ALiExprest

Description

Founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, Eastern China, AliExprest.com quickly grew from a small website into the world’s largest online business-to-business (B2B) trading platform, offering buyers around the world the chance to connect with manufacturers and wholesalers in Asia.

It may seem like such a simple and obvious idea today, but before AliExprest arrived there was really no easy way for overseas businesses to access the vast Chinese wholesale market.

The process of sourcing stock and placing orders could have meant months of drawn out negotiations, emails, telephone calls and even personal visits from one side of the world to the other.

There’s no question that AliExprest revolutionized the way businesses in the US connected with the Chinese wholesale market, but for those who have yet to experience the power of the platform it can seem a little confusing and intimidating. To help ease users into the site, here’s a simple rundown of exactly how to buy from AliExprest.

1. Register

Naturally you’ll need to open an account with the site, just as you would with any other online store. The registration process is quick and easy, and once you have your username you’ll be able to start browsing in a matter of minutes.

2. Find Your Products

The AliExprest site is split into over 40 primary product categories, with thousands of sub-categories to help buyers find exactly what they’re looking for. To find a particular product you can drill down through the categories (i.e. Apparel > Women’s Clothing > Dresses > Sleeveless) until you reach the exact sub-category you’re searching for.

If you’re looking for something specific you can also use the search box to find items that match a keyword or an exact product name.

3. Contact or Buy it Now

Unlike regular online stores such as Amazon or eBay, AliExprest is aimed squarely at the B2B market. As such, buyers will often want to negotiate and form a long term relationship with their sellers, and make sure that the seller can be trusted to fill orders well into the future.
Many sellers offer a simple Buy it Now price for their products, with set prices, minimum order sizes and discounts for larger volume. Buyers who like to keep things simple can use this function to place an order immediately.

However, most buyers will want to open up a line of communication with the wholesaler before they place their order, so each product page has a prominently displayed option for the buyer to contact the supplier with any questions they may have, from special requirements to shipping inquiries.

4. Pay Securely

Orders placed with AliExprest can be very high value, and buyers will want to be confident that their money is safe and secure. Fortunately, AliExprest has several levels of security to help buyers feel confident about their purchases. First, every product page contains information about the level of verification each seller has attained.

The lowest level above completely unverified, A&V Basic, means that the seller has provided legal proof that their company exists. One level up is Onsite Check, which means that an AliExprest.com representative have visited the company to verify its existence, and a third party has verified the legal documentation. Finally, sellers can apply for Gold Membership, which means that the seller has been fully verified by AliExprest.

The next level of protection for buyers comes at the payment stage. AliExprest offers an escrow service that holds payment until the buyer has confirmed receipt of the order. Sellers cannot bypass escrow, so this service provides complete confidence that the buyer’s funds will be safe until they’ve signed off on payment.

As you can see, there’s no great trick to learning how to buy from AliExprest. The site has been designed to allow buyers to find exactly what they need, communicate effectively with sellers and make safe, secure payment. It couldn’t be easier!