Suppose you want to buy from China directly, whether as a retailer or a consumer, you can do it now on 1688. All you need to do is verify an Alipay account for payment and use Google Translate to translate Chinese to English when navigating 1688. You’ll be able to get any item of your choice delivered to you anywhere in the world from China. How to go about this? Keep reading to find out.

If you run a business, buying from China directly can increase your profit margins and open up other opportunities for your business. Without the right information, you may end up paying heavily for it, with delivery delays or poor product quality. In this blog, you’ll learn step-by-step how to buy from China directly, understand shipping logistics, customs clearance, and delivery. 

You’ll also find out how Siyuan Freight will help transport your goods safely and conveniently, no matter where you are in the world. We ship worldwide, whether from China to Africa or from China to the US.

Let’s get to it right away.

Know What You Want To Import 

Before learning how to buy from China directly, we advise that you know all about the product you want to import. If you’ve been dealing with the product before, you can skip this step. If not, you need to do these three things:

• Research market demand. 
• Study your competition. 
• Understand your target customers.

You also need to research a product’s quality standards, materials needed, packaging requirements and branding or customization opportunities. Furthermore, you need to ensure your product is legal to import to your country. Some products may require extra certifications or approvals. If you’re in the US, Trump’s tariffs are also important to consider. 

Now that you know what you want, how can you buy from China directly?

Get A Reliable Supplier

Thousands of manufacturers and wholesalers reside in China, and you want an honest supplier who gets you quality products for the right price. To secure a supplier, you can search online from sources like Alibaba, Made in China, Global Sources, Google, 1688 and Baidu B2B. 

Now let’s go practical. Suppose you want to use 1688 to source a supplier. How do you go about it? First, visit the website and sign up using your mobile number or email address. The site is in Chinese, so this is where you need Google Translate to navigate. You can either download the app on your mobile device and take screenshots to translate via Google, or you can just go straight to the website, where Google automatically translates Chinese to English.

Suppose you want to buy ‘leather bags for ladies’, type it into the search bar, and you’ll see several options. There’s also an option to ‘search by image’ right next to the search bar, as you’ll see below, and you can use that to get an exact copy of the bags you want.

Each option comes with pictures and details of bags available for sale, and you can click on any one to research further. For the first bag, this is what you should see when you click on it:

If you click on the 5-star icon under the supplier’s name, you will get full details of the business, including how long they’ve been in business, how many orders they’ve processed, and customer reviews. All these are important details to note as you do your research. Always work with tested and trusted suppliers.

You can often contact suppliers directly via these platforms to discuss your orders. If there’s no option for chat, there will be contact details to use to reach out. Sometimes, you may need to talk to as many as 50 suppliers to identify who is most knowledgeable about the product and also very responsive. This process takes up a lot of time, and you can opt for sourcing agents who have experience dealing with different suppliers.

If you’re sourcing for a supplier, don’t be afraid to start all over again if one doesn’t match your standards. Ask for product samples from multiple suppliers and provide feedback, confirm business licenses, check online reviews, and request videos of the factory’s quality control process and equipment if you want.

If you’re only looking to order an item or two, you can repeat the same process for a few other items and add them to the cart. However, this is only one step. Read further to know what’s next.

Negotiate Terms and Pricing

If you’re a business looking buy from China directly, and you’ve chosen your supplier, it’s time to negotiate:

• Product specifications
• Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)
• Costs per unit
• Payment terms
• Production timeline

Be direct and effective with communication. Get things in writing. Pay special attention to Incoterms—these are the terms that outline who pays for shipping and when. The common Incoterms you will encounter are:

EXW (Ex Works): You are responsible for everything once the product leaves the factory.
FOB (Free on Board): The manufacturer delivers the product to the port of shipping.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): The manufacturer covers the cost of shipping to your port of entry.

