How to Buy from Taobao, Weidian & 1688 with a Shopping Agent (Beginner's Guide)

What Is a Shopping Agent?

Chinese marketplaces such as Taobao, Weidian and 1688 sell everything from everyday clothing to sneakers and accessories at prices that are hard to match locally. The catch: most sellers only ship inside China, the apps are in Chinese, and the usual payment methods do not work for foreign buyers.

A shopping agent (also called a purchasing or forwarding agent) is a service that acts as your local buyer in China. You send it the link of the product you want, and it takes care of the parts that are difficult from abroad:

• Buying: the agent pays the seller in yuan and handles the Chinese-language order.
• Receiving: the seller ships the item inside China to the agent's warehouse.
• Inspecting: the agent takes photos of your item (QC photos) so you can check it.
• Storing and combining: several orders can be gathered into one parcel.
• Shipping abroad: you choose an international shipping line and the agent sends the parcel to you.

Agents earn money through service fees, shipping margins or both. Fees, free storage time, photo services and shipping lines differ from agent to agent and change over time, so always read the current terms on the agent's own website before you order.

Taobao vs. Weidian vs. 1688: Which One Should You Use?

All three are Chinese marketplaces, but they serve different needs.

If you are new, Taobao is usually the easiest place to start because listings have more reviews and photos from real buyers.

How to Order Through a Shopping Agent, Step by Step

Step 1: Create an Account With a Shopping Agent

Pick an agent, register, and take a look at its help pages. Before you order, check the fee structure, how long items are stored for free, which payment methods are accepted, and which international shipping lines are offered to your country.

Step 2: Find Your Item and Copy Its Link

Browse Taobao, Weidian or 1688 and open the product page. Copy the link from the address bar, or use the share button in the app. While you are there, judge the seller before you pick the item:

• Look at the number of sales and the seller's rating.
• Open reviews with photos and compare them with the listing pictures.
• Read the size chart on the product page instead of guessing.

Step 3: Paste the Link Into Your Agent

Most agents have a search bar or an "add product" form. Paste the link and the agent loads the title, photos and price. Then choose the size, color and quantity, and add a short note if you have a special request.

Step 4: Pay for the Item

You pay the agent, not the seller. The amount usually includes the item price, the shipping cost inside China and possibly a service fee. Once your payment is confirmed, the agent orders the item for you.

Step 5: Check the QC Photos

The seller ships to the agent's warehouse, which often takes a few days. There the agent photographs your item. Check the color, stitching, labels, size tags and any visible defects. If something is wrong, contact the agent's support before the parcel ships. Whether an exchange or return is possible depends on the seller and the agent, and it can cost extra. For the full checklist of what to look at (and what to do if something looks off), see our guide on checking QC photos before your parcel ships.

Step 6: Build Your Parcel

You can ship items one by one or gather several orders into one parcel. Combining usually saves money because you pay the base shipping cost only once. Keep an eye on the storage limit of your agent so you do not run into fees. Many agents can also remove bulky boxes or repack items, which reduces the parcel size. That matters more than most beginners expect (see the section on volumetric weight below).

Step 7: Choose an International Shipping Line

Agents offer several lines that differ in price, speed and restrictions. Some lines cannot carry certain goods such as batteries or liquids. Compare at least two lines and think about what matters more to you, a low price or fast delivery. Use our shipping weight calculator to estimate the billed weight and cost before you decide.

Step 8: Track and Receive Your Parcel

After the parcel leaves China, you receive a tracking number. Depending on your country, the parcel may go through customs, and you may have to pay import VAT or duties. More on that further down.

How Much Does It Really Cost?

The item price is only one part of the total. Plan for these cost blocks:

1. Item price in yuan, converted to your currency.
2. Shipping inside China from the seller to the agent's warehouse, usually small.
3. Agent service fee, if the agent charges one.
4. Optional services, such as extra photos or repacking.
5. International shipping, often the biggest single cost for heavy or bulky items.
6. Import VAT and duties in your country, if they apply.
7. Payment and currency conversion fees of your payment provider.

Exchange rates move daily, so use our currency converter to see what a yuan price means for you right now. For the cheapest way to actually pay, see our guide on converting CNY to EUR without losing money on fees.

Example: A Hoodie and a Pair of Sneakers

Same goods, same rate, but the shipping cost is cut in half just by using a smaller box. Here is why.

Volumetric Weight Explained

Shipping lines do not only look at what your parcel weighs. They bill the greater of two values: the actual weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight, which reflects how much space the parcel takes up.

Volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height (in cm) ÷ divisor

The divisor depends on the line. 5000 is common for express services, and some economy or sea lines use 6000 or more. After that, the billed weight is usually rounded up, often to the next 0.5 kg or 1 kg.

In the example above, the hoodie and sneakers weigh about 2.1 kg together:

• In a 40 × 30 × 20 cm box the volume is 24,000 cm³. Divided by 5000 that is 4.8 kg, which is billed as 5.0 kg.
• In a 30 × 25 × 15 cm box the volume is 11,250 cm³. Divided by 5000 that is 2.25 kg, which is billed as 2.5 kg.

The parcel content did not change, but the bill did. That is why removing shoe boxes, compressing soft items like hoodies and choosing the smallest suitable box can save a lot. You can try your own numbers in the shipping weight calculator. For more ways to cut the bill — different divisors, rounding rules and a full packing checklist — see our deep dive on volumetric weight.

9 Tips to Save Money and Avoid Problems

1. Compare sellers, not just prices. A slightly higher price from a well-rated seller is often the better deal.
2. Read reviews with photos. They show the real color, fit and quality.
3. Use the size chart. Do not rely on your usual size.
4. Look closely at the QC photos. Once the parcel is on its way, fixing a problem is much harder.
5. Consolidate orders, but do not wait too long. Storage time is limited at most agents.
6. Shrink the parcel. Ask for repacking or box removal where it is allowed.
7. Compare shipping lines. The cheapest line is usually slower. Decide what you need.
8. Check restrictions. Not every line can carry every type of item.
9. Keep track of favorites. Use our wishlist and comparison tools to save products and see prices side by side.

You can also browse our trusted sellers and selected products to find items and compare where to buy them.

Customs, VAT and Counterfeit Goods

Import taxes. Depending on your country and the value of the parcel, import VAT and customs duties can apply, and you as the buyer are responsible for them. The rules for low-value parcels are changing in many regions, so check the current rules of your national customs authority before you order. For a full breakdown of EU, UK and US thresholds, VAT vs. duty, and why some shipping lines charge it upfront and others bill you at the door, see our guide on customs and import tax on shopping agent orders.

Restricted items. Batteries, liquids, powders and some other goods are limited or banned on many shipping lines. Check your agent's list of restricted items before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Start?

Now you know the whole process: find the item, paste the link into your agent, check the QC photos, keep the parcel small and pick the right shipping line. Start by browsing our selected products, compare prices at different sellers, and use the free tools to plan your costs before you order.