Managing Risks Beyond AliExpress Sourcing

Even after you decide on a reliable supplier on AliExpress to source products, there are inevitably some potential risks to manage.

In the following, we’ll discuss how to manage the risks in and beyond AliExpress sourcing to help with your supply chain management.

Dealing with Unreliable Suppliers

Suppliers that do not meet their obligations may cause your business loss or even failure. When you deal with off-platform suppliers, your payment will be transferred to them immediately without a payment hold period, but the supplier may not deliver the order or fail to deliver it in time.

As such, it is important to make purchases with suppliers through a third-party platform like AliExpress to get added protection.

Plus, as your business grows, your order volume increases. You may need to find one or more backup suppliers in case the current supplier has no stock.

Handling Shipping and Delivery Issues

When it comes to shipping and delivery, you may encounter issues like non-delivery, delayed delivery or lost packages.

However, with AliExpress, you can raise a dispute if you do not get a good response after contacting the supplier. The platform will mediate the dispute between you and the supplier to find a resolution, such as offering a refund or partial refund, arranging for the item to be returned and so on.

Avoiding Low-Quality Products

Products that are not in good quality may damage your store's reputation and lead to customer negative feedback.

Fortunately, under the AliExpress return & refund policy, when your customer is not satisfied with the purchase and asks for a refund or apply for a return, you can open a dispute against suppliers to safeguard your rights.

Furthermore, it’s recommended that you establish a return and refund policy that suits your store, which can not only demonstrate you care about your customer’s rights and interests but also avoid unnecessary disputes and after-sale management costs.

Understanding Customs and Import Regulations

Since you dropship internationally, you should be aware of the customs and import regulations as well as taxes or duties that apply in the destination country. By following those rules, you can avoid legal consequences, financial loss and delayed shipments.

In conclusion, sourcing from AliExpress can be a great way to find affordable products from China, but it’s important to manage the risks involved. In addition, if you want to move your business to the next level, read this article to learn good practices on how to dropship with AliExpress.