₦airaland Forum

Have you ever noticed how some people on Nairaland seem to enjoy tearing others down?
Someone shares their business success, and instead of asking questions or learning from the person, some commenters immediately start insulting them, doubting their achievements, or looking for ways to discredit them.
Someone shares their opinion, and before you know it, the discussion turns into personal attacks.
Even when someone is genuinely trying to help others by sharing information or experience, there are people ready to mock them.
My question is: why is there so much hatred on Nairaland?
Is it jealousy? Frustration with life? Anonymity, which makes people feel they can say anything without consequences? Or is it simply the culture of the platform?
I understand that people have different opinions, and criticism is part of life. But there is a difference between disagreeing with someone and deliberately trying to humiliate them.
Sometimes, I wonder whether some people actually want to see others succeed, especially when it comes to business and making money.
I would genuinely like to hear from people who use the platform.
Have you ever shared something positive on Nairaland and received unexpected hatred? What do you think is responsible for this behaviour?

Silence is the best answer for a …

Any of progress is that you

And the funny thing? It's the same platform where I've seen people talk down on other people's adverts.
This experience taught me something important about business.
Never judge the potential of a platform by the comments you see.
Sometimes, people will read your post without liking, commenting, or even showing any sign of interest.
But behind the scenes, someone is taking note. Someone is checking your profile. Someone is saving your contact. And someone is preparing to do business with you.
I sell iPhone gadgets, and to my surprise, people started reaching out, not just to buy for personal use but also to buy and resell.
That was when I realized that SILENCE DOES NOT MEAN LACK OF INTEREST.
As business owners, we need to stop giving up on platforms simply because our posts don't get enough engagement.
Not everyone who sees your advert will comment. Not everyone who buys from you will announce it publicly.
Some of your best customers may be watching quietly.
Keep posting. Keep marketing. Keep showing up.
Your next big sale might come from the very platform you've almost given up on. 💯
Business owners, have you ever made a sale from a platform you least expected? Let's hear your experience in the comments. �

I noticed 85% talk down on the business you have build for years so many haters on the platform

To everybody who kept telling me, “Run ads! Run ads!! Run ads!!!”
I don run am o! 😂😂
You people kept insisting that if I wanted to get serious customers on Nairaland, I should stop making ordinary posts and start running ads.
Now that I have finally listened, make I ask una one question: How many buying customers have I gotten since I started running these ads? 😭
Views dey come, but customers wey go bring out their money? Na another story entirely!
So, because I want to get customers, make I carry all my last, last, last savings come give Nairaland again? 😂
After spending money to advertise, I should still be begging for buyers?
Abeg o! Business owner no be ATM machine. Every money wey enter business get where e dey come from, and every advert wey I run, I expect say e suppose bring me closer to making sales.
I'm not saying adverts don't work. I'm only saying that views without conversions cannot pay my bills or restock my business.
I have advertised, and I'm watching the results. If the people advising me to run ads are seeing something I'm not seeing, please, come forward and explain it to me.
Because at this point, I need paying customers, not just people viewing my products.
Nairaland people, over to you. How many of you have actually gotten customers who paid for your products through Nairaland ads? Let's hear real experiences, please. 😂�

Honestly, it feels good to be back here!
There was a time I was so consistent on Nairaland that you would think I was being paid per post. 😂 I was always here, talking about iPhones, accessories, gadgets, China importation, and how people could source products from China.
I showed up almost every day, hoping to connect with serious buyers and people who needed my services. But at some point, I wasn't getting the results I expected, despite all the time and effort I was putting in.
So, I took a break.
And guess what? It was during that break that I started getting messages from people reaching out to me on social media. Some wanted help sourcing iPhones and gadgets, while others wanted assistance with importing different products from China.
Funny how life works sometimes. When I was practically available 24/7, things weren't moving the way I expected. Then I stepped back, and people started reaching out.
To everyone who contacted me, showed interest in my services, trusted me to help with sourcing, or recommended me to others, thank you. I genuinely appreciate you. ❤️
And to those who, despite the criticism, dragging, and attempts to discredit what I've spent years building, still believe in my work, thank you too.
Building a business isn't always easy. People may misunderstand you, question your credibility, or try to pull down what you've worked hard to establish. But sometimes, you just have to keep doing your work, improving yourself, and allowing time to speak.
I've spent years learning about China sourcing, supplier connections, iPhones, gadgets, and importation. I know the effort that has gone into building my business, and I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.
Nairaland, it's been a while! 😂
Let me reconnect with this community and see what's happening here.
To those who remember my old posts about iPhones, gadgets, and China importation, are you still around? Let's reconnect! ❤

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Learn how to buy directly from China using your phone — even if you’re a beginner.

