otc_cmnn - 10:36 pm on Aug 11, 2005 (gmt 0)

Well
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DISCLAIMER
I am a bit biased as my company owns and operates one of alibaba's major competitors. We are nowhere near as big as them but follow an extremely similiar business model.
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I agree that Yahoo may have paid too much, but Janet's experience is not uncommon. Just as much has been done to combat fraud in eCommerce over the past few years, much has been done to decrease fraudulant activity on international trade portals.

As always it comes down to buyer beware and do your research. Sure, you'll get many 'please send free samples to me here in west africa' but the savvy are able to weed through these and find the gold.

Internet use in China is much more business oriented. China produces schwackloads of finished goods for export. Yahoo just bought the best insider scoop into those fields that money can buy.

I think it is a great aquisiton, just a wee bit pricey.