Platform comparison
A different way to discover manufacturers
GetSourceDirect is open to sellers in any country and does not impose a platform-wide bulk minimum. This page sets out what the marketplace does today and — importantly — what it does not do yet.
What this marketplace is, and what it is not
We publish no ratings, pricing or capability claims for other platforms — we have not audited them. What follows is only about GetSourceDirect.
In place today
- Sellers in any country — GetSourceDirect is open to businesses in any country, so sourcing is not limited to a single market.
- Business review before approval — A reviewer checks a business registration and profile before a profile and its listings are approved. This is an internal review, not an independent audit or inspection, and sellers without it are shown as unreviewed.
- Seller-set minimum order quantity — Each seller sets and displays their own minimum order quantity on each listing. GetSourceDirect does not impose a platform-wide bulk minimum.
- Direct seller contact — You send an inquiry straight to the seller and they reply. There is no platform intermediary in the conversation.
- No upfront seller fee — Sellers can register and publish listings without an upfront membership fee. A commission applies to completed sales, but it is not currently collected because payments are not processed.
- Services as well as products — Service providers — software, design, consulting — can publish listings alongside manufacturers.
Not in place
- We do not process payments and we do not hold buyer funds. There is no escrow.
- We do not guarantee refunds and we do not operate a formal dispute workflow yet.
- We do not provide order tracking inside the platform.
- We do not publish country-coverage or supplier-count statistics, because we do not track those figures for marketing.
- We do not publish ratings or pricing for other platforms — we have no verified data for them.
Two sourcing models, compared structurally
The useful comparison is not which platform is better — that depends on your order. It is what each model lets you establish from the outside before you commit.
| Question | Large multi-supplier marketplace | Direct from a producer on GetSourceDirect |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets the price | Each supplier, on its own listing | Each business, on its own listing |
| Who published the listing | Whoever put it up; manufacturing, trading or brokering is not determinable from the listing alone | The business whose profile it is, with its location and categories published |
| Is the minimum order visible first | Varies by listing | Published on the listing before you make contact |
| Does the platform process payment | Depends on that platform’s own terms — read them | No. No payment provider is integrated and no buyer funds are held |
| Who you contract with | The supplier | The business |
| Who carries the diligence | You | You |
How sourcing works here
Four steps. The last one is between you and the seller.
- 1. DiscoverSearch the marketplace or open a category to see what sellers currently offer.
- 2. ReviewCompare listings on unit price, currency, minimum order quantity and the country the seller is based in.
- 3. ContactSend the seller your quantity, specification and destination so they can quote accurately.
- 4. Agree terms directlyConfirm price, payment method, shipping and lead time with the seller. GetSourceDirect does not hold funds.
Questions
Is GetSourceDirect an alternative to other sourcing platforms?
GetSourceDirect is a marketplace open to sellers in any country, so it can be used when you want to source from manufacturers outside a single market. It does not currently offer payment processing or escrow.
Does GetSourceDirect hold my payment in escrow?
No. GetSourceDirect does not process payments and never holds buyer funds. No payment provider is integrated, so you agree payment terms directly with the seller.
Does GetSourceDirect require bulk orders?
No platform-wide bulk requirement is enforced. Each seller sets and displays their own minimum order quantity on each listing.
Start sourcing, or start selling
Browse published listings from sellers worldwide, or publish your own business profile and listings. Joining is free.