How to Buy from 1688 and Ship to Europe
- Verified & Reviewed · Last updated July 2026
How to buy from 1688 and ship to Europe depends on supplier communication, Chinese payment methods, domestic delivery, China warehouse consolidation, international shipping, and European customs clearance.
This guide explains how foreign buyers can purchase products from 1688.com, pay Chinese suppliers, use a sourcing agent or freight forwarder, choose air freight, sea freight, rail freight, or door-to-door shipping, and manage VAT, duties, and import documents for Europe.
1688 Buying Guide
China to Europe Shipping
Freight Forwarder & Customs
- Experienced China-based logistics specialists
Table of Contents
What Is 1688.com?
1688.com is a Chinese wholesale and sourcing platform owned by Alibaba Group. Unlike Alibaba, which is built for international trade, 1688.com mainly serves China’s domestic market. The platform connects buyers with Chinese suppliers, factories, wholesalers, and domestic distributors.
Many products listed on 1688.com are sold at significantly lower prices because they are priced for the Chinese market. This is one of the main reasons why overseas buyers use 1688 to source wholesale products, test samples, and build a more cost-effective supply chain from China.
You can find a wide product range on 1688.com, including:
Clothing and fashion accessories
Home goods and furniture
Electronics accessories
Packaging materials
Beauty tools
Small machinery
Promotional products
E-commerce inventory
Consumer goods for bulk purchases
The main advantage of 1688 is price. The main challenge is that the platform was not originally built for foreign buyers.
Why European Buyers Use 1688 Instead of Alibaba
Alibaba is easier for international buyers, but 1688.com often has better domestic pricing. Many Chinese suppliers sell on both platforms, but the prices on 1688 are usually closer to China’s domestic wholesale level.
For European buyers, 1688 can be useful when sourcing products for resale, e-commerce, retail shops, Amazon FBA, wholesale distribution, or product testing. The platform is especially attractive when you want to compare many suppliers and find lower-cost alternatives.
However, lower product prices do not always mean lower total cost. You still need to calculate:
Domestic shipping inside China
Agent service fees
Quality inspection costs
International shipping costs
Customs clearance fees
Final delivery in Europe
The real cost is the landed cost, not only the product price shown on 1688.com.
Step 1: Search for Products on 1688.com
The first step is to search for the products you want. Since 1688.com is mainly in Chinese, using Chinese keywords will usually give better results than English keywords.
You can translate your product name into Chinese and paste it into the search bar. For example, instead of searching “women’s handbag,” you may get better results by searching the Chinese product name.
Another useful method is reverse image search. If you already found a product on Alibaba, Amazon, TikTok Shop, or another website, you can upload the product image to 1688.com and search for similar listings. This often helps buyers find the same supplier or similar products at lower prices.
When reviewing search results, do not choose the cheapest listing immediately. Some listings use very low prices to attract clicks, but the final price may depend on quantity, material, size, color, or customization.
Step 2: Check Supplier Reliability
Supplier selection is one of the most important parts of buying from 1688. Many suppliers on 1688 are real factories or wholesalers, but not every supplier is suitable for foreign companies or export orders.
Before placing an order, check the supplier’s store information, business license, transaction history, product range, customer reviews, and response quality. A reliable supplier should be able to confirm product details clearly and provide realistic production and delivery times.
You should confirm:
Product specifications
Material, size, color, and model
Minimum order quantity
Unit price and tiered pricing
Domestic delivery fee
Packing size and gross weight
Production time
Product certifications if required
After-sales policy
If you are buying from the same supplier repeatedly, it is worth building a stable relationship. A good supplier can give better pricing, more accurate product details, and faster problem-solving when issues happen.
Step 3: Confirm Product Details Before Payment
Many first-time buyers make the mistake of paying before confirming product details. This can lead to wrong colors, wrong sizes, poor packaging, missing accessories, or defective goods.
Before payment, send the supplier a clear message through the official chat tool on 1688.com. If you do not speak Chinese, use translation software, or ask your sourcing agent to communicate for you.
You should confirm:
Exact product model
Quantity
Color and size
Logo or customization requirements
Packing method
Delivery time to the China warehouse
Return or replacement policy
Whether the product has required certifications for Europe
For business imports, product compliance is especially important. Electronics, toys, cosmetics, batteries, machinery, food-contact products, and medical-related items may need additional documents before entering the European market.
Step 4: Choose How to Buy from 1688
There are three common ways to buy from 1688 and ship to Europe.
Option 1: Buy Directly with Your Own Account
Some foreign buyers create their own 1688 account and try to order directly. This gives you more direct access to suppliers, prices, and product listings.
However, direct buying can be difficult because 1688 primarily accepts Chinese payment methods. You may need a Chinese bank card, mainland China bank card, verified Alipay account, or local payment support. Many overseas cards do not work smoothly on the checkout page.
Direct buying is suitable if you can speak Chinese, understand the platform, and already have a trusted China warehouse or logistics provider.
