The e-commerce landscape is growing every day, and many businesses are now making their names in this industry. Alibaba and 1688 are two platforms that shine brightly in this industry. The debate between Alibaba vs 1688 is viral, but people are not trying to find the differences between them.
In this article, we have provided a detailed guide on Alibaba vs. 1688 and discussed all the differences between these two platforms. So, let’s dive into the article and, examine all the intricacies of these platforms, and decide which is best for you.
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What is Alibaba and 1688?
Alibaba
Alibaba is considered one of the best and largest traditional and international B2B trading platforms. The business model of this company is based on international buyers and also for larger businesses. Here, you will find a lot of different suppliers and manufacturers. It is essential to know that Alibaba is known to deal in bulk and larger quantities. Hence, if you are trying to find a good place where you can place high quantities but find the products at affordable prices, then this is the place for you.
1688
1688 is another platform based on B2B transactions that focuses on both domestic and wholesale businesses. This is a platform where you can find a secure marketplace where there are sellers and suppliers from all over the world. 1688 offers raw materials and also finished goods in a very affordable process. Hence, this is a fantastic platform from which you can source high-quality products.
Alibaba vs 1688: What are the Differences?
Now that you know Alibaba vs 1688, we have mentioned some of the major differences between these two platforms below.
Target Audience
Alibaba’s primary audience is international businesses. If you are trying to find products directly from the manufacturers, then this is the place for you. This means that here, you can find retailers, wholesalers, and companies that can allow you to buy larger quantities of products.
On the other hand, if we talk about 1688 here, you will mainly find the domestic Chinese market suppliers and retailers. If you are looking for high-quality Chinese products at affordable prices, then this is the place for you.
Language
Alibaba targets people from all over the world, which means that the language selection is quite vast. You will find English as well as other languages such as French, Italian, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Portuguese, and a few others. This eliminates all the language barriers that come with placing orders for yourself.
1688, on the other hand, has many language barriers. 1688 is a platform that only supports Chinese retailers and wholesalers, and this is why the only language you can find is Chinese, which can cause a lot of confusion and problems when it comes to placing an order. One solution that comes with this platform is that you can collaborate with a Chinese professional who can help you understand the order and the language.
Product Range
There are not many differences when it comes to the product range. There are many different options of products. On Alibaba and 1688, you can find many different products such as electronics, home goods, cosmetics, clothing, health, fitness, and whatever you need.
The best thing here is that you can even find machinery for your industries and a lot of other significant things. Therefore, when it comes to products, you will find everything that you need on these platforms.
Pricing
There are some differences between Alibaba vs 1688 pricing. When you shop at Alibaba, you can easily order in bulk, which will allow you to get the products at affordable prices. However, it is important to know that they might have higher prices due to additional fees, and if you are doing international shipping, then there will be shipping fees.
In 1688, the pricing of the products was very low and affordable. Sourcing products from 1688 means that you will be getting them through Chinese suppliers, which means that you will get very cheap prices.
Shipping
Alibaba is one of the best platforms. However, here, you might deal with high international shipping and logistics costs. This is especially true for international buyers such as people ordering from Europe, the US, and other Western countries.
1688, however, focuses mostly on domestic logistics within China. This means that international shipping is much less than Alibaba’s.
| Criteria | Alibaba | 1688 |
| Target Audience | They target big business who wans to order in bulk for their sales. | This platform is good for both business and individual customers. |
| Language | Here you will find various languages other than English. | Only Chinese language is available. |
| Product Range | All kinds of products are available. | Wide variety of products are available. |
| Pricing | Low prices and even discounts on bulk orders. | Low and affordable prices. |
| Shipping | Shipping can take longer time. | Shipping is quick and smooth. |
How to Place order in Alibaba?
Now that you know some of the major differences between Alibaba vs 1688 AE, you must know how to place an order on Alibaba.
