Alibaba is the most powerful sourcing tool in the world. It's also a minefield if you don't know what you're doing.
I've watched hundreds of first-time importers make the same mistakes. These aren't failures of intelligence — they're failures of experience. But they're predictable, and they're preventable.
Mistake 1: Choosing the supplier with the lowest price
The lowest price on Alibaba is almost always a signal of either (a) lower quality, (b) a trading company with thin margin who will cut corners, or (c) a bait-and-switch operation.
Price matters. But the lowest price is a red flag, not a green one.
Mistake 2: Not requesting samples before ordering
This seems obvious. But I've seen people order 500 units based on product photos and description. The sample phase exists for a reason: products look different in reality.
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