Alibaba.com (HKG:1688) Introduces Logistics Warehouse and Shipping and Logistics Management Services on AliExpress

Hong Kong, Jan 19, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Alibaba.com Limited (HKG:1688), the world's leading small business e-commerce company, today formally launched Fulfillment by AliExpress (fulfillment.aliexpress.com), a new logistics and shipping service provided by a third-party partner for buyers using the AliExpress (www.aliexpress.com) wholesale e-commerce platform. With Fulfillment, small businesses using AliExpress will be able to combine multiple orders into one cost-reducing international shipment, track those orders from China-based suppliers using a single online interface, and verify those orders at a central warehouse prior to shipment.

International small and medium businesses will be able to save up to 30 percent off their total shipping costs using Fulfillment by AliExpress. This is achieved through bulk shipping deals and the combining of multiple international shipments from different suppliers into a single shipment for one buyer. Alibaba.com's shipping and logistics partner, GELS Enterprise Shanghai Co Ltd, will handle all warehousing, shipping and logistics for AliExpress orders that choose to use the Fulfillment service, offering a choice of discounted rates from international carriers such as UPS and EMS, with other shipping carriers to be added in the future.

"AliExpress was designed to give even the smallest business a competitive global trade advantage by offering better prices on smaller-quantity orders," said David Wei, CEO of Alibaba.com. "Adding the Fulfillment service to the AliExpress platform allows us to further extend the international buying power of small businesses around the world, making the shipping and delivery of their business-critical goods as easy, safe and convenient as possible."

With no minimum order quantity associated with this service, businesses can order a single product from a single supplier, or multiple products from multiple suppliers, giving their business the flexibility it requires. Additionally, this new service allows small businesses to contact AliExpress directly for delivery updates and/or track their shipments online, making it easier to manage international shipping. For further ease, Fulfillment by AliExpress manages the domestic shipping within China and holds a buyers' order(s) in a secure GELS warehouse until the buyer gives authorization to ship the goods internationally within a prescribed time period.

The Pre-Shipment Inspection service offered by Fulfillment by AliExpress gives buyers the option of contracting GELS to perform specific checks on the goods prior to shipment. When a shipment arrives at the designated GELS warehouse in China, inspection officers can verify that there is no exterior damage to the goods and that the physical characteristics of the shipment, such as quantity, color and size, match the order. While this additional service does not inspect the quality of the goods, it does help the buyer to reduce the risk of receiving physically damaged or non-conforming goods.

Alibaba.com launched AliExpress in April 2010. Currently, there are more than 10 million listed products from more than 40 categories on the platform.

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