How to Buy from 1688 as an Overseas Buyer
Find products, confirm specifications and choose how to manage payment, warehouse handling and delivery. Here is a practical starting point for international buyers.
Six steps to your first shipment.
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Shortlist products
Save the exact listing and variant you want. Record the quantity, materials, colours, dimensions and packaging requirements.
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Confirm supplier terms
Check minimum order quantities, stock availability, sample options and domestic dispatch arrangements.
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Review your buying plan
Choose who will handle supplier communication, ordering and payment. Confirm the price and charges before committing.
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Receive and check goods
Match arriving packages to your order. Agree inspection scope and review any discrepancies before shipping overseas.
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Consolidate and measure
Decide how packages should be combined or protected. Use the final packed dimensions and weight to compare freight.
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Approve international delivery
Confirm the destination, route, customs responsibility, duty treatment and delivery exclusions. Keep the dispatch details and tracking reference.
Direct buying or an agent?
| Task | Buying directly | Using an agent |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier communication | You confirm specifications and resolve changes. | Local coordination supports the purchase. |
| Payment | You arrange a supported supplier payment route. | Payment arrangements and charges are agreed through the agent. |
| Receiving & inspection | You arrange a China receiving and checking solution. | Warehouse receiving and agreed checks can be coordinated. |
| Consolidation & freight | You manage packing and forwarding arrangements. | Warehouse handling and international delivery can be planned together. |
Choose based on the amount of coordination you can handle, the order requirements and the full delivered cost.
Explore the buying agent serviceWrite a product brief that survives translation.
A link is a starting point. Record the selected variant, quantity per size or colour, materials, measurements, acceptable tolerances and packaging requirements. Save reference images together with the written description. If a listing changes, a saved brief makes it easier to identify what you actually approved.
Ask the supplier to resolve unclear details before payment. Similar product photos can represent different materials or specifications. For an unfamiliar product, review sample availability and whether the sample matches the proposed bulk order.
Work through a multi-supplier example.
Suppose you want two variants from one seller and packaging from another. Keep separate order references, quantities and domestic tracking numbers. Agree whether the packaging should be applied, kept separate or retained for later use. The final packed shipment may differ substantially from the supplier listing dimensions.
If one delivery is delayed, choose whether to wait or dispatch the available goods. Review the storage and extra shipment cost before changing the plan. This is why a consolidation instruction should describe both the intended final shipment and what to do when an item is missing.
Use approval points to control changes.
| Before this step | Check this first |
|---|---|
| Supplier payment | Exact products, stock or production arrangement, order value and payment charges. |
| Warehouse checks | Scope, reference specifications, photo requirements and sampling or coverage. |
| Repacking | Retail boxes to retain, protection required and products that must stay separate. |
| Dispatch | Measured cartons, freight scope, delivery address, import responsibilities and cost changes. |
When a check finds a discrepancy.
Compare the evidence with the agreed brief. Identify which products and quantities are affected, then decide whether to request clarification, a return, a replacement or another agreed resolution. Supplier eligibility, domestic transport and additional handling can affect the available choices.
Do not dispatch disputed goods simply because the rest of the shipment is ready. Give a clear instruction about holding, splitting or proceeding, and review the related cost before approval.
Build your first order around a complete cost.
Separate product value, China domestic delivery, purchasing and payment services, inspection, warehouse work, international freight and import-cost treatment. A lower supplier price can be offset by packaging volume or additional coordination. Compare the whole order using the same specifications.
First-order questions.
Should I start with a small order?
A smaller order or sample may help you assess a product and the buying process, but compare its total delivered cost. Supplier minimums, sampling terms and freight efficiency vary by order.
Can the supplier ship directly overseas?
Ask the individual supplier. Do not assume an international delivery service is included in a domestic listing. If you use a China receiving address, plan the onward shipment separately.
Does inspection replace product compliance checks?
No. Agreed warehouse checks address a defined scope. Product certification, laboratory testing and destination compliance requirements need separate consideration.
What should I save after dispatch?
Keep the approved brief, quote, payment references, inspection evidence, packing measurements and dispatch details together. These records make later questions easier to reconcile.
Ready to plan
your next 1688 order?
Tell us what you want to source. Let’s map out the rest.
Prepare your sourcing requestThree things to start with.
- Product links or screenshots
- Quantities and specifications
- Destination country and city