Buyers outside China can source products from 1688. Before paying, though, you need to resolve three questions: Are the purchase terms clear, can you use the available payment methods, and how will the goods reach your destination?
1688 primarily serves China's domestic wholesale market. Finding a product and completing an international purchase are therefore two different things: listings help you choose products, but payment, receipt of goods, shipping and related services still need to be arranged. Alibaba Group's introduction to 1688
You do not necessarily need to outsource every step. Start by identifying what you can handle yourself, then decide whether you need a freight forwarder or a sourcing service provider.
1. Choose Your Buying Arrangement: Buy Directly, Use a Forwarder or Work with a Sourcing Provider?
Consider these three arrangements based on your situation:
Buy directly and have the supplier arrange international shipping
- When it may suit you: The supplier can offer a shipping solution for your product and destination
- What to resolve before ordering: Payment methods, what the shipping quote covers and delivery arrangements
Buy directly, send the goods to a warehouse in China and arrange onward shipping
- When it may suit you: You can communicate and pay independently, but need a Chinese receiving address and international transport
- What to resolve before ordering: Warehouse receiving requirements, shipping options, packaging and related charges
Use a sourcing service provider
- When it may suit you: You need help confirming products, communicating with suppliers, purchasing or managing several orders
- What to resolve before ordering: Service scope, fees, payment and responsibility for after-sales issues
A sourcing agent and a freight forwarder solve different problems. If you can manage the purchase yourself, you may only need shipping services. If you also need help clarifying specifications, following up with suppliers or resolving purchasing problems, check whether the provider handles those tasks.
Do not assume that a company offering to receive parcels or ship internationally will also inspect the products or handle after-sales issues.
2. Find Products and Decide Which Suppliers Are Worth Contacting
When searching on 1688, start with the product name plus its material, use or specifications. For example, instead of the broad Chinese term “收纳” (storage), try “桌面收纳盒” (desktop storage box) or “透明带盖收纳盒” (clear storage box with a lid). If you have a reference image, you can also use image search, then check each product's details individually.
Shortlist several suppliers and compare them against the same purchasing requirements.
Focus on four things:
- Are the products actually the same? Similar images do not guarantee the same dimensions, materials, accessories or packaging.
- Is the information clear? Can the supplier provide specific specifications, details of the actual product and packaging information?
- Can the supplier meet your quantity and timing requirements? Confirm separately whether the goods are in stock, need to be prepared or require custom production.
- Are the answers specific? Does the supplier address your questions rather than simply replying “in stock” or “no problem”?
Store information, transaction records and reviews can help you shortlist suppliers, but they do not replace checking the particular product you intend to buy. If material, feel, colour or function matters especially to you, ask about samples or a small trial order first.
3. Is the Displayed Price the Price You Can Actually Buy At?
Do not rely on the lowest price shown in search results. Your final product cost depends on the selected variant, order quantity and pricing unit.
Pay particular attention to these three points.
1. Is the Price per Piece, per Set or per Carton?
The main image may show a complete set, while a low-priced option includes only one accessory. Check both the variant selection and the unit used in the quote.
2. Does the Minimum Order Apply to Each Variant, or Can You Mix Variants?
Suppose you want 50 storage boxes of the same model: 30 grey and 20 white. If the supplier requires at least 50 of each colour, you cannot place that order on the basis of a combined quantity of 50.
Ask explicitly whether different colours or sizes can count towards the same minimum order quantity, and whether each has its own minimum.
3. Which Price Tier Applies to Your Quantity?
A listing may show several quantity-based price tiers. Compare suppliers using the quantity you actually plan to buy, not each supplier's lowest displayed price.
You can adapt the following questions and send them to your shortlisted suppliers:
I plan to purchase this product in the following specification: [specification], quantity: [quantity]. Please confirm:
- What is the applicable unit price, and what unit is it based on?
- Can I combine different colours or variants in one order to meet the minimum quantity?
- Is the product in stock, and when is it expected to ship?
- What is the shipping charge to a specified address in China?
- How many units are packed per carton, and what are the carton dimensions and gross weight?
- If I buy a sample first, what are the terms and costs?
Sending the same questions to each supplier makes their replies easier to compare.
4. Estimate the Full Purchasing Cost Before Ordering
The product price is only one part of the cost. Build your budget using this structure:
Product cost + domestic shipping within China + applicable sourcing and handling fees + international shipping + any applicable import-related costs.
