Alibaba vs. DHgate

What is Alibaba

The name Alibaba is familiar to anyone who follows business news or eCommerce. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba provides manufacturing sourcing services. It is one of the most China’s largest online retail platforms.

Suggested reading: Is Alibaba Safe and Reliable? Is Alibaba legit?

How Alibaba Works

Alibaba allows businesses and individuals to buy online from manufacturers. The average person doesn’t usually shop online at this kind of store.

Alibaba offers a variety of products in categories. For instance, apparel, textile, machinery, industrial parts, sports equipment.

Alibaba’s manufacturers set a minimum order quantity for purchases. It is to protect themselves from disputes with buyers. There is no way to buy a smaller quantity and test the products first. For this reason, you’ll need a reasonable budget to begin.

If you want to buy supplies from Alibaba, you should contact several suppliers. You can negotiate low prices with your suppliers by assessing their responses.

Upon agreement on price, you can continue with the order. You will receive your complete inventory shortly after ordering. Alibaba operates other related online shopping platforms. For instance, Taobao, Tmall, and AliExpress. Using Alibaba means having direct access to many product suppliers globally.

1. Taobao Taobao is Alibaba’s largest consumer-to-consumer business, like eBay. Advertising is one way the company makes money, similar to Google.
2. Tmall.com To focus on a more premium market, this company has separated from Taobao. It is aimed at the growing middle class in China. It also charges its merchants annual fees to offer the highest quality products.
3. AliExpress AliExpress is Alibaba’s global B2C platform. It is one of the best online retail platforms worldwide. Many people used to ask: Is Aliexpress safe?This safe and secure platform allows customers from global suppliers to affordable goods. The products are set at a discounted factory price.

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Is Alibaba Safe?

It’s hard to ensure 100% safety when it comes to wholesale and dropshipping business. Yet, most people agree that Alibaba is a relatively safe online marketplace.

All the transactions are protected by strict rules and regulations on the integrated platform. The biggest benefit of Alibaba is that it offers Trade Assurance option. As long as you take all necessary precautions, you will be fine.

I know trade assurance has almost a 3% commission, but it is worth it. You should not skip it and only deal on platforms with maximum security, like me.

Buyers and suppliers need to exercise due diligence in dealing with each other. Check on a review website or previous feedback, besides the number of transactions.

By doing so, you’ll be able to determine if the suppliers are trustworthy.

It is always good to test a few samples of a supplier’s products. You should do so before making a full-scale order. In this way, you can make sure they meet our quality standards to avoid poor quality.

You can be very safe and legit with Alibaba if you perform this research and testing every time.

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Pros/Cons of Alibaba

This business model has both pros and cons. Let’s examine some of them.

Pros of Alibaba

• Alibaba offers low wholesale prices, increasing your profit margin potential.
• Alibaba reviews can guide you in your decision-making process.
• It’s trade assurance system can assist you in assessing potential suppliers.
• You can focus on delivering excellent consumer services worldwide.
• Various secure payment methods for you. For instance, Alipay, western union or other payment options.
• It is possible to track the product quality before delivery. It minimizes my tension, and I even use fast shipping services to save time.

Cons of Alibaba

• Alibaba is a wholesale provider. So, there is a minimum order quantity to be placed. The numbers can be in the hundreds for most suppliers. Investing in items you aren’t sure of the quality from the start can be risky.
• Selling products that are not licensed could get you in legal trouble. You should not sell those that look like they belong to another company.
• Customers’ expectations might differ from what they see on online shopping platforms. There is often a difference in product quality among Alibaba suppliers.
• There will be obstacles to overcome in some niches. For example, the clothing sizes in Asia are often smaller than in the US.
• The refund or exchange option may be difficult to arrange. My first priority is to apply all reliable filter checks to avoid suspicious activity.
• It is cumbersome when your customer rejects the item you’ve sent them.
• Your order cannot be fulfilled immediately after placing it. Also, restocking takes more delivery time if you sell out of an item. You may also encounter problems with customers who don’t wish to wait.

Suggested reading: Alibaba Private Label

What is DHgate

In 2004, Diane Wang founded the cross-border e-commerce platform DHgate. It is one of the first companies to reach the online retail service market.

DHGate specializes in cross-border trade and transactional eCommerce business. Thus, the DHgate store has become one of the most popular websites for online buying.

The DHgate platform handles Chinese business-to-business (B2B) services in China. The platform is a safe and reliable place for online shopping. It is attracting global buyers and suppliers for more business opportunities.

DHgate’s products are generally at low prices without a MOQ. It makes the website a good option for retailers. Small and medium retailers can spend less money upfront.

The DHgate website allows buyers from over 200 countries to source products. The company aims to provide customers with cheap products and fast delivery times. It facilitates small scale businesses to sell products worldwide. DHgate attests and implements the concepts of paying for more successful social commerce.

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How DHgate Works

Like other similar websites, DHgate allows people to source products. DHgate has an easy-to-navigate interface with a simple operating system. It is convenient to use with many similar features. For instance, product listings, prices, and reviews. It also provides escrow, financing, and logistical services.

DHgate is usually the best choice for bulk orders. If you wish, you can order individual items from the seller. They will be shipped straight to your customer.

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Is DHgate Safe?

DHgate is a legitimate e-commerce site and a good Aliexpress alternative. It connects Chinese sellers and international buyers. DHgate incorporates logistics providers worldwide. Many authorities had endorsed this e-commerce business website.

