How our 1688 buying service works

1. Send a brief that identifies the actual order

Include your 1688 or Taobao link, selected variant and quantity per colour, size or model. Screenshots can help when a listing changes. Add the destination country, postal code, address type and any required arrival date. State whether you want a sample, a trial order or repeat supply.

Describe the intended use and any requirements that a listing photograph cannot establish: material, dimensions, accessories, labelling, retail packaging or brand permissions. Mark unknown information rather than guessing. A price comparison only becomes useful when suppliers quote the same specification.

2. Agree the supplier and product review

The written scope should identify the seller, payment recipient and evidence needed for relevant supplier claims. Marketplace ratings alone do not establish manufacturing capability. Request clarification of minimums, availability, substitutions and order terms before deciding.

Agree separately whether the decision needs a physical sample, measurements, document review or specialist testing. Receiving photographs show the visible condition covered by the photos; they do not establish every material, safety or performance claim. Any additional service needs a defined provider, method, fee and deliverable.

• Understand the supplier-review scope →

3. Compare an itemised delivered-cost quote

Separate goods, domestic freight, buying-service fees, payment and currency-conversion costs, receiving work, inspection, packing, storage, international freight and destination charges. Identify the calculation base for any percentage fee, minimum charge, quote validity and outstanding estimates.

Confirm which party handles import clearance, taxes and final delivery. Packed dimensions, gross weight, route acceptance and carrier billing rules can change freight. A calculator is a planning aid; it does not replace a current quotation for the actual shipment.

• Review buying-agent fees →

4. Approve the order and its release conditions

Before purchase, approve the specification, quantities, payment terms and agreed checks. Set out how shortages, substitutions or other discrepancies will be handled and who can approve a change. Sample approval should name the features it covers rather than imply all future production is identical.

At the shipment stage, review the agreed arrival evidence and unresolved issues. Compare consolidation with separate dispatch using readiness, protection, storage and route costs. Confirm the final packing and delivery scope before authorising shipment; warehouse receipt does not guarantee a return or refund.

What can delay or limit an order

Missing specifications, seller stock changes, unclear brand rights and incomplete compliance documents can prevent a reliable quote. Batteries, liquids, strong magnets and other potentially restricted goods require product-specific documents and carrier review. Acceptance must be confirmed for the actual goods and destination.

Ask for dated milestones covering seller readiness, any sample or inspection work, packing and transport. There is no universal purchase-to-delivery time, and an urgent request cannot remove technical, customs or carrier requirements.