The Extension at a Glance
Source Finder is a Chrome extension that matches any product page (Amazon, Walmart, Target, 26+ retailers) to suppliers on 1688 and Alibaba. Install, browse, click icon, get matches.
Most users use it for ad-hoc checks. Power users unlock 10x more value by stacking shortcuts and saved filters. Here are the techniques worth knowing.
Shortcut 1: Opt+Click the Extension Icon
Instead of clicking the extension icon with mouse, Opt+Click (Mac) / Alt+Click (Windows):
- Runs the search in the current tab
- Opens results in a popup sidebar instead of a full page
- Keeps you on the source product — useful when comparing 3-5 competitors back-to-back
Default click = full-page results. Alt+click = sidebar.
Shortcut 2: Right-Click on Any Image
Right-click any product image on any web page → "Find on Source Finder". Works even outside of retail pages:
- Instagram product photos
- Competitor blog post images
- Screenshots
This uploads just that image to reverse image search without navigating away.
Shortcut 3: Multi-Tab Batch Search
For researching a catalog:
- Open 10 product pages in 10 tabs (Amazon bestsellers of a category)
- Right-click extension icon → "Run on all tabs"
- Source Finder processes each tab sequentially, aggregates results
Takes ~60 seconds for 10 products vs. 30 minutes manual. Useful for competitor research.
Shortcut 4: Saved Filter Presets
Open Source Finder settings → Filters → Save Preset. Common presets worth saving:
"Verified Only"
- Trade Assurance ✓
- Gold Supplier 2+ stars
- 3+ years trading
- Response rate > 70%
Use when you want to skip casual vetting.
"Lowest Price"
- All suppliers
- Sort: price ascending
- Include 1688 (domestic, typically cheaper)
Use for early-stage research when you just want to see the floor.
"Fast Shipping"
- Alibaba only
- Ship from China
- DDP / DDU terms available
- 15-day lead time max
Use for urgent restocks.
Save 3-5 presets. Switch between them with 1 click.
Shortcut 5: Hover for Supplier Reveal
In results list, hover over any supplier card for 500ms → expanded view shows:
- Full company name
- Business registration ID
- Years in business
- Top product categories
- Transaction volume tier
No click needed. Faster to evaluate 20 suppliers this way than clicking into each.
Shortcut 6: Export to CSV
Results page → top-right menu → Export CSV. Gets:
- Product name
- Supplier name + URL
- Unit price
- MOQ
- Lead time
- Contact method
Open in Excel/Google Sheets to:
- Build supplier comparison across 20+ options
- Share with sourcing partner or team
- Track which suppliers you've already contacted
Free tier: 5 exports per month. Finder Plus: unlimited.
Shortcut 7: Landed Cost Quick-Add
On any result row, click the "+ Landed Cost" icon. Source Finder calculates:
- FOB unit price
- Estimated sea freight to your country
- Current duty rate (HTS code auto-detected from product category)
- Estimated FBA inbound cost (if destination = Amazon FBA)
Total landed cost estimate appears in the row. Compare suppliers on landed cost (not FOB) to make real decisions.
Bonus: Saved Searches
The extension saves your last 50 searches. Access via extension popup → History tab.
For product research, this means:
- Revisit previous searches without re-running
- Track "did this product's price move?" by re-running old searches
- Export research history to document your sourcing trail
Common Mistakes Even Power Users Make
Mistake 1: Searching Without Filters
Raw results include resellers, middlemen, and non-OEM factories. Always start with at least "Verified Only" preset enabled.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Unit Price Range
Extreme low prices ($0.01-0.50 on apparently $20 products) = scam listings. Extreme high prices = middlemen. Stick to the cluster where most suppliers fall.
Mistake 3: Not Cross-Referencing 1688 + Alibaba
Same product often shows different suppliers on 1688 vs Alibaba. Always check both. The 1688 supplier is usually the original factory; the Alibaba supplier is often a reseller.
Mistake 4: Contacting 20 Suppliers at Once
Diminishing returns after 5. Better to get deep responses from 5 than ignored messages from 20.
Performance Limits
- Free tier: 5 lifetime searches total
- Finder Plus: unlimited searches + unlimited exports
- Results cached 24 hours (re-running the same product within 24h returns from cache, fast)
Integration with Workspace
Source Finder data flows to Catalayer workspace:
- Saved products appear in workspace Source Finder tab
- Comparison lists sync across devices
- Team members (Finder Team plan) can share saved lists
FAQ
Q: Does Source Finder work outside retail sites?A: Yes. Right-click on any product image anywhere. Works on Instagram, TikTok thumbnails, blog screenshots — anywhere you can right-click a product photo.
Q: Can I limit results to specific regions in China?A: Yes. Filter by supplier location (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, etc.). Useful for consolidating freight from one port.
Q: Does the extension work in Edge, Brave, Firefox?A: Chrome + Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera) supported. Firefox version is in development.