Help! I want to source goods through Alibaba, but I'm a bit lost!

In online retail, buying low is the holy grail of the "buy low, sell high" model. Every seller is always on the lookout for a better, cheaper source. This is why sites like Alibaba draw so much interest—there's nothing more seductive than the thought of easily buying manufacturer-direct from across the Pacific Rim, at rock bottom prices, for resale in the U.S. or other areas.

If you've tried to do this and found yourself engaged in a flurry of confusing communication or confronting what seems like a too-good-to-be-true offer, you've probably already realized that there's more to international sourcing than point-and-click. Here's a primer to help you to think about buying manufacturer-direct across borders and oceans—whether it's for you, how to begin, and what you need to know.

See Also:

     • Ways to Source for eBay Selling
     • What to Sell and Where to Get It
     • Should I join that drop-shipping website?