Getting startedStart here01
How to buy from 1688: your first-order plan
Turn a product idea into a written brief, a comparable quotation and an agreed delivery plan.
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1688 OVERSEAS GUIDE / Buying guides
1688 buying guides for overseas buyers
A practical reading path from your first product brief to supplier checks, cost planning and international delivery. Choose the stage that matches your order.
Practical sourcing tools
Turn your research into a working record. Choose the tool that matches your current task.
Request a quotation
Prepare a consistent product brief to send to suppliers.
Open tool ↗Compare suppliers
Compare quotation scope, samples, lead times and open questions.
Open tool ↗Plan purchase costs
Separate known costs from missing amounts in one currency.
Open tool ↗Record an inspection
Document agreed criteria, observations and follow-up actions.
Open tool ↗Inputs are processed in your browser. Copy your work before leaving the page.
Choose your next sourcing step
Start with your current task. Each stage gives you a practical record to prepare and guides for the next decision.
Getting started
Prepare before moving on
Recommended reading
A written product brief with quantity, specifications and delivery expectations.Suppliers & quality
Prepare before moving on
Recommended reading
A supplier comparison and agreed sample or inspection criteria.Payment & costs
Prepare before moving on
Recommended reading
An itemised cost sheet with inclusions, exclusions and payment conditions.International shipping
Prepare before moving on
Recommended reading
A shipment plan with carton data, warehouse references and delivery responsibilities.After-sales & partnerships
Prepare before moving on
Recommended reading
An issue log, agreed follow-up actions and named contacts for the next order.
Suppliers & qualitySupplier checks02
How to Compare 1688 Suppliers Beyond Price
Compare supplier identity, manufacturing claims, samples, specifications and written order terms. Use evidence and unanswered questions to assess each quote.
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Getting startedAsk better questions03
A practical request-for-quotation template
Give each supplier the same information so the prices you receive are easier to compare.
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Suppliers & qualityQuality in writing04
From sample approval to a clear inspection checklist
Record agreed criteria, observations and evidence for four checks. Use a separate record for each sample or batch.
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Payment & costsUnderstand the costs05
Build a complete sourcing cost checklist
Look beyond the unit price to identify transport, handling and destination costs before you order.
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International shippingPlan the delivery06
How to coordinate shipments from several suppliers
Align warehouse references, arrival records and packing instructions before arranging international delivery.
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After-sales & partnershipsClose the loop07
After delivery: an after-sales follow-up checklist
Connect receiving checks, evidence, agreed remedies and closure in one clear record.
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After-sales & partnershipsBuild continuity08
From one order to a working relationship: supplier follow-up
Review performance, confirm business contacts and recheck reorder terms before the next purchase.
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Suppliers & quality00
Small-Batch Custom Branding on 1688: What to Ask
Clarify logo, product and packaging minimums before a small branded order. Includes a cost checklist, sample approval steps and a bilingual supplier enquiry.
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International shipping00
Shipping Bulky Items from 1688: A Quote Checklist
Prepare a bulky-goods shipping enquiry with packed dimensions, gross weights, delivery access and unloading requirements. Compare complete quote scopes.
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International shipping00
Should You Split or Consolidate Your 1688 Shipment?
Compare split and consolidated 1688 shipments using complete quotes, packing measurements and release dates. Includes a worked example and quote request.
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Getting started00
Buying Agent vs Freight Forwarder vs Sourcing Agent
Define who finds suppliers, places orders, inspects goods and arranges transport. Compare provider quotes with a clear responsibility checklist.
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After-sales & partnerships00
Returning a 1688 Order from a China Warehouse: Who Does What?
Coordinate a 1688 return before goods leave a China warehouse. Confirm the order owner, dispatch status, return address, costs and tracking with a practical checklist.
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Suppliers & quality00
Same Photo, Different Price: How to Compare 1688 Listings
Compare 1688 listings by specification, quantity, packing and service. Use an evidence table and supplier questions before treating similar photos as the same product.
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Suppliers & quality00
1688 MOQ Explained: Samples, Mixed Orders and Small Batches
Clarify minimum quantities by product, variant and order. Use a mixed-order example and a bilingual enquiry to compare sample and small-batch options.
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International shipping00
Your 1688 Order Reached the Warehouse: What Next?
Confirm receipt, inspect the items, resolve discrepancies and approve a packed-shipment quote before your 1688 order leaves a China warehouse.
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Payment & costs00
Why Your 1688 Shipping Quote Changed After Packing
Check final dimensions, packed weight, shipping method and extra charges when a 1688 freight estimate changes. Includes a dimensional-weight example.
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Payment & costs00
1688 Agent Fees: What a Small Order Really Costs
Compare 1688 agent quotes line by line, including minimum fees, packing, payment and shipping. Use a worked example and a copyable quote request.
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Getting started00
Do You Need an Agent to Buy from 1688?
Compare direct purchasing, forwarding and buying-agent services. Check payment, inspection and total costs before choosing a route for your 1688 order.
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