Abundant Choices
Biggest Online Trading Platform Worldwide
ADVANTAGES OF 1688
Abundant Choices
Biggest Online Trading Platform WorldwideSHOP NOW
Direct Sales from Manufacturers
No Extra Cost by MiddlemenSEND INQURY NOW
Safety Guaranteed
Quality Assurance from Large Trustworthy PlatformGET FREE QUOTE
1688 THINGS TO NOTE
You should know how to buy from 1688 safely
Research, compare, and then choose the best deal
Shop around and find the product with best price and quality through comparison. Surely, you can always consult LeelineSourcing, we are happy to give you reasonable advice.
Check the threshold and rules for wholesales of the seller
If the quantity you order does not meet the minimum requirement of the seller, LeelineSourcing will judge your order to be invalid and you will need to place a new order.
Choose sellers granted with “TrustPass”
“TrustPass” sellers are more reliable in terms of quality and return/exchange service. Please consult LeelineSourcing if you can not tell whether a seller has “TrustPass”.
Final arrangements matter
Remember to settle the rules of return and exchange with your seller and clarify things like under what circumstances you can return or exchange the products.
YOUR RELIABLE 1688.COM AGENT!
If you want to sourcing products from 1688 to Amazon FBA , Leelinesourcing will be your best 1688 sourcing agent.
Shop in 1688.com
Shop now in 1688.com.com. Choose from the wide variety of items and send us the links. Then sit back and relax, let 1688 Sourcing Agent, do the rest!BUY NOW
Quality Check
Our QC team inspects each product to ensure it is in good condition and it conforms with specifications. We make sure you get the right product.ASK US PRICE
Consolidate Orders
Combine orders into a single package or cargo & save up to 70% in shipping cost! We use box that has never been used and make sure goods are protected!GET BEST QUOTE
Worldwide Shipping
We ship your goods according to your chosen shipping method. We ship by Air Express, Air Freight & Sea Freight. ASK BEST SHIPPING RATE
DISCOVER 1688.COM AGENT SERVICES
Gain competitive advantage and buy bulk from China with your Best 1688.com Agent !
Basic Service
We help merchants like yourself in procuring products from 1688.com. Our focus is centered in making available quality and reliable service at reasonable cost. We offer basic service package which includes purchasing, product check, warehouse storage, order consolidation, repacking, and global shipping. You can avail all these services for a minimal fee!CONTACT US
Factory Sourcing
Most businesses obtain and evaluate different manufacturers of a product as part of their internal quality system in supply-chain management. 1688 buying agent is offering factory sourcing service, where we provide three trusted factories in China producing the subject product. Being proactive in all ways is the best approach to your business success.GET FREE QUOTE
Product Sample
Having apprehensions in paying for bulk orders? You can significantly lower your risk by examining product samples first prior to bulk buying. 1688 Agent helps you obtain product samples from different suppliers, deliver them to our warehouse where you can have your samples checked, and combined in one parcel. Then we ship to your address.SEND INQURY NOW
Factory Audit
We help you save time, travel costs and other expenses by inspecting your chosen factory in your behalf. Our Team shall visit the site in China, inspect the facility, verify license and certifications, observe production, check quality management system, in order to provide an independent evaluation, as well as assurance that goods produced meet quality standards.ASK BEST QUOTE
Amazon Seller FBA Service
Tell us what you need and your products will soon deliver to your warehouse! We offer Amazon Seller FBA Service including Product Sourcing Service, Amazon FBA Prep Service ,quality inspection, brand labeling, FBA bundle packaging services, products photography, and shipping to FBA warehouse.Source From 1688.com and Sell on Amazon will be easy for you!CONTACT LEELINESOURCING
Custom Product & Sample
We help you achieve total success in your special order. Our Team shall work closely with manufacturer to ensure that final product conforms to your specification and meets your expectations. Before any request for production of special order, you may use 1688.com sourcing Agent service to help you obtain Factory Samples so you will know how your final product should be made.GET A QUOTE
PURCHASE PROCEDURE
How to buy from 1688.com in bulk by Leelinesourcing
