Buy from 1688 and Chinese factories, with an agent in Guangzhou
InterBridge Trans & Trade finds 1688 sellers and factories for buyers outside China, checks the supplier company, negotiates in Chinese, pays sellers in RMB and coordinates export.
Send a 1688 link or product photo, the quantity and your target date.
What 1688 is and who sells on it
1688.com is Alibaba Group's wholesale marketplace for buyers inside China, with Chinese-language listings and prices in RMB.
- 100 million+ annual active buyers, reported by 1688 in February 2025
- 1999 → 2010 launched in 1999, the same year as Alibaba.com; renamed 1688.com in 2010
- RMB Delivery mostly inside mainland China
Sellers include factories, wholesalers, wholesale-market stalls and brand owners, many with paid badges.
1688 prices are often lower than export listings for the same product, because they carry no export layer. Compare the landed cost.
If you want Trade Assurance, English-speaking sellers and export paperwork, Alibaba.com can be the simpler place to start.
What 1688's rules mean for buyers abroad
1688 is built for deliveries inside China. Its own rules shape what can go wrong when you buy from abroad.
| 1688 rule | What it means for you | What InterBridge does |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas accounts contract with 1688's Singapore company, under Hong Kong law | 1688 is only an intermediary, so the bad-seller risk sits with you | Checks the supplier company first, and takes problems up locally, in Chinese |
| Payment is in RMB, through Alipay and other Chinese methods | Foreign cards are not accepted directly | Pays the seller in RMB for you |
| Sellers deliver to addresses in mainland China | You need a Chinese address to receive and export goods | Has your goods delivered to our own warehouse in Guangzhou |
| Signing at your China warehouse counts as your own signature | Visible damage must be found before the parcel is signed for | Checks the count and visible damage at our Guangzhou warehouse |
| Orders complete 10 days after dispatch, and the seller is then paid | Problems must be raised before that clock runs out | Raises problems with the seller before the order completes |
| 1688 handles disputes only for orders paid on the platform | Paying a seller off-platform loses 1688's dispute service | Mostly pays through 1688's checkout, in InterBridge's account; direct transfer only if a seller requires it |
| Online order prices include VAT by default; sellers invoice on request | Ask which type of VAT invoice (fapiao) you will get | Requests the invoice and keeps it with your order record |
1688's terms and rules, read in October 2026. 1688 updates its rules often.
Related service: When a supplier breaks an agreement Trade Dispute Support
How we buy from 1688 for you
Seven steps from your link or photo to export, with every quote, payment and check shared with you.
- Send a 1688 link, photo or specification, with quantity, destination and target date.
- We search 1688, our own supplier records and the factories that make your product.
- We run a background check on the supplier company you deal with, at no extra cost.
- We negotiate price, minimum order quantity (MOQ), samples and lead time in Chinese, and share every quote.
- You approve the order, and we pay the seller in RMB for you.
- Goods arrive at our own warehouse in Guangzhou, where we check the count and visible damage.
- We pack, label and consolidate your goods, then arrange export shipping.
What is included and what is quoted
Included
- Commission of at most 5% of the goods value, lower as orders grow, with no minimum fee
- Supplier background check on the company you deal with
- Paying sellers in RMB, for standard-sized orders
Quoted separately
- Samples and their delivery
- Formal inspections and factory visits
- Warehouse receiving, checks, packing, labelling and consolidation, at competitive rates
- Export freight, duties and taxes
- Lab tests and certificates
Related service: How our commission works Product Sourcing Quality Assurance
What 1688 badges and numbers really mean
Badges are paid seller tiers with entry checks. They help you shortlist, but none proves who makes your product.
Listing photos and sales counts
Photos can be copied; sales counts can include other platforms
Paid badges
诚信通, 实力商家, 超级工厂, 源头旗舰: paid tiers with entry criteria
Third-party audit (深度验厂)
An on-site audit by a body such as SGS or TÜV Rheinland
Company and court records
Our background check, read in Chinese from public registries
Licences in the company's own name
For example, a cosmetics licence in the shop's own company name
Live photos and a same-batch sample
Your product, dated, from the production you will receive
A visit to the production site
The strongest check, arranged when the order needs it
Related service: What our background check covers
Custom products and private label from 1688 factories
Many 1688 factories make to order. Dealing with the factory directly makes changes easier to agree, and the minimum depends on the change.
In stock (现货)
Ships as listed; mixed small orders are possible
Minimum set by: Stock on hand and the seller's 起批量
Light custom
Your logo, colour or packaging on their product
Minimum set by: Print run and packaging
Heavy custom (OEM)
Your specification, materials or a private mould
Minimum set by: Materials and tooling
New product
Designed with partner designers and workshops we coordinate
Minimum set by: Design and tooling
- Custom goods are excluded from 1688's 7-day no-reason returns, so get samples and a written specification.
