For over two decades now, China has been the powerhouse of global Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM). It continues to be a global manufacturing bastion even today. Not only the leading brands but also several small and medium businesses from western countries are now sourcing products from China.

However, you do need to find an experienced, skilled, and reliable supplier to make your venture successful. One of the best ways to find such a supplier is the internet. You can find dozens of websites promising to help in sourcing products from China easily, quickly, and affordably.

But, how do you determine which is the best website to buy from China? Clearly, there is no easy way to find the most trusted product sourcing website.

Don’t worry! We are here to help you.

In this post, we will discuss five of the best China product sourcing websites for buyers like you.

1. Alibaba

You have probably heard of Alibaba, and its founder and chairman, Jack Ma. Alibaba is one of the biggest e-commerce giants in the world. It is also one of the most sought-after China product sourcing websites in the world.

As a pioneer of online marketplaces in China, Alibaba is often considered a reliable website to start looking for Chinese suppliers. This online marketplace connects sellers or manufacturers from China to buyers from all over the globe.

One of the distinct advantages of finding a supplier through Alibaba is the Trade Assurance feature. Under this feature, the website provides buyers with a guarantee of timely delivery and good-quality products. You and your supplier can decide the quality and delivery terms.

If you are not satisfied with the quality of the product (if they are not as prescribed by you), you can request a refund within 30 days from the date of delivery. However, you have to place an order with a Trade Assurance Supplier and make the payment through one of the secure payment gateways available on Alibaba. These steps will make you eligible for this service.

2. DHgate

Another reliable website for sourcing products from China is DHgate. It is also an online marketplace, where you can find sellers offering good-quality Chinese products at very competitive rates. However, the rates are solely decided by sellers.

This marketplace also offers Buyer Protection, allowing you to request a refund. If you don’t receive your products, you can get a full refund. If you get items that aren’t as described, you can get a full or partial refund.

You can see various badges for each seller on their website. These badges tell you about the quality and reliability of a seller. For example, the on-time-delivery badge means the seller has provided timely deliveries in the past.

The merchandise quality badge tells you about sellers that work with a third-party inspection company and offer products that have passed strict quality tests. It is, therefore, easier to connect with a trusted and reliable sourcing company using DHgate.

3. Made-in-China

Established in 1998, Made-in-China is one of the oldest third-party product sourcing websites in China. Although it doesn’t have any buyer protection plan, the website claims to have verified suppliers on their list.

You can identify such suppliers by checking the verified icon located right next to the name of the supplier. The website also releases the payment to the supplier only after you (buyer) have received the products in good condition. This feature helps protect buyers from scams.

Another significant benefit of this website is the direct interaction with the suppliers, both online and offline. Made-in-China can help you meet the supplier in-person or online.

You can also request a business information report on a supplier. It tells you about the track record of the supplier, their corporate structure, available payment gateways, finance availability, and risk analysis, among other things.

4. Global Sources

Global Sources is an online marketplace and a product sourcing facilitator as well. The website claims to have catered to 1.5 million international buyers and 95 of the world’s top 100 retailers.

Apart from the trade shows in Hongkong, Global Sources is also famous for publishing online keynote performances and factory tours by their suppliers. In other words, it is easier to get more information about a potential supplier on Global Sources.

The platform also has a verified manufacturer badge that helps you identify suppliers verified by Global Sources. The website also helps you connect with suppliers that don’t have an online account, but are active participants in their offline trade shows. This widens your search range considerably.

Unlike DHgate, however, you can’t directly place your order by selecting a supplier. First, you will need to talk to a supplier about contract terms, delivery mode and schedule, and payment terms, among other things.

Most buyers, especially beginners, may find this process complicated and time-consuming. On this website, however, you are likely to find the most competitive rates for sourcing products from China.

5. AliExpress

With AliExpress, you can directly source products from China, just like online shopping. Alibaba Group owns this website. It is, however, not a sourcing website in the conventional sense, as it focusses on small and medium-sized wholesale orders.

It also offers buyer protection. You can get a refund if you don’t receive the products or they are not as described. You can expect a refund in 15 days, says the website. The website also offers the guarantee of shipment delivery within the stipulated time.

For each store or supplier, you can see a variety of information, including when the store was opened, business information, and customer ratings for the following:

• Item as Described
• Shipping Speed
• Communication

Make sure to check these before placing your order. The website supports a wide range of payment gateways, including credit cards, wire transfers, PayPal, and Western Union, among others. The quick and easy-to-use ordering process is probably the best feature of AliExpress.

Conclusion

Using online marketplaces is the easiest way to find the right supplier for sourcing products from China. Handpicked from dozens of websites, these five online marketplaces will help you start importing from China fairly quickly and securely.

However, do make sure to consult a reliable local sourcing and product inspection company like Huaxin before placing your order. At Huaxin, we make sure that our clients get only the best products at the most competitive rates. Talk to our experts or send your inquiries today to find out how we can help you.