How do you buy from Taobao with Superbuy?
You give Superbuy a Taobao product link, pay for the item, and Superbuy's buyers place the order with the Taobao seller on your behalf. The seller ships to Superbuy's warehouse in China, staff check and photograph the item, and once everything you want has arrived you choose a shipping line and pay for international delivery. Here is the sequence we follow:
- Find the item on TaobaoSearch Taobao in Chinese (the table below gives the Chinese terms to use), or take a link from a Superbuy spreadsheet. Copy the item URL, the one with
id=in it. - Paste the link into SuperbuySuperbuy's search bar accepts Taobao, Tmall, Weidian and 1688 links and pulls in the listing. Pick size and colour exactly as the seller lists them, and add a remark if the seller needs one.
- Pay Stage 1You pay the item price plus the seller's domestic delivery to the warehouse. For Taobao the purchasing service fee is CN¥0; optional extras such as detailed photos are charged per item.
- Wait for warehouse arrival and QC photosSuperbuy normally stocks items within 24 hours of arrival (3 hours if you pay CN¥5 for Priority Stock-in) and posts photos so you can check colour, size and defects before anything leaves China.
- Submit the parcelSelect the items to consolidate, choose any packaging services, and compare lines in the shipping calculator. International shipping is charged up front on estimated weight and settled against the carrier's final bill.
- Track it to your doorTracking appears once the carrier accepts the parcel. Any duty or VAT for your country is either included in the line's price or collected on delivery, depending on the line you picked.
Want the long version with screenshots-in-words, remark examples and what to do when a link won't load? Read how to use Superbuy for Taobao, step by step.
What does a Superbuy Taobao order actually cost?
Superbuy publishes a worked example on its fee structure page: a CN¥100 piece of clothing from Taobao with CN¥10 domestic delivery and CN¥3 of detailed photos (the example's figure; the current price list shows CN¥2 per detailed photo), then a 1,000 g parcel on the Hong Kong UPS Economy (tax-free) line. We rebuilt it below. One detail worth knowing: Superbuy's example lists CN¥320 + CN¥50 + CN¥38 for shipping but prints a CN¥428 total. The listed parts add up to CN¥408, which is the figure we use.
- Item CN¥100
- China delivery CN¥10
- Photos CN¥3
- Freight CN¥370
- Customs clearance CN¥38
- Superbuy service fee CN¥0
That is the counter-intuitive part of Superbuy: people on Reddit often call it the "expensive" agent, yet for Taobao items it charges no purchasing fee at all. The money goes on freight. The first 500 g on that UPS line costs more than three times the item, while each extra 500 g costs CN¥50. So the second, third and fourth item in the same parcel are dramatically cheaper to ship than the first.
| Source | Purchasing service fee | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Taobao, Tmall, JD.com, 1688 | Free | You pay the listed price and domestic delivery only. |
| Xianyu, Paipai, Zhuanzhuan (second-hand) | CN¥20 per item | Flat fee because staff have to message sellers and handle after-sales. |
| Other second-hand sites (e.g. Kongfz) | 10%, min CN¥10, max CN¥20 | Small percentage, capped low. |
| Unlisted platforms | 10%, min CN¥10, max CN¥20 | Same cap as above. |
| Shipping Expert (pre-sales, limited items) | 10%, min CN¥20, max CN¥300 | Only for special purchases; the cap matters on expensive items. |
Superbuy spreadsheet: Taobao finds by category
Most "Superbuy spreadsheets" are long lists of individual links that break within weeks as sellers relist items. We have gone the other way: each row below is a category people commonly buy on Taobao through Superbuy, the Chinese search term Taobao uses for it, a rough packed weight so you can plan the parcel, and the Superbuy add-on that is actually worth paying for with that kind of item. Prices for add-ons are Superbuy's published rates.
| Category | Search Taobao for | Rough packed weight | Superbuy add-on worth it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodies & sweatshirts | 卫衣 | 0.6–1.0 kg | Vacuum packaging, CN¥17 per bag, cuts volume weight |
| T-shirts | T恤 · 短袖 | 0.2–0.35 kg | Detailed photo of the print, CN¥2 per shot |
| Jackets & down coats | 外套 · 羽绒服 | 0.8–2.0 kg | Vacuum packaging; bulky coats are billed on size |
| Jeans & trousers | 牛仔裤 · 休闲裤 | 0.4–0.8 kg | Model try-on photos, CN¥30, if the size chart is unclear |
| Sneakers & everyday shoes | 运动鞋 · 板鞋 | 1.0–1.6 kg boxed | Folding shoe box, CN¥5, or free packaging removal |
| Bags & backpacks | 双肩包 · 斜挎包 | 0.5–1.5 kg | Detailed inspection, CN¥5.50, checks zips and lining |
| Phone & tech accessories | 手机壳 · 数据线 | 0.1–0.5 kg | Power-on inspection, CN¥12, for anything with a plug |
| Figures & collectibles | 手办 · 盲盒 | 0.3–1.5 kg | Corner protectors, CN¥5 per kg, to keep boxes sharp |
| Home & storage | 收纳 · 家居 | 0.3–3 kg | Free packaging removal on light, bulky items |
| Stationery & journaling | 文具 · 手账 | 0.1–0.6 kg | None needed; add these to fill a parcel's weight step |
| Cosplay & wigs | cosplay服 · 假发 | 0.4–1.2 kg | Ironing, CN¥20, if you want it wearable on arrival |
| Sportswear & outdoor shells | 运动服 · 冲锋衣 | 0.3–1.2 kg | Thread trimming, CN¥5, on budget sportswear |
Weights are rough packed ranges for planning, not quotes. The warehouse weighs the finished parcel, and bulky items are charged on volume weight. Every category has its own section, with more search terms and packing notes, in the Superbuy finds catalog.
