Introduction
1 What is Trade Assurance?
Trade Assurance is a free service offered by Alibaba.com designed to build trust between buyers and suppliers. It protects you if something goes wrong with your order.
You are covered if:
- Your products are not shipped on time as per the contract with your supplier
- Your products do not meet the quality standards as per the contract with your supplier
2 How to use Trade Assurance?
a. Start an order online with a Trade Assurance supplier. You can place an order online, ask your supplier to draft one, or upload a PI (Proforma Invoice) — recommended for convenience.
b. Make a payment to the bank account designated by Alibaba.com. You can pay via Credit Card, e-Checking, Wire Transfer (T/T), Pay Later, or Boleto (Brazil only).
Ordering
1 Search & contact a Trade Assurance supplier
a. Tick the Trade Assurance filter when searching for a product on Alibaba.com to only show protected suppliers.
b. Click "Contact Supplier | Chat Now" to make an inquiry directly with the supplier.
2 Place your Trade Assurance order
a. Place a TA order just like any normal order — make sure the supplier has the Trade Assurance icon. After negotiation, ask your supplier to draft an order or upload a PI.
b. Click "Start Order" on the product page or the supplier's minisite, or go to Message Center to start an order.
3 Choose whether to use Product Inspection Service
Payment
1 Send initial payment
After checking that your order is correct, send your initial payment. Sign into My Alibaba to find the order and click "Pay Now" on the order details page.
2 Select your payment method
You have five payment options available:
- Low transaction fee — US $15 per transaction
- Available to buyers with checking accounts from any bank in the United States and Europe
- Takes 4–5 working days once verified and authorized
- Payment limit per transaction: US $12,000
- Payments arrive within 2 hours
- Funds usually take 3–7 working days to arrive
- Transaction fee varies by country — check with your local bank
- Apply in minutes for up to $150,000
- Competitive rates, no order transaction fees
- Simple monthly payments, no prepayment penalty
- Only for buyers whose country and delivery address are both in Brazil
- Limit: US $5,000 per month
- Processing fee: 1.35% per transaction
- USD only
3 Check your shipment
Check your shipment in "Delivery Details" on the order page, or contact your supplier directly for a shipping update.
4 Pay the balance
Negotiate with your supplier to pay the balance before or after delivery. Go to "Order Details" and click "Pay the Balance". All five payment methods are available.
Complete order
1 Confirm receipt
When the order has been shipped and your balance payment has arrived, your order status changes to "Waiting for Delivery Confirmation". Click "Confirm" on the order details page to complete.
2 Leave feedback for your supplier
Once you confirm receipt, the order is marked complete. Leave feedback about the supplier to help other buyers on the platform make informed decisions.
Disputes & refunds
1 Apply for a refund
Trade Assurance covers you in shipping or quality-related disputes. You can access the dispute function once your initial payment is complete.
You can apply for a refund if:
- The shipping time does not meet the standards in your contract
- The product quality does not meet the standards in your contract
Go to your order details page and click "Apply for Refund" to begin the dispute process. Alibaba.com will review your case.
2 Getting a refund
Once your refund application is approved, Alibaba.com will generally refund you within 7 business days. Timelines by payment method:
Note: Remote locations may take longer to process refunds.