A long-held concern for many suppliers, both experienced and new, is that inquiring buyers might be showing interest only for price comparison purposes.

Alibaba.com's sellers' advice for dealing with buyers is summarized below:

1. Pay more attention to those emails which are highly specific, as this can be an indicator of authenticity.

2. Distinguish authentic buyers via communication (chat, phone, fax, email) by asking questions regarding:

• Product specifications
• Technical requirements
• Acceptable pricing
• Required quantity
• Brand history
• The number and type of companies with which they have cooperated with in the past
• How long they have been in business

3. Business cards from buyers provide information, including:

    a. Where their company is located in their city
    b. How many telephone lines they have
    c. Whether they have their own website or whether they do e-commerce through free services 
    d. Whether they are retailers, wholesalers, importers or agents, or any combination

4. Give careful attention to product inquiries outside of your usual product categories. One reason is that the buyer typically cannot find a supplier who can match his requirements. This is a good opportunity for you. On the other hand, even if you do not get an order, you can gauge market demand and technical standards for new products. This information is normally very hard to get.

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