In recent years, sourcing products from Alibaba and selling from Alibaba to Amazon has come out as a highly profitable business model within ecommerce, especially for new and small-scale entrepreneurs. So the question is “how to send from Alibaba to Amazon?”
The process of how to import from Alibaba to sell on Amazon, when executed with careful planning and strategic decisions, allows sellers to use Alibaba’s wide network of manufacturers and Amazon’s established logistics capabilities to build a successful business.
In 2023, Alibaba reported a new revenue of approximately $126.5 billion, making steady growth in its core ecommerce and digital services sectors. The company has shown strong financial performance over recent years, becoming one of the largest.
What is Alibaba?
Alibaba is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces, a business to business platform that primarily connects buyers with manufacturers and suppliers.
The platform is popular among Amazon sellers looking to source products due to its wide range of items, competitive pricing, and the way sourcing through Alibaba can lower product cost by cutting out middlemen.
While Alibaba to Amazon caters to bulk purchases and business transactions, it’s necessary for new sellers to understand Alibaba’s processes and practices.
How to Find Products on Alibaba to Sell on FBA?
When you’re planning to sell from Alibaba to Amazon, you need to choose the right product, and this places pressure on how to best find products on Alibaba to sell on FBA.
Start by doing product research on Amazon: conduct product research with Amazon search results, search suggestions, and keyword tools to gauge demand, competition, and price points so you can identify profitable products.
Once you have a product idea, run a keyword search on Alibaba using relevant keywords to locate products, then narrow the search results by Alibaba verified suppliers or a verified supplier badge to reduce scam risk.
Review supplier profiles carefully. Check for details such as company experience, ratings, transaction history, certifications, and contact details. For solid supplier verification, review references and feedback from other buyers, vet suppliers by comparing multiple suppliers and different suppliers, and choose the Alibaba supplier that best fits your needs.
Order samples to assess product quality before committing to a bulk order. Use them to review product specifications, assess product quality, and communicate expectations clearly with potential suppliers.
Selling on Amazon from Alibaba allows you to contact multiple suppliers, compare terms while evaluating suppliers, and negotiate for better rates, especially on larger orders; strong supplier communication also helps you choose reputable suppliers that offer competitive prices.
How to Sell Products from Alibaba to FBA Step-by-Step
Once you’ve identified your product and supplier, follow these steps to send products from Alibaba to Amazon FBA step-by-step:
1. Create an Amazon Seller Account
If you don’t already have an Amazon Seller Central account, set one up and choose the FBA option. This setup allows you to send inventory to Amazon’s warehouses, and Amazon will handle storage, packing, and shipping.
2. Generate a Product Listing
Create a product listing for your item on Amazon, filling out all required details, including creating Amazon listings with a compelling title that boosts visibility in Amazon’s A9 algorithm, benefit-focused bullet points, high-quality images that can increase click-through rates, and pricing set at competitive yet profitable levels based on market analysis; be sure to choose the right product category before the listing generates a unique FNSKU barcode, which is required for FBA shipments.
3. Prepare an FBA Shipment Plan
In Seller Central, create a shipment plan for your products. Amazon will provide you with specific instructions on packaging and labeling, including how the FNSKU barcode should be applied to each item.
4. Arrange Shipping from Alibaba to Amazon FBA
There are two main options here:
Direct Shipping: Some suppliers on Alibaba offer direct shipping from Alibaba to Amazon FBA warehouses. In fact, most suppliers can send inventory to an amazon fba fulfillment center or amazon’s fulfillment centers if they understand Amazon’s packaging and labeling requirements and have experience exporting to the destination country. Shipping direct can work well for suitable orders.
Using a Freight Forwarder: To ship from Alibaba to Amazon FBA, consider using a freight forwarder who can handle customs, taxes, and other logistics. Choosing a reliable freight forwarder is essential because they can simplify international shipping, manage the shipping process, support customs clearance, handle the customs clearance process, and make sure proper documentation is in place. Freight forwarders can consolidate shipments and help ensure your products reach Amazon FBA smoothly, while shipping directly may still make sense for simpler shipments.
Common shipping options and shipping services include ePacket for small parcels and sea shipment for larger orders. Shipping costs vary by method, and deliveries often take about 12 to 20 days, or roughly 2-4 weeks, depending on the route and method. DDP is another option where the supplier handles customs clearance and delivery to Amazon.
5. Confirm Quality and Packaging Compliance
Ensure your supplier or freight forwarders adheres to Amazon’s FBA requirements, with strong quality control around labeling, packaging, carton dimensions, and weight limits to avoid penalties or inventory rejections. FNSKU barcodes must be placed on each individual item and are used for tracking in Amazon fulfillment. Packaging should also be neutral and not show supplier branding. Many sellers use a third party inspection company before shipment to confirm standards are met and protect customer satisfaction while reducing negative reviews.
6. Track Your Shipment
Use tracking information provided by the supplier or freight forwarder to monitor the shipment’s progress in Amazon Seller Central until the inventory is checked in, since Amazon requires valid tracking information for all shipments; this helps keep your amazon store in stock and ready for selling products or to successfully sell after receipt. Once Amazon receives your products, your listings will go live on the marketplace, and Amazon will handle fulfillment.
Alibaba to Amazon FBA FAQ
Can I sell Alibaba items on Amazon?
Yes, many Amazon sellers source products from Alibaba. However, it’s important to verify that products comply with Amazon’s policies and any necessary regulations, ensuring that your items are legal, safe, and authorized for sale.
Why is Alibaba so cheap?
Alibaba suppliers often offer competitive pricing due to the bulk nature of transactions and the low-cost manufacturing base in regions like China.
Additionally, Alibaba’s marketplace model allows you to connect directly with manufacturers, bypassing intermediaries that would typically add markups.
Is Alibaba legit?
Alibaba is a legitimate platform with millions of verified suppliers and buyers worldwide. However, like any online marketplace, there are risks associated with counterfeit or poor-quality products.
Conduct thorough due diligence, work with legitimate suppliers, use Trade Assurance, and order samples before placing a larger order to confirm high quality products. If you are building a brand, register trademarks early to reduce intellectual property risk.
What are Alibaba Payment Methods?
Alibaba supports several secure payment methods to ensure smooth transactions and improve buyer protection, helping you evaluate all the costs with fewer payment risks.
Alibaba Trade Assurance: Protects buyers from payment issues and keeps payments protected until goods are received, with refunds if the supplier does not meet agreed-upon terms.
Bank Transfer (T/T): Suitable for larger transactions, where you transfer money directly to the supplier’s account.
PayPal: Often preferred for sample orders, as it offers payment protection.
Credit Card: Accepted by many suppliers and is generally fast and convenient.
Western Union: Often used for smaller orders, though it lacks the buyer protection offered by other methods.
