Alibaba · 1688 · Made-in-China · Canton Fair
Verify a supplier based on where you found it
Each platform checks something different. None shows lawsuits, debts or the company's registration status.
01
Alibaba.com
Alibaba's export platform
What it checks
- Gold Supplier: paid membership, with a check that the company exists.
- Verified Supplier: assessment of the company and its capabilities by an outside firm.
- Trade Assurance: protection for orders paid within the platform.
What it does not show
- Lawsuits, court lists or abnormal operations.
- Whether the capital is paid in.
- Whether the proforma's account belongs to the same company.
Tip: The years next to the name count the membership, not the company's age.
02
1688.com
Alibaba's wholesale site for China's domestic market
What it checks
- It is in Chinese and sells to buyers within China, in yuan.
- Platform badges (such as the 诚信通 membership) show what 1688 checked.
- Many sellers do not export: buying goes through an agent.
What it does not show
- Whether the seller is a factory or a reseller.
- Lawsuits or debts.
- Who will collect payment if you buy for export.
Tip: If you buy through an agent, verify the agent too: it is your real counterparty.
03
Made-in-China.com
Export platform based in Nanjing
What it checks
- Audited Supplier: an audit of the company commissioned from an outside firm.
- A profile with data declared by the supplier.
- Direct contact with the seller.
What it does not show
- Current registration status.
- Court lists.
- Whether the manufacturer on the certificate is the same seller.
Tip: Read the audit report: it says which company and which address were audited.
04
Canton Fair
Guangzhou, in spring and autumn
What it checks
- Both manufacturers and trading companies exhibit.
- You get direct contact and samples in front of you.
- The fair has admission requirements for exhibitors.
What it does not show
- Whether the exhibitor makes what it displays.
- Its solvency or its lawsuits.
- Whether the invoicing company is the one at the booth.
Tip: At the booth, collect the Chinese name, the booth number and a photo of the license.
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