You can cover:

* How to use 1688
* How to find and verify suppliers
* How to identify genuine manufacturers
* How to negotiate with Chinese suppliers
* How to pay suppliers/RMB
* How to calculate your true landed cost
* China warehouse & shipping process
* Air vs sea shipping
* Common mistakes that make beginners lose money
* How to order your first goods from China

These are also the core areas covered by several current China-importation courses, particularly 1688, supplier verification, payment and shipping.

If you’re promoting yours, I’d use:

WANT TO START IMPORTING FROM CHINA? 🇨🇳

Join my Online China Importation Class and learn how to source products from 1688 & Alibaba, verify suppliers, pay safely and ship your goods to Nigeria.

Beginner-friendly • Practical • Online

Course Fee: ₦30,000
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📲 WhatsApp: +234 701 270 8136

Learn it properly. Avoid costly sourcing mistakes.

Do you have a business, service, brand or side hustle?

Drop your business in the comments 👇🏽

Tell us:

* Business name
* What you sell or offer
* Your location
* How people can contact/order from you

You never know who might see your comment and become your next customer. ❤️

Let’s support small businesses. Someone might just patronize you today.

No unnecessary links or spam please. Let’s keep it useful. 👇🏽

Some people will travel or import an iPhone and immediately say, “I got it cheaper.”

But have you calculated shipping, exchange rate, customs/charges where applicable, warranty, network compatibility, battery health and whether the phone has been repaired?

Would you rather buy an iPhone from a trusted Nigerian seller or import it yourself? Why?

One thing I’ve noticed is that a used iPhone can look almost brand new and still have had major repairs.

Before buying, don’t judge the phone by appearance alone. Check:

* Parts & Service History — Settings → General → About
* Battery health
* Face ID
* True Tone
* Camera and microphone
* Display quality
* IMEI and activation status
* Whether the phone has been opened before

Some sellers will say “UK used” or “American used,” but that doesn’t automatically mean the phone is untouched.

Have you ever bought an iPhone that looked perfect but later discovered it had been repaired? What happened?

Imagine you give an agent ₦2 million to source products for you.

The agent finds the supplier, negotiates the price, makes the payment, handles communication, arranges shipping and manages the process.

Then you ask:

“How much exactly did you pay the supplier?”

Should the agent show you the supplier’s invoice and payment amount?

Some people believe YES — transparency is important, and the client should know exactly what the goods cost.

Others believe NO the agent is providing a service and their profit/markup is part of their business. The client agreed to the final price, not necessarily the agent’s cost price.

But there is another issue:

If the agent reveals the supplier and exact price, what stops the client from bypassing the agent and buying directly next time?

So where should the line be?

👉 Should a China sourcing agent disclose the exact supplier price?
👉 Should they charge a separate sourcing fee instead?
👉 Or is a markup a normal part of the business?

Importers and sourcing agents what is your position? Let’s hear both sides

A lot of China importers are waking up to find their Alipay account frozen, restricted, or unable to make payments.

The first reaction is usually:
“Let me create another Alipay account.”

But that may not solve the actual problem.

Before taking any action, check:

🔹 What exact restriction message is showing?
🔹 Is your identity verification complete?
🔹 Does the name on your Alipay match your verification documents?
🔹 Did you recently change your device or payment method?
🔹 Were there unusual or multiple transactions?
🔹 Is Alipay asking you to complete an additional security verification?

Don’t submit fake information or someone else’s documents just to unlock the account.

And please don’t give your Alipay login, OTP or verification code to someone claiming they can “unfreeze” the account for a fee.

If you’re currently experiencing this problem, drop the exact message Alipay is showing you in the comments.

Let’s discuss the different types of Alipay restrictions and what importers should check before making the situation worse.

Have you experienced a frozen Alipay account before? What happened?

A lot of people importing from China are currently asking questions about Alipay account restrictions.

You verify your identity, link your card, try to make a payment to a supplier — and suddenly you see a restriction or security warning.

The first mistake many people make is to immediately create another Alipay account.

Don’t rush to do that.

Alipay’s own terms state that accounts can be restricted because of security concerns, risk-management checks, incomplete/inaccurate information, suspected unauthorized activity, or regulatory requirements.

So before creating another account, check:

✅ Is your identity verification complete?
✅ Are your name and identification details consistent?
✅ Are you using your own account and payment method?
✅ Did you recently change devices, payment methods or transaction patterns?
✅ What exact message is Alipay displaying?
✅ Does the app give you an option to appeal or complete verification?

Also, don’t submit fake documents or someone else’s information just because you want the restriction removed.

For people buying from 1688/Taobao, this is important because your Alipay account can become an essential part of your China purchasing process.

If your Alipay is currently restricted, comment the exact message showing on your screen — “Account Restricted”, “Risk”, “Payment Restricted”, etc.

