Alibaba - Gold Members

Places like Alibaba and some other trade sites have Gold Members, that have had an authentication and verification procedure conducted by a third-party credit agency.

How well do you think we could trust that these companies would not rip us off?

Hi
I've been wondering the same thing. I've seen these sites with Gold members, Silver members etc. One such site had Dropshiiper Network as a Silver Member, and I've read about the troubles people in this forum have had with them.
I think its the same as with any company, that you deal with them cautiously and build up a relationship/trust with them.

Those gold members just pay a fee for those gold titles. I still dont believe that gold status as an authentication.

Try to communicate with them and see how they sound. If they do not sound business/professional, then mostlikely they are individuals buying and selling in that website. However, investigate them first. If they sound reliable and you could make a profit from them, then go on

I just started doing this a couple of months ago, and my very first transaction was with a TradeKey Silver Member. I had many email discussions with the supplier and then with a rep from TradeKey before I made the test purchase. I was assured by TradeKey that all Silver members are authenticated and I would not have any problems, but in the rare case I did they would investigate.

I ordered 1 iPod Nano and 1 XBOX 360 and they were supposed to ship the next day. A week later I hadn't gotten a tracking number so I started emailing the supplier but never got a response. I then emailed the TradeKey fraud department and copied the supplier and the same day got a response from the supplier. He said it was 'difficult to ship these products out of China now' but he was going to do it that same day. Later that day he sent the EMS tracking number and a week later I got my package. Only problem is that he sent 1 pair of fugly Air Jordans and 1 Lacoste polo.

I have emailed him and the TradeKey fraud department at least a dozen times since but neither responds. I was brand new to this and used Western Union, so I have no chance of recovering my funds. TradeKey won't respond either and I've since read similar complaints about Alibaba and other such sites. None of them authenticate anything, they just collect the money from the supplier and give them the title.

I have since refused to do business with anyone who will not accept credit card payments or PayPal. This has seriously limited me, as I have not been able to find any reliable source for iPods yet. I have had three transactions fall through and all three were refunded, but if these had been T/T or WU transactions I could possibly be out tens of thousands of dollars.

hmmm was the supplier shoesbag

hmmm was the supplier shoesbag

OMG! Of all the scammers out there, how did you know it was them? I haven't posted their name anywhere!!

Thank you all for the feedback on this. I have had doubts about the legitamcy of some of the gold silver members on such sites. It was when I did the whois search that found some gold members details not matching and thought that there may be some other legitate reason that I had not been aware of for the mismatches.
But it does look like the scammers are just paying the large amounts required to get that gold status.

on the shoesbag theme. lol. I researched the company for two weeks before making a purchase. Everything checked out to my amazement. I placed a small sample order. The first order was fine. I than made a slightly larger order and got the run around for about thirty days. I than got a shipment with three laptop cases and about 12 cell phones. They said the shipment must have been switched. I have since contacted tradekey and sent them the documentation. They did suspend that companies account for further investigation. I am still out the money and still searching for any fake companies that match there information. Silver and gold members in reality means nothing. Some are actually good companies and some are frauds. I still use alibaba and tradekey for suppliers. Just do your homework first and always use test samples a few times. Don't up your orders just because one sample came back smelling like a rose. I learned that lesson the hard way. I now use letters of credit to buy anything in bulk. I also only use wester union or bank transfer on sample orders. Sometimes it takes money to make money and to find good suppliers.

I just started doing this a couple of months ago, and my very first transaction was with a TradeKey Silver Member. I had many email discussions with the supplier and then with a rep from TradeKey before I made the test purchase. I was assured by TradeKey that all Silver members are authenticated and I would not have any problems, but in the rare case I did they would investigate.

I ordered 1 iPod Nano and 1 XBOX 360 and they were supposed to ship the next day. A week later I hadn't gotten a tracking number so I started emailing the supplier but never got a response. I then emailed the TradeKey fraud department and copied the supplier and the same day got a response from the supplier. He said it was 'difficult to ship these products out of China now' but he was going to do it that same day. Later that day he sent the EMS tracking number and a week later I got my package. Only problem is that he sent 1 pair of fugly Air Jordans and 1 Lacoste polo.

I have emailed him and the TradeKey fraud department at least a dozen times since but neither responds. I was brand new to this and used Western Union, so I have no chance of recovering my funds. TradeKey won't respond either and I've since read similar complaints about Alibaba and other such sites. None of them authenticate anything, they just collect the money from the supplier and give them the title.

I have since refused to do business with anyone who will not accept credit card payments or PayPal. This has seriously limited me, as I have not been able to find any reliable source for iPods yet. I have had three transactions fall through and all three were refunded, but if these had been T/T or WU transactions I could possibly be out tens of thousands of dollars.

GoHogsGAR, last night (friday) I placed my first order to China... but I had never sent any e-mail to the supplier asking for the item as you did. Now I am crossing my finger that everything go fine.

I required the shipping by DHL, Do you know who many days take I get the tracking number??

It will depend on the supplier and payment method. If it is a sample order it should be within a few weeks. I would email the supplier and ask them directly. I hope your order goes well.

I required the shipping by DHL, Do you know who many days take I get the tracking number??

I make orders with my supplier in China every other month with no problem. I made one on Aug 30 and received a tracking number on Sept. 4th. (shipping is with USPS).
My order will be at my door Friday (Sept, 8).

^^^Guest = Me Choppacity........^^^

everyone here is right. 'Gold' suppliers dont mean jack at the end of the day. Although i tend to trust them a bit more than the free members, i still do my usual checks when buying for the first time.

One of my best suppliers is actually a free member.

Hi, I'm new to salehoo, but saw your comments. I recently purchased some supposedly genuine Apple Ipod nano's from a gold key member on tradekey and was well and truely ripped off. every single one of them was a fake. I've tried to contact the supplier (no reply.....surprise, surprise) and have reported the sale as fraudulent to tradekey (not hat I've had a reply fro them either!!!)
All I can say is check your suppliers out as thoroughly as possible and make sure you have some form of recourse should things turn out to be less than you expected....

Hi, I'm new to salehoo, but saw your comments. I recently purchased some supposedly genuine Apple Ipod nano's from a gold key member on tradekey and was well and truely ripped off. every single one of them was a fake. I've tried to contact the supplier (no reply.....surprise, surprise) and have reported the sale as fraudulent to tradekey (not hat I've had a reply fro them either!!!)
All I can say is check your suppliers out as thoroughly as possible and make sure you have some form of recourse should things turn out to be less than you expected....

How did you pay for them? If by CC or Paypal contact them and complete a chargeback for false advertising of fake products.

Hi All

When checking up on Alibaba for a supplier i first clicked on Gold Suppliers at the bottom. When they come up then put in paypal in the search bar at the top right and you will have a list of gold suppliers whom accept paypal.

Just thought this might help.

Jason UK :D

Good info jg1969 :D

Amen

Nice description Jg