Why search terms instead of a thousand links? Because Taobao listings are removed, repriced and relisted constantly, and a dead link wastes the one thing a spreadsheet should save you: time. A good Chinese keyword, sorted by sales volume (销量) with a filter for shops rated 4.8 and above, keeps working after any list goes stale. If you still want big link lists, our comparison of Superbuy spreadsheets covers which kinds are worth using and how to check a row before you pay.
Do you pay tariffs or VAT on a Superbuy parcel in 2026?
Yes, almost everywhere now, and the rules changed a lot in the last eighteen months. Duty is charged on the declared value of what is inside the parcel, so declare it truthfully: under-declaring is the most common reason parcels get held, and it can void the shipping line's compensation if something goes missing.
| Destination | Rule now | Since |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No duty-free "de minimis" for goods from China; duty is owed on every parcel. Postal shipments must use value-based duty, and a new postal entry process applies. | May 2025 (China); Feb & Jul 2026 (postal rules) |
| European Union | The €150 customs duty exemption ended; a €3 duty now applies per product type on low-value parcels, on top of VAT. | 1 July 2026 |
| United Kingdom | 20% VAT on imports. On parcels up to £135 it is normally charged when you pay for shipping; above that, VAT and any duty are collected on import. | Ongoing |
Is Superbuy legit?
Superbuy is a long-running, real business. Its site has carried the "since 2012" line and copyright for well over a decade, it publishes its fees and policies openly, and on Trustpilot it holds a 4-star TrustScore across more than 1,000 reviews. That does not mean every order goes smoothly. The recurring complaints in recent reviews are worth knowing before you pay for a large order:
- Account verification. Some long-time customers report being asked for ID, card ownership documents and proof of payment before orders were released.
- Holiday backlogs. Parcels paid for just before Chinese New Year can sit for weeks while carriers and the warehouse slow down.
- Price of premium lines. Courier lines such as DHL are fast but expensive; budget and tax-inclusive lines exist but take longer.
Superbuy also runs a published policy on infringing items and a mail restriction list, so unlicensed branded goods, batteries, liquids and some powders can be refused, split out or held. Check both before you buy anything unusual. Payment note: PayPal is no longer offered; see what to pay Superbuy with now.
The full breakdown, with every signal linked, is on is Superbuy legit?
Who runs this site?
We are an independent site, not Superbuy. The domain name describes what the site covers, and we deliberately don't use Superbuy's logo, colours or login pages. We will never ask for your Superbuy password or payment details; if a page that looks like this one asks you to log in, close it. Everything on this site links out to the official superbuy.com for the actual buying. More on how we research and correct pages is on the about page.
Superbuy Taobao FAQ
Does Superbuy charge a service fee for Taobao?
No. Taobao, Tmall, JD.com and 1688 items carry a CN¥0 purchasing fee, so the first payment is just the item price plus the seller's delivery to the warehouse. Fees only start elsewhere: CN¥20 per Xianyu item, 10% capped at CN¥20 on other platforms, and 10% (CN¥20–CN¥300) for Shipping Expert. For Taobao buys, compare agents on shipping lines, not service fees.
How long does Superbuy keep items for free?
Each item gets 90 days free from the day it reaches the warehouse. After that Superbuy bills CN¥0.10 per item per day, and 180 days is the limit; anything still unshipped then counts as abandoned unless you bought Extend Storage Period (CN¥10 per item per month) beforehand. Plan your Taobao orders so the whole parcel ships inside the free 90 days.
What is a Superbuy spreadsheet?
It's a shared list of Taobao, Weidian or 1688 product links sorted by category, meant to be pasted into Superbuy. Many rows break within weeks because sellers relist items. Our finds table uses Chinese search terms instead, such as 卫衣 for hoodies, sorted by sales (销量) and filtered to shops rated 4.8 or higher. Check any spreadsheet link loads in Superbuy before paying.
Why is Superbuy shipping so expensive for one item?
The first weight step carries most of the cost. In Superbuy's UPS Economy example the first 500 g is CN¥320 and each further 500 g only CN¥50, plus CN¥38 clearance, so a lone CN¥100 Taobao item ends up about 78% shipping. A second or third item in the same parcel adds far less, so consolidate several Taobao orders before you ship.
Is taobaosuperbuy.com the official Superbuy website?
No. taobaosuperbuy.com is an independent guide to buying Taobao through Superbuy and has no connection to the company. Real orders happen on superbuy.com or Superbuy's official app. We don't use Superbuy's logo, colours or login pages and will never ask for your password or payment details, so if a page resembling this one asks you to sign in, close it.
How do I buy from Taobao with Superbuy?
Copy the Taobao item link containing id=, paste it into Superbuy's search bar, choose size and colour exactly as listed, and pay the price plus domestic delivery for that order. Items are usually stocked within 24 hours of arrival (3 hours with CN¥5 Priority Stock-in) and photographed. Once everything has arrived, submit one parcel and compare lines in the shipping calculator.
Related questions
- How do I use Superbuy to buy from Taobao, step by step?
- Which is the biggest Superbuy spreadsheet, and is bigger better?
- What are the best Taobao categories to order through Superbuy?
- How is Superbuy shipping priced?
- What will my parcel cost with duty and VAT?
- Does Superbuy still accept PayPal?
- Is TaobaoSuperbuy.com the official Superbuy site?
Sources we checked
- Superbuy fee structure and value-added services (official)
- Congressional Research Service: China's e-commerce exports and US de minimis policy
- Superbuy on Trustpilot
Written and checked by the TaobaoSuperbuy.com editors. Last reviewed . Sources for this page: Superbuy's fee and help pages, the Congressional Research Service, Avalara's customs updates and Trustpilot. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on WhatsApp and we'll fix it.