Option 2: Use a Sourcing Agent or Purchasing Agent
A sourcing agent helps you search products, communicate with suppliers, pay suppliers, inspect goods, and arrange delivery to Europe. This is often the easiest option for beginners.
A purchasing agent can accept international payments in USD or EUR, then pay the Chinese supplier in RMB. Many agents charge around 3% to 10% of the order value, depending on the service level.
This option is suitable for samples, small orders, mixed products, and buyers who need help with Chinese communication and quality control.
Option 3: Use a Freight Forwarder in China
A freight forwarder is better when you can place orders yourself but need help with China warehousing and international logistics. The forwarder gives you a Chinese warehouse address. Your 1688 suppliers send goods there by domestic delivery, and the forwarder handles consolidation and shipping.
This option is usually better for bulk purchases, cartons, pallets, and regular business shipments. A good freight forwarder can help reduce shipping costs, arrange customs clearance, and recommend the best shipping method from China to Europe.
Step 5: Pay Suppliers on 1688
Payment is one of the biggest barriers for international buyers. 1688.com mainly uses RMB payments through Chinese systems such as Alipay. PayPal is not accepted directly by most suppliers on 1688.
Common payment methods include:
| Payment Method | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Buyers with Chinese payment access | Often requires Chinese verification |
| Chinese bank transfer | Local Chinese buyers or agents | Common for domestic suppliers |
| Cross-Border Pay | Some foreign buyers | Availability may depend on account and region |
| Sourcing agent payment | Overseas buyers | Agent accepts USD or EUR and pays supplier in RMB |
| Freight forwarder payment support | Business buyers | Useful when combined with shipping service |
| Bank wire to agent | Larger orders | Usually used for bulk purchases |
If you cannot use Chinese payment methods, the easiest solution is to pay through a sourcing agent or freight forwarder that offers payment support.
Before sending money, make sure all product details, delivery time, and shipping plans are confirmed.
Step 6: Ship Goods to a China Warehouse
Since most suppliers only ship within China, your order must first be delivered to a China warehouse. This warehouse can belong to your sourcing agent, purchasing agent, shipping agent, or freight forwarder.
After the goods arrive at the warehouse, the staff should check the outer packaging, carton quantity, product labels, weight, volume, and basic condition of the goods. If you buy from different suppliers, the warehouse can consolidate all packages into one shipment.
Consolidation is important because it can reduce international shipping costs. Instead of shipping many small packages separately, your freight forwarder can combine them into one carton, pallet, LCL shipment, or full container shipment.
A good warehouse can also provide:
Package receiving
Cargo photos
Carton measurement
Repacking
Labeling
Palletizing
Basic quality control
In-depth inspection if requested
Export shipping preparation
For fragile, high-value, or customized products, inspection before international shipping is strongly recommended.
Step 7: Choose the Best Shipping Method from China to Europe
After the goods are received and checked, the next step is international delivery. The right shipping method depends on your cargo size, budget, urgency, and destination country in Europe.
| Shipping Method | Transit Time | Best For | Cost Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express shipping | 3–7 days | Samples and urgent small parcels | High |
| Air freight | 5–12 days | Lightweight, valuable, or urgent goods | Medium to high |
| Rail freight | 18–30 days | Medium and large shipments to many European countries | Medium |
| Sea freight LCL | 30–45 days | Smaller wholesale cargo by volume | Low |
| Sea freight FCL | 30–50 days | Bulk cargo and full container loads | Lowest for large volume |
| Door-to-door shipping | Depends on route | Buyers who want easier customs and delivery | Varies |
Step 8: Prepare Customs Documents, VAT, Duties, and DDP
Customs clearance is required when importing goods from China to Europe. Even though the products were purchased on 1688.com, they are still commercial goods entering the European market.
Common customs documents include:
Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
Product description
Declared value
Importer information
EORI number for business imports
Product certifications if required
The product name, value, quantity, weight, and HS code must be consistent across all documents. Vague descriptions such as “accessories” or “goods” may cause customs delays.
If you are importing as a business, you may need an EORI number. This number is used by customs authorities in Europe to identify importers during customs declarations.
Common Mistakes When Buying from 1688
Buying from 1688 can save money, but many overseas buyers make mistakes during the first order.
One common mistake is focusing only on product prices. A cheap product can become expensive after adding domestic shipping, agent fees, international shipping, customs duties, VAT, and delivery charges.
Another mistake is not confirming product details before payment. If the supplier sends the wrong item, it may be difficult to return the goods after they arrive at the warehouse.
Common mistakes include:
Choosing the lowest price without checking supplier reliability
Not confirming minimum order quantity
Not asking for packing size and weight
Not checking product quality before shipping
Not using Chinese language communication clearly
Not confirming delivery time
Not preparing customs documents
Not calculating VAT and duties
Using unclear DDP shipping services
Shipping restricted or non-compliant products to Europe
The safest approach is to start with a small trial order, inspect the goods in China, and scale up only after the supplier proves reliable.
Frequently Asked Questions
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