Buying from 1688 Abroad: Why Most Buyers Need a Buying Agent

Many international buyers think prices on 1688 are lower. They want to buy products, do dropshipping, or buy wholesale on 1688. They also wonder if it’s safe to buy there and if the buying process is easy.

Many guides already explain how to register on 1688, translate Chinese pages, and search for products. Instead of covering these basics, this article puts together a practical breakdown for people who are just getting started.

Is 1688 safe for buyers outside China?

1688 itself is not unsafe. The problem is that it was built for China’s domestic wholesale market, not for global buyers.

For global buyers, buying directly from 1688 can feel risky because many protections and services are not designed for international trade. It can be difficult to verify suppliers, make payments, arrange international shipping, or get support when something goes wrong.

Many international users turn to 1688 for personal shopping, small orders, or product research. But for serious e-commerce sourcing, it can be much harder to use than platforms like Alibaba, which are built specifically for international buyers.

So the real question is not whether 1688 is safe. It’s whether you can confidently handle supplier verification, payment, quality control, and shipping on your own.

Are all 1688 suppliers factories?

No. Just like Alibaba, 1688 has a mix of factories, trading companies, wholesalers, and even retailers.

Many importers assume that suppliers on 1688 are more likely to be direct factories, while Alibaba suppliers are simply middlemen. In reality, that’s not how it works. Both platforms contain a wide range of supplier types, and it is often difficult to tell what a supplier really is based only on their online profile.

Whether you’re a shopper or a wholesale buyer, the goal is not to find a “real factory” at all costs. What matters more is whether a supplier can match your budget, quality expectations, MOQ, and delivery timeline. In some cases, a trading company may even be a better fit, especially for smaller orders, mixed products, or faster communication.

Why can't users outside China receive verification codes?

Some users outside China may not receive the SMS verification code when registering on 1688. In most cases, this is related to international message delivery, not a system error on the platform side.

In general, users can register with most country numbers if the country code is supported. Delivery quality varies by region. Latin America and Africa often lack direct SMS routes from China, which may cause delays of over 30 minutes or even delivery failure. In contrast, regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore are usually more stable. Virtual numbers, unsupported carriers, or unstable networks can also lead to missing messages.

What's the best way to buy from 1688?

Buying directly from 1688 can feel risky, especially if you are outside China. In fact, if you look through Reddit discussions, you’ll find many experienced buyers raising the same concerns: supplier verification, payment, shipping, communication, and after-sales support.

Before we break down why buying from 1688 can be risky and time-consuming, I’d like to introduce a simpler option that hundreds of our clients are already using. You just need to make sure each product is at least $50 and the total order reaches $500, and that’s it.

Here is how JingWholesale works

If you’ve never used 1688 before, you can try it to see how challenging it is.

First, you register an account using a mobile number, though some regions may have SMS delays, login issues, or account restrictions. Product search relies on images, followed by price comparison across sellers. Communication can be difficult if suppliers are not used to international buyers. Then, you need to contact suppliers several times to confirm price, payment, and shipping before getting clear answers.

For detailed step-by-step instructions, see our previous blog: 1688 vs Alibaba.

What makes 1688 difficult for international buyers?

Product listings are not well translated

The 1688 website and app are only in Chinese. Google Translate can help with text, but not images. Machine translation may not be entirely accurate and cause misunderstandings.

A better way is to search by image rather than keywords. You’ll see many links with the same image but different prices. The same pics don’t mean the same source or batch, since sellers may copy each other’s photos. Big price gaps come down to materials, production techniques, and MOQ.

98% of sellers don’t speak English

Communication often relies on translation tools, but AI has made it much easier nowadays. You can chat via customer service with translation tools, or find phone number, add it on WeChat, and chat with built-in translation. Messages may be misinterpreted. Listed MOQs are the default, not a hard limit. Negotiate for better unit prices. Just don’t expect factory pricing at single-unit quantities.

Payment limitations for buyers

You can only make payments via Alipay or online banking (only Chinese bank accounts). To make purchasing convenient, you need to set up an Alipay account. It supports registration with non-Chinese phone numbers and linking international cards like Visa and Mastercard.

Few sellers offer Cross-border Pay (跨境宝/KJB), and this needs to be confirmed with each seller. If it is not available, Alipay is usually the only payment option.

Lack of international logistics experience

1688 sellers usually arrange Chinese domestic shipping. It doesn’t handle international logistics, which often leads to higher costs and no real-time tracking. It offers cross-border shipping to regions like Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, but sellers only ship to domestic warehouses, with international freight paid separately.

No after-sales support

As you can see, 1688 offers no reliable after-sales support for international buyers. If there are quality issues, defects, or lost packages during international shipping, claims are difficult. This often leads to disputes and unclear responsibility.

Can you dropship from 1688 to your customers？

1688’s regular dropshipping only delivers within mainland China. It does offer a cross-border option—Global Exclusive, but it is currently mainly used by Chinese cross-border sellers.

1688 Global Exclusive supports distribution to 13 cross-border platforms, including Amazon, TikTok Shop, and Shopee. After an order is placed, seller sends the goods to a domestic courier, which delivers them to the transit warehouse. Then they go through international shipping, clear customs, and are finally delivered by local couriers to the customer.

As for how 1688 will evolve in the future, we will continue to monitor updates.

JingSourcing makes dropshipping from China simple

Is 1688 really cheaper than AliExpress?

1688 prices often look lower than AliExpress prices at first glance. But if you are buying for personal use or placing a very small order, the total cost may not always be lower after adding shipping costs, service fees, and possible customs costs.

Another issue is quality. Many products on 1688 use similar photos, but that does not mean they come from the same factory or use the same materials. A cheaper listing may simply mean lower-quality materials, weaker packaging, or less reliable after-sales support.

AliExpress is built more for retail buyers, so it usually offers a more familiar checkout process, buyer protection, and easier dispute handling. 1688 can be cheaper for bulk sourcing, but only when you can manage supplier screening, quality checks, consolidation, and shipping properly.

Final thoughts on buying from 1688

For international buyers, 1688 is usually not a recommended option. It is designed for Chinese domestic transactions, with limited support for payment, logistics, and after-sales service. That’s why many buyers turn to reliable sourcing agents.

We are a leading sourcing company based in Yiwu, China, with over 10 years of experience serving more than 4,000 clients. We help them source from China more efficiently and reliably, whether for small trial or larger-scale orders.

Buy from 1688 in an easy and safe way