- A token-price "custom logo" option breaks 1688's rules; confirm the real price in writing.
- A reference product shows the style you want; it does not authorize copying a protected design.
Not every good factory is on 1688, so we also search our own records and production towns. where we search
Related service: From an idea to a factory sample China Tours & Market Visits
Skincare and cosmetics from Guangzhou
Guangdong has about 55% of China's cosmetics manufacturers, and Guangzhou's Baiyun district reports more than 1,100. We check the factory; your market's rules stay with your importer.
We take skincare and cosmetics projects now: creams, serums, cleansers, masks and private label; fragrance and aerosols case by case.
| Task | InterBridge | You, your importer or Responsible Person |
|---|---|---|
| Find factories and check the production licence | Does it | — |
| Samples, documents (INCI list, COA, SDS), inspection | Coordinates and checks | Reviews |
| Formula, label and claims for your market | Flags obvious issues | Decides, with a qualified safety assessor |
| Registration or notification (CPNP, SCPN, FDA listing, SFDA) | Supplies the factory's data | Files it |
INCI: international names for cosmetic ingredients. COA: certificate of analysis. SDS: safety data sheet.
- Production licence: every Chinese cosmetics factory needs one, listing its products and address.
- On 1688, cosmetics listings need a Chinese filing number that matches the regulator's records.
InterBridge does not register products or act as your Responsible Person, and cannot guarantee regulatory approval.
Related service: Quality Assurance
Shipping 1688 orders to your country
Most 1688 sellers deliver only inside China, so we receive, check and consolidate your goods in Guangzhou before export.
- Sellers across China
- Our Guangzhou warehouse: check, pack and consolidate
- Sea, air or express
- Customs and your importer
- Weight and volume
- Product type: liquids, aerosols, batteries and cosmetics can be dangerous goods
- Route and destination
- Duties and taxes at import
Small-parcel duty changes, as of October 2026
- US: duty-free de minimis treatment has been suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025.
- EU: a €3 duty per item category on consignments up to €150, from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028.
- UK: the £135 customs duty relief is being removed by October 2028.
The examples are the EU, the UK and the US; rules change often.
Freight, duties and customs clearance are quoted separately; import rules stay with your importer.
Related service: Pre-shipment inspection
1688 terms in plain English
The Chinese words you meet on 1688 listings and in seller chats, with pinyin and what each one means for you.
Ordering
- 起批量
- Minimum order quantity per order (MOQ)
- 混批
- Mixed wholesale: reach the minimum across several styles or colours
- 一件代发
- Dropshipping, one unit at a time
- 现货
- In stock, ready to ship
- 定制 / 来样定制
- Made to order / made from your sample
- 贴牌
- Private label: your brand on their product
- 拿样 / 打样
- Get a sample / make a sample
- 同款
- "Same style": looks the same, not necessarily the same maker or quality
Price, payment and invoice
- 阶梯价
- Tiered price by quantity
- 含税
- Tax-inclusive price
- 普票 / 专票
- Ordinary / special VAT invoice (the special one supports export tax rebates)
- 担保交易
- Secured transaction: 1688 holds the payment until receipt is confirmed
- 定金 / 尾款
- Deposit / balance payment
- 交易成功
- Trade completed: the seller is paid
Seller signals
- 诚信通
- 1688's basic paid seller membership
- 实力商家
- Paid upgraded-seller tier
- 超级工厂
- Paid factory tier with size and production criteria
- 源头旗舰
- "Source flagship" tier; also admits market stalls and supply-chain firms
- 深度验厂
- Third-party on-site factory audit
- 回头率
- Repeat-buyer rate (not a product return rate)
- 全网销量
- Same-style sales across several platforms, not this store's own
Delivery and after-sales
- 包邮
- Free domestic shipping (remote regions often excluded)
- 集运仓
- Consolidation warehouse in China
- 七天无理由退货
- 7-day no-reason return, only where the listing offers it
- 货不对板
- Goods don't match the listing or sample
- 旺旺
- 1688's built-in chat; keep prices and promises in writing there
Common questions about buying from 1688
Can I buy from 1688 if I live outside China?
Yes, but 1688 is hard to use well from abroad. You can open an account with a foreign phone number, yet most sellers work in Chinese, take Chinese payment methods and deliver only inside mainland China. InterBridge, a sourcing agent in Guangzhou, contacts 1688 sellers in Chinese, checks the supplier, can pay in RMB for you and coordinates export shipping, quoted separately.
How do I pay a 1688 supplier from outside China?
