The short answer
Many sourcing agents charge a percentage of the goods value, but the base and the scope vary. InterBridge charges a commission of at most 5% of the goods value, lower as your orders grow, with no minimum fee.
Freight, duties, samples, inspections and lab tests are quoted separately. Ask every agent for the same breakdown before you compare fees, because the base and the scope decide what you actually pay.
Negotiation can lower the price you pay, and those savings often cover the fee. Savings depend on the supplier, the order and the market, so compare the supplier's own quote with the final price.
How agent fees are priced
The basis of a fee matters more than the headline rate. A percentage of the goods value, a percentage of goods plus freight, and a fixed fee per order produce very different totals for the same order.
| Fee basis | What the fee applies to | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Goods value | The supplier's price for the goods | Whether freight and duties are excluded |
| Goods plus freight | The supplier's price plus shipping | How the freight figure is set, and by whom |
| Fixed fee per order | The same fee, whatever the order value | Whether the fee changes with order size |
WorldFirst, a payment provider that works with 1688, puts typical agent fees at 5–10% of the order value. That is a range for agent fees, not a price gap between platforms, and it is shown here for context only.
What the percentage is calculated on
The base decides the total. A commission on the goods value is a percentage of the supplier's price. A commission on goods plus freight and duties grows with costs that the supplier's price does not include.
InterBridge's commission is calculated on the goods value only. Freight, duties and the other items listed below are quoted separately, so the commission does not change when those costs do.
How negotiation affects the fee
Negotiation changes the price before any percentage is applied. If the negotiated price is lower, a percentage fee on the goods value is lower too. InterBridge's commission is calculated on the goods value only, so a lower negotiated price also lowers the base the commission uses.
Whether the savings cover the fee depends on the supplier, the order and the market. Compare the final price with the supplier's first quote, and judge the fee against the difference between the two.
What the fee should include
A fee should pay for specific work, and you should be able to see that work. Ask for the scope in writing before you approve an order. A clear scope should cover the following.
- Negotiating price, minimum order quantity (MOQ) and samples in Chinese, with every quote shared with you.
- A background check on the supplier company you deal with, included at no extra cost.
- Paying the seller in RMB (Chinese yuan) for standard-sized orders, at no extra charge.
- Records of every quote, chat and invoice, shared with you.
- Following up with the supplier so that agreed delivery dates hold.
Anything outside this scope should appear as a separate line in your quote, with its basis stated.
What a clear quote shows
A quote should let you check every line without a phone call. Look for these items:
- The goods value, with price tiers and the minimum order quantity.
- The commission, its base and its rate.
- Each cost on its own line, with its basis, such as freight, duties, inspection and samples.
- The exchange rate, if the seller is paid in RMB.
- The invoice type, and when it will be issued.
A quote that bundles these into one total is harder to check. Ask for the lines separately.
Costs that sit outside any agent fee
Several costs stay outside the commission, whichever agent you choose. Each one depends on the product, the quantity and the route, so you receive a quote for each. InterBridge quotes them as follows.
| Cost | How InterBridge handles it |
|---|---|
| Samples and their delivery | Quoted separately |
| Formal inspections and factory visits | Quoted separately |
| Export freight | Quoted separately |
| Duties and taxes at import | Quoted separately; import rules in your country stay with your importer |
| Lab tests and certificates | Quoted separately |
| Charges from a payment provider, when you pay through one | Depend on the provider; see how to pay 1688 suppliers |
| Warehouse services: receiving, checking, packing, labelling and consolidation | Charged at competitive rates and shown in your quote |
Duty rules change, so check the dates
As of October 2026, the US has suspended duty-free treatment for low-value parcels from all countries, since 29 August 2025.
The EU charges a temporary €3 duty per item category (the tariff classification of the goods) on parcels up to €150, from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028. The UK plans to remove its £135 customs duty relief by October 2028.
Check these rules again on the day you order, because they change often.
How to check for hidden markups
An agent's invoice shows its total, not the supplier's price. To check the price, compare three records:
- The supplier's own quote, with its price tiers and minimum order quantity.
- The chat in which the price was agreed, such as Wangwang (旺旺, wàngwàng).
- The invoice from the supplier's own company, which you can request.
