Buyer guides
Finding products, posting RFQs, comparing quotations, orders, funds-hold payments and disputes.
Step by step, from the start
Arranged in the order the tasks usually come up.
- Getting started: a buyer's first stepsWhat to do after you open your account, and where things are in the buyer portal menu.
- Company profileCompany name, country, city, address, registration number — what you need to post an RFQ, and what to fill in for the Business Verified badge.
- Find products and check suppliersSearching for products on exportain.com, understanding suppliers' trust badges, saving and getting in touch.
- Order requests from the cart, and questions to suppliersPutting products in your cart and sending suppliers an order request, then reading their replies on the Requests page.
- Post an RFQAsking suppliers for prices by saying what you want to buy, the quantity, target price, destination, certifications and deadline.
- Compare, counter, accept or decline quotationsComparing the quotations on an RFQ side by side, sending a counter-offer on price, accepting one to create an order, or declining with a reason.
- Orders and the shipment timelineViewing your confirmed orders, and every shipment step and tracking update the supplier adds.
- Funds holds: pay, decline and confirmWhen a supplier asks for money to be held against an order: how to pay by card, when to confirm completion, and raising a dispute if there is a problem.
- Buyer badges and verificationThe eight buyer badges, how to earn each one, verifying your mobile on WhatsApp and your card for $0.
- Service offers and service ordersAccepting price offers from service companies (freight, inspection, C&F and so on), paying by card, confirming the work is done, or raising a dispute.
Also useful for you (Everyone)
Account, verification, messages, notifications and security — they work the same way in every portal.
- Account, sign-in and passwordOpening a buyer, seller or provider account, confirming it with an email code, signing in with Google, and what to do if you forget your password.
- Verify email, mobile and WhatsAppWhich verification each role needs, how the code arrives (SMS for Bangladesh sellers and providers, otherwise WhatsApp), and why a code sent by email does not verify a number.
- Messages and meeting requestsChatting with other companies, sending files, and setting a time for a Google Meet or Zoom meeting.
- Notifications, emails and recommendation settingsNotifications under the bell icon, which emails cannot be turned off, and turning the weekly product email and personal recommendations on or off.
- Disputes and evidenceHow a dispute is opened when there is a problem with a transaction, how the money stays frozen, how to give evidence, and who decides.
- Security and privacyKeeping your account safe, recognising fraud, and who can see your documents.
- Getting helpWhere to write when you have a problem, and what details to give so it is solved quickly.