Step 01: Choose Product From 1688.com
Browse 1688.com, choose product and record the 1688 product link.BUY NOW
Step 02: Tell US What You Need
You can contact us via [email protected] or join our online-chatting, our “1 on 1” customer service starts when we get your request with details of products you need to buy from 1688.com.TELL US YOUR REQUEST
Step 03: Do the payment
After get your product link,we will check the price, contact with manufacture, and Calculate the shipping fee from factory to our warehouse. And then make the first payment, which includes products cost, commission and domestic shipping within China.ASK BEST PRICE
Step 04: Place the order
When recieve your payment,we purchase on 1688.com for you, normally we get your product from 1688 within 3 days.GET FREE QUOTE
Step 05: Quality Check
When recieve product from 1688.com, we will check product quality and ensure the product is consistent with 1688 product listing description.SEND REQUEST NOW
Step 06: Ship it out
Make the second international shipping payment.We will ship goods as your request.We have many shipping method you can chose. For example Ship by express like UPS , DHL , Fedex , SF express, or Ship by Sea freight or air freight.GET BEST SHIPPING RATE
1688 AGENT SERVICE FEE
No upfront fee is charged when we start the sourcing service, we only charge when you are satisfied everything with us from sourcing, quotation, order following to shipping. We are committed to source high quality products with a best possible cost via a complete transparent process; NO HIDEEN FEE will be charged.
| Order Amoun | Service Charge | Payment Term |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $100 | $25 | |
| $100-$500 | 20% | |
| $500-$1,000 | 15% | |
| $1,000-$2,000 | 10.0% | $2000 or less 100% payment when placing order |
| $2,000-$3,000 | 9.0% | |
| $3,000-$5,000 | 8.5% | |
| $5,000-$7,000 | 8.0% | |
| $7,000-$10,000 | 7.5% | |
| $10,000-$15,000 | 7.0% | |
| $15,000-$20,000 | 6.5% | $2000 above 30% paid as deposit and balance paid before loading |
| $20,000-$25,000 | 6.0% | |
| $25,000-$30,000 | 5.5% | |
| $30,000-$35,000 | 5.0% | |
| $35,000-$100,000 | 4.5% | |
| $100,000 Above | 4.0% |
Tips:If your order is big enough and amount is far higher than $150,000,service charge and payment terms are negotiable.
FAQ
Look before You Leap
GENERAL PROCESS
What is the general purchase process?
The general process is the following:
1.Choose the products you want to order at 1688.com
2.Send us your request on our page LeelineSourcing.com
3.Make the first payment, which includes products, commission and domestic shipping within China.
4.Wait until all the products arrive at our warehouse.
5.After having all the products ready, we will pack them and we will let you know which products had stock as well as the international shipping cost.
6.You must make the second international shipping payment, only for the difference after we adjust the domestic shipment (what the seller actually collected), the commission (we do not charge you commission for products that were not in stock) and the products in stock.
7.When making your second payment we will send the products to the requested address and 1 or 2 days later we will provide the tracking number so you can track your cargo.
8.You just have to wait for the products to reach their destination to continue with the customs clearance process that changes in each country.
How long does the whole process take?
What are the costs involved in the process?
PAYMENT METHODS
What payment methods do you accept?
At the moment we accept payments through international bank transfer, Western Union or Paypal.
Can I use different payment methods on each purchase?
How much can I buy?
Do you accept a Visa or MasterCard?
What are the fees for payments?
Why do I have to pay commissions for the payment?
Are the payments safe?
Why do I have to pay in dollars if the prices are in Yuan?
WHEN ORDERING
Is there a minimum order?
No Minimum Order.
How many pieces per product should I order per product?
Are there discounts for buying a larger quantity of a product?
What is the difference between shopping cart and wish list?
Can I place an order on different days?
How long do the products last in my cart?
Can I remove products from my cart?
How to place the order in Excel?
What is the use of ordering through Excel?
Why I can’t add products from links I saved before?
How is domestic shipping calculated?
What happens if the seller does not send the products to your warehouse?
What happens if you detect a defective product?