Online prices on 1688 include VAT (value-added tax) by default, and sellers must issue an invoice on request. Third-party invoicing is not allowed, so the invoice must come from the shop's own company. Ask in advance which invoice type you will receive, and get the answer in writing.
If a seller does not issue an invoice, 1688's rules support a return and refund, with the seller paying return freight both ways. Ask about the invoice before you approve the order, not after.
Compare the three records with the amount on your bill. Any gap between the supplier's price and your total should be an itemised cost that you agreed in writing.
How InterBridge charges
InterBridge charges a commission of at most 5% of the goods value. The rate falls as your orders grow, and there is no minimum fee.
The commission is calculated on the goods value, not on freight or duties. Samples, inspections, lab tests and export freight are quoted separately, and warehouse services are charged at competitive rates.
InterBridge can pay the seller for you in RMB, at no extra charge for standard-sized orders. The exchange rate is shown in your quote. For very large orders, the payment arrangement is agreed in the quote.
Every quote, chat and invoice is shared with you, so you can check the supplier's price against your bill. For the cost breakdown, see the 1688 cost box, and for how the commission works, see our fees.
A worked example with letters
Use letters to check any quote. Let G be the goods value, c the commission rate, F the freight, D the duties and taxes, and O any other cost you agreed in writing.
The commission is c × G, and c is at most 5% for InterBridge. The landed cost, which is the total you pay to receive the goods at your destination, is G + (c × G) + F + D + O.
Compare agents on the same base. Convert every fee into one currency and one base before you compare them.
Questions to ask every agent before you pay
Ask every agent the same questions, and keep the answers in writing.
- What is the commission calculated on: goods only, or goods plus other costs?
- Which costs are included, and which are quoted separately?
- Do you receive any payment from the supplier, and will you confirm that in writing?
- Will you share the supplier's quote, chat and invoice for each order?
- Who pays for samples, and what happens to the sample fee if you place an order?
A vague answer to any of these is a reason to ask again.
Is an agent worth it for small orders?
It depends on what the agent does for you. A percentage fee is small in cash terms on a small order, but freight, inspection and sample costs do not shrink in the same way. Add every cost, including the time you would spend on the work yourself, before you decide.
An agent helps most when the seller does not deliver outside China, when payment has to be made in RMB, or when the goods need checking in China. Compare the total with what those steps would cost you on your own.
The key points
- Many agent fees are a percentage of order value, and the base decides the total.
- InterBridge's commission is at most 5% of goods value, lower as orders grow, with no minimum fee.
- Freight, duties, samples, inspections, lab tests and export freight are quoted separately.
- Check the supplier's quote, chat and invoice against your bill before you approve the total.
Sources
- Alibaba.com vs 1688 (WorldFirst, undated): www.worldfirst.com
- 1688 invoice dispute rules, rule 11004494 (1688 platform rules, revised 2025-06-27; in Chinese): rulechannel.1688.com
- US small-parcel duty suspension factsheet (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, August 2025): www.cbp.gov
- Temporary flat fee on low-value imports into the EU (European Commission, 2026-06-08, updated 2026-07-20): taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu
- Reforming customs treatment of low-value imports (HM Government, UK, 2026-06-23): www.gov.uk
Questions answered in this article
Is the agent's commission charged on shipping?
The answer depends on the agent, so ask what the commission is calculated on. InterBridge calculates its commission on the goods value only. Freight, duties and other costs are quoted separately, so you can see each one before you approve the order.
Do sourcing agents take commissions from suppliers?
The answer depends on the agent, so ask every agent directly and get the reply in writing. Then ask the supplier for its own quote and invoice, and compare them with your bill. Those two records show whether the price you pay matches the price the supplier charges.
Is there a minimum fee for a small 1688 order?
InterBridge charges no minimum fee. Its commission is a percentage of the goods value, at most 5% and lower as orders grow. Other agents may set minimum fees, so ask every agent for the fee basis in writing before you start.
Is a sourcing agent worth it for a small 1688 order?
A sourcing agent is often worth it for a small 1688 order when the seller does not deliver outside China, when payment must be made in RMB, or when the goods need checking in China. Compare the agent's total fee with what those steps would cost you alone.
Ask a question about this article
Questions are checked for relevance and spam. Your email is used only if a reply is needed.
Questions and comments
No public comments yet. You can ask the first question below.