Alina V.

That's what poor research gets you I believe.
You don't need to be a PC/internet savvy to have a quick google search about a company.
I don't mean to look down on those that have bought without doing research, especially "normal" buyers that buy 1-2-3 items worth "pennies". Live and learn and no major harm done financially.

But for re-sellers (and I have read plenty reviews that bought $$$$ worth of items) to buy without researching properly first? It's like asking for something bad to happen. Especially without having some extra protection behind your purchase (paypal, credit card, ets)
It's again a live and learn scenario, but a lot more bitter.

I, for one, was hugely inclined like many others here have, to go ahead with some purchases for my own business since some of the prices are simply amazing and allows a lot of margin.

Not saying everyone on AliBaba is a scammer and of course you can't satisfy everyone's needs (you will always get a "moaner" every now and then regardless of the business you are in), but if 9 out of 10 people complain then something is amiss.

After reading such a tremendous amount of bad reviews that even got me personally upset (though I am in no way or shape connected to any of the unlucky buyers), I am surprised at AliBaba's continuous "Couldn't be bothered" attitude.

Online is the best place for scams and heck, there are plenty of them. But for them to continuously being allowed to trade on the platform and AliBaba not putting higher security/protective measures in place is where the real scam lies.
Not the fact that there are scammers is a shame, but that AliBaba allows it to carry on.

It can be such an amazing platform if genuine sellers only would be allowed with good quality items for the trade to enjoy... Too bad AliBaba does not view it like that and they cannot understand how much more money they would actually make due to repeat custom.

Such seller activity would not be tolerated by other online platforms such as Ebay as an example. If one of my buyers would complain, I would be in the weeds! Not on Alibaba apparently... Sad, indeed, as huge potential is wasted to potentially fruitfully connect international markets.

As for my own experience, glad that I did some research before proceeding.
Found some interesting stuff, which albeit cheap looked alright (in pictures!), the total for 20 items would have been around $10.00, which I though would be worth risking to check the quality. I could afford to lose $10.00 if it was nasty, wasn't it? Not that huge of a risk.

Then the seller comes back saying that postage would be $200.00! Well, ain't that an amazing coincidence of making up some of the money back from selling the product so cheap? Of course, did not go ahead.

Sorry to hear about such huge amounts of misfortune, sorry to hear that AliBaba is not on the buyers side (like Ebay, Amazon, etc), especially since there are $$$ in the gamble not a few dollars only, but glad that I came here on time before going ahead on any purchase.