How to Buy from 1688

How to use the 1688 website

The 1688 website (www.1688.com) is a Chinese e-commerce platform owned by the Alibaba Group. It is considered one of the largest trading platforms in China and is mainly intended for factories in the Chinese domestic market, which allows it to offer products at competitive wholesale prices and high quality. The site is used by traders and small and medium-sized companies to import goods directly from factories or suppliers. However, users who do not speak Chinese may face challenges because of the language and procedures. In this article, we will explain the steps for using the 1688 website in a simple, detailed way.

Advantages of 1688

• Competitive prices: prices on 1688 are much lower than on the global Alibaba site or AliExpress, as it targets the Chinese domestic market. There are also Chinese alternatives to Alibaba worth comparing.

• Product variety: it offers a wide range of products, from clothing and electronics to food and industrial products.

• Minimum order: it allows you to buy small quantities (one or two pieces in some cases), which suits some traders.

• Dealing with factories directly: most suppliers on 1688 are factories or local trading companies, which reduces the cost of middlemen.

Challenges

• Language: the site is available in Chinese only, which means you need to use translation tools.

• Payment: payment usually requires an Alipay account or a Chinese bank card, which can be difficult for foreigners.

• Shipping: the site does not support international shipping directly, so you need to work with a shipping agent.

Steps for using the 1688

1. Translating the site into English or Arabic

Because the 1688 website is available in Chinese only, it is advisable to use the Google Chrome browser with automatic translation turned on:

• Open the site www.1688.com in the Chrome browser.

• Click the translate icon in the address bar (or right-click and choose “Translate to Arabic or English”).

• Choose the language you want to translate into from the list of available languages to translate the text automatically.

2. Creating an account on the site

To use all the site’s features, such as seeing promotional prices and discounts and searching by image, you need to create an account:

• Signing up:

  • On the home page, click the “Register” (注册) button.

  • A window containing the user agreement will appear; click the orange button to agree.

• Entering your details:

  • Choose the account type: individual (个人) or business (企业). An individual account is easier for foreigners.

  • Enter a member name, a password, and the password confirmation.

  • Select your country and your mobile phone number (136 countries are supported, including most Arab countries).

  • Click “Send” to receive a verification code by text message.

• Verification:

  • Enter the verification code sent to your phone.

  • Click “Save” or “Submit” to complete the registration.

Note: if you have difficulty registering, you can use an Alipay or Taobao account if you have one.

3. Searching for products

There are two main ways to search for products:

• Searching by product name:

  • Translate the product name into Chinese using Google Translate (example: “children’s clothing” to “童装”).

  • Enter the keywords in the site’s search bar.

  • Use the filter options (such as price, quantity, or supplier rating) to narrow the search.

• Searching by image:

  • If you have a picture of the product (such as a screenshot from AliExpress or Amazon), click the camera icon in the search bar.

  • Upload the image to find similar products.

  • This method is faster and more accurate, but it requires you to be logged in.

4. Choosing the product and the supplier

• Comparing products: when the search results appear, compare prices, designs, and the minimum order quantity (MOQ). Different prices are often shown depending on the quantity.

• Verifying the supplier:

Check the supplier’s ratings and transaction history. Following these points carefully helps you choose reliable suppliers and avoid problems. Start by searching for the product name in the suppliers search bar, where a list of available companies will appear, then check the following points:

• • Filtering companies by number of employees:

    • When you visit the supplier’s page, first check the number of employees in the company:

      • 51-100 employees: a small company.

      • 101-500 employees: a medium-sized company.

      • 501-1000 employees: a large company.

  • Make sure the supplier is reliable by contacting them through their WeChat contact number (found on the product page).

  • Request paid samples if possible to check the product’s quality before buying in large quantities.

5. Completing the purchase

• Adding to the cart:

  • Choose the product and select the quantity, color, and size (if applicable).

  • Click “Add to cart” or “Buy now”.

• Payment:

1. Alipay: the most common method, but it requires an Alipay account verified with a Chinese bank card.
   
2. Paying through an agent: if you do not have an Alipay account, you can contract a shipping agent (such as MyCN or Sup Dropshipping) to complete the payment by credit card or PayPal. 
3. WeChat or bank transfer: contact the supplier directly via WeChat to negotiate a safe payment method, such as Western Union or a bank transfer in renminbi through companies such as (Paysend).

• Shipping:

  • The site does not support international shipping directly, so you need to work with a shipping agent in China.

  • After payment, the supplier sends the products to the shipping agent, who ships them to your country.

6. Tracking the shipment

• Check the condition and quality of the goods before receiving them, and make sure they are ready and match the specifications on the product page and do not differ from the specifications sent to you.
• You can inspect the goods yourself, but it is better to use inspection companies that specialize in quality checks; they inspect the goods in detail and in depth and then send you a comprehensive report.
• Or, if the goods are ordinary rather than specialized, you can request an inspection service from the shipping company; this will be for a fee separate from the shipping service.

• Ask the supplier or the shipping agent for the shipment tracking number.

• Use the tracking number to track the shipment on international shipping websites (such as 17track.net).

• When you receive the products, inspect them to make sure they match the specifications.

   

Tips for buying safely

1. Verify the supplier: make sure the supplier is reliable through ratings, reviews, and direct contact.

2. Request samples: request a paid sample of the product to check its quality before buying in large quantities.

3. Use a reliable agent: if you run into difficulties with payment or shipping, use a reliable shipping agent.

4. Negotiate: contact the supplier via WeChat to negotiate prices or payment terms.

5. Avoid fraud: avoid paying directly through unsafe methods, and make sure you deal with reliable suppliers.

    

Conclusion

The 1688 website is an ideal choice for traders looking for products at low wholesale prices and high quality. Although there are challenges such as language, payment, and shipping, they can be overcome by using translation tools, agents, and alternative payment methods. By following the steps above, you can shop easily and confidently on 1688 and make good profits by importing products from China.

If you need more help, you can contact reliable shipping agents or visit the official 1688 website for ongoing updates.