Let’s discuss what each one means and what you should check before making the situation worse.

China Importation & Procurement Consultant | Supplier Verification • 1688 • Shipping

HenryStarlife:
From my experience, When owning a business that requires media attention, that your 400k android phone won’t get you your target audience and it’s also for status.

This is so true. From my experience, when your business depends on media and visibility, your phone can also be part of your brand positioning. It’s not just about the price of the phone, but the quality, perception and status that comes with it.”

HenryStarlife:
From my experience, When owning a business that requires media attention, that your 400k android phone won’t get you your target audience and it’s also for status.

I agree. In business, perception can matter too. A phone is not just for communication when you’re building a personal brand—it can also be part of your image, especially when your business depends on media and visibility

Let’s be honest.

If someone earns ₦300k monthly but uses a ₦1.5m phone, is that a smart financial decision?

Some will say, “It’s my money, I can buy what I want.”

Others will say your phone shouldn’t cost more than several months of your income.

But what if the phone is needed for business, content creation or work?

What do you think?

If you earn ₦300k monthly, how much should you reasonably spend on a phone?

I’ve been thinking about this for a while.

Some people will spend ₦1m–₦3m+ on a phone, yet complain that business is slow and money is hard to find.

Meanwhile, another person may use a ₦200k–₦400k Android and invest the balance into business or something that can generate income.

So which one is it?

Is buying an expensive iPhone a smart personal choice, or has owning an iPhone become a status symbol in Nigeria?

And please, let’s be honest 😂

Would you rather buy a ₦2m phone or put that ₦2m into a business? Why?

The current iPhone conversation is particularly timely because Apple has just launched its iPhone 18 generation and the new foldable iPhone Duo, with Nigerian pricing drawing attention because of purchasing power.

Not because China is bad.

But because your capital has to cover more than the product cost.

You have to think about shipping, exchange rate, customs/clearing where applicable, local delivery and possible defective goods.

What’s the minimum capital you think someone should have before importing from China?

A. Buy goods from China 🇨🇳

B. Buy wholesale goods in Nigeria

C. Keep the money until they have more capital

And most importantly, why?

Let’s hear from people actually doing business, not theory.

A supplier having a beautiful Alibaba/1688/TikTok page does NOT automatically mean they are the manufacturer.

Some are traders.
Some are agents.
Some source from another factory.

And if you don’t know the difference, you may be paying a middleman without knowing it.

Have you ever discovered that the “factory” you were dealing with was actually a trader?

saintkel:
iPhone

Why

LordIsaac:
Techno and Itel products.

Same here

Obapluto:
Google pixels... great phone.

Op no mind those bitter people spoiling the topic.

The camera sharp I ordered for a client

illicit:
Your last paragraph, you said you are dating him secretly... that's awkward

I think you should be bothered that after taking your money his behavior changed

That doesn't bother you?

😂 I understand your point. At the time, I was more focused on understanding why his behavior changed than on the fact that the relationship was secret. Sometimes when you’re inside a situation, you don’t see the red flags the same way outsiders do.

illicit:
Your last paragraph, you said you are dating him secretly... that's awkward

I think you shoukd be bothered that after taking your money his behavior changed

That doesn't bother you?

😂 That part should actually bother me, but the bigger issue for me is the deception. If you had to test my love with money, then there was already a trust problem in the relationship

Imalwayshorny:
Copying my story or are you my girlfriend on nairaland

😂 If the shoe fits, wear it. I never mentioned your name though

Story time.

I was dating this guy for almost 3 years. He wasn’t extremely rich, but he was hardworking and always made sure I was okay.

One day, he told me his business was going through a difficult period and asked if I could support him with some money. I didn’t have much, but I gave him what I could.

A few months later, his behaviour suddenly changed. He became distant, stopped communicating properly and eventually told me he needed space.

I was heartbroken.

Then, about 6 months later, I found out something I never expected.

He had actually been financially stable the whole time.

The “business problem” was apparently a test to see whether I genuinely loved him or was only interested in his money.

Now here is the controversial part:

Was he wrong for testing me, or was I wrong for giving him money without asking enough questions?

And honestly, if someone you’re dating secretly tests your loyalty like this, would you forgive them?

Bahamas95:
You can become successful without knowing anyone. The only challenge is that you might have to struggle at first. Connections can make things easier.

But one thing about success is that it attracts people. Once you make it to the top, other successful people will want to associate themselves with you. This is where you have to be very careful because two things can happen: they can either pull you down or open more doors for you.

Very true. Sometimes the journey starts without connections, but success itself can create new connections. The key is knowing who genuinely adds value to your journey and who is only around because of what you’ve built. Not every connection is an opportunity