How to Buy from 1688

1688.com is Alibaba's wholesale marketplace — often the cheapest source for the very same items sold elsewhere. It's built for domestic bulk orders, so international buyers use a shopping agent. This free guide covers buying from 1688, QC photos and worldwide shipping.

How to buy from 1688, step by step

Find the item on 1688
Search the product on Qualit.ly or paste any 1688 listing link. You'll see the real QC photos other buyers received, the live price in your currency and the available variants — so you know exactly what you're getting before you spend a cent.
Choose a shopping agent
1688 has no international checkout, so you order through a shopping agent — a service in China that buys the item, inspects it and ships it to you. CNFans, BBDBuy, ACBuy, KAKOBuy and Sugargoo are popular choices; Qualit.ly is agent-neutral, so pick whichever you prefer.
Convert the link to your agent
Use the Qualit.ly link converter — on the web or through the Discord bot — to turn the 1688 link into a one-click order link for the agent you chose. It carries over the exact listing and variant so nothing gets lost along the way.
Order and review your QC photos
Pay the agent in your local currency. Once they buy the item, they take QC ('quality check') photos of the actual product before it ships. Look them over — approve if it's right, or ask the agent for a refund or replacement if it isn't.
Pay shipping and track your parcel
After you approve the QC, pay for international shipping and pick a line that balances cost and speed. Then follow the parcel to your door with the Qualit.ly tracking tool.

Good to know about 1688

1688 listings usually show a minimum order quantity (MOQ), but a shopping agent can often buy a single unit even when the MOQ looks high. Prices are wholesale, so 1688 is always worth checking when you want the best price on a find.

1688 buying FAQ

Do I need an account to buy from 1688?: Not on Qualit.ly — searching products, viewing QC photos and converting 1688 links are all free with no signup. You'll only make an account with your chosen shopping agent to place the actual order.
Why do I need an agent to buy from 1688?: 1688 is built for shoppers inside China and doesn't offer international checkout or shipping on most listings. A shopping agent buys the item for you, takes QC photos and forwards the parcel worldwide.
Are the 1688 QC photos on Qualit.ly free?: Yes. Every 1688 product on Qualit.ly shows the QC photos real buyers received — free, no signup — so you can judge quality before you order.
How long does shipping from 1688 take?: It depends on the agent and the shipping line you choose after approving QC — usually one to three weeks for standard lines, faster for pricier express options. You decide the balance of cost and speed.

Keep going

Browse 1688 finds 1688 sellers Link converter Track a parcel

How to buy from 1688, step by step

Find the item on 1688

Search the product on Qualit.ly or paste any 1688 listing link. You'll see the real QC photos other buyers received, the live price in your currency and the available variants — so you know exactly what you're getting before you spend a cent.

Choose a shopping agent

1688 has no international checkout, so you order through a shopping agent — a service in China that buys the item, inspects it and ships it to you. CNFans, BBDBuy, ACBuy, KAKOBuy and Sugargoo are popular choices; Qualit.ly is agent-neutral, so pick whichever you prefer.

Convert the link to your agent

Use the Qualit.ly link converter — on the web or through the Discord bot — to turn the 1688 link into a one-click order link for the agent you chose. It carries over the exact listing and variant so nothing gets lost along the way.

Order and review your QC photos

Pay the agent in your local currency. Once they buy the item, they take QC ('quality check') photos of the actual product before it ships. Look them over — approve if it's right, or ask the agent for a refund or replacement if it isn't.

Pay shipping and track your parcel

After you approve the QC, pay for international shipping and pick a line that balances cost and speed. Then follow the parcel to your door with the Qualit.ly tracking tool.

1688 buying FAQ

Do I need an account to buy from 1688?

Not on Qualit.ly — searching products, viewing QC photos and converting 1688 links are all free with no signup. You'll only make an account with your chosen shopping agent to place the actual order.

Why do I need an agent to buy from 1688?

1688 is built for shoppers inside China and doesn't offer international checkout or shipping on most listings. A shopping agent buys the item for you, takes QC photos and forwards the parcel worldwide.

Are the 1688 QC photos on Qualit.ly free?

Yes. Every 1688 product on Qualit.ly shows the QC photos real buyers received — free, no signup — so you can judge quality before you order.

How long does shipping from 1688 take?

It depends on the agent and the shipping line you choose after approving QC — usually one to three weeks for standard lines, faster for pricier express options. You decide the balance of cost and speed.