Sourcing and handling charges may include purchasing assistance, inspection, packaging or storage. Whether they apply, and how they are calculated, depends on your arrangement.
When comparing quotes, divide the costs into three groups:
- Confirmed: For example, the product cost for agreed specifications and quantities.
- Estimated: For example, international freight before the actual packed dimensions have been measured.
- Not included: For example, import taxes or destination charges explicitly excluded from the quote.
Do not automatically treat “products plus shipping” as your total landed cost, or an estimate as a final amount.
For bulky goods, try to obtain packaging dimensions before purchasing. International express services and other shipping options may consider both actual and volumetric weight, so light but bulky products are not necessarily cheap to ship. DHL's explanation of volumetric weight
If the supplier cannot yet provide complete packaging data, ask for estimates and allow room for adjustment in your budget.
5. How Can Overseas Buyers Pay? Do You Always Need an Agent?
Not necessarily. First check which payment methods are actually available for your account and order, then decide whether you need a sourcing provider to purchase on your behalf.
For example, WorldFirst offers World Pay for purchases on 1688. Eligible users can link a 1688 account and pay using the relevant account balance. Availability still depends on account eligibility, authorisation status and the conditions of the individual order; it should not be assumed to cover every country or product. WorldFirst's official explanation
Before paying directly, confirm:
- Whether your account meets the activation and verification requirements.
- Whether the current order supports your chosen payment method.
- How exchange rates, payment fees and other charges are calculated.
- How refunds are handled.
If you use a sourcing provider, check the itemised order, service fees, the entity receiving payment and who will communicate with the supplier if an item is unavailable, the wrong goods arrive or a refund is needed.
Whichever arrangement you choose, keep the product links, specification confirmations, order details and payment records. Payment completes the transaction step; it does not automatically include inspection or international shipping.
6. How Do the Goods Reach Your Country After the Supplier Ships Them?
If the supplier cannot offer a suitable international shipping solution, you can have the goods sent to a warehouse in China and arrange onward transport.
Set this up before buying. Confirm the receiving address, information needed to identify your parcels, accepted products, charges and storage rules with the warehouse. Then give the supplier the correct receiving details.
Once the goods arrive, arrange the following as needed.
Check the Products
Check whether the received quantities, variants and visible condition match what was agreed. If you need functions, dimensions or other specific items checked, define that scope in advance.
For incorrect items, missing parts or obvious damage, try to resolve the issue with the relevant party before international dispatch. Basic checks, functional tests and specialist testing are different services and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Decide Whether to Consolidate or Ship Separately
You can assess whether to combine goods from several suppliers, but compare the resulting cost and timing.
If waiting for the last shipment would affect your sales, or some products need a different shipping service, separate shipments may be more suitable. Base the decision on the final quotes and your business needs rather than assuming consolidation is always cheaper.
Confirm the International Shipping Plan
Give the shipping provider product details, the destination postcode, weight, packaging dimensions and your desired arrival date. Declare features such as batteries or liquids in advance so that acceptance conditions can be checked.
When comparing shipping quotes, confirm at least:
- Which shipping service will be used.
- How chargeable weight is calculated.
- Which charges are included.
- From what point the estimated transit time is counted.
- Who is responsible for import taxes and destination handling.
Only then can you judge whether two quotes are genuinely comparable.
What Should Be Clear Before You Pay for Your First Order?
You do not need to make every detail complicated before starting, but you should be able to answer four questions before paying:
- What exactly am I buying? Specifications, quantities and packaging are clear.
- Which costs are confirmed? You can distinguish confirmed, estimated and excluded costs.
- Where will the goods go? Receipt in China and onward shipping have been arranged.
- Who handles a problem? The responsibilities of the supplier, warehouse, forwarder or sourcing provider are clear.
The better these points are prepared, the less likely you are to face repeated clarification or unexpected cost differences later.
When Might PandaSugar Be Useful?
If you can communicate with suppliers, pay and arrange shipping independently, you can follow the steps above yourself.
If you need help confirming products, following up on purchases or coordinating warehouse receipt, optional inspection, consolidated packing and international shipping, you can explore PandaSugar's sourcing services. Prepare your product links, specifications, quantities and destination, then confirm the assistance you need and the associated fees.
Choose a provider based on whether it can handle the parts of the process you need help with, not simply whether it can make a payment for you.