How to Use DSers Find Products: Sourcing from AliExpress, 1688, and Alibaba

DSers Find Products is a built-in product sourcing tool that helps sellers discover, compare, and import products from multiple supported supplier platforms — currently AliExpress, 1688, and Alibaba. Each platform offers a different type of product pool, and understanding the differences helps you choose the right source for different stages of your store. This guide explains what each platform offers, what to consider before choosing, and what to do after you find a product.

Before You Start

Before using Find Products, make sure you have:

• A DSers account with at least one connected store
• A clear idea of the product category or niche you want to explore
• Reviewed your target market's shipping expectations

Find Products is part of the broader DSers workflow. After you find a product, you can use the Import List to review and edit it, check Supplier Mapping to link it to the correct supplier, and later use Bulk Order to process orders.

Supported Sourcing Platforms in DSers Find Products

As of June 2026, DSers Find Products supports three sourcing platforms. Each serves a different sourcing need.

AliExpress

AliExpress is the largest product pool available in DSers Find Products. It covers a wide range of categories — fashion, electronics, home goods, pet supplies, beauty, and more — making it a practical starting point when you want to explore product ideas or test different niches.

Because AliExpress is a consumer-facing marketplace with many competing sellers, product pricing is generally competitive. Many suppliers offer established shipping methods that work for cross-border delivery.

What AliExpress is good for:

• Exploring a wide range of product categories
• Testing new product ideas before committing
• Finding suppliers for niche products

Things to keep in mind:

• Shipping times vary by supplier and shipping method — sellers should review each supplier's shipping options
• Product quality varies — always check supplier ratings and reviews before importing

1688 Dropshipping

1688 is a supported sourcing platform in DSers. It is Alibaba Group's domestic wholesale marketplace in China, where local businesses source products directly from factories and wholesalers. DSers has integrated 1688 as a sourcing option, making it accessible without needing to navigate the Chinese-language 1688 site manually.

1688 can help sellers explore a wider range of products and wholesale-style sourcing opportunities. Product pricing on 1688 may differ from retail-facing platforms, as many suppliers list wholesale or factory-level prices.

What 1688 is good for:

• Exploring wholesale-style product sourcing
• Accessing a broad range of products from Chinese factories and wholesalers
• Comparing sourcing options alongside AliExpress

Things to keep in mind:

• Pricing and availability depend on individual suppliers — sellers should review each product and supplier before importing
• Shipping methods and timelines may differ from AliExpress — check supplier details carefully
• Sellers should still review product descriptions, images, etc., as these vary across 1688 suppliers

Alibaba

Alibaba is a global B2B platform where many suppliers maintain stock in warehouses outside of China — including in the United States, Europe, and other regions. When you source products from Alibaba suppliers with overseas warehouse inventory, delivery to your customers may be faster compared to products shipped from China.

This can be useful for sellers who want to reduce delivery times for specific markets, especially when fulfilling orders to customers who expect shorter shipping windows.

What Alibaba is good for:

• Sourcing products that may ship from overseas warehouses
• Reducing delivery times for customers in specific regions
• Finding suppliers who can support larger-scale fulfillment

Things to keep in mind:

• Not all Alibaba suppliers have overseas warehouse inventory — check product and supplier details
• Overseas warehouse availability depends on the supplier and product
• Sellers should still review shipping methods, costs, and supplier reliability before importing

How to Choose the Right Sourcing Platform

Choosing by business stage

• Just starting out: AliExpress offers the widest product range for testing and exploration.
• Looking for wholesale-style sourcing: 1688 gives you access to factory and wholesale suppliers.
• Need shorter delivery times: Check Alibaba suppliers with overseas warehouse inventory for specific markets.

These are not mutually exclusive — many sellers use more than one platform depending on the product and target market.

What Happens After You Find a Product

Finding a product is the first step. After you identify a product in Find Products, you can:

1. Add it to your Import List — Review and edit the product title, description, images, variants, and pricing before publishing. See: How to Use the Import List.
2. Check Supplier Mapping — Link your store product variants to the correct supplier product variants. This helps make later order processing more accurate. See: How to Map Suppliers in DSers.
3. Publish to your store — Once the product is ready, push it to your connected store.
4. Process orders — When orders come in, use Bulk Order to process multiple supplier orders more efficiently. Sellers should still review payment status, supplier availability, shipping methods, and address issues.
5. Sync tracking — DSers helps sync tracking numbers and order status updates back to your store when available. See: How to Sync Tracking Numbers.

Common Issues

I cannot find a specific product on 1688 or Alibaba. Product availability varies by platform and supplier. If a product is not available on one platform, try searching on another supported platform.

The price I see in Find Products is different from the supplier's page. Supplier prices may update independently. Always verify the current price on the supplier's product page before importing or placing orders.

A product I previously imported from Tmall or Temu is no longer available. Tmall and Temu are no longer supported in DSers. You will need to find an alternative supplier on AliExpress, 1688, or Alibaba and update your Supplier Mapping.

Shipping times are longer than expected. Shipping times depend on the supplier's chosen shipping method and destination. Sellers should review shipping options for each product and set appropriate customer expectations.

FAQ

What is DSers Find Products? Find Products is a built-in sourcing tool in DSers that helps sellers discover and compare products from supported supplier platforms.

Which sourcing platforms does DSers currently support? As of June 2026, DSers supports AliExpress, 1688, and Alibaba for product sourcing and fulfillment workflows.

Is 1688 cheaper than AliExpress? 1688 is a wholesale-oriented platform where many suppliers list factory or wholesale-level prices. However, actual pricing depends on individual suppliers and products. Sellers should compare prices across platforms and review supplier details before deciding.

Do I need to review products and suppliers manually after finding them in DSers? Yes. DSers helps you discover and organize products, but sellers should still review product descriptions, images, supplier ratings, shipping methods, and pricing before importing and selling.

Can I use more than one sourcing platform at the same time? Yes. Many sellers use multiple platforms depending on the product and target market. You can manage products from different suppliers within DSers using Supplier Mapping.

Does DSers guarantee delivery times or order success? No. DSers helps sellers manage sourcing and order workflows more efficiently, but delivery times and order success depend on supplier performance, shipping methods, and other factors outside DSers' control. Sellers should monitor orders and handle exceptions as needed.