Getting scammed by a supplier from Alibaba!

[Discourse]

Hi there,

Im from Melbourne, I ordered products from a supplier I found from Alibaba. The supplier said they are a trade company in China. I ordered the products and paid for DHL Express Tracking.

One week later, I check up on tracking and DHL said that they haven't received ANY packages from the supplier and that the transaction was instigated from Malaysia not China.

I emailed the supplier asking questions, and they came with the excuse that DHL sent the product to Malaysia first (Why???), and haven't arrived in Malaysia.

I suspect that this is delay tactics,

The products going into transit in Malaysia is utter BS. I paid for premium shipping, why would they ship it to Malaysia first. And DHL said they haven't received ANY package from the supplier.

This is my first time getting burnt! (I am sure some of you guys have battle scars and experienced this already)

I've never had any experience with Paypal dispute. Anyone has any experience they would like to share on paypal disputes and past dealings with scammers?

 

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[Elizabeth Shi]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your experience but thanks anyway for sharing. When you are transacting with foreign companies due diligence and quality control is very critical. Especially when you are dealing with a huge amount, a great idea would be to invest a small sum for a company verification service or even a more comprehensive Factory Audit which we provide to ensure that you are dealing with genuine companies.

 

[tafy]

Issue a chargeback on your credit card, or go through paypal. Do it quick

 

[caezlar]

sounds it is a fraud, tell me your supplier's name or phone, maybe I can dig their deep info for you.

 

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[Discourse]

Issue a chargeback on your credit card, or go through paypal. Do it quick

Yup I am disputing the transaction via Paypal. My first time doing it, I hope its not too late and outside the time-frame.

sounds it is a fraud, tell me your supplier's name or phone, maybe I can dig their deep info for you.

The supplier's website is http://www.cnlongtrust.com/
Though I found them through Alibaba. It's a shame because there are other products I wanted to order from them.

May I ask what method you use to dig info on them?

 

[codo3500]

Edit: Noticed you said you paid via PayPal. Did they try to get you to pay via another means before agreeing on this? I.e. Western Union?

PayPal isn't normally the method of payment preferred by scammers, they're very strict and have solid conflict resolution. You'll get your money back.

 

[MoneyDoc]

Might not be a scam, china to Malaysia via dhl is very common.

Plus, most suppliers don't use paypal as much as they know customers can chargeback easily. So double check before you chargeback.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

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[SJVC]

Yeah most scammers don't use PayPal because it is pretty solid.

Next time get a sample for some reassurance

 

[Lone Wolf]

As others have said, its unlikely that they would be scamming you using PayPal because it's incredibly easy to get your money back (charge-back). They're also a 3 year gold supplier on Alibaba, which they have to pay a large amount to keep every year, so the likelihood that you've been scammed is minimal.

 

[caezlar]

Supplier is a trade company, not manufacturer. Their telephone or fax No. are the same as another company named Zhejiang Ruis Industry&Trade Co.,Ltd.
Might not be a scam.
May I ask what method you use to dig info on them?---haha, I'm Chinese.

 

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[Walter Hay]

As others have said, its unlikely that they would be scamming you using PayPal because it's incredibly easy to get your money back (charge-back). They're also a 3 year gold supplier on Alibaba, which they have to pay a large amount to keep every year, so the likelihood that you've been scammed is minimal.

In fact they do not always have to pay a large amount. There are periodic discount offers and for the past year Alibaba have discounted Gold Supplier status to $299. The result is that thousands of suppliers have that status badge at a cost that would appeal to any scammer. Currently there is a discount offer of $599.

I know the inside story because I am registered as a vendor on Alibaba although I don't sell anything.

You might like to see my post yesterday in my AMA thread
Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.
on the subject Alibaba and the 2236 Thieves.

 

[SGBoise]

You're not the first and won't be last to get scammed on alibaba. Why not try local manufacturers?

 

[Walter Hay]

You're not the first and won't be last to get scammed on alibaba. Why not try local manufacturers?

The OP might be in a similar position to what what I experienced when I started what became my importing business. Originally I began by buying from local manufacturers.

Quality was indifferent, service was terrible, delivery was slow, and prices were high.

I had previously had my own industrial manufacturing business and had been exporting to Asia Pacific countries including China. That had involved numerous visits to China where I had visited a large number of factories so I knew a lot of people there. As a result I began sourcing products for my new business there.

The result was:

• Better quality.
• Faster than local delivery.
• Excellent service.
• Prices that had me laughing all the way to the bank.

