Top Chinese Wholesale Websites to Buy from China

More and more online sellers or retail stores are looking for suppliers on Chinese wholesale websites because of the affordability of Chinese goods. The large number of these, outlets has forced more such vendors and stores to source their merchandise from Chinese B2B websites. Alibaba is the largest and probably one of the most recognizable. so consider continuing reading to find out how you can search for the right products and determine the best Chinese suppliers on Alibaba. 

In this post, I will introduce how to source the right product and find the best Chinese manufacturers on Alibaba in detail. But before talking about Alibaba, let me share the Top 5 wholesale websites in China.

Top B2B China Wholesale Websites

Here are the Top B2B China Wholesale Websites that help businesses source goods efficiently:

#1 Alibaba.com

What is Alibaba? Alibaba is the China wholesale website created by Jack Ma and his team in 1999. It has become the most extensive online B2B wholesale site for buyers who want to buy directly from China. It offers users the opportunity to source various products from different Chinese wholesale suppliers. Generally speaking, Alibaba works like a broad dashboard with its wholesale directory function.

a. Trade Assurance Function:

People are always worried about doing business with Chinese wholesale manufacturers for the first time, what if they sell me a product with low quality, what if they steal my money?

However, there is a function of Trade Assurance on Alibaba, which is the protection method for buyers. If the supplier doesn’t deliver your shipment on time, or the quality is not comparable as you confirmed, then your deposit will be refunded by Alibaba, it’s a kind of money-back guarantee. It is important that the Trade Assurance is entirely free of charge, Alibaba won’t charge you any extra cost of it.

How does the Trade Assurance work? And how to take advantage of it? Here are some tips for you to use it properly：

1. Get in touch with the supplier, send them your inquiry, and confirm all product details, such as quality, material, and packaging.
2. Get an official quotation from the seller. All necessary details must be marked, including quality level, shipping window, and shipment terms.
3. After confirming all details, then you need to ask for a trade assurance order contract from the supplier. Again, all necessary information must be marked, and signed the Trade Assurance means both you and the supplier will follow the terms and conditions.
4. After signing the Trade Assurance contract, you can proceed with payment to the supplier.

If the seller doesn’t follow the terms and conditions that have been marked in the contract, please reach out to Alibaba customer service, and ask them for support. Either they will negotiate with the supplier, or they will refund your payment.

b. Verified Suppliers

If you still worry about working with the China wholesale suppliers, then working with the verified suppliers is another protection method. A verified supplier is a premium membership to Alibaba. They have been checked & validated by Alibaba’s third-party inspectors. Therefore, all verified suppliers are legally registered businesses having a physical presence.

A commonly asked question is, “What is the reality of Alibaba verified suppliers?” or “How can I safely source on Alibaba?” I have provided comprehensive answers to these questions. Make sure you don’t miss them!

c. Supplier Qualifications

Don’t forget to check the supplier qualifications before working with them, by clicking the company profile, you will get to check the following info, it helps you to figure out the supplier’s capacity and ability, and if they are qualified for your business,

1. Business type: trader or the actual manufacturer
2. Product lines: you will get to see if the supplier is capable of your products
3. Company Certifications: this is important for you to know more about the company
4. Products certificates: it shows what kind of standard their product can reach
5. Transactions: show how many buyers are buying from them, and how many orders they got.

Here read more about “How to Find Genuine Suppliers Using Alibaba RFQ?“.

How do Chinese Wholesalers Rank on the Alibaba?

Ranking rules on Alibaba.com

Website for example Alibaba looks similar to a search engine. Purchasers only type the necessary terms, and then the particular search outcomes are displayed For the buyers, this service does not cost any money. Still, for sellers, there is always the question of membership fees and the cost of advertising.

Something that many people do not know is that Alibaba has multiple Membership Levels, meaning that the suppliers have the Pay-to-Play option. There is some indication that paying more attention to these services is compensated more frequently with higher ranks in search returns. Like Google adwords and Facebook ads, it works where people have to pay money to get on top positions.

Well, that brings us to the big question of why you should know this. They tell you why some of the Chinese wholesale suppliers you are looking for are seen on the first page when you are searching for products. Rankings on Alibaba depend to an extent on qualities such as product quality and supplier credibility, but more significantly, on advertising.

Therefore, in realizing one may work with only the first suppliers shown in the search results as those are seemingly the top choices, it should be remembered that they are hardly unique and can be far from being ideal options. The right supplier might be further down the page and no one has taken the time to find them.