Ensure Payment Options

Paying on a platform like 1688 is quite straightforward if you open an Alipay account. You can link your 1688 account to Alipay to make payments easy. You need to source locally for local currency exchangers who will exchange your local currency to Chinese Yuan or RNB and credit your Alipay account with the value.

Other accepted payment options include:

• Wire transfer 
• PayPal (for minor orders)
• Letter of Credit (for major orders)

If you’re a business trying to buy from China directly, never pay 100% of your order up front unless you’re already familiar with a supplier, and you have made several transactions. Typically, it’s 30% upfront and 70% just before shipping. You can ask the supplier if you can place a deposit on a larger quantity order and pay the balance as production batches finish. This will allow you to free up cash flow. You can also provide the supplier with your forecasted sales and your estimated future order dates so that you can negotiate more flexible payment terms.

Arrange Quality Control and Inspection

As a business owner, you need to ensure that what you’re getting is what you’re getting before it ships out of China. You can either travel to China to do it yourself or hire a third-party inspector. If you use a sourcing agent to find your supplier, they may also offer this service. You can also ask for pictures and videos of the production process from start to finish to ensure that your manufacturing process is being followed.

Organize Shipping & Logistics

You’ve got your products—now it’s time to send them to you. You have the option of:

Air freight: Fast but costly. Ideal for small or urgent shipments.

Ocean freight: More affordable for larger shipments. Slower (20-40 days, generally).

Rail freight (to Europe): Quick yet cost-effective.

Shipping isn’t always a walk in the park, particularly when it comes to customs clearance, cargo booking, insurance, etc. Siyuan Freight is your go-to shipping agency in China. We handle:

• Cargo booking with carriers.
  Preparing the shipping documents needed
• Clearing customs in both China and your country
• Tracking updates on the cargo
• Finalizing the delivery as a door-to-door service. 

Whether you use the port-to-port shipping option or the à la carte services, Siyuan makes shipping from China effortless and stress-free.

Receive Your Products

Once your freight is cleared, you can either pick it up at the port or airport (port-to-port shipping) or have it delivered to your warehouse (door-to-door service).

Siyuan Freight provides real-time tracking. Their logistics team keeps in touch with you the whole way. If an expected delivery is delayed, you’re informed, and measures are taken swiftly.

If you want to simplify things down the line, use our warehouse and consolidating options. If you order from different vendors, Siyuan Freight can come to pick up, store, and consolidate your deliveries into one. This results in lower costs and greater accessibility.

Finally, we offer fast communication, transparent pricing, and flexible services. Contact Siyuan Freight to get started after you’ve secured your supplier!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Buy From China Directly Without a Business or Company License?

Yes, you can do this on platforms like 1688 and Alibaba. Take 1688 for example, all you need is a good knowledge of the ordering process and a verified Alipay account to get started.

What is the safest way to pay Chinese suppliers?

Alipay (if from 1688), bank wire transfers (to be avoided with demand deposits), PayPal (small numbers), and Letter of Credit (for large volumes). If commercial, do not pay 100% upfront. A 30% deposit and 70% before shipment is a good rule of thumb. Get payment terms in writing.

What is the difference between Alibaba and 1688?

Alibaba is the international platform where the quantities are higher and there’s more English. 1688.com is the China domestic site; it’s in Chinese, prices are lower, and amounts tend to be lower as well, but this site is intended for bulk orders.

If you want to go straight to the source, 1688 may be cheaper, with an agent or translator.

How can I tell if a Chinese supplier is legit?

Ask for Chinese business licenses, years in business, reviews, ratings, trade assurance/buyer protection, product samples, factory videos, response, and professionalism.
For extra protection, consider hiring a third-party inspector during production and before shipment.

What is the cheapest way to ship from China?

Ocean shipping is the least expensive way (but can take 20-40 days) if you have a large order. Air shipping is faster, but it is also much more costly. Use it for small emergency orders. Rail shipping is a great medium if shipping to Europe.