There are three common routes. 1688's cross-border option with WorldFirst lets some overseas accounts pay in RMB, with fees and availability that vary by country. A direct bank transfer to the seller is possible, but 1688 handles disputes only for orders paid on the platform. InterBridge can pay the seller for you in RMB, at no extra charge for standard-sized orders, and gives you the payment record.
Does 1688 ship to my country?
Usually not directly. Most 1688 sellers deliver only to addresses in mainland China, so goods first go to a warehouse in China for checking and export. InterBridge has 1688 orders delivered to its own warehouse in Guangzhou, checks and packs them, and arranges sea, air or express shipping. The freight quote depends on weight, volume, product type and destination, and liquids, batteries and cosmetics can need special handling.
Is 1688 safe to buy from?
1688 is a real wholesale marketplace run by Alibaba Group, but its sellers vary. Badges are paid seller tiers, sales counts can include other platforms, and 1688's dispute service covers only orders paid on the platform. InterBridge runs a background check on the supplier company, at no extra cost, and checks the goods at its Guangzhou warehouse before export.
How do I know a 1688 seller is a real factory?
Badges and photos on 1688 are signals, not proof. The source flagship badge (源头旗舰), for example, also admits wholesale-market stalls and supply-chain companies. Stronger signs of a factory are production within the registered business scope, a production address, insured staff and licences in the company's own name. A visit to the production site is the strongest check, and InterBridge arranges one when the order needs it, quoted separately.
How much does a 1688 sourcing agent cost?
Agent fees vary, so compare the terms in writing. InterBridge charges a commission of at most 5% of the goods value, lower as your orders grow, with no minimum fee. The supplier background check is included, and paying 1688 sellers for you costs nothing extra for standard-sized orders. Freight, duties, samples and inspections are quoted separately.
Can a 1688 factory make products with my brand?
Often, yes. Many 1688 factories offer custom logos, packaging and colours, and some offer private label, OEM (made to your specification) or ODM (their design under your brand). The minimum quantity depends on what changes: a printed logo usually needs fewer units than a new mould. InterBridge negotiates the terms in Chinese, gets samples approved and records the agreed specification before production.
Can InterBridge source skincare from Guangzhou factories?
Yes. Guangzhou's Baiyun district reports more than 1,100 cosmetics manufacturers. InterBridge checks that a factory holds China's cosmetics production licence for your product type, coordinates samples and documents, and inspects goods before shipment. Registration, safety assessment, labelling and claims in your market stay with you, your importer or a qualified consultant; InterBridge supplies the factory documents but does not act as your Responsible Person.
Sources
- 1688.com user agreement, overseas users (2025 V2, effective 26 August 2025): https://terms.alicdn.com/legal-agreement/terms/common_platform_service/20240913201059451/20240913201059451.html
- 1688 rule 20005656, cross-border orders and China warehouses: https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=20005656
- 1688 rule 945, online transactions and disputes (revised 27 June 2025): https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=945
- 1688 rule 20003242, automatic completion of orders (revised 11 October 2025): https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=20003242
- 1688 rule 11004494, invoices and tax-inclusive prices (revised 27 June 2025): https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=11004494
- 1688 rule 20010459, seller tiers and shipping (21 July 2026): https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=20010459
- 1688 rule 20003301, cosmetics listings (revised 19 June 2025): https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=20003301
- 1688 rule 5282, custom goods and returns (2 February 2024): https://rulechannel.1688.com/?type=detail&ruleId=5282
- Alibaba Group, about 1688 (accessed October 2026): https://www.alibabagroup.com/about-alibaba-businesses-1941299332078632960
- Alibaba Group, about Alibaba.com and its history: https://www.alibabagroup.com/about-alibaba-businesses-1747711844698554368
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, suspension of de minimis treatment (August 2025): https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/factsheet_suspension_of_duty-free_de_minimis_treatment.pdf
- European Commission, temporary flat fee on low-value imports (June 2026): https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/news/guidance-and-legal-text-temporary-flat-fee-low-value-imports-which-will-apply-until-1-july-2028-2026-06-08_en
- GOV.UK, cheap import reforms (23 June 2026): https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-high-street-with-acceleration-of-cheap-import-reforms-and-crackdown-on-dodgy-online-sellers
- China State Council, cosmetics supervision regulation (2021): https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2020-06/29/content_5522593.htm
Start with a link or a photo
Send your 1688 link or photo below. An agent in Guangzhou replies with the questions needed to quote.
- You message an agent.
- The agent replies with questions to define the scope.
- You agree the scope and quote before any work starts.
Related services: Product Sourcing Quality Assurance Market Visits Trade Dispute Support
Page updated October 2026. Images on this page are AI-generated illustrations of places of the kind found in Guangzhou. They are not photographs of InterBridge's warehouse, staff, clients, suppliers or projects.