r/alibaba
Looking into first purchase
User asks for advice on buying motorized window shades from Alibaba.com, concerned about hidden fees and payment methods.
As the title says, I’ve never purchased anything from alibaba. I’m looking to get motorized window shades and want to make sure I’m not going to be tacked on with any other fees. I’m still comparing different manufacturers/suppliers but is there anything else I need to look out for?
I plan to use a CC and only make the payment through the app.
In theory if it is DDP you should have no extra fees.
Note that Alibaba is really not meant for personal purchases so don't expect any warranty of recourse if something goes wrong - assuming you receive the blinds in the first place.
Paying by credit card can help, but if you lose 3 months of time and get something unusable it might have been better to just buy locally.
Dont do DDP . alwasy Choose EXW and dont pay 100% advance
since that quote says DDP shipping you are totally good, that means they cover all the customs and delivery fees so there are no surprise charges later. paying with your credit card right in the app is the smartest way to do it because it automatically locks in trade assurance to protect your cash.
Is FOB worth the savings for a smaller purchase or the hassle as my first purchase?
If you don’t know how to use FOB probably not the best for your first purchase. Do some more research because any mistake can cost you a lot of money.and I’m taking about $500-$5000 mistake.
What kind of mistake ?
Sheesh, where do I start
Misclassified Harmonized System (HS) Codes,
Incorrect Invoice Valuations,
AES (Automated Export System) Errors,
Missing or Incomplete Documentation,
Improper Labeling of Dangerous Goods
The "Containerized Cargo" Error
Misunderstanding Export/Import Roles
One of many mistakes that can happen if you’re not careful.
I agree that’s why I was leaning towards DDP, knowing I’ll pay more but I’d be less stressed. If it’s DDP, are there any other fees or unknown costs that could be tacked on?
On FOB yes, DDP they take care of everything for you. What you’re really paying for is their knowledge and work. The reason I even tried tackling FOB and another one I just forgot what it was called was because I was trying to ship some electric pallet jacks, and they have some pretty crappy taxes on them. 15%-27% tax for heavy equipment on top of customs, shipping, sales, states and so forth
For smaller purchase use AliExpress or taobao. Don't use Alibaba
Any tips on shipping from aliexpress?