Review of login based websites for import/export like Alibaba

Review of login based websites like Alibaba Home

Updated:Monday September 05, 2005

Today most of the large B2B websites like Alibaba are login based - you provide detailed information about your company and then you are provided with a login id and password. Please read this article on the problems of passwords as used in the real world. Since all these websites are basically similar, we will review Alibaba, which seems to have the largest advertising budget.

Alibaba is one of the largest trade websites is based in China. The Chinese government has encouraged the use of internet for promoting trade, unlike India where it is used mostly for entertainment and some non-productive activities. Many Chinese manufacturers , despite their limited knowledge of English have used it to increase sales of their products worldwide.

Like other trade portals, Alibaba offers some free services, but you have to spend nearly an hour to register and fill in a lot of details about your company including staff strength, trade history .

A few days after you register as a free member you will receive the following mails. (Our comments are in italics)

I think you've gotten some general idea about Alibaba after reading my first email. Here I'd like to show you the different memberships in alibaba.
When you browse Alibaba., you will find different member types. To identify them is very crucial for your online trading. Below is the brief introduction of memberships:
1) Pre-qualified Members:
They are those who have been verified by third-party international credit agencies. They are called "TrustPass Members"(companies outside Mainland China) or "Gold Suppliers"(Companies in Mainland China).
These companies are proved to be legally registered and their contact persons are verified personnel to represent the company on Alibaba. You will see a logo beside each TrustPass company¡¯s posted information.
With the TrustPass program, Alibaba endeavors to let you know more of your trading partners.
2) Unauthenticated Members:
Those who do not have a TrustPass qualification yet. You will find an alert below each posting of an unauthenticated member.

Generally speaking, it is safer to do business with authenticated members. (Implication: Free members are generally unreliable)
From our statistics, 85% of buyers prefer to contact pre-qualified members at Alibaba (naturally if it is implied that non-paid members , If you want to be authenticated too( become Trustpass membership--paid service, annual fee: USD349), Please click here or contact me for more info!

After a few more days you will receive the third email below
As a free member, you can now enjoy :
Post 5 product pictures.
Post less than 20 sell offers.
View only some of buyers' information. (less than 15% buyers - but spend an hour to find buyer details)
If you want to access to ALL Alibaba business resources, stand out over your competitors, and receive more inquiries, please seriously consider our TrustPass services
Always listed on the top place of searching results pages in front of free members.
Publicized to be authenticated & trustworthy with TrustPass Qualification accknowledged by 85% buyers.
Own a professional website on alibaba-the world largest online marketplace.
Link your website (if you have one) with alibaba to gain more visitors.
Own one service team to help you solve any service using problems.
If you have strong desire to improve your business, then TrustPass® Membership will be really a valuable invest for your future.
To upgrade to TrustPass (paid service, annual fee: USD349), please click here or contact me for more info!

General comment : "alibaba-the world largest online marketplace" surely can afford to have their impersonal form letters proof read by an employee more proficient in English!

Alibaba basically focuses on Chinese manufacturers and even if you are a non-Chinese paid member, you will be listed below the Chinese companies.

The charges for Chinese companies are not mentioned on their website

Finding a relevant buyer and sending a quote usually takes at least 30 minutes or so, since their servers are very slow

Korean websites like ecplaza and ec21 offer better free services and do not require login to access partial information

Please send an email or fill our supplier registration form, so that we can provide you more useful information in future.

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