1688 Buying Agent
1688.com is where Chinese retailers buy their stock, often at lower prices than export platforms. We search, buy and receive in China for you, check the goods, then consolidate and ship them to Europe.
What is 1688.com?
1688.com is Alibaba Group's B2B wholesale platform for China's domestic market. Unlike Alibaba.com, which is built for international buyers, 1688 is entirely in Chinese, prices are shown in RMB, and most sellers serve Chinese retailers, online shops and wholesalers.
Because sellers price for the domestic market, 1688 prices are often lower than export listings for similar products on Alibaba.com. That gap is the main reason importers and e-commerce sellers look at 1688.
Why you cannot simply order on 1688 from Europe
The platform is not designed for foreign buyers. In practice, you will run into several obstacles:
- Language: search, product pages and seller chats are in Chinese.
- Payment: sellers expect Alipay or a Chinese bank account.
- Delivery: in most cases, sellers only ship to addresses in China.
- No export paperwork: domestic sellers do not handle export documents.
- No protection for foreign buyers: if something goes wrong, you have little recourse.
- Many resellers: the same product is often listed by dozens of shops, and few of them manufacture it.
- EU compliance not guaranteed: products made for the Chinese market may not meet CE, REACH or EU labeling requirements.
Alibaba.com vs 1688 at a glance
| Alibaba.com | 1688.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Main audience | International buyers | Chinese domestic buyers |
| Language | English and other languages | Chinese |
| Currency | Mostly USD | RMB |
| Prices | Export prices | Often lower |
| Payment | International methods | Alipay, Chinese bank |
| Delivery | International shipping available | Mostly addresses in China |
| Export documents | Handled by many sellers | Not provided |
For a detailed comparison, read our Alibaba vs 1688 guide.
What we do as your 1688 buying agent
Vitalic Trading has more than 10 years of experience sourcing in China, with teams in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Yiwu. We work in English, French and Chinese, and handle every step between the listing and your warehouse.
- Search in Chinese: we find the product using the right Chinese terms and compare listings, not just the first result.
- Seller vetting: we check the shop's history, whether it is a factory or a reseller, and ask for real photos, details and test reports when needed.
- Negotiation: for larger quantities, we negotiate price and terms directly with the seller.
- Payment in RMB: we place the orders and pay the sellers locally.
- Reception in China: parcels are delivered to a warehouse in China, not to your door.
- Inspection: we check quantities and quality and send you photos before anything leaves China.
- Consolidation: we combine orders from several 1688 sellers, and from Taobao or wholesale markets if needed, into one shipment.
- Export and shipping: sea (FCL or LCL), air or rail China–Europe, on EXW, FOB or DDP terms, with customs clearance through our freight forwarder partners.
How we work
- Send us your list: 1688 links, or product photos and descriptions, with quantities and destination.
- Free quote within 48 hours: we come back with availability, prices and shipping options.
- Selection: we propose vetted sellers and you approve the selection.
- Purchase: we place the orders and pay in RMB.
- Reception and check: goods arrive at the warehouse and you receive a photo report before paying the balance.
- Shipping: everything is consolidated and shipped to your address or warehouse.
Is 1688 right for your project?
1688 works well for stock products, testing new items for an online shop, small to medium quantities and orders that mix many references. It is less suited to products you want to develop under your own brand, with custom specifications or strict certification requirements. For those, working with a verified factory on an OEM or ODM basis is usually the better route.
If you want to see products in person and mix many suppliers, the Yiwu wholesale market is another option. See our Yiwu sourcing agent service.
A note on small parcels to the EU
Since 1 July 2026, the EU applies a flat €3 customs duty per item category on low-value e-commerce parcels (under €150), as a temporary measure pending the permanent customs reform. If you ship many small parcels directly from China, this adds to your costs. For stock, consolidating purchases into one shipment is often the simpler option.
FAQ
Can I buy on 1688 without a Chinese account?
Not in practice. You need a Chinese payment method and, in most cases, a delivery address in China. A buying agent handles the account, payment, reception and export for you.
Are 1688 prices always lower than Alibaba.com?
Often, but not always. You also need to add agent fees, inspection and international shipping. We compare the total landed cost so you can decide with real numbers.
How do you know if a 1688 seller is a factory?
Many 1688 shops are resellers. We check the shop's profile and history, ask the seller directly in Chinese and, for larger orders, can arrange an on-site factory audit.
Do products bought on 1688 meet EU standards?
Not automatically. Products made for the Chinese market may lack CE marking, REACH conformity or EU labeling. We request test reports where available and check labeling during inspection, but compliance remains the importer's responsibility.
Need a team on the ground in China?
Tell us what you want to source. Free quote within 48h, no commitment.