The more you know, the less you pay
Practical guides on purchasing, forwarding, customs and sourcing.
Using Taobao and 1688 as a business buyer: samples, test batches, then bulk
Taobao for samples and small test runs, 1688 and factories for the real order. How business buyers use Chinese platforms step by step, and which parts to hand to a sourcing agent.
Read1688 vs Taobao for business buyers: MOQ, wholesale pricing and when to go OEM
Taobao is retail; 1688 is wholesale and factory-direct. A B2B comparison of MOQ, price tiers, telling factories from resellers, and when it's time to move to OEM.
ReadImport duty and VAT on goods from China: a worked landed-cost example
How customs value, duty and VAT stack up on a commercial shipment from China, shown step by step with clearly labeled example numbers.
Read7 things to check when choosing a China sourcing agent or forwarder
In B2B importing, the agent who finds and inspects your goods and the forwarder who ships them have a big effect on cost and quality. Seven things to check before you choose.
ReadYiwu market guide for business buyers: from stall hunting to export
If you import daily goods, accessories, seasonal or promotional items across many SKUs, Yiwu is where to start. When Yiwu makes sense, how sourcing there works, and what drives the cost.
ReadChina sourcing for first-time business importers
What a first-time business importer should check, in order, from choosing a product to getting it exported, and how to work out what it really costs.
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