the cheater fraud idiots... And im not chines im european just im living in australia for a while.
    :?
  • avatar

    by: Parabellum
    SaleHoo Senior Member
    51 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 1 May 08 4:44 am.

    Alibaba is a joke. And so are all the other similar B2B sites like Tradekey etc.

    Gold Suppliers are actually the worst scammers on Alibaba. And It's easy to see why, a scammer pays $8000 for a trustpass, and is able to scam people out of $150,000 or more because they have a trust pass. Talk about a return on your investment.
  • avatar

    by: nusaint2000
    New SaleHoo Member
    4 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 1 May 08 1:30 pm.

    i have to add something positiv: i did 3 times cooperation with 3 different alibaba companies and all of them where real and they delivered what they promised. But I got many scam mails too.. dont worry...

    First I check their website with an WhoIs Website to look, when they did register the site... if they are new.. then let the finger away from them...

    If they exists for about 2-5 years - then probably they are Ok.
    Also the data and under which name they registered their homepage is very important.

    What I will do next is to go to china and attent a china trade fair to get their real contacts - also can test their products by myself their..

    maybe u should consider this also.

    One more thing.. dont expect or trust anyone on alibaba who tell you, that they can sell you 'brand' items!
    pls can you share your legit supplier.i hope its not asking too much.cheers
  • avatar

    by: powderhound100
    New SaleHoo Member
    1 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 21 May 08 1:11 am.

    any one know if any of these suppliers are legit??

    link hidden

    link hidden

    or does anyone else know of any wii sellers, that are definately not scams?? looking to buy some at a wholesale value (I am in the united states)

    thanks link hidden
  • avatar

    by: chiritos
    New SaleHoo Member
    2 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 22 May 08 2:49 pm.

    powderhound100 . You don't buy to XINGFUTRADE, IS SCAM!!!!

    And another this: link hidden. I have lost $800!!!!!
  • avatar

    by: gomezed
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    13 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 24 May 08 8:07 am.

    powderhound:

    regarding the

    link hidden

    Scam. not maybe, not likely. SURELY SCAM. by the way all of the electrical 'brand name' suppliers are scams . stay away form them. ANd you save a lot of money.
  • avatar

    by: tikki222
    New SaleHoo Member
    6 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 9 Jun 08 4:02 pm.

    Thank you very much, very valueable information.
  • avatar

    by: charlestonauctions
    New SaleHoo Member
    2 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 26 Jun 08 1:43 am.

    let me know if i am wrong, but alibab.com seems like a giant pyramid scheme
  • avatar

    by: zcrazi
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    16 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 8 Jul 08 9:39 pm.

    Be very carefull with alibaba. I almost got scamed from one company that was a gold supplier and had trust pass. If you can't trust a company with trust past then who can we trust???
  • avatar

    by: mrlarex
    New SaleHoo Member
    2 posts

    Re: The secrets of Alibaba.com

    Posted 15 Jul 08 9:24 pm.

    Hello,

    Anyone here at salehoo that can give (any) feedback about this company?

    link hidden

    They have really good prices and seems like a serious company?
    Any respons would be much appriciated since I am thinking of ordering from them, I have just been scammed on alibaba and don´t wanna go that road again!

    Thanks :)