Because 1688.com is Alibaba’s domestic Chinese wholesale marketplace, it operates exclusively in Simplified Chinese, requires local payment methods (in RMB/CNY), and only ships to addresses within mainland China.
To bridge this gap, international buyers rely on sourcing and purchasing agents (such as Superbuy, Pandabuy, Yibay, or dedicated freight-forwarding agents). The purchasing agent acts as your local proxy: they take your order in USD, buy the items directly on 1688, receive the goods at their domestic China warehouse, perform Quality Control (QC), consolidate your items, and ship them to your home country.
This complete, step-by-step tutorial walks you through signing up, sourcing products, and placing an order on 1688 via a purchasing agent.
1.Select and Register on Your Agent Platform:Creating your local proxy account.
Because you won’t need to check out directly on 1688, your main working hub will be your purchasing agent’s platform.
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Choose an Agent: Popular purchasing platforms include Superbuy, Pandabuy, Sugargoo, or independent B2B
sourcing agencies.
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Sign Up: Create an account using your email or phone number.
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Set Up Shipping Address: Enter your destination address (where you want the final parcel shipped overseas) under your account settings.
2.Search and Filter Products on 1688.com:Navigating China’s premier domestic wholesale catalog.
Open
1688.com in Google Chrome (or a browser with built-in page translation). You can browse without an account, but you must know how to search effectively:
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Translate Search Terms: Use Google Translate to convert your product keywords into Simplified Chinese before pasting them into 1688’s search bar. (Example: Search “无线蓝牙耳机” instead of “Wireless Bluetooth Earphones”).
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Use Image Search: Click the Camera Icon in the 1688 search bar and upload a product photo. This is often the fastest way to find the original factory manufacturing a specific item.
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Filter Tiered Pricing & MOQs: Note the Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) and bulk price tiers on the right sidebar.
3.Vet the 1688 Supplier:Mitigating risk before placing an order.
Look for key trust signals on the seller’s 1688 listing page before committing:
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Chengxintong Badge (诚信通): Look for the red/gold bull badge, indicating verified business licenses and store operation history.
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Years in Operation: Prioritize suppliers who have been active on 1688 for 3+ years.
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Repurchase Rate: Higher customer return/repeat purchase percentages (re-order rates) signal reliable quality and consistent stock.
4.Submit Links to Your Purchasing Agent:Translating domestic listings into international orders.
Once you find a product and seller you like, copy the full URL link of the 1688 product page.
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Go to your agent platform’s search/order bar and paste the 1688 product URL.
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The agent’s software will parse the page and display the options in English.
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Select your exact specifications: Color, Size, Variant, and Quantity.
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Add Order Remarks: In the notes box, specify critical instructions for the agent (e.g., “Request CE safety marking on packaging” or “Check for screen scratches during inspection”).
5.Pay Initial Order (Domestic Product + Local Freight):Payment 1 of 2: Funding the domestic purchase.
Purchasing via an agent split payment into two distinct phases:
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Payment 1 includes: The product cost + domestic shipping (from the 1688 supplier’s factory to the agent’s warehouse in China).
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Payment Methods: Pay your agent in USD/EUR via Credit Card, PayPal, Wise, or Wire Transfer.
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Once submitted, the agent’s purchasing team places the domestic order directly with the 1688 seller using local RMB payment channels.
6.Quality Control (QC) & Inspection at Agent Warehouse:Reviewing physical photos before international transit.
Within 2–5 days, the 1688 supplier ships the items to your agent’s domestic warehouse.
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The agent receives, unpacks, and inspects the goods.
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High-resolution Quality Check (QC) inspection photos will be uploaded to your agent account dashboard.
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Review closely: Check product count, sizing, logos, and general build quality. If items are damaged or incorrect, instruct your agent to initiate a domestic return or replacement while the package is still inside China.
7.Submit Parcel & Pay International Freight:Payment 2 of 2: Overseas logistics and consolidation.
Once all your items from various 1688 sellers arrive at the warehouse:
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Consolidate: Select multiple items to merge into a single shipping box to save on international freight fees.
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Choose Shipping Line: Select your carrier based on speed vs. budget (e.g., DHL, FedEx, EMS, Air Cargo, or Sea Freight).
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Customs Declaration: Fill in the item description and declared value for customs entry.
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Payment 2 includes: International freight + optional parcel insurance + agent service fee.
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The agent seals your parcel and provides a global tracking number once handed off to the logistics carrier.
Breakdown of Sourcing Costs
When budgeting for a 1688 order through a purchasing agent, structure your calculation using this formula:
$$\text{Total Cost} = \text{Product Price} + \text{Domestic Shipping} + \text{Agent Fee} + \text{International Freight} + \text{Customs/Taxes}$$
| Cost Element |
Paid To |
Approximate Fee Structure |
| Wholesale Product Price |
1688 Supplier |
Tiered factory pricing listed on 1688 |
| Domestic Shipping |
1688 Supplier |
~¥10 to ¥30 RMB ($1.50–$4.50 USD) for courier within China |
| Agent Service Fee |
Purchasing Agent |
3% to 10% of total product cost (varies by agent) |
| International Freight |
Logistics Carrier |
Calculated based on total weight / volumetric weight |
| Customs & Duties |
Destination Country |
Varies depending on destination import laws and HS Codes |
