New to this?
Learn how buying through Chinese platforms and warehouse agents works.
Useful extras
Supporting tools for planning, shipping and understanding the buying process.
Buying direct in six steps
Sign up with a warehouse agent
Create an account with an agent so you have a China warehouse address ready before you start buying.
Find the item
Search 1688, Taobao, Weidian or use a supplier catalogue.
Send it to a China warehouse
A warehouse agent can buy it or receive it on your behalf.
Check QC
Review warehouse photos — and video where available — before shipping.
Build your parcel
Combine several sellers, reduce packaging and choose a shipping route.
Ship internationally
Track it through export, customs and the last-mile carrier.
MyCNBox
A strong starting point for beginners who want a clear ordering, QC, warehouse and parcel-building flow.
Affiliate link: China Buy Direct may receive a small commission if you register. This does not increase your price.
Search China better
Enter what it is you are looking for and this tool will generate practical Chinese search terms to make your searches more accurate.
男士宽松亚麻衬衫男士大码宽松亚麻衬衫男士亚麻衬衫厂家批发Can I buy this?
Paste a product URL and CBDirect will identify the likely platform and explain the normal buying route.
1688
1688 is primarily a Chinese domestic wholesale marketplace. For many overseas buyers, the simplest route is to send the product link to a warehouse agent.
Warehouse agent recommended
This platform commonly works best when a Chinese warehouse receives the item on your behalf.
Your likely route
Copy product link
Submit to warehouse agent
Seller sends to China warehouse
Review QC and build parcel
Buy through MyCNBox
Use the product link in MyCNBox's ordering flow, then review it when it arrives at the warehouse.
Affiliate relationship disclosed. You can also compare alternative agents.
Get a quick idea of your parcel
Tell us roughly what you are buying. You do not need to know the weight or parcel dimensions.
Use the warehouse figures for the real decision
Once everything has arrived, your agent can provide the actual weight and parcel measurements. Use those figures when comparing shipping lines.
Affiliate link. Alternatives remain available in Agent Finder.
What matters to you?
Choose the priorities you care about. Choose the priorities that matter most to you and compare how the agents match them.
MyCNBox
Our primary recommendation for most new users, particularly where ease of use, warehouse handling, QC and a straightforward workflow are priorities.
China Buy Direct may receive a commission from selected agent links. Recommendation and disclosure are kept separate.
Match scores update from your selected priorities and are a CBDirect comparison guide, not a quality rating.
Long public track record and broad shipping choice. Worth comparing when shipping-line variety is a priority.
Useful alternative to compare on fees and shipping, but users should always check current product and brand restrictions.
Best treated as an experienced-user comparison option where flexibility and manual control matter more than a simplified beginner flow.
An older agent option worth comparing if you want a longer-established platform and are comfortable checking fees, payment options and shipping routes.
Visit BaseTaoAnother agent to compare for interface, QC process, available shipping lines and current fees.
Visit KakobuyA newer agent option to compare on current offers, processing, QC, support and shipping prices.
Visit GTBuyA newer platform worth comparing for fees, interface and shipping routes. Check recent feedback before committing a large haul.
Visit OOPBuyUseful to compare if you source direct item links from social communities. Check current shipping prices, support and parcel handling.
Visit LoongbuySome agent links are affiliate links. This does not change the price you pay.
Browse trusted supplier categories
Choose a category to open the China Buy Direct VIP Directory and explore supplier options.
Eyewear
Frames, sunglasses and optical suppliers.
Footwear
Trainers, shoes and footwear suppliers.
Watches
Watch suppliers and specialist sellers.
Bags & Luggage
Bags, cases and luggage suppliers.
Designer Fashion
Higher-end fashion and clothing sellers.
Streetwear
Streetwear, casualwear and trend-led sellers.
Jewellery & Accessories
Belts, jewellery and smaller accessories.
Tech & Gadgets
Electronics, accessories and gadgets.
Sports & Activewear
Sportswear, gymwear and active products.
Top Picks
A quick route to selected suppliers and highlights.
What does my tracking mean?
Paste an update in Chinese or English and CBDirect will explain the most common tracking stages in plain English.
Golden Week, Chinese New Year, 618, 11.11 and December export peaks all affect buying differently.
Compare tax-free routes, express courier, postal, air cargo and sea freight by speed, cost and parcel suitability.
Understand the customs journey, common documents and the decisions that can cause delays.
When should I buy or ship?
Choose a year, then tap any date for details. Passed events are automatically removed from the current year.
Checking calendar…
Working out the current period.
Check before you ship
Choose the item type, work through the visible checks, and flag anything that needs another photo or seller confirmation.
Start your checks
Mark each visible check as reviewed. Flag anything that needs clarification before you approve shipping.
What will the order really cost?
Add the costs you know. The calculator separates China-side costs from international shipping so the expensive parts are obvious.
International shipping is the largest part of this order.
Live currency conversion
Convert the estimated total using a current public FX rate.
Keep the full route in mind
The lowest item price is not always the lowest final cost. Warehouse handling, packing choices and international shipping can change the result significantly.
Affiliate link. China Buy Direct may receive a commission if you register.
Which type of shipping suits the parcel?
Select what matters most. The guide highlights a route type rather than pretending one shipping line is always best.
What happens at the border?
This is the general import journey. Exact tax, VAT and duty rules depend on the destination country, goods and declared value.
Parcel is declared
The shipment carries customs information describing the goods and their value.
Export from China
The parcel leaves the Chinese logistics network and enters the international transport stage.
Import customs
The destination authority or carrier may assess the shipment, request information, or release it automatically.
Charges if applicable
Taxes, duty or carrier handling charges may be collected depending on the destination and shipment.
Local delivery
After release, the parcel enters the domestic carrier network for final delivery.
It is part of the customs information attached to the shipment. A declaration should be truthful and consistent with the goods being imported.
Parcels can wait between carrier systems, inspection queues and release scans. A tracking gap during import processing can be normal.
Missing or inconsistent information, high parcel volumes, random inspection, product restrictions and unpaid charges are common causes.
The parcel still crosses borders and is still subject to customs law. The carrier or logistics arrangement may handle tax or clearance differently, but it does not remove customs jurisdiction.
What does this mean?
Search a China-buying term or type a short phrase. CBDirect will try to match it to the most useful definition.
Your buying dashboard
Saved searches
Haul estimates
What are you waiting for?
Group items into a haul so you can see, at a glance, what has reached the warehouse, what still needs QC and whether you are ready to build the parcel.