GET FREE QUOTE
ABOUT SHIPPING
What is domestic shipping?
The domestic shipment is the shipment made by each store or factory from its place of origin to our warehouse, each store charges a domestic shipment, which is why it is convenient to order more products to a single store than to several in order to avoid an important increase on the product’s cost.
Can you send to any country?
How is domestic shipping calculated?
How much does international shipping cost?
Can I use my own shipping agent?
How can I track my shipments?
Do the products include taxes?
Is there any size limit?
Can I send to different names?
Can you declare a different value on the invoice?
Can you make the customs release?
What products are not allowed in international shipments?
Can I request a special packaging?
What happens if my package is lost?
Can my cargo be secured?
What happens if not all the products that I ordered arrive?
ABOUT 1688.com
What is 1688.com?
1688 belongs to Alibaba group, which owns alibaba.com and Aliexpress.
Currently, more than 50,000 vendors are concentrated on 1688.com, each vendor or factory has its own store and offers its products. It is the largest wholesale site within China due to its low prices.
The providers on this site need to have a commercial license issued by the government to be able to sell here. Many companies buy their products on this page and then resell them internationally and even do dropshipping.
Why I can not order directly at 1688.com?
What are the risks of ordering directly at 1688.com if I do not live in China?
Is it reliable to buy at 1688.com?
How do I learn to navigate on 1688.com?
PRODUCTS
Do you accept returns of the product?
We can´t receive product returns since we only provide the international shipping and purchase service. If the seller agrees to receive the product back, all costs related to the shipment returns of the products will be paid by the customer, so we always recommend asking for product samples before making large purchase.
Is there any quality guarantee?
How can I know the quality of a product?
What happens if the seller does not have all my products in stock?
Will you open my products?
Can I order custom products?
I have a question about a product, what do I do?
STORAGE
What is the cost for storage?
There is no cost for storage during the first month, after one month it will be charged CNY 300 per cubic meter per month or its proportional part in dimensions and time.
How long can I have my products in your warehouse?
What happens if I no longer require my products after making the first payment?
How to Buy from 1688.com: The Ultimate Guide
So you’re wanting to import products from China, but you’re not sure how?
Building a business can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you have an idea and you’re ready to execute.
However, when it comes to sourcing products, most people give up.
They don’t know where to go, they don’t know how to start, and oftentimes it leads to wasted time and money.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way you can source products on 1688.com, one of the most popular Chinese product sourcing sites.
You can find a vast number of products in all shapes and sizes, with reputable vendors, and all at an affordable price.
But, before you head to the site, you’ll want to follow our guidelines to get the most out of the experience.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly how you can source products from China through 1688.
You’ll learn what the site is, how to navigate it, and how to wholesale from 1688 china, answering your most common questions.
Let’s jump right in.
What is 1688.com?
Whether you’ve been in business for years, or you’re just starting out, I’m sure you’ve heard of Jack Ma.
He’s the founder of Alibaba, one of the most famous companies in the world, and also one of the biggest.
Alibaba is a group of Chinese companies, and 1688.com is a subsidiary of Alibaba located in China.
1688.com called “阿里巴巴批发 网” is mainly used in China’s domestic market as the website is primarily in Chinese.
It’s used in both business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C), as well as wholesale and manufacturing.
Most people use 1688 as an easy way to find products to source for their businesses.
since it’s very simple to find suppliers, products, and scale up your business with the platform.
What is the difference between 1688.com and Alibaba.com?
The main difference between 1688.com and Alibaba.com is that 1688 is mostly used for the domestic Chinese market while Alibaba is more focused on targeting international business trade.
In other words, 1688 is knowed as alibaba china website.1688 was made for China while Alibaba was made for the world.
The 1688.com website is in Chinese , suitable for the Chinese market. So do not have 1688 english version website now.
However, when you jump onto Alibaba, since it is an international platform, you can read it in several different languages worldwide.
It’s readable in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Turkish, Arabic, Indonesian, Hebrew, Dutch, Vietnamese and Portuguese.
Why do Chinese people like to buy products on 1688.com?
