As a foreigner, it’s not easy to buy things from 1688.com (Alibaba in China).
Some people think they can find better deals and get the lowest prices by going directly to suppliers on 1688.com instead of the Alibaba website.
Keep reading, this article will help you figure out what is 1688. com, the difference between 1688 and Alibaba, how to use 1688 and how to find a reliable 1688 agent .
1688.com is like Alibaba.com, but in Chinese and for the domestic Chinese market. See below for more details:
What is 1688.com?
Founded in 1999, 1688 is a Chinese version and B2B supplier directory of Alibaba.com, the leading e-commerce platform for small businesses in China.
1688 focusing on wholesale and procurement business, through professional operation, improve customer experience and comprehensively optimize the business model of enterprise e-commerce. Here, you can find wholesalers, factories, manufacturers and trading companies in almost all types of industries.
If you are engaged in the procurement business, 1688 is your best platform. Now 1688 has covered 16 major industries such as raw materials, industrial products, clothing, household goods and small commodities. It provides one-stop services including raw material procurement, production and processing, spot wholesale, OEM/ODM services.
Alibaba is for the world and 1688.com is for mainland China. Next, we analyze the similarities and differences between them.
What are the Similarities and Differences between 1688 and Alibaba?
Similarities of 1688 VS Alibaba
- They are owned by Alibaba Group with multiple sellers of products.
- Price can be negotiated. The more the quantity, the better the price.
- As one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies, Alibaba has taken steps to detect fraud and remove fake and dishonest sellers from its platform.
Differences of 1688 VS Alibaba
- The 1688 website is in Chinese. But Alibaba’s website is in English. It can also be translated into different languages, such as French, German, Spanish, Russian, etc.
- There are also differences in payment. 1688 is for domestic users, and it is usually paid by WeChat, Alipay or credit card. Alibaba adopts international payment methods such as VISA, MasterCard, Western Union remittance and bank transfer.
- 1688 provides local prices in China, while Alibaba has raised its prices for foreign customers. If you want to get more competitive prices, you must purchase your commercial products in the place where the local people purchase them. This is the main advantage of 1688 over Alibaba.
How to Use 1688.com?
1688.com has added a lot of convenience to Chinese people’s shopping, but foreigners are affected by language and operation problems. Don’t worry, I will guide you step by step.
Step 1:Translate 1688.com into English.
Download Google or another browser and type 1688.com into the search box. Right click and choose to translate the page to English so that you can browse the web smoothly.
Step 2:Find the Products on 1688.com
There are three ways to search for products: image search, keyword search and link search.
You can select and upload your product photo in the search box in the camera pattern position. This type of image search allows you to pinpoint the product you want to buy.
It’s also good to search by keywords to find the product you want to buy. You may also search for similar products and finally compare and choose the one you want.
Step 3: Choose a Supplier
Choosing a supplier is crucial, as mentioned in the last part of the article “How to find a reliable 1688 agent”. Comprehensive consideration of a 1688 agent, you can check the strength of the shop, such as sales, production strength, after-sales service, etc.
Step 4: Contact the Supplier
After selecting a 1688 agent, talk about how to customize the products you want in detail, and inform the purchase quantity. The agents will quote according to your needs.
Step 5: Reach a Deal
The last step is to pay. If you are inexperienced in the first payment, it’s OK. Your agent will tell you the detailed steps, and they will help you to buy your favorite products as soon as possible.
How to Find a Reliable 1688 Agent?
1688 agents are fluent in foreign languages and can provide you with many professional and comprehensive services. And they use a one-to-one model. All you need to do is provide product images and your bespoke requirements, and you can trust them to do the rest.
In order to find a reliable 1688 agent that suits you, you need to pay attention to the following three aspects:
- Shop Qualifications and Related Services
When you search the page for the products you want to buy, but do not know how to choose which supplier. The number of employees is one of your considerations: 51-100 employees means that this is a small enterprise, 101-500 employees is a mature enterprise, and 501-1000 employees is definitely a huge wholesale enterprise. Choose your own 1688 agent according to your own situation, which does not mean that the larger the size, the better.
Next, You need to know the detailed packaging box return and replacement service. Whether the seller has joined Chengxintong, the number of years of entry, the level of supply, and whether it is a strong business. The longer a seller has joined the Integrity Link, the more reliable its logo will be.
In the next few aspects, you may choose a more specific 1688 agent.
- Strong Business Capability
How to judge whether a 1688 agent is professional in their business? High sales volume; Delivery on time; High quality products and favorable comments are very important for an excellent 1688 agent, which is basically like a proven ability and the company’s guarantee. At the same time, it can also provide customers with great guarantee, so that customers can trust them to make customized products.
Although there are many merchants in the market who choose some improper ways to purchase orders in order to increase their browsing volume, which leads to untrue sales data of the platform, this is still an important screening factor, which can be considered in combination with other factors.
- Purchasing Samples
After screening 1688 agents, you can try to buy samples from several shops that meet your requirements, compare services and prices in advance, and after receiving the goods you can compare product quality, which will be the most effective step for you to choose a reliable 1688 agent.
Choosing a reliable 1688 agent is your first step to wealth! Ningbo Greentime Imp & Exp Co., Ltd is your best choice. I hope this article will be of help to you, although it is not quite comprehensive. If you have any questions, please contact us to learn more about How to Buy Products on 1688.com Effectively.
