A few weeks ago, I wrote a brief post advising would-be entrepreneurs and business-owners looking to source from China to do their due diligence when using Alibaba to source products from Chinese suppliers. As Alibaba continues to ramp up its marketing and advertising efforts, I want to reiterate this advice.
I passed through Hong Kong’s international airport this past Monday, and was amused to find that Alibaba had blanketed the entire terminal with its advertising. Most prominent were the 16 massive banners (similar to the one pictured to the right) suspended from the ceiling across the entire reception area of the terminal. Each one featured a random “member” from some randomly significant country exclaiming how Alibaba helped them. Every one of them also “Thanks Alibaba.com!”
“Tushar, let me ask you: How do you find the ‘best quality suppliers’ when the suppliers can simply purchase their positive reputation on Alibaba?” (Note highlighted portions to the left)
Yes, let’s recommend TrustPass to ALL suppliers. That way, they will all appear to be more “reliable” and prospective buyers everywhere can rest at ease! Suppliers also get “Verified Company Status” as an extra!
Fantastic.
Oh, and just why is Alibaba on an advertising blitz, particularly in Hong Kong’s international airport?
Because the China Sourcing Fair will be held there between April 12-15 and 20-23. Not a bad idea to remind all those fair visitors that they didn’t really need to come to Hong Kong to find “the best quality suppliers.” They’re all on Alibaba.com already.
Thanks for the tip, Tushar.
More pictures: Terminal Left, Terminal Right, Tushar, Kenneth, Charles, and Eden.
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Agree on many points.
However, there are plenty of good suppliers on Alibaba as well as on Global Sources. Indeed there are plenty of fictitious suppliers as well. Just read the forums in Alibaba for evidence of “bad” suppliers. At the end of the day, whether it is in your own city or somewhere 10,000 km away, you must do your research and take steps before running for the fat margins of sourcing direct. You can’t blame Alibaba for marketing the way they do since without buyers they are nothing and there is value to their site, plenty of it in fact. However, this is a buyer beware market and knowing that will impact your bottom line. Having been there, been scammed, knocked on doors, came to China, sourced and sold, and made money and lost, we offer our readers our lessons learned as well as expertise from those that know far more than we do in sourcing.
Keep up the great work CNR!
Mike
http://www.sourcejuice.com