1688 has been around for many years, and it is very well-known in China.
It’s currently the biggest wholesale website available in China.
It’s one of the most trusted wholesale brands in China and has developed a powerful reputation over the years as Alibaba has grown as a business giant.
Chinese people also like to buy from 1688 in bulk since the products are priced so low. A variety of trading businesses also like to purchase from 1688 to then resell them around the world.
At the moment, there are over 50,000 sellers on 1688.com, making it possible to find any kind of product and build a relationship with incredible suppliers.
Are the products listed on 1688.com cheaper?
It’s very common for Chinese suppliers to sell their items to Chinese buyers at lower prices.
The main reason isn’t that they’re trying to scam their compatriots. It’s because there are often underlying quality issues.
Chinese suppliers generally understand that they aren’t able to offer worldwide buyers the same level of quality in products that they are offering to their domestic customers.
When selling to European, Australian, or American buyers, Chinese suppliers recognize they need to be able to offer higher quality products, so they will usually quote higher prices overall.
However, shopping on 1688.com doesn’t mean you will automatically get lower prices rather than Alibaba.
It’s not wise to make an assumption that you’ll save on wholesale prices as this isn’t always true.
What do you need to consider before buying from 1688.com?
Stock information isn’t always accurate
When you place an order, You have to first confirm with the seller if the product you are wanting to buy is actually in stock.
Most of the time, stock information is about 90% accurate, so you won’t have to worry.
However, there are certain sellers who sell extremely high volumes of products (especially when they are very low priced) and keep their listing as “in stock” even though they run out.
In order to avoid issues where you’re buying something that’s already out of stock, make sure you pick the right supplier.
Remember to always purchase from a supplier that has bullhead beside the name. This means that the store is certified by Alibaba Group, making it much more credible and trustworthy.
Purchase Failures & Invalid Orders
If, when you place an order, you run into a purchase failure, 1688 website will notify you that your order is out of stock and you will not be able to add product to shopping cart.
This process is a bit different than Amazon.com or Tmall.com retail inventory.
Since 1688 is wholesale, the system will account for stock issues and continue the purchase, unlike retail websites.
If you keep getting “invalid”, simply search for another supplier and send a brand new order for a similar product.
This usually isn’t a major issue for 1688 buyers since there are over 50,000 vendors to choose from on the site.
One thing you do need to keep in mind, however, is that it can take a couple of days for users to cancel orders after experiencing a 1688 purchase failure.
If you want a refund from the supplier, it can’t be done instantly, and you will have to wait until your money is first refunded to 1688 before being credited back to you.
You won’t have to worry about losing your money as each deal is secured and protected by 1688.
In the meantime, you can continue submitting new orders to new suppliers for any order that has been canceled.
The entire refund process will be tracked and recorded by 1688 for your protection.
Domestic Shipping Cost Adjustment
Domestic shipping is when the provider simply ships products to the LeelineSourcing warehouse. 1688.com will usual adjust domestic transport costs for wholesale orders, which is dependent upon the final weight of each shipment.
For every order on 1688.com, We will automatically complete any domestic shipping with a default amount (15CNY) as its minimum domestic shipping cost (DSC).
This happens since we doesn’t have a full picture of the final domestic shipping or the complete weight details of the shipment when the order is placed.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean the 15CNY is the completed national shipment.
1688 buyers still have to manually confirm the final national shipping when they place their orders to 1688 suppliers. This happens after you have filled out your first payment instructions.
Once the domestic shipping cost (DSC) is confirmed to go beyond 15 CNY, The Leelinesourcing purchaser will correct the real cost by deducting the difference from the balance for you.
They will also notify you, to let you know that the domestic shipping cost has been corrected and that a charge was put on your account history.
If you want to get a better picture to assess the accurate completed price, you can get a rough estimate of your price of your estimated shipping weight by adding in about 8-15CNY per kilogram national shipping.
Generally speaking, the cost and detailed completed price depend on the supplier’s shipping partner.
You usually don’t ever have to worry about any added national shipping unless you are purchasing products that are too heavy or too big in size.
