Alibaba can show you suppliers, not the Truth!
The supplier looked perfect.
The documents were clean.
The badge was verified.
The loss was ₹42 lakhs.
This is not a story from a movie.
This is a real import case we reviewed.
An Indian importer sourced a product from a “verified” supplier on a global B2B platform.
- Gold badge
- Years on platform
- Attractive pricing
- Fast responses
What went wrong?
- The factory address was a shared virtual location
- Export history belonged to a different legal entity
- Production was outsourced without buyer knowledge
- Quality failure surfaced after shipment
- Platform response: “We only facilitate listings.
By the time facts were discovered, the container had landed.
Refund? Arbitration? Support?
None.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth 👇
Platforms show suppliers. They don’t show risk.
Badges don’t verify factories.
Listings don’t reveal export performance.
Chat responses don’t equal compliance.
Another case:
A European buyer trusted a “Top Supplier” profile.
The factory existed — but the company on the invoice didn’t.
Payment cleared. Shipment delayed. Entity disappeared.
What failed wasn’t sourcing.
What failed was verification before commitment.
Independent verification answers questions platforms don’t:
- Who actually owns the factory?
- Is this entity exporting under its own IEC?
- Are past shipments real or borrowed?
- Is production in-house or subcontracted?
In global trade, assumption is the most expensive mistake.
Before your next import, ask yourself:
“If this goes wrong, who is accountable?”
If the answer is “no one” — you already know the risk.
👇
Have you faced a supplier that looked perfect online but failed in reality?
Share your experience. Others are making the same mistake today.
🔍 Verify before you import.
– The Exim Times
Trade Intelligence | Verification | Due Diligence
