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China is the factory of the world, and it is no coincidence that Alibaba is one of the worlds biggest online marketplaces for new equipment. That said, is it a good idea to buy an Alibaba vending machine? If you are contemplating importing vending machines from Asia through Alibaba, you need a sound strategy to ensure you get value for your money. In this post, I will take you through all you need to know about sourcing vending machines through Alibaba.
Yes, you can buy vending machines on Alibaba. Many reputable manufacturers and wholesalers are selling modern vending machines on the platform. You can find many types of vending machines on Alibaba, including machines to vend snacks, drinks, gumballs, stickers, hair extensions, coffee, water, sanitary products, and ice cream, among other products.
Buying an Alibaba vending machine may provide the following advantages to a business based in a Western country:
Note, however, that buying a vending machine on Alibaba will require a bit more due diligence on your part. Consider doing the following when dealing with suppliers.
Working with only Gold Suppliers and taking the following actions will eliminate most scammers:
If you are in the United States, you dont need a license to buy from Alibaba. Alibaba is an online marketplace, competing with the likes of eBay, where independent sellers connect with buyers with minimal bureaucratic hindrances. You can import a vending machine from a supplier on Alibaba into the United States without an import license.
Sourcing a vending machine from a supplier on Alibaba comes with certain risks and disadvantages, including long shipping times, the possibility of damage, shipping fees, and incorrect product information.
Most of the vending machine suppliers on Alibaba are based in China. Shipping a product by sea from China to the USA typically takes 15 to 35 days, depending on the Chinese and American ports in question and the shipping lane used. If you are in a hurry to launch your vending business, waiting more than two weeks for your machine to arrive may be unideal. If you can wait, however, an Alibaba vending machine is a great option.
You should account for the cost of shipping when comparing vending machine prices. If the cost of the machine plus the shipping cost is equivalent to the price of a comparable machine available locally, it makes sense to get the machine already in the country.
When shipping by sea, fees are mainly determined by whether your shipment is Full Container Load (FCL) or Less Than Container Load (LCL). If you buy several vending machines, you can have your own dedicated container and ship by FCL. Otherwise, you will share a container with other customers (LCL). It costs around $1,200 to ship a Full Container Load from Shanghai, China to Los Angeles, USA, and around $2,300 from Shenzhen, China to New York, USA. The cost of shipping an LCL is calculated per cubic meter or ton. It will cost between $15 and $60 to ship one cubic meter from China to the USA by sea, depending on the ports used. A normal-sized snack vending machine will typically be about 1.6 cubic meters.
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Product research can make or break your Alibaba vending machine shopping experience. It helps to have clarity on the type of vending machine you want and all its necessary features before contacting a supplier. While most product descriptions on the platform are correct, there are instances where critical information is missing, incorrect, or misrepresented. Therefore, always get explicit confirmation from the supplier that the vending machine available for shipping matches the provided description. To be sure, ask the vendor to send clear pictures or videos of the machine.
A vending machine bought through Alibaba will be handled by several people in both China and the USA. The manufacturer/supplier ships it to the port, Chinese port staff load it to the ship, American port and customs staff handle it when it arrives in the USA, and you get to ship it to your warehouse or vending location. Given the many stops, there is an increased risk of damage. Most vending machines are made tough, though, and the probability of them getting significant damage due to shipping and handling is low.
A good supplier will take measures to reduce the possibility of damage, including:
You shouldnt worry too much about damage, though. Shipping companies handle equipment more fragile than vending machines, and they routinely arrive safely.
One of the main downsides of sourcing vending machines from China is that the brand may lack ready spare parts in the United States. When you cant get spare parts quickly, your vending machine will sit idle for days while waiting for parts to arrive. You can mitigate this problem by getting a simple vending machine whose parts can be replaced with generic aftermarket parts.
As you cannot inspect the machines physically, you cant ascertain the build quality of the specific vending machine you are buying. You can reduce the chances of importing a lemon by working only with suppliers/manufacturers with many good reviews. Avoid suppliers who havent built a solid reputation on Alibaba.
Most manufacturers in China targeting Western customers have staff who have adequate proficiency in English. You may, however, find yourself dealing with a company where this is not the case. Language barriers can distort communication, cause frustration, and even mess up your order.
While Alibaba has business-to-customer (B2C) offerings, it mainly serves as a B2B company. Businesses looking to buy products in bulk will find Alibaba more useful than AliExpress. AliExpress is designed to serve the B2C segment.
That said, for vending machines, you will be better served on Alibaba than AliExpress for both bulk and single purchases. Alibaba has a bigger selection of all kinds of vending machines, including those for snacks, drinks, combos, gumballs, stickers, and custom items. Most vending machine suppliers on Alibaba do not have a minimum order requirement and will gladly ship even one vending machine to you.
The decision to buy an Alibaba vending machine depends on your business needs and your assessment of the costs and benefits accruing from the decision. As far as safety is concerned, it is unlikely that you will get scammed if you source the vending machine from a well-reviewed Gold Supplier. Consider the following factors when evaluating whether to buy a vending machine locally or source one from Alibaba:
Ultimately, the decision to buy an Alibaba vending machine is about the expected rewards and savings. You should be able to independently do a cost-benefit analysis based on your specific circumstances to determine if the decision is worth it.
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