Example to illustrate:

For instance, you want to find products under the search term “LED desk lamps” on Alibaba. You would assume all the first listings are similar but when you seek further down the lists, you may find timely suppliers who offer cheaper prices or better conditions for supply even though they are not listed because they do not advertise for premium spots. Knowing this helps you make a better-informed decision when you are sourcing.

d. Quality Service & Assurance

Alibaba provides a quality inspection service on the buyer’s behalf, and the quality inspector will visit the factory and issue the inspection on your behalf. The inspector can inspect at a different stage of the production,

1. Pre-production: will check each detail of the product before official production starts, make sure everything is correct for mass production
2. On-line inspection: issue the quality inspection during mass production, it helps to find out the quality issue at the very early stage.
3. Final inspection: it’s essential to have a final inspection before shipment. Make sure the products are qualified before shipping.

Buying from Alibaba

Suppliers on Alibaba require a MOQ, and it depends on the product’s kind. Prices from Alibaba suppliers should always be negotiated. here read more about “How to Find Low MOQ Alibaba Supplier“.

#2 1688.com

1688.com is the Chinese version of Alibaba, also one of the most significant parts of the whole Alibaba group. The difference between 1688 and Alibaba is that 1688 is more suitable for Chinese domestic buyers or traders, the suppliers on 1688.com also offer various products, the same as Alibaba, but mostly they can only speak Chinese, which is probably a big problem for overseas buyers.

You can check another article about How to Buy from 1688.com

Buying from 1688.com

Similar to Alibaba.com, suppliers on this platform have their business license, 1688.com is a China wholesale site for domestic buyers/Chinese trading companies/China sourcing agents.

1. The buying cost could be more competitive than on Alibaba if you know how to work with Chinese suppliers.
2. The chance you found the direct factories through the online wholesale market
3. Various categories on 1688.com and you can find everything at a competitive price
4. Find the best-selling products on Amazon/Wish/Aliexpress at 1688

a. 5 Features About 1688.com

1. The suppliers who are listed on 1688.com might be the origin suppliers for those sellers on Alibaba.com.
2. 1688.com is designed as the China wholesale market for domestic buyers, so it’s in Chinese.
3. Most of the suppliers on 1688.com are not familiar with FOB Price, International Shipping…etc.
4. The best sellers on larger B2C websites like Taobao/Tmall/Wish/Aliexpress/DHgate/eBay/Amazon buy wholesale from 1688.
5. Most Chinese buyers buy in bulk on 1688.com instead of Alibaba.com.

b. Challenge When Ordering From 1688

1. Lanugage|Coummnication Barrier: Remember you are exploring the territory that belongs to the Chinese domestic buyers.
2. Ordering from China (International transfer): Need to find payment solutions while can not pay USD directly to the seller.
3. Sellers on 1688.com are not professionals in international trading. The risks of a mistake in quoting the price, calculating the logistic costs…etc.
4. Potential Quality Issue if you don’t issue inspection while buying wholesale from China.

c. 3 Useful Tools for Purchasing From 1688.com

1. WeChat: Everyone in China uses WeChat during daily life and even for payments. Get yourself used to the local environment then it’s easy to explore your business in China
2. Google Translator: You need it when talking to the direct factories
3. Quotation format: Most of the suppliers on 1688.com are not professional about providing a decent quotation sheet to you with complete information. Switch your mind and give them a list to fill in the necessary information. It would be beneficial when ordering products from China.

#3 Aliexpress.com:

Founded in 2010, Aliexpress is the Alibaba group’s new cross-border retail platform for the global market. After nine years of rapid development, AliExpress has become China’s largest cross-border B2C export platform. Aliexpress designed its service for customers who want to buy from China for competitive prices. It’s a Chinese online shopping site that works for international buyers.

Buying from Aliexpress

Aliexpress targets customers who intend to get cheap Chinese products or purchase them in small quantities. It’s an online retail service based in China that is owned by the Alibaba Group. Aliexpress doesn’t allow customers from China mainland to buy from this platform.

a. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an excellent way to start an e-commerce business without worrying about inventory or shipping. It’s as simple as listing a product for sale on your website and sending an email to your supplier to ship the item on your behalf whenever you get an order. Add the products you would like to sell from Aliepress onto your store, and set a price with a markup. And whenever you receive an order, you pay for that product at wholesale cost and the Aliepress seller ships the orders directly to your customer.

b. Pricing on Alipress:

People are asking why the price of Alipress is much higher than Alibaba. It’s because Alipress is designed to allow you to order a single unit whereas Alibaba is designed to match a high value or high qty for wholesale orders with a minimum order qty or values, depending on the product character.

Here read more about AliExpress safety, Is AliExpress Safe?

