How to buy on IndiaMART - A comprehensive guide for shoppers

It seems like Alibaba is a site that does not need an introduction. Some importers and suppliers are looking for alternatives to Alibaba and other Chinese online marketplaces. We have already covered Korean Alibaba called tradeKorea. This time, we introduce the IndiaMART marketplace – how to buy on the IndiaMART trade portal.

What is IndiaMART?

IndiaMART is an over 20-year-old company and one of the largest online B2B e-commerce marketplaces. IndiaMART is a business directory that enables prospective buyers to discover products and services and connect with suppliers registered on the platform.

Is IndiaMART wholesale platform free?

IndiaMART is generally free for suppliers and buyers. Like Alibaba, IndiaMART makes money by providing extra features and selling subscription packages to suppliers. In order to increase their visibility and access advanced systems, suppliers can choose to pay for subscription packages such as:

Silver Monthly
Silver Annual
Gold
Platinum

Platinum and Gold subscription packages are available as annual, semi‐annual, or multi‐year packages. Silver packages are available as monthly, quarterly, semi‐annual, and annual packages.

For buyers, IndiaMART.com is completely free.

Do I need to have a company to buy on IndiaMART?

IndiaMART online shopping is available to both businesses and consumers. Individual buyers can buy on the IndiaMART e-commerce platform. It is recommended to connect with retailers/wholesalers, who would be willing to supply goods with a low value of minimum order quantity (MOQs).

Why should you shop for products on IndiaMART?

IndiaMART has a strong presence in India and is a perfect marketplace for small businesses and entrepreneurs to raise their profile and for importers to get innovative products. Even though it is most popular in India, there are also suppliers from over 100 countries.

It is said that suppliers on IndiaMART are more reliable than those on Alibaba since the verification is more meticulous.

IndiaMART manufacturer directory & services

IndiaMART offers a wide selection of goods and services, from daily-use items to manufacturing and agriculture. There are over 50 industries and 95,000+ categories.

IndiaMART shopping guide. How to use IndiaMART?

Sign-up on IndiaMART

Create an account to get access to personalized recommendations and exclusive features. Join IndiaMART for free using your Google account or by registering with your e-mail address. If you choose to register with your e-mail, just verify it and you are done!

Then, go to your profile and add details.

How to find suppliers and products on IndiaMART and place an order?

After you sign up and sign in, you can use the search bar and filters to find exactly what you’re looking for. The filters include:

location
price range
product specifications.

IndiaMART buyer tips

Keep your search keywords concise, ideally using only 3 or 4 words. Longer keywords can lead to less accurate results.
Double-check the spelling of the product name.
Utilize the city/state filter to narrow down your search to specific locations. For example, you can search suppliers by region:

Delhi
Bengaluru
Chennai
Mumbai
Ahmedabad
Pune
Kolkata
Surat
Jaipur
Hyderabad

Please select the type of seller you wish to contact, such as a manufacturer, retailer, wholesaler, etc.
If you’re looking for products within a certain price range, simply check the corresponding checkbox on the search result page.

The easiest way to find products on IndiaMART is to provide a detailed inquiry so that the platform can assist your specific needs. To get the best deals from IndiaMART’s wide network of 7.8 million suppliers, submit a form with your requirements. You can get accurate information about the most relevant suppliers hassle-free and without any cost.

Place an individual inquiry in indiaMART

1. Enter the product’s name into the search bar and click on “Search”

2. Click on the desired IndiaMART item

3. Review IndiaMART supplier details and rankings

Before making the decision, assess both the seller and the product. Read the specifications, review seller profiles, and check their credibility. If you have any questions, contact the seller.

A Verified Supplier on IndiaMART is a supplier that has at least six listings and passes a verification call check.
A TrustSEAL is a paid add-on service for the MDC package and a complementary service for the Maximizer package and above. A TrustSEAL supplier receives a Certificate of Trust.
The other tags on the seller profile include Leading Supplier (suppliers that are leaders in their category) and Star Supplier (most prominent suppliers in the category).

indiaMART verified company — help.indiamart.com/knowledge-base/verification-symbols

4. Click on the “Get Latest Price” and fill out the form

quantity
your requirements
your company details
depending on the inquiry type, you can choose the price range.

5. Submit the inquiry and wait for the supplier’s response

Once you reach the negotiation stage, do not hesitate to negotiate terms and prices.

6. Place an order

Before you order goods on IndiaMART, review your order summary to check the details. You can choose to pay using existing payment options like UPI, net banking, etc.

You can even request IndiaMART shipping service, but we always recommend choosing verified freight forwarders.

7. Tracking IndiaMART orders

Generally, IndiaMART offers tracking tools that enable you to stay informed about the order status.

8. Pay due duties and assess the quality

If you source from India to another country, make sure to be compliant with the local regulations and pay due duties if there are any. In case of importing to the EU, use the TAR IC system to check customs rates. If you source to the US, check the customs duties on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule website.

Remember to inspect the items and check whether they are as described and ordered since IndiaMART has no obligation to verify the quality for you. If there are any issues with orders, promptly address the discrepancies.

Buying from IndiaMART sellers – Is buying on IndiaMART safe?

Online supplier scams are prevalent. Even though IndiaMART verifies its suppliers, it is always advised to do due diligence and assess the supplier’s credibility on your own. As the platform states, “IndiaMART is an online marketplace which brings together buyers and suppliers. It does not participate in the negotiations and transactions that take place between buyers and suppliers. IndiaMART, therefore, is not accountable for the fraudulent nature of suppliers/ buyers.”

Checking a potential supplier costs upfront, but in the long run, it might save you a significant amount of money.

Is it worth buying products on the IndiaMART B2B platform?

Having read the article, the IndiaMART buying process is not a mystery anymore. To make IndiaMART’s purchase experience worry-free, make sure to:

check your supplier’s credibility
sign a trade agreement that outlines terms, conditions, and expectations
have quality control conducted.

How to buy on IndiaMART – A comprehensive guide for shoppers