Is the supplier being "too friendly”?

Global SourcesUpdated on 2024/05/21

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Full Question This may seem like a trivial/silly question but I'm trying to source from a supplier in China via Alibaba and I'm often surprised by the number of vendors addressing me as 'friend'. I'm not sure if this is a common practice in China and harmless, or I should be suspicious and steer clear of anyone appearing too familiar.

Answer That does sound strange and while Alibaba has a massive list of potential suppliers, it is not known for the quality of suppliers in their directory. Personally, I prefer www.GlobalSources.com.

If you have reservations about the vendors calling you “friend”, check out these links and see if the sellers have the red flags mentioned in the links.

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