Buying guides
How to buy from 1688
Last updated
Published by 1688 Sourcing Agent · Review method
Key takeaways
- Record the variant, specification, seller identity, payment recipient and return terms before authorising a purchase.
- Agree the receiving checks and evidence in advance, and hold discrepancies for review rather than assuming warehouse arrival guarantees returnability.
- Approve the final packing list, accepted route and revised freight quote before international dispatch.
Start with the exact product and a complete delivered-cost estimate, then choose whether to buy directly or use an agent. Do not buy stock simply because the listing price looks low.
This checklist covers a purchase routed through a China warehouse. Direct seller exports may combine some steps, but specifications, route acceptance and responsibility for problems still need to be clear.
Turn this guide into a buying request
Keep this page as context. Add what you know; review everything before sending. No purchase is made at this step.
Continue to request →-
Record the URL, variant, quantity and intended use. Set material, size, finish, included accessories and packaging requirements.
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Identify the contracting seller and payment recipient. Treat history, ratings and badges as leads to investigate, not proof of factory ownership or quality.
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Ask for a sample when fit, finish or function is uncertain. A sample does not establish the consistency of a later production lot.
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Obtain the complete quote and applicable return terms. Confirm who owns the domestic order, who can file a dispute and which deadlines apply.
In this guide
Before you authorise payment
- Record the URL, variant, quantity and intended use. Set material, size, finish, included accessories and packaging requirements.
- Identify the contracting seller and payment recipient. Treat history, ratings and badges as leads to investigate, not proof of factory ownership or quality.
- Ask for a sample when fit, finish or function is uncertain. A sample does not establish the consistency of a later production lot.
- Obtain the complete quote and applicable return terms. Confirm who owns the domestic order, who can file a dispute and which deadlines apply.
- Have the logistics provider accept the actual goods and destination before buying, especially for batteries, liquids or other regulated products.
When goods reach the warehouse
- Agree the receiving scope in advance: parcel count, visible damage, SKU quantities, requested measurements and photographs. Specify whether packages are opened and how many units are checked.
- Match each arrival to a seller order and variant. Ask for a discrepancy report and hold instructions when something fails the agreed check.
- Confirm return eligibility with the seller. Keeping goods in China may make a remedy easier, but does not guarantee a return or refund.
- Request a final packing list, external carton dimensions and gross weights. Compare consolidation, split shipment and keeping the original packaging.
Approve the shipment, not an assumption
Check the carrier/service, chargeable weight, surcharges, customs responsibilities, delivery address and quote validity. A freight estimate based on listing dimensions should be revised after packing.
Keep invoices, payment records, specifications, photographs and any written acceptance or rejection. A delivery scan is not proof that every unit meets the specification.
When to stop and buy locally
Compare local availability if the quantity is small, the deadline is close, compliance documents are missing or the cost difference disappears after freight and tax. Do not assign an invented monetary value to a safety or compatibility risk just to make the import look cheaper.
Questions and answers
Common questions
- How long does buying take?
- Request separate estimates for stock or production, domestic delivery, receiving checks, packing, international transit and clearance. Only the written service terms establish any delivery commitment.
- Can I mix sellers?
- Ask whether the warehouse and chosen route accept the complete product mix. Consolidation can help, but split shipments may suit different deadlines or handling requirements.
Your next step
Have a link you want checked?
Send a 1688 or Taobao product link and you get back the specification in English, the supplier check, and the landed cost to your country before you commit to anything.
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