That is why I gave up buying from local manufacturers and began full scale importing. I have never been scammed by any Chinese business and the same applies to all the franchisees that I had in 4 countries, and we never used Alibaba for sourcing. See my post above for reasons.

P.S. I am now retired for health reasons.

 

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[Vigilante]

If you never used Alibaba for sourcing, what caused you to form such an anti-alibaba opinion?

 

[daivey]

i used alibaba and aliexpress. ive never had problems. you need to do your DD of course.

 

[Walter Hay]

If you never used Alibaba for sourcing, what caused you to form such an anti-alibaba opinion?

I am not anti-Alibaba except for the fact that they lead people to believe they are dealing with more trustworthy suppliers if they display a Gold Supplier badge. Alibaba gets more of my attention because it gets the vast majority of references on forums.

I know the inside story with Alibaba because as I wrote in my post at 11.34 today above, I am registered as a vendor on Alibaba although I don't sell anything. As a result I get regular updates from Alibaba. I also have the inside story from other big B2B sites, but they don't get a lot of mention on forums, so I don't write much about them.

I have also received numerous reports from people who have had bad experiences in dealing with suppliers on Alibaba. In my article posted yesterday in my AMA thread headed Alibaba and the 2236 Thieves, I wrote "Please don't think I am just knocking Alibaba. Almost all of the major B2B sourcing sites use a similar system."

I want people to be aware that the gold status system (it goes by different names on different B2B sites) regardless of where you find it is virtually worthless as a guide to reliability, capacity, or trustworthiness. It is a clever, but in my opinion deceptive, way of convincing people to use those sites with a feeling of confidence. In fact it gives many of them a false sense of security.

 

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[smartman]

what is probably happening to your order is this- some of these companies will fill out the shipping slip, send you the tracking info, but wait to actually have DHL pick up the parcel until there is a larger amount of packages to ship to get the larger discount. I was told that dhl give tiered discounts for amount of business per pick up. Doesn't make sense to me, but I get why they do it. it sucks, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[piocan]

Hi,

I'm Co-Founder of ExamineChina.com, we're doing background checks on Chinese companies in 48h.
If you need some free advise about importing from China sent me DM or email me peter at examinechina dot com

Best,

Pete

 

[Mark Anthony Le]

You should've fact checked the supplier before buying. There is a awesome thread on background checking your suppliers in the forum you can do yourself.

 

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[Walter Hay]

You should've fact checked the supplier before buying. There is a awesome thread on background checking your suppliers in the forum you can do yourself.

Which thread are you referring to?

You might save someone from spending $259 to $399 just for a credit check!

 

[Mark Anthony Le]

Which thread are you referring to?

You might save someone from spending $259 to $399 just for a credit check!

https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/co...'t-Screwing-You-With-Fake-Certificates.56634/

EDIT: Maybe not a full background check but atleast it gets you one step closer to finding a legitimate supplier

 

[Risk]

Do any of the alibaba experts on here know of a good electrical manufacturing company that can produce a 3 button remote with three small alarms that all weigh less than 4 grams. When you press a button on the remote the corresponding alarm then sounds. I have some other design specifications that make it unique and I'm having trouble finding a reliable company to make a prototype.

 

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[Walter Hay]

https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/index.php?threads/HOW-TO:-Be-Sure-Suppliers-Aren't-Screwing-You-With-Fake-Certificates.56634/

EDIT: Maybe not a full background check but at least it gets you one step closer to finding a legitimate supplier

Thanks. In my AMA I also give extensive information on this subject.
Ask Me Anything Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

 

[Walter Hay]

Do any of the alibaba experts on here know of a good electrical manufacturing company that can produce a 3 button remote with three small alarms that all weigh less than 4 grams. When you press a button on the remote the corresponding alarm then sounds. I have some other design specifications that make it unique and I'm having trouble finding a reliable company to make a prototype.

I don't recommend using Alibaba, and my posts here and on my AMA thread show why. BUT.. whether you use Alibaba or one of the other B2B platforms you best option is to look for a manufacturer that makes products at least in the same general category.

Ask them to quote for your product but be aware that if a plastic molding is required, an injection mold could cost you$1,000 for a simple one or $5,000 for something a bit more complex. Maybe you could get a case done by a 3D printer instead. Any electronics company should then be able to fit the working parts in the right place, provided your case is designed to accommodate those parts.

You should also be aware that your Intellectual Property will be at risk in China. It might be better and not cost much more, to have the item made locally.