How to Research and Buy from 1688 in English
Translate listings, verify the supplier and active buying agent, document specifications, inspect warehouse arrivals, and calculate the complete landed cost.
1688 is designed primarily for China-domestic trade. International buyers may encounter Chinese-language listings, domestic payment methods, local delivery, seller communication, and no direct international shipping for the selected item.
A buying agent can purchase locally, receive goods, take warehouse photos, consolidate parcels, and arrange export. The agent introduces a second counterparty and a second fee structure, so its operating status, destination routes, withdrawal process, insurance, prohibited-goods rules, and support record must be checked before deposit.
Translate the complete specification, not only the title. Confirm variants, unit count, material, dimensions, color, model, customization, domestic freight, minimum quantity, dispatch estimate, and return conditions with the seller or agent.
Warehouse photos are useful for quantity, color, obvious damage, and visible differences. They do not establish material composition, performance, authenticity, electrical safety, or destination compliance unless the relevant test or inspection is performed.
Compare 1688 with a cross-border or local route using the final cost per usable unit. Include domestic delivery, agent fees, packaging, billable freight weight, duty, tax, carrier charges, defects, and a realistic return or disposal cost.
Decision standard for this guide
Last reviewed September 9, 2026. Use the guide as a checklist: a route is suitable only when the buyer can verify platform, seller, product, payment, and delivery evidence.
What we list
Platform records identify an official website, buying route, and the payment, delivery, product, and return evidence to check for your order.
What a listing does not prove
A platform listing does not certify a seller, product, factory, payment outcome, delivery date, or compliance result. Verify each of those for the specific order.
How costs are compared
The useful comparison is landed cost: item price, China delivery, agent or inspection fees, freight, duty, tax, carrier charges, defects, and returns.
How safety claims work
A route is safer when the buyer uses platform payment, tracked shipping, photo reviews, written specifications, and inspection before scaling order volume.
Step-by-Step Buying Process
Verify an active agent or direct route
Confirm current 1688 purchasing, supported destinations, fee schedule, warehouse work, withdrawals, insurance, restricted goods, and customer-support channels.
Translate and normalize the listing
Record the Chinese listing URL and translate title, variants, unit, material, dimensions, model, minimum quantity, customization, and seller terms.
Check the supplier identity
Review the platform profile and match the legal entity with registry, quotation, invoice, and payment information when the order value justifies it.
Request a complete quote
Separate product price, China delivery, agent service, optional inspection, repacking, storage, international freight, insurance, duty, tax, and carrier charges.
Approve warehouse evidence
Compare quantity, variants, color, labels, dimensions, visible condition, and packaging with the order; request product-specific testing when photos cannot prove the requirement.
Choose and document shipping
Compare actual and volumetric weight, route restrictions, tracking, insurance, customs responsibility, delivery estimate, and the process for loss or damage.
Calculate the result
After delivery, record delays, defects, fees, and usable units before deciding whether the same supplier and route should be used again.
Frequently Asked Buying Questions
Primary references
Use these sources for rules and definitions, then confirm the platform checkout, supplier quotation, carrier terms, and destination requirements for the specific order date.