We respect our clients' privacy. The product examples shared are partial displays or similar categories, carefully chosen to protect confidential information.
You’ve probably seen it on TikTok or YouTube: “1688 is way cheaper than Alibaba, and you don’t even need an MOQ!” Honestly, that’s not wrong. But it’s definitely not the full story.
Yes, 1688 is a domestic wholesale platform where Chinese suppliers list products for local buyers. Some are factories, others are trading companies — and while the average prices can be lower than Alibaba, that’s mostly because you’re seeing bare product cost, without export service included.
For certain non-custom daily items likepaper bags, socks, or stationery, you might even find listings with no MOQ at all. Compared to Alibaba, buying from 1688 can feel like a goldmine. One of our clients from the UK was tempted. He ordered 200 pairs of yoga pants from a factory on 1688. The price was great — and the deal seemed smooth at first. But then came the catch: the supplier didn’t offer international shipping. That’s part of why the pricing appears so attractive. The factories only make the product and everything after that is your problem to solve.
At that point, the best move was to either find a freight forwarder or work with a trusted partner like us. Luckily, he reached out to us, and also asked for a product inspection before shipping. When the batch arrived at our warehouse, several issues were immediately noticeable — loose threads, thin fabric, and some pants with uneven leg lengths. We shared a full report with him. He wanted to return the whole batch, but the factory stopped replying.
We stepped in to help with communication. After some back and forth, the factory finally agreed to either refund the defective items or remake them. But their production schedule was full, which means remaking the batch would take another month. In the end, the price was cheap, but the delay cost him a full month. For time-sensitive orders, this could easily turn into a disaster.
Yes, 1688 can help you lower product cost but only if you’re working with a reliable supplier who actually communicates. And honestly, that applies no matter where you’re sourcing from. Because it affects everything: whether you can negotiate effectively, whether the suppliers respect your timeline or sales plan, and how they handle unexpected issues. Not to mention you’re typically responsible for managing quality control and shipping yourself on 1688, all of which require coordination beyond just placing an order online.
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