#4 Globalsources.com:

Similar to Alibaba, Global Sources is one of the giant China B2B wholesale websites. Thousands of Chinese manufacturers are listed on this platform. It was founded in November 1970 by Merle A. Hinrichs and C. Joseph Bendy as Trade Media Ltd.; its first publication, Asian Sources magazine, was launched three months later. In September 1974, the company’s first spin-off publication—Asian Sources Electronics—appeared. More industry-specific titles were subsequently added.

Unlike other online wholesalers, Global Sources also promotes the forthcoming trade show in addition to being a highly trusted China wholesale website.

It has millions of products for buyers to choose from, and it provides excellent business opportunities to suppliers and buyers.

Buying from GlobalSources:

It has millions of products for buyers to choose from, and it provides great business opportunities to suppliers and buyers. The platform allows buyers to contact manufacturers directly for inquiries and purchases. More than 1.5 million international buyers, including 94 of the world’s top 100 retailers, use these services to obtain product and company information to help them source more profitably from overseas supply markets. These services also provide suppliers with integrated marketing solutions to build corporate image, generate sales leads, and win orders from buyers in more than 240 countries and territories.

a. Pricing & MOQ:

Buyers are guaranteed to come across the best rates for products they are interested in purchasing as the website houses some of the most trusted Chinese wholesalers, manufacturers as well as retailers.

The suppliers set the minimum order quantity, and it depends on the unit price of the product and the product character, can be higher or lower, but should always be negotiated when you are going to work with a supplier from global sources.

b. International trade show:

The company organizes export sourcing shows in Hong Kong SAR every April and October with eight events annually, including the world’s largest electronics and mobile electronics shows as well as Lifestyle and Fashion shows. Global Sources is also a majority shareholder in the Shenzhen International Machinery Manufacturing Industry Exhibition (SIMM) and its related shows—the leading machinery exhibitions in Southern China.

Global Sources’ user-friendly website and its focus on trade shows and exhibitions are undoubtedly some of the factors that have contributed to its success. Moreover, the platform makes it seem quite easy to get a hold of credible suppliers.

#5  Made-In-China:

Founded in 1998, Made-in-China.com is a leading comprehensive third-party B2B e-commerce operated by Focus Technology Co., Ltd. It is dedicated to serving the global trade field and providing high-quality Chinese products and supplier information for global buyers. Nowadays, Made-in-China.com is a world-leading B2B portal, specializing in bridging the gap between global buyers and quality Chinese suppliers. China’s first B2B e-commerce platform conducting a full review of paid-up suppliers. Providing product information of 27 categories and 3,600 sub-categories. Displaying website information in 11 languages.

Buying from Made-In-China

Made-in-China.com is a B2B China wholesale website for global buyers to source Chinese products and Chinese suppliers. To become a Gold Supplier, members must pass a verification conducted by a third-party agency. The verification process enables Made-in-china.com to confirm that the business is legally registered in its region.

Made-in-china releases payment to the suppliers only when the buyer has confirmed receipt of goods in proper condition.

a. Price & MOQ on Made-in-China

Since Made-in-china is a popular marketplace, you can rest assured that the wholesale prices will be reasonable. But same as the other wholesale websites, prices from Made-in-china can be negotiated.
Made-in-China.com has a free standard service for buyers, although additional costs are levied, such as Supplier Matching and Online Sourcing Meetings.

Premium buyer membership starts at $199.90 per year and includes many of the additional costs.

Made-in-china are O2O platforms: online negotiation, offline production, and delivery. There is a high order quantity requirement; usually, MOQ is hundreds of orders. You can also take a sample at the beginning, but the sample’s price is much higher than big orders.

b. Pros and Cons:

Made-in-china is home to a variety of quality products. The heavy emphasis on buyer safety is undoubtedly a plus.

However, the weird enforcement of buyer safety elements and the inconvenient buying process can cause people to choose other Chinese wholesale suppliers over Made-in-china.

#6 DHgate:

DHgate is an online B2B marketplace where suppliers source products directly from manufacturers and sellers, selling them over 30 million products for just about everything from electronics to fashion. While it previously faced issues related to product quality and communication, improvements have been made, and it can be a valuable resource when proper due diligence is done.

Key points include:

• Products: A very wide range, unfortunately, most products by brand names are fakes and can be banned from being imported.
• Buyer Protection: Escrow Payment also makes sure that receipts are made as the funds are held to ensure that buyers have indeed received them.
• Refunds: Products offered can be returned for a full or partial reimbursement where a customer is not satisfied.
• Minimum Orders: There do not appear to be any minimums however the more a producer buys the cheaper the products become.
• Shipping: Average delivery time takes several weeks; however, they can take 1—2 weeks on request, and the newly established warehouses in the U.S. and the U.K. help in this.
• Recommended For: The suppliers and buyers that look for the lowest cost, especially those capable of evaluating a supplier’s reliability.
  Since there are fake products and some problem suppliers, it is good to pay attention when using DHgate.

