If you’re a new Amazon seller, one of your first thoughts may be, “Where can I buy products to sell on Amazon?” Experienced sellers will most likely recommend Alibaba as the best platform for sourcing millions of products to private-label and brand. This platform is ideal for companies of all sizes, including those that rely on Alibaba to source profitable products for Amazon FBA. If you’re new to Alibaba, you might find it overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Alibaba in order to source quality products for your Amazon FBA business.
Table of Contents
What is Alibaba?
Alibaba is a global business-to-business e-commerce platform which connects brands and sellers with millions of product manufacturers and suppliers. This is the place to go if you want to create custom products for your brand. Unlike Amazon, where customers make one-time purchases, Alibaba is where businesses buy in bulk to resell online or in a physical store.
Alibaba is an attractive option for Amazon sellers due to its low prices and user-friendly interface. The majority of Alibaba’s manufacturers are based in China, where they produce high-quality goods at much lower prices than in the United States or Canada. You can quickly and easily find a manufacturer for your product by searching for potential suppliers on Alibaba.
If you want to create a private label product that is unique to your brand, Alibaba is the ideal platform for finding suppliers who can turn your ideas into reality. However, it is critical to avoid purchasing branded products because there are suppliers on the platform who attempt to sell counterfeit products of major brands such as Disney or Nike. Selling counterfeit goods on Amazon is strictly prohibited, and violating their anti-counterfeiting policy will result in permanent exclusion from the platform.
Is Alibaba safe?
Yes, Alibaba is generally safe to use for sellers. However, keep an eye out for counterfeits, payment scams, and suppliers who send high-quality samples but low-quality bulk orders. Before placing a larger order, it is critical to contact multiple suppliers and order samples. Alibaba provides a secure payment portal for all transactions as well as Trade Assurance, an order protection service. Your money will be safe and secure as long as you make payments through Alibaba’s payment system.
You must first decide what you want to sell on Amazon before you can find suppliers on Alibaba. Take the time to analyze the products you want to sell as part of your Amazon seller journey. However, don’t become paralyzed by analysis paralysis. You may become so overwhelmed with information that you are unable to make a decision. Profitability, demand, and competition must all be considered when analyzing products. Aim for a higher profit margin, find out if customers are actively searching for and purchasing the product on Amazon, and evaluate your competition to ensure you can make a profit.
How to use Alibaba?
If you’re looking to sell a product and need to find suppliers, Alibaba is a good place to start. To begin, perform a keyword search to see what products are available. Alibaba, like Amazon, lets you narrow down your search results by supplier type, product type, price, supplier country, and certifications. However with the use of our latest AI tool, Product Sniper, it is possible to find and connect an Amazon product with the AliBaba supplier in just seconds, with only the link.
Product Sniper
We find the Ali Baba supplier to any Amazon product. You give us the link, we give you the supplier.
It is recommended that you check the “Trade Assurance” and “Verified Supplier” filters to ensure that you are working with professional and legitimate suppliers. As you begin to evaluate potential suppliers, this will add an extra layer of security and peace of mind..
After you’ve identified products that suit your interest, it’s time to investigate the suppliers. One method is to examine the “Company Profile” section of a supplier’s listing. More information about the supplier’s sales, employees, quality control, and manufacturing process will be provided.
How to contact suppliers on Alibaba?
When contacting suppliers, keep several factors in mind to help you make the best decision for your company. Look for high-quality products that meet your requirements, and consider ordering product samples to test the quality for yourself. Inquire about the supplier’s communication skills, industry experience, and ability to tailor products to your specific requirements.
Many suppliers will have their own Alibaba storefront where you can learn more about their company. You can ensure that you’re working with a reputable partner who can help you grow your business by taking the time to carefully evaluate suppliers.