Don’t buy products that are too heavy or too big in size
One of the biggest downsides to making a purchase on 1688 is that you will be penalized in costs by buying products that are either too heavy or too big in size.
If you want to buy very large products like large TVs, sectional couches, or bicycles, you will need to factor in the elevated national shipping charges and global shipping costs.
It isn’t ever recommended to buy such large products unless you also have a low-cost forwarder that you’re working with.
Delays and Timing
Since 1688 is a wholesale site, it’s not going to be as accurate in terms of timing from other retail sites like Tmall.com or Amazon.com. Orders won’t always be on schedule.
Generally speaking, wholesale orders need a bigger lead time, which means that the products won’t always be shipped out right away.
Most order lead times, on average, can span between 1 and 5 days.
A small number of orders can take 5-7 to process.
But it’s important to note that some orders can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month to complete.
During busy seasons like November and December, lead times can be delayed by 1 to 3 days overall.
Plus, it could potentially take up to 3-5 more days for domestic shipping. It often takes over 7 days for products to arrive at the LeelineSourcing warehouse once an order has been placed.
Remember to plan your buying times by considering both the lead times during the slower seasons and busy seasons to avoid any time crunch issues with your customers.
If you find out that your order has stayed on “Ordered” status (which means that the order has already been placed to providers on 1688.com), you can send the buyer an email to cancel the order.
If the supplier hasn’t yet shipped your order, 1688’s buyer can help you cancel the order.
If your order has already been shipped out, you shouldn’t cancel it. If you do, you may be penalized and charged, resulting in losses from the terms of services for canceling the order.
A few tips when you buy from 1688 in bulk
1. Check Threshold First
Before you place your order, make sure to check the wholesale rules and threshold for the supplier.
If your order quantity doesn’t’ meet or exceed the minimum order amount set in place by the supplier, your order will be canceled and you will need to place a new order.
2. Always pick a “TrustPass” Supplier
With over 50,000 suppliers, 1688 has plenty to choose from, but that doesn’t mean they’re all good sellers. Make sure you choose suppliers who have the “TrustPass” badge on their account.
They are usually more trustworthy, reliable, and have better quality products. They also usually have a better return policy.
3. Compare suppliers
If you find a good supplier, they have a trust badge, and you can meet the minimum order requirement, don’t place your order just yet.
You should always compare them with other suppliers.
Look for the best deal, or for a better supplier. You might be surprised to find a more trustworthy supplier or someone who has better quality or prices.
Do suppliers on 1688.com speak English?
Unlike Alibaba, most suppliers on 1688.com don’t speak English fluently. However, there are ways to get around this.
You will need to contact more suppliers before you find ones who do speak English.
You can also use Google Translate to communicate with your suppliers.
There is also a way to translate the website to English which we’ll cover below.
How can I communicate with 1688.com suppliers?
Since most 1688 suppliers are Chinese, it won’t be easy to communicate if you don’t know the language.
Your best option is to use a China sourcing agent who can speak on your behalf, acting as your translator and will sometimes even offer you basic Chinese lessons so you can order from businesses directly.
It’s always best to use china sourcing agent to help you with the translation barrier so you can source products efficiently.
This will save you time, and help you avoid a world of frustration on both your end and on the supplier’s end.
How can I pay 1688 suppliers?
There are a variety of payment methods you can use to pay 1688.com suppliers. You should use the one that works best for you. Here are the different types of payment methods available:
Can I pay 1688.com suppliers in US dollars?
It’s important to note that suppliers do not accept the US dollar. They only accept Renminbi (RMB or CNY).
If you want to pay in US dollars, you will need to use a sourcing agent, We recommed LeelineSourcing as best china sourcing agent.
Sourcing agents can accept payments in US dollars. They can accept payment in USD and then pay the supplier in Renminbi (RMB) directly. Sourcing agents can also accept bank transfers and PayPal.
Do I need an Export License for 1688.com?
Before a Chinese product can ship a product overseas, a business must have an export permit.
The permit can be ordered and is valid for many years. Bigger 1688 providers will function both domestically in China as well as internationally with export permits.
