how to avoid being scammed on Alibaba.com
how to avoid being scammed on Alibaba.com
Before placing an order, be sure to conduct a background check on the seller you are buying to make sure you are really getting what you expect. For this, you may want to check the detailed rating of the seller. That is how:
What are the seller's detailed ratings?
The detailed ratings of the seller are completely anonymous ratings left by the buyer after the transactions have been completed. These ratings provide a more complete picture of the seller's performance. The seller's detailed ratings are part of the site's general comment system, which contains three detailed options for buyers to evaluate a seller's service and items. The seller's detailed ratings are based on a scale of one to five stars. Five stars is the highest rating, and one star is the lowest rating.
How to check the seller's detailed ratings?
When you see the product page or the seller's store page, you can find information about the seller's detailed rating just below the seller's overall positive opinion.
You can also find more detailed information by clicking on the "Comment Score" button found in the navigation bar of the seller's store page.
Under comments, you can also review the comments of other customers who have purchased the same item you are looking at. Sometimes, other buyers attach real photos of the item, check them to see their actual appearance.
Read this article, Guide for safe purchases of Aliexpress, for more information on how to protect yourself from the provider of scams in Aliexpress.
How to protect your money
Can I trust them?
Is my money safe?
Do they have a trade guarantee?
Are your products genuine?
Do they produce good quality?
Is there any hidden cost?
Are they right for me?
How fast is your shipment?
They meet my requirements?
It is easier to decide once you have answered these questions above. It is the same if you are buying in bulk from another local provider. The verification is verified credibility, references, and quality.
During the past year, I have observed trends and have seen how some scams Chinese. Below, I give you some tips on how to avoid scammers, protect your money and find the best providers.
Trade guarantee
When a supplier has Commercial Guarantee, you know that your payment and shipping are protected. This gives you confidence that if something came out bad, you're covered. The only place that offers this type of protection is Alibaba. However, even their from Alibaba They have problems to keep their promise, especially if they are free members.
That is why it is more convenient to find a supply agent that assesses the risk, obtain samples and export their products personally. In general, they have more experience and have already worked with a line of suppliers who know they can offer quality, time and price.
Invoices constants and organized
In the beginning, the provider sends one or two invoices that seem reasonable. However, when your provider starts asking for more payments, you feel uncomfortable asking yourself why you is costing so much. A supplier will give you a budget invoice and a final invoice that includes the shipping (taxes, VAT and insurance, etc.). By having invoices with all the costs explained, you know what you are paying and to whom you are paying. If your provider is sending you too many bills during the entire process, you are most likely being scammed.
Here are some examples of additional payments when the invoice has already been sent to you or if you have already paid:
$ 300 for export insurance.
$ 100 for VAT
$ 100 for customs
$ 200 for transportation
Always ask your provider why he did not include this on the bill at the beginning. The more you know, the better you know you are not being scammed.
Get a factory report
When doing business with a factory, research, request references, and search Google. This will give you more long-term security. If you are still not sure of the quality or type of operation they perform, you can also inspect them from your own home. You can hire a third-party service to obtain a report personalized. Iran to your factory and they will create a detailed report. The average price is around £ 70 ($ 110 ) depending on the company. Even Alibaba provides this service.
Have secure payment options
When you are in the negotiation phase and receive your bill proforma, always check the company's address, name and bank details (this is always an obligation). Never send money to a personal account. Many scammers claim that there is something wrong with your business account and they ask you to send it to your personal bank account. If you had a supplier or factory that requested it, reconsider doing business with them. Once you send money to a personal account, there is no security and your money disappears.
If the company only offers Western Union or Money Gram as payment, avoid them at all costs. Your money will not be safe or secure.
Not all suppliers in China accept Paypal, however, they must also accept the Trust, a letter of credit and other secure payments. When exporting, you need to reduce the risk as much as possible.
Avoid suppliers that produce illegal brand products.
It is not necessary to look twice at images of false brands of Alibaba with the missing brand. Surprisingly, many of these are in the provider's account Alibaba Gold. Factories or suppliers that often produce counterfeits participate in the production of a line of counterfeits. If they are producing Burberry, then they are more than just producing a fake Chanel.
The last thing you would want is a customs letter informing you that they found counterfeit products in your name. This could result in a civil lawsuit or a substantial fine. In China, there are so many suppliers and factories that make a lot of money with fakes. Please, avoid them and think about the consequences.
We collect quotes from different suppliers.
It is always better to get invoices and samples from a handful of suppliers. When you do this, you have more options to choose from; Price, efficiency and quality. There is nothing worse than dealing with a provider that produces poor quality and charges a higher price for your service.
For a simulated sample to be created, it is normal for the provider to charge you. However, if you have a limited budget, you can ask for samples of orders from previous lots that have been left. This is the best way to see what kind of quality they produce and if they are right for you.
Use Alibaba for inspection
9 out of 10 times, the provider will be in the B2B site from Alibaba. This is a good sign, as they provide more information for you to inspect. The more you see the type of operation they perform and the products they sell, the more secure your money will be. Just remember that is better to consider a Gold member with more than 3 years of history. They overcome the Verification process from Alibaba and they have more credibility than members who advertise for free there. Just remember that although they can be Gold members, it does not mean that you can trust them 100%. Use the information to investigate and decide if they meet all your requirements.
conclusion
These points will help you protect yourself 99% of the time of scammers operating in China. Always check, investigate and observe how they operate. This will keep your money safe. Many people who are scammed are beginning importers/exporters who do not see the above signals. Use the resources that surround you and deepens if necessary. This will make your export experience smoother and you will be able to sleep better at night.
Thanks for read, I would love to hear some of the experiences or questions you have when importing or exporting from China.
