After news leaked out over the weekend, Alibaba confirmed it is testing a new website for small entrepreneurs in the U.S. looking to source product from China. Alibaba.com spokesperson Andrea Meyer said the site is in very early testing, and even the name - AliExpress - may change.
AliExpress currently lists products from third-party verified "Gold Suppliers" from China. Retailers and online sellers can buy products in smaller lots than generally available on Alibaba.com, and payment is made using the company's Alipay online payment service. Alipay is an escrow service and releases payment to suppliers only after buyers confirm delivery.
A description of the site states, "AliExpress is a new wholesale marketplace from Alibaba.com offering products at factory prices direct from China. With minimum orders as low as 1 item, secure escrow payment, and express delivery with full tracking, AliExpress really is your one-stop-shop!"
Currently, AliPay users from outside mainland China may only participate in a transaction as a buyer on AliExpress, while users from mainland China may only participate in an AliPay transaction as a supplier on the new site. AliPay's online dispute policy is located online.
It remains to be seen whether AliExpress, which opened to all users on September 9th, makes it more difficult for eBay to succeed in its secondary market strategy, or whether the site is complementary by allowing sellers to source goods to resell on eBay.
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After news leaked out over the weekend, Alibaba confirmed it is testing a new website for small entrepreneurs in the U.S. looking to source product from China. Alibaba.com spokesperson Andrea Meyer said the site is in very early testing, and even the name - AliExpress - may change. 