Alibaba Dropshipping Shopify<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>Alibaba has its own verification method in place, which consists of multiple tiers. The three stages of verification offered by Alibaba are summarized in the chart above. If the suppliers have them, these verification badges will appear on product listings and supplier profiles. A decent fundamental step is to look for these verifications.<\/p>
There are also independent third-party services in Asia that will visit factories on your behalf to evaluate the supplier and product quality, in addition to Alibaba’s verifications. Depending on the quantity of your order, a few hundred dollars more for extra security may be well worth it.<\/p>
#2. Follow Up With Inquiries<\/h3>
When you’re narrowing down your list of suppliers, be sure to ask a ton of questions about their company and products. Request a copy of their company’s license. Request a phone number and then call it. Set up a Skype call with your contact. Inquire about factory images and product samples.<\/p>
Feel free to request whatever helps you feel more at ease doing business with someone halfway around the world. You may even ask your factory contact to take a picture of themselves on the factory floor holding the current day’s newspaper and one of their products.<\/p>
#3. Collect Samples<\/h3>
It should go without saying that you should collect samples to check and verify quality before investing any considerable amount of money in inventory. Feel free to contact them using a different (fictitious) identity and email to obtain a second sample to compare.<\/p>
#4. Be Ready to Walk Away if Necessary<\/h3>
Finally, if everything seems too good to be true, it almost always is. Be aware of prices or promises that don’t seem correct or don’t match what you’ve heard from other vendors. If something doesn’t feel right, always be willing to walk away from a deal.<\/p>
Make sure to download WeChat if you're seeking new suppliers on Alibaba. You can then communicate with potential suppliers in real-time to obtain a better idea of how your dropshipping store's working relationship will go.<\/pre>