Any vendors on 1688 who are only selling domestically won’t need to obtain an export permit.
However, if they want to sell internationally, there is a way to get the export license.
1688 sellers can use export agents. Sourcing agents will also act as export agents, allowing you to purchase from a 1688 seller, even if they don’t have an export license.
The sourcing agent is able to do all documentation to coordinate shipments, complete the export, and manage payments.
How do I know if 1688.com suppliers are real or scammers?
Contrary to some beliefs, every 1688 supplier is a real, legitimate business.
This is verified since any supplier selling products on 1688 must have a confirmed government business license to create an account.
How can I check a supplier’s information?
If you want to verify a supplier and check their information, you just have to go to their store on 1688:
- Open up the home page of the vendor.
- Click “Company”.
- Click “View Business Registration Information”.
- View all information regarding the seller’s business registration.
You can see their date of registration, registered capital, incorporation, and company address.
How do I find a 1688.com sourcing agent for my products?
It’s not always easy to find a reputable sourcing agent to partner with. You need to make sure they are equipped to handle your specific needs.
You need to also make sure they’re a trusted brand with testimonials, and able to meet your demands as you scale.
At Leeline Sourcing, we are dedicated to serving those wishing to compete in the Amazon FBA industry.
Our purchasing agent with over a decade of experience will find the right manufacturer, and within 2 days, find you the best deal possible.
You will receive custom-branding services like ODM, OEM, packaging design, and more.
We’ll also help you with quality control, photography, and factory inspection.
Plus, if you aren’t happy with our service, we’ll give you a full refund. We offer a 120-day money-back guarantee to ensure you’re happy with our sourcing services.
Does 1688 have an app?
Yes, 1688 does have an app but you won’t find it on the Google Play Store.
You can find it by going to 1688.com on your smartphone.
Scroll down to the bottom of the home page. Click on “App” to download.
You can also visit 3g.1688.com .Use your smartphone to scan the barcode and download the app.
If do not have 1688 app, you can use mobile browser app to visit m.1688.com
How can I complete a picture search on 1688?
If you’re comparing suppliers and want to search by the product by image, it can help you save a ton of time.
Here are the steps to complete a picture search on 1688:
- The image has a white background
- There isn’t a duplicate image of the image you are searching for on the page you are searching on.
- Save the image.
- Go to 1688 and click on the camera icon beside the search bar.
- Click the file name of the image you saved.
Keep in mind that this only works on the desktop version of 1688, not the mobile or app versions
How do I translate 1688.com website to English?
On Desktop:
- Download Google Chrome
- Go to 1688.com
- Right-click on a blank space on the page.
- Select “Translate to English” from the options displayed.
- The page will refresh and appear in English.
While it is quite simple to translate 1688 to English on the website, the 1688 app makes it very difficult, so you will have to perform a few steps and get 1688.com english version.
On the App:
- Install both the 1688 app and Google Translate app on your Android device.
- Open the 1688 app. Search for the item you want (you can still search in English).
- Scroll down to see the seller’s information.
- Screenshot the portion of the page you wish to translate.
- Open Google Translate
- Click the camera icon and import the screenshot.
- Google translate will scan the photo.
- You can highlight a Chinese character to translate or select the entire image to translate.
- Tap the right arrow icon to see the translation
Conclusion
If you’re wanting to start or expand your online business, then 1688.com is one of the greatest options available.
As a subsidiary of Alibaba focused on the Chinese market, they offer an incredible range of products at very low prices.
However, if you’re located outside China, it can be complicated trying to tap into the 1688 market without the right knowledge, and without knowing how to communicate in Chinese.
If you want to buy from 1688 china in bulk, but you want to skip the frustration of handling the Chinese language, the export complications, or the website, your best option is to find a trusted 1688 sourcing agent, like Leeline sourcing.
At sourcing, we will partner with you to help you navigate the complex, yet the profitable world of Chinese suppliers.
We will guide you every step of the way from contacting suppliers to negotiating better deals, to branding, and FBA solutions to ensure your business takes off easily and is profitable from the start.