Kicking off your business through selling on Amazon requires a lot of moving parts, and one of the most important ones is testing the product you’re thinking about selling.
The good news is you can do just that on Alibaba.com.
After creating an Alibaba account, finding the best suppliers and getting the best price for your product on Alibaba, you’ll still want to make sure you handle the product yourself before buying in bulk. Nobody wants a faulty product arriving at their door, and this is how you can make sure that never happens.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how to order product samples on Alibaba. Oh, and if you’re looking for a product to sell through Amazon FBA in the first place, we’ve got you covered.
- AMZScout review: Best for Amazon sellers?
- AMZScout vs Jungle Scout: Which should you choose?
Why should I order product samples on Alibaba?
You’re the seller here, so you may as well give one of your products a whirl, right? Mainly, this is just for you to know how the product works, if it’s up to standard, if there are potential changes you want to make and, of course, if you think your customers will enjoy it.
Requesting a prototype of what the supplier manufactures is a good way to show you mean business, and from there, you can gauge whether it’s worth placing an order. Get opinions from friends and compare them to your competitors – this is your chance to get to know the product.
It’s also a great way to stay safe when buying on Alibaba. Making sure the product isn’t faulty before you take the plunge will save you from getting scammed.
Also important to note: the product sample you order may not be exactly the same as what you ask for. The supplier may use different equipment to create a product sample, as it may require too many resources to manufacture a single sample. The manufacturer should communicate any potential differences with you – and you should relay any questions you have with them.
Furthermore, You will probably have to pay for the sample product + shipping. In the past, we’ve tended to pay US$20-$50 for tracked shipping to speed up (and guarantee) the sample reaches us.
How to order product samples on Alibaba
It’s incredibly simple to order product samples on Alibaba, as you may only have to check a box or request it from a supplier by contacting them.
To make a strong introduction and make sure the manufacturer knows you mean business, we recommend contacting the supplier and requesting a sample order. This will kickstart communications between both parties, and you can then negotiate prices, product customisation options and more.
The method is similar to finding a supplier on Alibaba, but you can check out how to order a product sample below:
1. Open Alibaba.com (https://www.alibaba.com/) on your browser.
2. Search for the product you’d like to sell.
3. A new page will open with a list of products from different suppliers. Choose a listed product you would like a product sample from.
4. The product listing page will open. At the right hand side of the page, select Contact supplier.
5. A chat window will open up. Here, you can contact the supplier and send an inquiry.
It goes without saying that you should not just say, “can I get a product sample?” and nothing else. A product listing page on Alibaba.com provides plenty of information about a manufacturer – especially if they are a verified supplier. So, it’s best if you do the same by introducing yourself and your business.
Share details about the product you have in mind. This could be the material used, size, colour and more. Of course, it’s good to share your shipping address, too.
It’s also worth asking any questions you may have, from shipping costs to your location to customisation options.
