I assume the 8 years is how long they have been a Gold Supplier. Being there for that long is not an ironclad guarantee. Approximately 25% of all Alibaba listings go out of business every year. The name and the gold badge will often be sold to another business that could have been started yesterday.Hi Walter thanks for the reference.
As for manufacturer vs. trader, I guess I don't know with 100% certainty.
Naively, just from basing off their Alibaba profile: 8 years doing business, labeled as a manufacturer on Alibaba (check mark verified)
This is my first rodeo... what else should I be looking for?
Edit:
2/5/17 - CAD files complete and "looks perfect" with the "manufacturer".
They want $600 for sample mold and $2000 for production mold. I am trying to somehow proceed directly to a production mold. I want to ensure my design fits perfectly to spec.
Lesson #1 Don't believe what the suppliers say on any B2B site. Just because they say they are a manufacturer doesn't mean they are.
If you are in fact dealing with a trader, you could get the runaround while they hunt for a manufacturer who can and will do what you want. The price quoted for the molds might be OK, but I would need to know a lot more about your product before I could confirm. During the time I ran my importing business I had hundreds of molds made, and prior to that I used to supply products to molders, so I know something about that subject.
The verified sign you refer to means almost nothing, just that the business exists, and were occupying premises at that address on the day that Alibaba visited. They might be genuine and they might be manufacturers. If you like to send me the details I will check them out for you. I've done this for possibly 100 or so Fastlane members. It only takes me a few minutes. (No charge - I just like to help.)
It could help you to have a look at my AMA:
Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.
Walter
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