If you’re an avid shopper or a business owner in Vietnam, you must be aware of the importance of sourcing products from 1688. This e-commerce platform is a goldmine for those seeking affordable products from Guangzhou. To make your shopping experience seamless, here’s a comprehensive guide from FPT Shop to help you navigate the ins and outs of 1688.
What is 1688?
1688 is one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms. This Alibaba-owned marketplace offers a vast selection of products, ranging from apparel to electronics, at competitive prices. Many of the sellers on this platform are manufacturers, ensuring product quality. Additionally, the platform’s affordability makes it a preferred destination for wholesalers from Vietnam and other countries.
While 1688’s interface may resemble popular e-commerce platforms like Shopee or Lazada, it caters primarily to Chinese shoppers. Understanding the platform’s functionalities can be challenging for international users. To simplify the process, we’ve outlined a step-by-step guide below.
Step-by-Step Guide to Buying from 1688 Without an Agent
- Step 1: Create an account on 1688 by clicking on the following link: https://www.1688.com/.
Signing Up:
Navigate to the 1688 website and select the login option. Enter your username and password to sign in.
Creating an Account:
Visit the 1688 website and select “Register for a free account”: Click on the highlighted section shown in the image below.
Select an individual account and agree to the platform’s terms: Choose the option for registering an individual account (intended for individuals without a business license). Scroll down and check the box to accept the terms of use.
Submit your registration details: Fill in the required personal information and click the orange button to submit your details. Remember that your password must contain both letters and numbers. The country code for Vietnam’s phone numbers is +84, and the leading zero of the phone number should be omitted.
Enter the verification code and activate your 1688 account: Upon submitting your details, you will receive a verification code on your phone. Enter this code in the designated field and click the orange button to activate your 1688 account.
- Step 2: Establish a shipping address in China.
Navigate to the “My Account” section on the 1688 website. Select “Personal Address Settings” to provide your shipping information.
Click the blue button to create a shipping address in China.
Fill in your shipping information and click “Save” to set it as your default address.
- Step 3: Search for products.
There are three ways to find products on 1688:
_ Enter keywords or product names in the search bar (remember to translate them into Chinese first).
_ Use the image search feature by clicking the camera icon and uploading a photo of the desired product.
_ Utilize the category menu on the left side of the screen to find the products you’re interested in.
- Step 4: Select the desired product and add it to your cart.
Once you’ve found a product that you like, click on it and choose the size, quantity, color, and other specifications. You then have three options:
_ Buy the product immediately and proceed to checkout.
_ Click “Add to cart” to save the product for later.
_ If you want to purchase more products from the same store, click on the shop’s name to browse their offerings.
- Step 5: Negotiate with the seller to get the best price.
When buying in bulk, you can negotiate with the seller to reduce the price. To communicate with them, download the Aliwangwang app for easy messaging.
- Step 6: Pay for your order and select a shipping method.
Once you have negotiated with the seller, proceed to checkout. You can either pay through Alipay or authorize a third party to make the payment. However, since it’s challenging for Vietnamese users to verify their Alipay accounts, using the third-party payment method is more convenient.
Step 1: In your shopping cart, select the products you want
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