Alibaba Supplier Outreach Skill

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STEP 1 — Gather context (ask user if unknown)

Ask these in one shot before doing anything:

1. Product keyword (e.g. "silicone spatula")
2. Target price per unit (e.g. "$1.50 landed")
3. Target first-order quantity (e.g. 500 units)
4. Your name / company name (for message sign-off)
5. How long you've sold on Amazon (e.g. "2 years") — adds credibility

If the user is in a hurry, use reasonable defaults: qty=500, skip name, skip experience.

STEP 2 — Find suppliers with LaunchFast

mcp__launchfast__supplier_research(
  keyword: "[product keyword]",
  goldSupplierOnly: true,
  tradeAssuranceOnly: true,
  maxResults: 10
)

Present results as a table:

## Top Suppliers for "[keyword]"

| # | Supplier | Score | Price | MOQ | Yrs | Trust |
|---|----------|-------|-------|-----|-----|-------|
| 1 | Company Name | 76 | $1.15-1.25 | 100 | 15 | Gold, TA, Assessed |
| 2 | ...

Which do you want to contact? (e.g. "1, 2, 3" or "top 3")
What message style? [A] Auto-generate optimized quote request  [B] I'll write my own

STEP 3 — Craft the outreach message

If user picks [A] — auto-generate, build the message using this framework:

Psychological Outreach Formula

1. Name them specifically — reference their company name, years in business, and a certification/verification they have. Signals you researched them, not spamming.
2. State buyer credibility — "Amazon FBA seller", years selling, scaling product line.
3. Anchor with real numbers — target quantity + target price. No vague "how much for samples".
4. Soft urgency — "evaluating 2-3 suppliers this week".
5. Three specific questions — price at X units, lead time, private label capability.
6. Warm close — invite a call if easier.

Message template (fill from LaunchFast data):

Hi [CONTACT_NAME or "Team"],

I came across [COMPANY_NAME] while sourcing [PRODUCT_CATEGORY] suppliers —
[X years] of experience and [VERIFICATION_TYPE] verification really stood out.

I'm an Amazon FBA seller scaling my [PRODUCT_CATEGORY] line
([YEARS_SELLING] years on Amazon) and looking to establish a reliable
long-term manufacturing partner.

I'm evaluating 2-3 suppliers this week and would love some details:

1. Best price for [PRODUCT] at [TARGET_QTY] units?
   (targeting ~[TARGET_PRICE]/unit landed)
2. Standard production lead time for that quantity?
3. Can you do custom private label packaging (logo + custom colors)?

Ready to place a trial order within 2-3 weeks if we're aligned.
Happy to jump on a call if that's easier.

Best,
[USER_NAME]

Show the message to the user and ask for approval before sending.

STEP 4 — Send via Chrome automation

Repeat for each selected supplier:

4a — Get browser tab

mcp__claude-in-chrome__tabs_context_mcp()

Use the existing Alibaba tab if available, or create a new one.

4b — Navigate to supplier search

mcp__claude-in-chrome__navigate(
  tabId: [tabId],
  url: "https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?tab=supplier&SearchText=[ENCODED_COMPANY_NAME]"
)

Encoding: replace spaces with +, remove parentheses, keep key words. Example: "Sheng Jie (Dongguan) Silicone Rubber" → Sheng+Jie+Dongguan+Silicone+Rubber

Wait 2 seconds.

4c — Find and click "Contact Supplier"

mcp__claude-in-chrome__find(
  tabId: [tabId],
  query: "Contact supplier button for [COMPANY_NAME]"
)
→ returns ref_XXX

mcp__claude-in-chrome__computer(scroll_to, ref: ref_XXX)
mcp__claude-in-chrome__computer(left_click, ref: ref_XXX)

Wait 3 seconds — page navigates to message.alibaba.com/msgsend/contact.htm

4d — Confirm contact form loaded

Take a screenshot. Confirm you see "Contact supplier" heading and the supplier name in the "To:" field.

4e — Find and fill the message textarea

mcp__claude-in-chrome__find(
  query: "detailed requirements text input area"
)
→ returns ref_XXX (the "Please type in" textarea)

mcp__claude-in-chrome__computer(left_click, ref: ref_XXX)
mcp__claude-in-chrome__computer(type, text: "[APPROVED_MESSAGE]")

4f — Send the inquiry

Take a screenshot first to confirm message text appears and button is visible.

Find the button:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__find(query: "Send inquiry now button")
→ returns ref_XXX

Scroll to it, then click by coordinate (not ref) — take screenshot, identify button center, click:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__computer(left_click, coordinate: [x, y])

Wait 3 seconds.

4g — Confirm success

Check the tab URL or take a screenshot.

• ✅ Success: URL contains feedbackInquirySucess.htm OR page shows "Inquiry sent successfully"
• ❌ Failure: Page still shows contact form → scroll to see if there's a validation error

4h — Save to memory

Immediately write/update the conversation file:

~/.claude/supplier-conversations/[supplier-slug]/conversation.md

And update the index:

~/.claude/supplier-conversations/index.md

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MODE 2 — CHECK REPLIES

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STEP 1 — Open Message Center

mcp__claude-in-chrome__navigate(
  url: "https://message.alibaba.com/message/messenger.htm#/"
)

Wait 3 seconds.