Product Pricing: One of the primary reasons why sellers choose to source products from overseas is the wider range of price points available. This opens up a plethora of opportunities for you to save money on your product. However, be wary of products that are significantly less expensive than those offered by other suppliers, as this could indicate poor quality. Overpriced products, on the other hand, may leave you with little to no profit margin.
Contacting Multiple Suppliers: after clicking through to a listing, you will see a “Contact Supplier” button, and in some cases, an option for live chat. Here are some tips for contacting suppliers on Alibaba:
1. Cast a wide net: It is best to contact at least 5-10 suppliers to explore a cross-section of companies and weed out those who are less than ideal.
2. Be Detailed: Your first communication should be detailed and clear. Use bullet points to highlight the exact product specifications you are looking for.
3. Be Polite and Respectful: Give some information about yourself and your company. Though you do not need a registered company to do business with an Alibaba supplier, it is essential to conduct business professionally.
4. Ask Questions: Include key questions about pricing, minimum order quantity, lead times, and sample costs.
5. Be Clear: English may not be the supplier’s first language, so make sure you communicate clearly. Most suppliers have English-speaking representatives to make communication easier.
6. Do Your Research: Vet each supplier based on their response time and how they communicate with you. If you cannot get all the answers you need from one supplier, cross them off your list.
7. Inquire about Shipping: Ask for estimated express shipping costs to your location.
How to minimize the risk of sourcing?
Sourcing products from Alibaba is generally safe, but as with any marketplace, there are potential risks involved. Here are some steps to minimize those risks:
1. Vet your suppliers: Look for Alibaba Verified Suppliers and Trade Assurance suppliers on the platform. These measures are in place to protect you from theft and purchasing poor-quality products.
2. Avoid counterfeit products: Branded products found on Alibaba are almost always counterfeit. Selling counterfeit goods on Amazon can result in your account being banned. If you want to sell branded products, consider using the wholesale or arbitrage business models for Amazon.
3. Order samples first: Always purchase samples to evaluate before placing a bulk order with a supplier. This will help you avoid receiving a large quantity of poor-quality products that you can’t sell. You can also have inspections done during the manufacturing process to ensure that your products are of good quality.
After receiving the samples, selecting your supplier, and negotiating the price, it’s time to place an order. To ensure clarity on units ordered, pricing, and shipping terms, it’s recommended that you send a purchase order agreement to your supplier. Jungle Scout’s Supplier Database has templates and purchase order samples that you can use to send to your supplier.
Once everything is agreed upon, your supplier will draft an order and send an invoice. You can place your order through bank transfer, credit card, or other available options on Alibaba’s Trade Assurance.
It’s essential to note that Alibaba is currently charging U.S. sellers sales tax depending on the jurisdiction you’re ordering from. To avoid paying sales tax, apply for the Alibaba US Sales Tax Exemption Program if you have a resale certificate with your state or a federal EIN number for your business.
To get your products from your supplier into Amazon FBA fulfillment centers, you can usually work with your supplier to arrange shipping since the first shipment is often small enough for air freight. Most Alibaba suppliers are familiar with selling on Amazon and can help you get your products into FBA or to your location. They will handle the shipping with an express carrier, such as FedEx or DHL, and typically include the shipping costs in your invoice.
For shipments exceeding 200 kg or 440 lbs, it’s recommended to work with a freight forwarding company, who will help arrange sea shipments, customs clearance, packaging, and more. For further information on importing products from foreign countries, check out Chapter 3 of the How to Sell on Amazon for Beginners guide.
Before shipping products directly from China or another foreign country to FBA, you must have a listing. In Seller Central, go to Catalog > Add Products to create your listing.
Conclusion
Creating your own private label brand can be a fulfilling and profitable venture. By utilizing the right resources, knowledge, and dedication, you can create your own unique product.
If you’re interested in using Alibaba to source products, we hope this article has provided you with valuable insights and inspiration to move forward with your ecommerce journey. Have you used Alibaba to source products in the past? Share your experience or ask us any questions in the comments below!
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