When you do online shopping at DHgate, you can feel safe. The platform ensures the rights and interests of buyers through relevant measures. To protect yourself from fraud, DHgate offers the following features:

• Feedback from sellers
• Managed Services from DHgate
• Resolution of disputes

Pros/Cons of DHgate

Many businesses have come to rely on DHgate’s services. The site itself is not a supplier. It is an online marketplace where different suppliers can be found.

Thus, you should know that this list contains good and bad suppliers. My fellow online sellers have found both of these suppliers on platforms. That’s why, in my opinion, the quality of suppliers depends on individuals.

You need to consider the pros and cons this platform has to offer. It is crucial, especially if you plan to do dropshipping business.

The following examples are worth checking out:

Pros of DHgate

• Several types of products are available for cheap prices.
• DHgate’s payment system is secure.
• Massive collection of top Chinese suppliers at your fingertips.
• You can find future innovative trending products.
• There are many ways to pay for transactions.
• Fraud prevention page with feedback for suppliers.

Cons of DHgate

• Product quality is difficult to control.
• The weather or shipping conditions might cause delays in deliveries.
• There are still questionable suppliers and sellers to worry about.

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Alibaba vs DHgate: Side-by-side comparison

To decide better, we must compare them side-by-side and explain the difference. The buyer’s goal is to find the most suitable supplier and products.

The best way to discover verified suppliers is to try out several websites. You can find many suppliers online. The best choice is made after experiencing their services. Let’s take a look at the comparison of Alibaba and Dhgate:

1. Types of suppliers The current number of suppliers at DHgate is about 2.4 million. It is very convenient for new sellers to use DHgate, especially the midsized factories.You should’ve seen many Alibaba sellers selling the same product at different prices. It is because Alibaba has almost 3 million suppliers. The suppliers are divided into small, mid-sized, and large categories. I advise going with verified suppliers as both have different verification systems.
2. More range of products Every online shopper wants to have many choices when doing online shopping. DHgate website sells many products. For instance, shoes, jeans, hair care, automotive products, medicines, chemicals, etc.At Alibaba, you can find the same products as DHGate on this website. Alibaba has international connections for products and raw materials. Its suppliers can deal with any product they want.

Suggested reading: Best 10 China Shoes Markets

3. Pricing The prices of the same item vary between the two platforms. It is because Alibaba specializes in large wholesale orders.Thus, there are many products offered at reasonable prices. You can save money for your small business by ordering from Alibaba. My computer has two opened tabs at the same time to compare the pricing on both platforms. Yet my focus is always on their quality.
4. MOQ: Minimum order quantity Buyers with more moderate budgets will be able to deal with suppliers on DHgate. The MOQ requirements on DHgate are lower than Alibaba.Additionally, the platform features reviews and ratings for each supplier. This method has made choosing a credible supplier even easier.
5. Payment There are various payment methods available at DHgate. You can use Visa, MasterCard, American Express Discover, and Skrill. Moreover, users can pay via Bank Transfers, Diners, UnionPay, Wire Transfer and Western Union. DHgate does offer escrow payment protection.Alibaba has a better payment method. Alibaba enhances payment security for buyers and suppliers. The company has partnered with an independent payment provider (Alipay).All the money exchanged for both Alibaba and DHgate is with the company. It allows better safety for buyers. My recommendation is to only deal via the platform for safety purposes. It has saved me multiple times from suspicious suppliers.

Suggested reading: Alibaba Payment

6. Shipping method DHgate and Alibaba do not offer free shipping but paid shipping methods. Many sellers may offer a discount on the shipping cost.There may be variations in delivery time based on the location. You should check the delivery time from your suppliers to stay on your schedule.

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Suggested reading: Dhgate Shipping Time

7. Returns/exchange policies DHgate offers free returns and exchanges for several cases. It is when you do not receive your order for any reason. Besides, it is also applicable when the supplier does not ship on time. The seller will return the shipping cost to you if it is the supplier’s fault.The Alibaba platform supports partial refunds and holdings of products. You may receive a partial refund. It is when the products received differ from those contractually required.

Suggested reading: Alibaba Refund Experience

8. Customer Support There aren’t as many ways to communicate with Dhgate. Chatting online or sending an email are two of the methods available. You can reach the Dhgate customer support team through both options.There are four different communication methods available on Alibaba’s website. They are Chat now, Get the latest price, Start order, and Contact supplier. Alibaba offers a wide range of help through mobile support and the community forum.You can contact suppliers using any of these options.

How to Make Online Shopping through Alibaba or DHgate?

If you are ordering through Alibaba or DHgate, you should consider many factors. Following these tips helps you to shop safely on these websites.

1. Fill out the inquiry form. Asking questions is the best way to ensure the product meets your requirements.

FAQs on Alibaba vs DHgate

1. Which platform, Alibaba or DHgate, is better for small businesses?
   • If you’re a small business with a limited budget, DHgate might be more suitable due to lower MOQ requirements.
2. Can I trust the product quality on both Alibaba and DHgate?
   • Both platforms have a mix of good and bad suppliers. It’s essential to research and choose verified suppliers for better quality.
3. Are returns and exchanges easy on DHgate and Alibaba?
   • DHgate offers free returns and exchanges for various cases, while Alibaba supports partial refunds for quality discrepancies.
4. What are the key differences between Alibaba and DHgate?
   • Alibaba has a wider range of suppliers, while DHgate is more suitable for smaller businesses. Alibaba specializes in large wholesale orders, while DHgate has lower MOQ requirements.
5. How do I ensure payment security when dealing with Chinese suppliers?
   • Using the integrated payment systems on Alibaba and DHgate provides an added layer of security. Stick to platform transactions for safer deals.