STEP 2 — Read the conversation list

Take a screenshot. The left panel shows all conversations.

Read the interactive elements:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__read_page(filter: "interactive", depth: 4)

Look for:

• Conversation items in the left panel (supplier names)
• Bold or unread indicators = new messages
• If "No messages" — tell user no replies yet

STEP 3 — Open each unread conversation

For each conversation with a new message:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__find(query: "conversation with [supplier name]")
→ click it

Wait 2 seconds. Take a screenshot. The right panel shows the full thread.

STEP 4 — Extract reply content

Read the page to get the message text:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__read_page(filter: "all", depth: 6)

Extract:

• Supplier's reply text
• Any pricing mentioned (look for $ values)
• Any lead time mentioned
• Any questions they asked you

STEP 5 — Load memory file

Read the existing conversation file:

~/.claude/supplier-conversations/[supplier-slug]/conversation.md

Note:

• Original message sent
• Your target price and quantity
• Negotiation stage

STEP 6 — Present summary to user

## Reply from [Supplier Name]
Received: [timestamp]

Their message:
> "[full reply text]"

Key data:
- Their price: $X.XX  |  Your target: $X.XX  |  Gap: X%
- Lead time: X days
- MOQ: X units

Negotiation stage: [initial_reply | counter | closing]

Suggested next step: [draft reply A] or [draft reply B]

Want me to draft and send a reply? (yes / show me options / no)

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MODE 3 — NEGOTIATE (send reply)

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STEP 1 — Navigate to the conversation

mcp__claude-in-chrome__navigate(
  url: "https://message.alibaba.com/message/messenger.htm#/"
)

Use find to click on the supplier's conversation in the left panel. Wait 2 seconds. Take screenshot to confirm the conversation is open.

STEP 2 — Read the full thread

Read the page. Extract ALL messages in order:

• Your sent messages
• Their replies
• Note timestamps

STEP 3 — Load memory and determine negotiation stage

Read:

~/.claude/supplier-conversations/[supplier-slug]/conversation.md

Determine stage:

STEP 4 — Draft negotiation reply

Stage 1 — They replied to initial outreach

Goal: thank them, counter price, keep warmth, ask about samples

Thank them for quick response → Acknowledge their quote positively →
State your volume commitment again → Counter with specific number
("Could you do $X.XX at 500 units?") → Ask about sample process →
Mention long-term potential

Stage 2 — Counter-offer exchange

Goal: find middle ground or introduce value levers

Acknowledge the gap → Propose compromise price →
Offer value they want: faster payment (30% deposit, balance on shipment),
larger initial order, commitment to reorders →
Set soft deadline: "I need to finalize supplier selection by [date+7 days]"

Stage 3 — Closing

Goal: lock in terms, move to PI

Confirm: unit price + quantity + lead time + payment terms →
Request 1-2 samples before full order →
Ask for Proforma Invoice →
Confirm packaging/labeling requirements (logo file format, etc.)

Stage 4 — Ongoing relationship

Reference previous order/conversation → Be direct →
Short message → Show appreciation

STEP 5 — Show draft to user and get approval

Always show the message before sending. Never auto-send a negotiation reply.

STEP 6 — Send the reply in the open conversation

The messenger uses an inline chat interface. In the open conversation:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__find(query: "message input box or reply text area")
→ click it
→ type the approved message

Then find and click the Send button:

mcp__claude-in-chrome__find(query: "Send button in chat")
→ screenshot to confirm position
→ click by coordinate

Wait 2 seconds. Screenshot to confirm message sent (it should appear in the thread).

STEP 7 — Update memory file

Append the sent reply to the conversation log with timestamp. Update stage.

MEMORY FILE FORMAT

File paths

~/.claude/supplier-conversations/
  index.md                    ← Master list of all suppliers
  {supplier-slug}/
    conversation.md           ← Full thread log for one supplier

Create the directory if it doesn't exist before writing files.

supplier-slug

Lowercase company name, hyphens for spaces, no special chars. "Sheng Jie (Dongguan) Silicone Rubber" → sheng-jie-dongguan-silicone-rubber

conversation.md template

# [Company Name]
- Product: [keyword]
- Supplier ID: [LaunchFast ID]
- Contact URL: [Alibaba URL used]
- First contacted: [YYYY-MM-DD]
- Stage: outreach_sent | reply_received | negotiating | sample_requested | order_placed | dead
- Target price: $X.XX/unit at X units
- Their current offer: $X.XX/unit
- Contact name: [name from "To:" field on contact form]

## Log

### [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] SENT — Initial Outreach
[message text]

### [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RECEIVED
[their reply]

### [YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] SENT — Counter Offer
[your reply]

index.md template

# Supplier Negotiations

| Supplier | Product | Stage | Their Price | Target | Last Contact |
|----------|---------|-------|-------------|--------|--------------|
| [Name] | [product] | [stage] | $X.XX | $X.XX | [date] |

RULES

1. Always show messages to user before sending — never auto-send
2. Take a screenshot before and after every form interaction — page layouts shift
3. Always update memory immediately after sending — don't batch updates
4. Max 5 suppliers per session — quality over quantity
5. If contact form shows wrong supplier — check "To:" field before typing
6. If messenger shows "No messages" — RFQ replies may take hours; tell user to check back
7. Success URL pattern: feedbackInquirySucess.htm = confirmed sent