Tapping the resources on Alibaba.com

[Will]

Hey guys

Just wondering if anyone else sees the opportunity in Alibaba.com as much as I do? I like trading and selling items, and since I started using alibaba, I have loved being able to get in touch directly with the manufacturers and buyers alike.

Lately, I have done 3 transactions acting as the middleman, where I was able to find a buyer in need of a product in one country, and simply go to the seller section and find a good manufacturer to supply them. I was then able to quote the buyer 'my price' and the transactions were done through me, giving me a nice profit with minimal work done.

I know this is what a trading company does every day, though the ease at which you can provide these services on alibaba (due to the ease of finding buyers and manufacturers) has me really excited. If I can keep finding opportunities to middleman for other transactions, I will look at this as a serious business opportunity. I am not talking small trades either - alibaba has been the place where $100 million or more trades have taken place or been made possible as you find buyers and sellers for anything from plastic cutlery to electronics to commodities on there.

Has anyone got any experience as a trading entity on Alibaba? Feel free to post your thoughts on it.

Will

[S Lee]

Depending on what products you're trading, it can be a great resource. However, many of the people I see using it are looking for brand name type items, and they ultimately end of getting scammed by a seller who claims they sell genuine products.

Since we work with our own manufacturers and other suppliers, we normally use it as a way for buyers to find us, either to import into the U.S. or export to another country.

[leonyu]

alibaba is ok for finding SMEs in China and around the world, I use alibaba sometimes.

However, if you can not check the products personally, and then trans the products to your customers, potential risks for delivery time and quality exists.

Some information on alibaba is fake.

[Will]

Very true, I only use manufacturers who can send samples and things go from there

[impressive]

I use it for my uniform trading business.. so far so good. but sometime customs is a bitch!

[Aletheides]

When I first found Alibaba I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[Fanatik]

I've used Alibaba with good and bad experiences. I used them as a source to get one of my initial HID suppliers, and the company I dealt with was decent - although not great. I did quite a bit of research into the companies I dealt with, and was still fairly let down by the quality of the samples, so I didn't go any further with those mfg's in that niche.

Now, are you ready to laugh?? Keep reading

I then decided to play a gamble and bought a Nintendo Wii on there. What I ended up getting was a "Vii" -- and it was an 8-bit poorly built plastic box with a wired remote and a cartridge of 2 games. WOW it was ridiculous. Needless to say, that wasnt a great experience.

I think you're taking a fairly big risk by playing middleman between a company in China (or Indonesia, etc) and a business or entity here. Unless you're getting samples well in advance so you can QC, you're 100% certain of the company you're dealing with, and all the stars align - I think you'll be okay. But it only takes one very big hiccup on a large order to bring the house down.

[ceo77]

I've used Alibaba with good and bad experiences. I used them as a source to get one of my initial HID suppliers, and the company I dealt with was decent - although not great. I did quite a bit of research into the companies I dealt with, and was still fairly let down by the quality of the samples, so I didn't go any further with those mfg's in that niche.

Now, are you ready to laugh?? Keep reading

I then decided to play a gamble and bought a Nintendo Wii on there. What I ended up getting was a "Vii" -- and it was an 8-bit poorly built plastic box with a wired remote and a cartridge of 2 games. WOW it was ridiculous. Needless to say, that wasnt a great experience.

I think you're taking a fairly big risk by playing middleman between a company in China (or Indonesia, etc) and a business or entity here. Unless you're getting samples well in advance so you can QC, you're 100% certain of the company you're dealing with, and all the stars align - I think you'll be okay. But it only takes one very big hiccup on a large order to bring the house down.

Even if you get samples you can still get screwed on the main shipment. You really have to be willing to go on site or hire a firm to go on site for you, other wise you assume all the risks and losses.

[adamwade]

Alibaba is a great resource. But it is not a long term way to get involved in trade. If your only outlook to international trade is alibaba you will eventually get cut out of the deal. If you really want to become a trade you need to develop personal relationships and expertise on the ground in China. Once you do you first real deal by visiting factories and developing products you will look back and laugh at how much you didn't know or understand by just using alibaba.

[ctsong]

i second that

[Ernie]

sounds good

[sunnyjiang]

I use my own website

[Gator]

so the buyer paid you and then you paid manufacturer? What if manufacturer was scam or at least much likely send crap quality products?
Ediit: so you are getting the sample sent to you? Still what if the whole lot would not match the sample as it happens often?