#7 HKTDC:

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council commonly referred to as HKTDC is a world-renowned business facilitation body that was established in Hong Kong and is an excellent source of products that range from electronics, and fashion accessories to quality gifts.

Key points include:

• Product Range: It comprises electronics, jewelry, fabrics, and textiles among others ideal Reception for both small and bulk buyers.
  Supplier Types: A blend of C2C and C2B firms, there are some highly reputable firms and some of them have a ‘Premium Advertiser’ stamp that reflects a guarantee for the users.
• Buyer Safety: Premium suppliers are subjected to various inspections including factory pictures and sample checks.
• Minimum Orders: No strict minimum requirement for its purchase making it suitable for small wholesale purchases.
• Payment/Shipping: Purchases and shipping means which have to be negotiated with the supplier offer more freedom but necessitate more organization.

While using HKTDC suits experienced buyers who already have logistics, or those buyers in need of small wholesale orders.

#8 Pinduoduo

Pinduoduo is China’s wholesale platform, where customers can buy products at cheaper prices due to the group purchase. Customers can partner and make bulk purchases leading to even further rebates across many goods. It has also developed a mobile app that improves the convenience factor making it suitable for small business people and entrepreneurs who are longing for cheap prices.

Key highlights:

Product Range: Provides a vast range of products, electronics, and many household things.
Group Buying: People come together to buy a product for many to gain a discount.
Best For: Buyers of rides targeted cheap bulk supply and accessing social networks to reduce the costs.
Prospective drawbacks involve time-to-time issues related to quality control, communication barriers, and delays in shipping.

#9 Shein

Shein is a B2B Retail Clothing platform that originated in China and has gained popularity for putting up a fashionable clothesline for the young generation of women, men, and children. Shein had every apparel and accessory item and also appeared to offer a range of home products that appealed to retailers who yearned for affordable yet stylish brand items.

Key Benefits:

• Wide Product Range: A large number of products comprising trendy clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, etc.
• Ideal for Retailers: Ideal for fashion enterprises wishing to offer customers some of the latest styles and products at reasonable prices.

Drawbacks:

• Quality Variability: The quality of the products manufactured is sometimes sacrificial and unremarkable.
• Delivery Delays: They may take a longer time to be shipped.
  Shein is perfect for value-oriented clothing sellers but this platform needs to pay attention to product quality.

#10 Temu

Temu is an international e-commerce store offering a wide range of relatively cheap products with various categories to meet the needs of people who cannot or do not wish to spend much money, or small businesses, thus making them an ideal target market. It provides necessities at cheap prices with high demand for such products in the worldwide market including fashion products, electronics, beauty products, and home products.

Key Benefits:
Today it is popular due to its cost-effective nature, and frequently holding temporary promotions and special offers. They enable global shipping with an easy-to-use interface where international customers can shop for trending products. It is most beneficial for small retail businesses and dropship businesses that intend to resell products at cheap or bulk prices.

Target Audience:
Recommended for buyers with small capital and more so for business people who wish to sell merchandise at minimal profit margins.

#11 Taobao

This market is currently one of the best marketplaces for individuals as well as small business people.

Taobao is among the prominent e-commerce platforms in China with the ability to enable individual buyers and small retail segments. It has nearly everything that can be sold cheaply and under various categories, so people can shop for themselves or in small quantities for resale.

Key Highlights:
As it will be observed, Taobao is suitable for purchasing small quantities at cheap prices. The company offers a wide range of products in just about every category from fashion and electronics to more niche-oriented items and is ideal for small businesses as well as boutique resellers. However, the platform is in Chinese and lacks equivalent English options to filter Latina suppliers so checking the language or hiring a sourcing agent is needed.

Target Audience:
It is most appropriate for individual buyers or small merchants seeking to obtain a massive range of cheap, fashionable, or special products that are not likely to be offered in wholesale B2B sites.

Buyers who wish to have options and products for cheaper prices should opt for Taobao, however, looking for products on this site may be a bit challenging for non-Chinese speaking persons.

Read more similar posts from OwlSourcing:

• Alibaba Alternatives: 12 Sites Like Alibaba to Source
• Alibaba: How to Buy From the China Wholesale Website?
• Sourcing Agent on Alibaba: Find a Reliable Sourcing Agent
• How to Buy From China | Buying from China Step by Step
• Import Tariffs from China to the US

Final Thoughts

You need to start your journey with the online wholesale market and go through the process by yourself. And then, you will find the best ways to derive value in the resource market.

Don’t be frustrated with the hassles of importing from China. Your ultimate target is to get a cheap, high-quality product from China that can make you a good profit.