What You Need to Know About Buying From Alibaba in Uganda

You can buy from Alibaba when you are in Uganda. Find the product you are looking for and a reliable, verified vendor with a history of successful transactions.

If you’re in Uganda and want to purchase something from Alibaba, find a reputable, verifiable vendor with a history of successful transactions. Here are some tips on how to use Alibaba in Uganda.

Contact the vendor to negotiate the unit cost, the minimum order quantity, and the shipment method. Utilize a low-risk means of payment, such as PayPal or an escrow service. 

Create an account on Alibaba

If you already have an account, sign in on the Alibaba homepage. Follow the instructions on the signup page to register an account if you do not already have one.

To create an account on Alibaba, a wholesaler’s licence from Uganda is not required. However, if you sell things sourced from Alibaba, you will be subject to the business and tax requirements of Uganda.

Find a product on Alibaba

On Alibaba, there are various ways to search for products when you are in Uganda. Entering keywords or phrases into the products search bar on the homepage is the simplest method. 

Click the “Search” button after selecting the “Products” tab, entering your search word in the search bar, and selecting “Uganda” as your country from the drop-down menu.

You can also search for products using the categories on the homepage’s left side. To browse products, hover over a category and then pick a subcategory.

Filter the results of your search on Alibaba

Searching by product and category can provide thousands of results, thus sorting through products could be time-consuming. You can utilise the options on the left side of the search results page to refine your query and get fewer, more relevant results.

For instance, a search using general words will produce many results, but you may narrow your search using the options on the left. Adding keywords such as a specific colour will yield significantly fewer results, making it easier to sort search results.

You can also filter your product search results by the country of origin of the suppliers. This will assist you in locating domestic providers, which will reduce shipping costs and time.

Instead of searching by product, you can select the option labelled “Suppliers” adjacent to the search bar. This returns vendors that specialise in the goods you wish to acquire.

If you’ve dealt with a supplier before or are aware of a supplier who specialises in your desired product, you can use this search engine to locate them more quickly than with a product search.

The search results page will also allow you to filter results by the country of origin of the suppliers.

Post a request for quotation (RFQ) on Alibaba

Additionally, you can request a quote that outlines your sourcing requirements and compare direct bids from multiple vendors. Click on the “Submit RFQ” option and compose your message in the supplied field.

Input a product keyword and desired quantity in the spaces provided. You can provide any other pertinent product specs in the message body.

You can provide your shipment destination (Uganda) and preferred payment method beneath the message body.

Check supplier profiles for badges of verification.

After locating suppliers via search engine tools or RFQ, visit their profile pages to confirm their credibility. Check for profile badges to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate vendor:

The A&V Check signifies that the supplier has passed Alibaba and a third-party verification service’s authentication and verification examination.

The Onsite Check certifies that Alibaba staff has visited the locations of Chinese suppliers to ensure that onsite activities exist.

The Assessed Supplier Check indicates that a third-party service has validated the supplier.

Utilize a low-risk means of payment, such as PayPal

Be sure to negotiate a low-risk payment method with the provider during the payment method negotiation process.

The best payment methods include PayPal or acquiring a letter of credit for transactions over UGX 75,000,000 (for example, through a banking institution).

A third-party escrow service, such as Alibaba’s secure payment service, will retain the funds until both parties confirm delivery.

Note that only mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan-based vendors are permitted to use their secure payment service.

Avoid Western Union transfers, which should only be used when sending money to a close friend or relative.

Determine and pay your shipping expenses

Alibaba’s Freight Logistics site assists the provider in calculating and paying international shipping expenses.

Then, you pay the supplier for transport. Request that your supplier, if they haven’t already, go into Alibaba and visit its Logistics website to provide you with a precise estimate of customs charges and taxes.

Duties and taxes will vary based on Uganda’s current rates and those of your provider’s location.

Remember that you can try to locate a supplier with a warehouse in Uganda to avoid international shipping costs.

Dispute your transaction if something goes wrong with it

Upon getting your items, you must properly inspect them for quality and verify that you have gotten the correct quantity.

You can file a complaint with Alibaba’s assistance centre if you’ve received products of a lesser quality than promised or if you’ve received an incorrect quantity.

You must include images of the goods demonstrating why you are dissatisfied, as well as the original contract, payment paperwork, and all correspondence between you and the seller.

Before consenting to a transaction, conducting some research on the provider will guarantee that you purchase goods that satisfy your expectations.

Ensure that they are a verified supplier, and search online for complaints and feedback from previous customers, if any.