What is 1688?
1688.com is Alibaba's domestic wholesale marketplace, the Chinese-language counterpart to Alibaba.com. Factories and wholesalers sell to Chinese shops and resellers, often the same sellers who supply Taobao shops. Prices are lower, but listings are built for trade buyers: minimum order quantities, price tiers by quantity and little English.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起批量 / 起订量 | Minimum order quantity |
| 价格区间 | Price tiers: the unit price falls as quantity rises |
| 一件代发 | Single-item dropshipping: the seller will send one piece |
| 实力商家 / 源头工厂 | Verified strong supplier / source factory badges |
| 混批 | Mixed batches allowed across styles or colours |
Buying 1688 items through Superbuy
Superbuy charges no purchasing service fee on 1688 orders, the same as Taobao. Paste the listing link (it looks like detail.1688.com/offer/…html) into Superbuy, choose quantities that meet the seller's minimum, and pay. Two differences to expect:
- Minimums apply. If the listing says 起批量 2 or more, you have to order at least that many, or look for listings marked 一件代发.
- Different QC standard. Superbuy's own guide notes that 1688 purchases follow a different set of quality-control standards from Taobao ones; check its shopping agent manual if detailed inspection matters.
When is 1688 cheaper than Taobao?
When you buy in quantity, or when a factory sells the same item a Taobao reseller marks up. Tiered prices mean ordering ten may cost much less per unit than ordering two. The saving shrinks once you add weight: ten items weigh ten times as much, and shipping is charged per weight step. Compare the landed cost per unit, including shipping and duty, not just the unit price. Our calculator helps with the shipping and tax side.
Buying for resale or a business
If you're buying stock rather than personal items, customs treatment changes. Commercial quantities can need a different declaration, and some countries apply different rules to commercial imports than personal ones. In the EU, the €3-per-product-type duty applies to low-value consignments; larger orders are assessed normally. Declare the real value and purpose, and check your country's rules for commercial imports before a big order.
Finding the factory behind a Taobao item
Many Taobao shops resell products sourced from 1688 suppliers. 1688 supports image search, so you can upload a product photo and find suppliers selling the same item, often at a lower unit price for quantity. It's a common way to compare a retail price with its wholesale source. Check that the item really is identical (materials, sizes, packaging) before assuming the cheaper listing is the same product.
Mixing 1688 and Taobao in one Superbuy parcel
A practical approach many buyers use: bulk basics from 1688 (plain T-shirts, storage boxes, phone accessories) and one-off items from Taobao, all consolidated into one Superbuy parcel. Neither source carries a Superbuy purchasing fee, and one parcel pays the first weight step only once. Watch the weight, though: bulk items add up fast, and a heavier parcel may be cheaper on a different line.
Checking quality on 1688
Supplier badges help but don't guarantee anything. Look at transaction counts, repeat-buyer rates and the supplier's years on the platform, and ask for detailed photos before buying large quantities. Superbuy's detailed inspection (CN¥5.50 per item) and detailed photos (CN¥2 each) are worth it on a first bulk order.
1688 FAQ
Can I buy from 1688 through Superbuy?
Yes. Superbuy charges a CN¥0 purchasing fee on 1688, exactly as it does on Taobao, Tmall and JD. Copy the listing link (it looks like detail.1688.com/offer/…html), paste it into Superbuy and pick a quantity that meets the seller's minimum, shown as 起批量. If that minimum is more than you want, filter for sellers that offer 一件代发. Start with one supplier and a modest quantity.
What is the difference between 1688 and Alibaba.com?
Both are Alibaba Group sites. 1688.com is the Chinese-language wholesale market where factories sell to domestic shops and resellers, often the same people who stock Taobao stores. Alibaba.com is the English-language B2B site for international trade buyers. For small personal quantities shipped through Superbuy, 1688 usually has lower unit prices, so it's the one to check first when you want several of something.
Can I buy just one item on 1688?
Sometimes. Each listing sets a minimum order quantity (起批量 or 起订量), and if it's 2 or higher you must order at least that many. Sellers who tick 一件代发 will send a single piece, and 混批 means you can mix colours or styles to reach the minimum. If you only need one unit, a Taobao shop selling the same product is usually the simpler route.
Is 1688 cheaper than Taobao?
Per unit, often yes, because 1688 sellers price in tiers (价格区间) that fall as quantity rises, and many of them supply Taobao resellers. The saving narrows once shipping is added: ten items weigh ten times as much, and Superbuy bills each weight step. Work out the landed cost per unit with shipping and duty, and buy on 1688 only when that figure beats Taobao.
Does Superbuy check 1688 items the same way?
Not quite. Superbuy's own guide says 1688 purchases follow a different set of quality-control standards from Taobao ones, so read its shopping agent manual before a large order. On a first bulk buy, paying for detailed inspection at CN¥5.50 per item, or detailed photos at CN¥2 each, is cheap insurance. Use the paid checks until a supplier has proved reliable.
Can I search 1688 by photo?
Yes. 1688 has image search: upload a product photo and it returns suppliers listing the same or similar item, often at a lower unit price for quantity. It's a quick way to find the wholesale source behind a Taobao listing. Before ordering, compare materials, sizes and packaging, because a cheaper result isn't always the identical product. Treat photo matches as leads, not proof.
Can I combine 1688 and Taobao items?
Yes. Superbuy consolidates both into a single parcel, and neither platform carries a purchasing fee, so the only shared cost is shipping. One parcel also pays the expensive first weight step once instead of twice. A common mix is bulk basics such as plain T-shirts from 1688 with one-off pieces from Taobao. Watch the total weight and compare lines before you submit.
Do I pay duty on 1688 bulk orders?
Yes, under your own country's import rules. In the EU, the €3-per-product-type duty covers low-value consignments under €150, while larger orders are assessed normally, and stock bought for resale can need a commercial declaration. Declare the real value and purpose of the goods. Check your country's commercial-import rules before placing a big wholesale order, not after it's shipped.
Related questions
- How to order through Superbuy step by step
- What to search for on Taobao
- Clean a Taobao, Weidian or 1688 link
- How is Superbuy shipping priced?
Sources we checked
Written and checked by the TaobaoSuperbuy.com editors. Last reviewed . Sources for this page: Superbuy's fee page and user guidance, and 1688 listing conventions. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on WhatsApp and we'll fix it.