Choosing a 1688 buying agent
1688 does not ship internationally and does not take a foreign card. An agent exists to solve exactly those two problems — everything else they offer is optional.
The job is narrow: buy domestically in China in their own name, receive the goods at a warehouse, then forward them internationally. If an agent's pitch is mostly about marketing advice, you are paying for something you did not ask for.
What you are actually buying
- Domestic purchasing — they can pay a 1688 seller, which you cannot do from abroad.
- Consolidation — several suppliers' cartons combined into one international shipment.
- Inspection on receipt — checking that what arrived matches the listing before it leaves China.
- Export paperwork — the commercial invoice and shipping documents your country's customs will want.
What it usually costs
| Charge | Typical shape | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | A percentage of the order value | Whether it applies to shipping too, not just goods |
| Domestic freight | Per supplier, per parcel | Multiple suppliers means multiple domestic legs |
| Consolidation | Per carton or per kilo | Repacking fees quietly added later |
| International shipping | By weight or volume | Volume weight often exceeds actual weight |
Five questions before the first order
- What is your all-in cost for this specific order, itemised — goods, domestic freight, service fee, international freight, customs?
- Will you consolidate three suppliers into one shipment, and what does that cost?
- What happens if the goods arrive wrong or damaged — who pays, and what is the evidence you need from me?
- Do you inspect on receipt, and can I see photos before the parcel leaves China?
- How do I pay you, and what protects me if the order never ships?
Red flags
- A quote that is one number with no breakdown — you cannot audit it later.
- No inspection step at all, or inspection only after international shipping is paid.
- Pressure to send payment to a personal account with no invoice.
- Refusal to share the domestic tracking number for the leg inside China.
- A service fee far below the market — it usually reappears as inflated freight.
Start with one small order. The point of the first order is not the goods, it is finding out how the agent behaves when something is slightly wrong.
Upload a product photo and get the matching 1688 listings with price, MOQ, order count and supplier — then take one listing to the agent.
Common questions
Do I need an agent if the factory agrees to ship abroad?
Not necessarily, but confirm they can issue export documents and accept an international payment. Many 1688 sellers cannot do either.
Can an agent buy from Alibaba too?
Most can, but the economics differ — Alibaba listings are already priced for export, so the agent's fee buys less there.
How much should a first order be?
Small enough that losing it would annoy you but not hurt you. That is the real test of the relationship.
Try it on your own photo
Upload one product image and get the matching 1688 listings with price, MOQ, order count and supplier — free trial, no card needed.