Where To Look For Chinese Suppliers? What Is The Difference Between Alibaba and 1688?
Can you really find the perfect supplier in China?
Well, you can’t find a dragon that breathes fire and ships your products overnight, but you can find a reliable partner to bring your ideas to life. :D
The trick is knowing where to look — and understanding the platforms available to you.
Recently, I sat down with Jane from Chinese Tiger, a company specializing in sourcing and shipping products from China to anywhere in the world.
Jane and I dove into a topic that many sellers ask about: Where do you even start when looking for Chinese suppliers?
And, once you know the options, what sets platforms like Alibaba apart from 1688?
This conversation was well-received by my YouTube audience, and I’m excited to share the key takeaways with you here.
Oh, and here’s a little bonus — if you ever need help from Chinese Tiger, just mention my name (Vova Even), and they’ll throw in a free product sample inspection for you.
Now let’s get into the details!
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Vova: Jane! Where should we start when looking for suppliers?
Also, what’s the difference between Alibaba and the Chinese website, 1688?
I think 1688 is like a Chinese version of Alibaba.
Can you explain it to us?
Jane: Sure, Vova. Let me break it down.
Alibaba - Worldwide Wholesale Network
Alibaba is mainly designed for English-speaking users.
The platform is set up in a way that makes it easier for people from other countries to find suppliers.
Most of the representatives you’ll find on Alibaba can communicate in English, though their English might not always be great.
I’ve tested this myself.
For example, I’ve checked how they communicate in English versus Chinese, especially when it comes to pricing.
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When you contact them in English, they often quote higher prices.
But when you use Chinese or talk to them on platforms like WeChat, the prices can be noticeably lower.
Another point is, Alibaba is primarily for international buyers.
Most of the suppliers you find there are actually middlemen, not the factories themselves.
Factories don’t usually rely on Alibaba to find customers.
That's because dealing with international buyers can be challenging for them.
They’d need to handle language barriers, meet a lot of specific requirements, and navigate complicated processes.
For factories, it’s just easier to work through middlemen.
These middlemen handle all the communication, including dealing with buyers like us.
So, when you’re on Alibaba, you’re often not speaking directly to the manufacturers.
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Now, let me tell you about 1688.
1688 - Local Wholesale Network In China
1688 is a platform designed for Chinese users, and everything on it is in Chinese.
But don’t worry — you can translate the site using tools like Google Translate.
That can make it easier to navigate, although the interface itself is not very user-friendly.
It’s colorful and packed with information, which can make it a bit overwhelming at first.
One of the key differences with 1688 is that you’ll find many factories listed there.
This is where you can directly connect with manufacturers and work with them to create custom products.
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If you have a specific idea in mind, you can often find a factory in 1688 to make it for you.
However, the platform isn’t the easiest to use.
Once you’ve identified a factory, it’s common to move the conversation to WeChat.
WeChat is like the go-to app for Chinese suppliers.
It’s widely used for communication, sharing details, and even handling negotiations.
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Vova: That’s really interesting, Jane.
So, it sounds like Alibaba is more foreigner-friendly but often involves middlemen, while 1688 allows you to go directly to factories — if you can handle the challenges of navigating the site and communicating with suppliers.
Final Thoughts
To wrap things up, here's what we covered.
Alibaba is great if you’re just starting out or if you need a platform that’s easier to navigate as an international buyer.
But remember, many of the suppliers there are middlemen, which means you might not get the best prices or work directly with the factory.
On the other hand, 1688 is a good option if you want to connect directly with factories.
It’s less expensive but comes with its challenges — like a Chinese-only interface and the need to communicate through platforms like WeChat.
If you’re willing to put in the effort, 1688 can be a good way to customize products and work straight with manufacturers.
Both platforms have their pros and cons.
The right choice depends on your experience, your needs, and how much time you want to invest in managing these relationships.