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What is 1688.com?

1688.com is the largest integrated domestic wholesale marketplace in China.

 

1688.com was launched in 1999, 1688.com is China’s largest integrated domestic wholesale marketplace in 2021 by net revenue, according to Analysis.

It provides sourcing and online transaction services by connecting manufacturers and wholesale sellers to wholesale buyers in China who typically trade in apparel, accessories, packaging materials, office supplies, home decoration and furnishing materials, electronics, and computers, among others.1688.com is a business Alibaba Group.

 

Information is from 

 

https://www.alibabagroup.com/en-US/about-alibaba-businesses-1492011686041747456

Contents

Chapter 1: 1688.com VS Alibaba Marketplace

Do you know the difference between 1688.com VS Aliababa marketplace?

 

More and more buyers are looking for goods from 1688.com and the Alibaba marketplace. 

 

It’s important to understand the differences between 1688.com and Alibaba marketplaces.

 

These two platforms offer a wide range of suppliers and products, but they have some key differences.

 

Let’s start it.

Alibaba Platform

  • Alibaba platform is a B2B platform. The target audience is international buyers outside of China

 

  • The types of suppliers are different. There are larger enterprises in Alibaba

 

  • More and more competition and the requested order volume is less and less. Some suppliers have to accept small-batch orders to survive.

 

  • If it is not RTS (Ready To Ship), the price and MOQ are not real. It needs to communicate with the seller.

 

  • The platform is the English version. It is for buyers outside of China.

 

  • Alibaba platform offers Logistics services. You can place logistics orders and connect with your purchase order. After delivery, you can track your goods shipped by the platform.

1688.com Platform

  • 1688.com platform is a B2B platform as well. The target audience is domestic buyers in China.

 

  • The types of suppliers are different. There are more small and medium-sized enterprises as well in 1688. com. 

 

  • The price of the goods is real on 1688 shop. You do not need to negotiate the price with the supplier. Even if you negotiate the price with the supplier, you can not get a big discount.

 

  • The price on 1688 shop is fixed. It has a steep price. It is a slight difference between different purchasing levels.

 

  • If it is a custom item, you need to send a message on 1688 shop and get the suppliers’ prices and MOQ.

 

  • The platform is the Chinese version for domestic buyers. Some suppliers also provide export services, but is very few.

 

  • Some suppliers have stores on Alibaba and 1688.com, but their price probably is not the same. 

Overall, both marketplaces have their characters. As a sourcing expert, it’s important to know well them.

 

It will support you to choose the right marketplace when you source products in China.

Chapter 2: Why Source Products in 1688.com

More and more buyers are looking for suppliers from 1688.com.

 

In this section, I selected one case to why people source products in 1688.com.

They have no marketing knowledge, you can not search them by Google. 

 

Meanwhile, it is important to consider all available options before making a decision. It is necessary to look for suppliers and products on 1688.com besides Alibaba and Google searches. 

 

You can find more competitive prices at 1688. com.

 

For example, in Kitchen and Home Safe Vapor Cleaning, prices from 1688.com and Alibaba are different.

 

The price is USD42 for each set on Alibaba

The price is USD28 each set on 1688.com

Chapter 3: 1688.com Benefits

Do you know what its greatest benefits are?

 

In this section, you will know it.

 

Let’s read it.

.

1688.com is a popular platform in China where more and more wholesalers are looking for products to get their business successful.

 

  • The biggest advantage of sourcing products from 1688.com Marketplace is the pricing. Because the platform is primarily geared towards domestic buyers in China, prices for products are often lower than on other platforms such as Alibaba. This can be a significant advantage for businesses looking to save money on their sourcing costs.

 

  • In addition to competitive pricing, 1688.com Marketplace offers a wide variety of small and medium-sized enterprises. This can be a major benefit for businesses looking for unique or specialized products that may not be available from larger manufacturers. By sourcing from smaller enterprises, businesses may be able to find products that are more tailored to their specific needs.

Chapter 4: 1688.com Challenge

Before placing orders on 1688.com, it is necessary to know its disadvantage.

  • 1688.com marketplace has language barriers because the platform language is not English. Communication will be more difficult for non-Chinese buyers. It will cause higher communication costs and longer processing times.

 

  • Its target audience is Chinese buyers. The order only can be paid in Chinese currency. 

 

  • Sellers can not ship goods outside of China on 1688 shop, all orders will be shipped to place in China.

 

  • Return goods. It is hard to return goods on 1688 shop if you are from outside of China. It will take a long time to receive your goods. When you find it is not qualified or unsatisfied, it probably was the past two months. 

 

 

To mitigate these challenges, it’s recommended to use a third-party agent to help with the sourcing and buying process. This can help ensure that communication with suppliers is clear and that products meet the necessary standards and specifications before shipping.

Chapter 5: How to Buy Products in 1688.com

The following is a step-by-step guide to buying products from the 1688.com marketplace outside of China.

  • Visit 1688 web, and search for the products you are looking for. Copy images and links from 1688 website. Search for products on the platform using relevant keywords or similar images.

 

  • Hire a China sourcing agent on the freelance platform to help with the buying process. This is recommended as the language barrier may make communication with suppliers difficult.

 

  • Send products images or link to China sourcing agent.It’s important to clarify details as much as possible such as product specifications, packaging, and delivery time.

 

  • China sourcing agent will offer payment on 1688 shop.

 

  • The supplier will ship the products to China sourcing agent, who will inspect the goods before forwarding them to you.

 

  • After receiving the products from 1688 shop, inspect them to ensure they meet your standards and specifications.

Conclusion

Overall, 1688.com Marketplace offers a number of benefits for businesses looking to source products from China.

 

With competitive pricing and access to a wide variety of small and medium-sized enterprises, the platform is worth considering for sourcing agents to support your business growth.

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