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.

How to avoid scams when buying overseas or online

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