How to Buy from Weidian, Taobao and 1688 with a Shopping Agent

Weidian, Taobao and 1688 have millions of products at prices you won't find anywhere else. Most sellers don't ship abroad, though, and their stores are in Chinese. A shopping agent fixes both problems: it buys the item for you, receives it at a warehouse in China, and ships everything to you in one parcel.

This guide walks through the whole process, from finding an item to opening your parcel.

What a shopping agent does

A shopping agent (CNFans, Kakobuy, Mulebuy, Superbuy and so on) is a middleman based in China. When you order through one, it:

1. Buys the item from the seller in yuan, on your behalf.
2. Receives it at its warehouse. Sellers ship it there for a small domestic shipping fee, usually a few yuan.
3. Photographs it. These are called QC (quality check) photos, and they let you check the item before it leaves China. More on these in What Are QC Photos?.
4. Stores it until you're ready to ship, so you can combine several orders into one parcel (a "haul").
5. Ships the parcel to you on the shipping line you choose.

You pay in two stages: first for the items (plus domestic shipping and any agent service fee), then for international shipping once everything has arrived at the warehouse.

Step 1: Find something to buy

You need a product link from Weidian, Taobao or 1688. You can find one in a few ways:

• Search ChinaFinds. The homepage search covers 80,000+ Weidian products with photos and prices. Every result has a ready-made link for your agent, so you can skip the copy-and-paste step.
• Browse a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets are lists of finds grouped by category. ChinaFinds has one for every agent, for example the CNFans spreadsheet or the Kakobuy spreadsheet.
• Paste a link yourself. Every agent has a search bar on its site where you can paste any Weidian, Taobao or 1688 URL.

Step 2: Add it to your cart and pay

Open the product in your agent, then pick the colour and size exactly as the seller lists them. Sellers often use their own size charts, so check the Chinese size guide before you choose.

Many agents have a remarks box. Use it for short, simple requests the agent can pass on to the seller, like "please check there are no stains". Keep requests short and clear.

At checkout you pay for:

• the item price (shown in yuan, ¥)
• domestic shipping from the seller to the warehouse
• the agent's service fee, if it charges one

Top up your agent balance or pay by card, depending on what the agent supports.

Step 3: Wait for it to reach the warehouse

The agent places the order within a day or so. Most sellers ship within 1 to 5 days, and domestic delivery to the warehouse takes a few more. Items that are made to order or on pre-sale can take longer. The listing usually says so.

If a seller is out of stock, the agent will refund you, usually to your agent balance.

Step 4: Check your QC photos

When the item arrives, the agent photographs it and the photos appear in your account. Compare them with the listing:

• Is it the right colour and size?
• Are there stains, loose threads or damage?
• Does the print, logo or hardware look right?

If something is wrong, you can usually return or exchange the item. Ask before it ships internationally, because returns are only possible while the item is still in China. The seller's return window is short, often around 7 days from delivery to the warehouse, so check your photos promptly.

Step 5: Ship your haul

When everything you want has arrived, create a parcel. This is where most of the cost is, so it's worth getting right.

Choose a shipping line. Agents offer many lines with different prices, speeds and destination countries. Some are faster and more expensive, some are slower but cheaper, and some are better for particular items like shoes. The agent's shipping calculator shows which lines go to your country.

Watch the weight. You pay by weight, and many lines charge by volumetric weight (the size of the box) if it's higher than the actual weight. To keep it down:

• ask the agent to remove shoe boxes and extra packaging
• ask for vacuum packing for puffers and hoodies
• combine items into one parcel instead of shipping several small ones

Rehearsal packing. Some agents let you pay a small fee to pack the parcel first and see the exact weight and price before you commit. It's worth doing for larger hauls.

Step 6: Customs and delivery

Depending on your country, you may owe import tax or duty when the parcel arrives. Rules differ by country and change over time, so check your own customs authority's rules for personal imports before you ship. Only order items you're allowed to import. Customs can seize goods that infringe trademarks, and you would lose what you paid.

Once the parcel ships, your agent gives you a tracking number. Delivery times range from about a week on the fastest lines to several weeks on the cheapest.

Quick checklist

• Find the item and check the seller's size chart
• Order through your agent and pay for the item and domestic shipping
• Check QC photos as soon as they arrive
• Return or exchange anything wrong while it's still in China
• Combine items, remove boxes and choose a shipping line for your country
• Check your country's import rules

Ready to start? Search the catalogue or pick a spreadsheet for your agent. If you haven't chosen an agent yet, read How to Choose a Shopping Agent.