1688 agent: how to buy and dropship from 1688
Many of the products sold on AliExpress and Alibaba are listed first, and cheaper, on 1688. The catch is that 1688 was built for Chinese buyers: Chinese language, Chinese payment methods, delivery inside China only. A 1688 agent closes that gap. Here is how it works, what it costs and what to watch.
What is 1688?
1688.com is Alibaba Group’s wholesale marketplace for the Chinese domestic market. Factories, workshops and wholesalers use it to sell to Chinese retailers, online sellers and trading companies. Listings are in Chinese, prices are in RMB, and orders are delivered to addresses in mainland China.
Because sellers are not pricing for export buyers, the same product is often noticeably cheaper on 1688 than on Alibaba.com, and far cheaper than on AliExpress, where a retail margin and international shipping are built in.
1688 vs Alibaba vs AliExpress vs Taobao
| Factor | 1688 | Alibaba.com | AliExpress | Taobao |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Chinese wholesale buyers | Foreign importers | Foreign consumers | Chinese consumers |
| Language | Chinese | English | Multilingual | Chinese |
| Price level | Lowest | Low, export pricing | Retail | Domestic retail |
| Typical minimum | Low to moderate, often a few units | Higher, set per supplier | 1 unit | 1 unit |
| Ships abroad | No, via an agent | Yes | Yes | Limited, via an agent |
| Export paperwork | Handled by your agent | Supplier or forwarder | Not applicable | Handled by your agent |
Why foreign buyers need a 1688 agent
How buying from 1688 through an agent works
1688 dropshipping: how it works
1688 sellers do not ship single parcels abroad, so dropshipping from 1688 always runs through an agent. Two setups exist:
Buy per order
Each customer order triggers a purchase from the 1688 supplier. The item reaches the agent’s warehouse in one to three days, is checked, packed and shipped. No inventory, but a slightly longer handling time. Good for testing.
Hold a small buffer stock
Once a product sells steadily, the agent buys a batch and stores it. Orders ship the same or next day, unit price drops, and inspection happens once per batch instead of per parcel. This is where most stores doing 20+ orders a day end up.
Both run inside the same flow as any China dropshipping agent service: store integration, branded packing and tracking pushed back to your store.
What a 1688 agent charges
Three models are common:
- Commission on the purchase value, often a single-digit percentage, sometimes with a minimum fee per order.
- Fee per order or per parcel for dropshipping, covering purchase, handling, inspection and packing.
- Itemized pricing: product cost, domestic freight to the warehouse, service fee, packaging and international shipping shown line by line.
Whatever the model, ask to see the supplier price and the agent’s fee separately, and remember to add domestic shipping inside China and the international leg to get a true landed cost. More on fee structures on our China sourcing agent page.
Risks to control when sourcing on 1688
- Batch consistency. Small workshops change materials between runs. Inspect every batch, not only the first. See pre-shipment inspection in China.
- Branded and copyrighted goods. 1688 carries products that imitate known brands. Importing or reselling them is illegal in most markets. Stay with unbranded goods you can brand yourself.
- Compliance. Domestic products are not built for export rules. Electronics, toys, cosmetics and anything touching food need the right certification for your market before you sell.
- Thin after-sales. Returns to a 1688 seller are practical only inside China and within a short window. Another reason inspection at the warehouse matters.
When 1688 makes sense, and when it does not
It fits when you sell unbranded or lightly customized consumer goods, want low minimums, and already have (or want) an agent handling inspection and fulfillment.
It fits less when you need a product engineered to your specification, export certifications, or a factory relationship with audits and contracts. That is direct factory sourcing, which a sourcing agent also handles, often with suppliers that are not on any platform.
Apex Hub’s sourcing team buys where the product is best made, whether that is a supplier listed on 1688 or a factory we work with directly, and consolidates everything in Shenzhen for inspection, branding and shipping. Send us your product links and we will come back with real prices and lead times.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1688?
Alibaba Group’s wholesale marketplace for the Chinese domestic market. Factories and wholesalers sell to Chinese businesses there, in Chinese and in RMB, usually at lower prices than on export platforms.
Can foreigners buy directly from 1688?
It is difficult. The platform is in Chinese, payment relies on Chinese methods, most sellers do not speak English and they ship only to addresses in mainland China. That is why foreign buyers use a 1688 agent.
What does a 1688 agent do?
Finds and vets suppliers, negotiates, pays in RMB, receives the goods at a warehouse in China, inspects them, repacks or brands them, and ships them abroad, in bulk or order by order.
Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba or AliExpress?
Usually yes for the product itself. Weigh the saving against the agent’s fee, domestic shipping, inspection and the higher variance in supplier quality.
Can you dropship from 1688?
Yes, through an agent who buys from the supplier, inspects, packs under your brand and ships each order to your customer with tracking.
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