1. Sourcing
The first thing you need to do when it comes to Alibaba is sourcing products. You need to find the type of product that suits your requirements. This means you search for the category of the product and then the type of the product that you need. This might take a few minutes as you need to find the right place to source the products.
2. Check Their Business Type.
The next step when placing an order on Alibaba is to check the business type. You need to check if they are retailers, wholesalers, or companies that offer manufacturers. This is also an essential part of figuring out the business type.
3. Pricing Negotiating
After you have selected the product and the quantity that you need, the next step is to negotiate the pricing. This is an essential part because if you don’t negotiate the price, they might sell you at higher prices. However, if you negotiate the terms and the prices, you will be able to secure a better deal.
4. Ask For Sample
Before ordering the entire bulk amount, you should ask for a sample. This is an essential part as you will be able to look at the product and its quality before getting the entire product. Hence, this is an integral part of the whole process, as you will be able to save yourself from fraud.
5. Deposit
Deposit is also a part of the process. You need to deposit when you are trying to order in bulk. Therefore, after completing the order, you must deposit some amount. This will confirm the order, and then you can pay the rest when you receive the shipment.
6. Manufacturing
You also need to check the manufacturing of the products. You need to see how they are being manufactured, the raw materials being used to manufacture them, and the final product that you will be getting.
7. Balance Payment
After confirming the order, you might need to pay the balance. This means that after the deposit, whatever amount is remaining, you should pay that amount. Sometimes, the sellers ask for advance payment, and sometimes, you get the option to pay when you receive your order. Therefore, you can pick the option that is suitable for you.
8. Shipping
The last step is shipping the products. When you have placed the order, you will receive the details for the package within a specific period. This will help you know when you will receive the package. In Alibaba, the shipping time can vary, which means that if the orders are for international countries, it can take some time.
How to Place an Order in 1688?
Following are the steps that you need to take when it comes to ordering from 1688.
1. Sourcing
The first step is souring the products. This means that you need to open the website and search for the products that you want to purchase. This means that there will be a lot of different options, but you need to make sure you are packing the one where you will find good reviews and good quality.
2. Ask If They Have Export Experience.
When you have chosen the product and from where you want to source it, you should ask them if they have export experience. This will help you understand if they have dealt with surfers before and, if so, how their experience was. This is a crucial part to do before placing your order.
3. Pricing Negotiating
The next step is price negotiation. Many people don’t know, but when you place orders in bulk, you can negotiate the pricing. Therefore, if you like the products and you don’t like the pricing, then you can easily negotiate the pricing and find common ground.
4. Payment Method
Now, you need to choose the payment method. There are different ways to pay. You can easily pay with a card. You can also choose to pay through PayPal and even pay at the time of delivery.
5. Production And Shipment
The last process is shipment. In most cases, 1688 is the place where you can do domestic shipping, which means that you will be able to get the packages quicker. Even for international orders, 1688 offers quick delivery, and you will be able to get the packages soon after placing the order.
Your Best Sourcing Agent for 1688
When it comes to sourcing the products from 1688, you need to find a good place to source them, as this will help you pick good quality and also find good shipping rates. Finding a good sourcing agent can be challenging; however, we have one perfect option for you. NextSmartShip is one of the best sourcing companies in the world, and it can help you find the right high-quality products from 1688.
Another impressive thing about NextSmartShip is that they help pick, pack, and ship products from Chinese manufacturers without any hassle. They also provide the best shipping rates, making the entire process of sourcing and shipping the products simple and affordable.
Conclusion
There are a lot of different e-commerce websites because online shopping has become very popular nowadays. The two leading popular platforms that people love using are Alibaba vs 1688. Both of them help the customers source products from Chinese manufacturers and help you find good quality products. Hence, we hope this article was helpful for you in understanding the differences between Alibaba vs 1688 and you were able to pick the right one for yourself. Also, if you are looking for a good sourcing agent, make sure to check NextSmartShip.
