| Service Items¹ | Order Amount⁶ | |||
| Less than US$10,000 | US$10,000-US$99,999 | US$100,000-US$999,999 | US$1,000,000 or More | |
| Proxy Purchasing² | 4% | 3% | 2% | 1% |
| Quality Inspection³ | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| Warehousing⁴ | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Repackaging & Shipment Consolidation⁵ | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
Please Note:
- You can choose one or more of these services, and when you choose more than one service, the service rates will be added accordingly.
- We will communicate with the 1688 sellers on your behalf regarding your order. The communication will cover matters such as stock availability and included accessories. Once confirmed, we will proceed with the purchase. Please note that prohibited items, restricted goods, and infringing products are not covered by our proxy purchasing services.
- We will randomly select 20% of the total quantity of goods to inspect their appearance and basic functions, and send you photos and videos. If you require professional equipment for quality inspection and a professional inspection report, please bear the cost yourself or pay us to commission a third-party testing agency on your behalf. If there are quality issues with the products or if you are not satisfied with them, we can apply for exchanges or returns on your behalf.
- The warehousing service within 30 days is free of charge, and the above-mentioned rate applies to the warehousing service beyond 30 days, but the longest period cannot exceed 90 days.
- We will consolidate and repack the goods from different 1688 sellers, affix labels and shipping marks, and arrange for transportation.
- It refers to the total amount of historical orders. When the total amount of your historical orders reaches a certain range, the next order will enjoy the service rate of this range.
| Sourcing & Customization Services – Membership Fees | |||
| Service Items | Premium Member | Regular Member | Non-Member |
| Pricing | 199US$/Month 499US$/Season | 99US$/Month 259US$/Season | Free |
| Service Mode | 1-on-1 | 1-on-10 | 1-on-Many |
| Response Time Limit | 24 Working Hours(China Time) | 72 Working Hours(China Time) | No Guaranteed Response Time |
| Customization | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| Sourcing | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| Proxy Purchasing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Quality Inspection | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Warehousing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Repackaging & Shipment Consolidation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
1688.com vs. Alibaba.com: A Historical Cost Example
The example below uses a historical customer inquiry for 5,000 S8Ultra smart watches. It shows how product prices and the listed service rates were calculated at that time.
Prices, exchange rates, supplier terms, and service requirements may have changed. Request a current quotation before making a purchasing decision.
5000pcs, price: US$3.88/pcs
(US$100=720RMB at that time)
Price on Alibaba.com
5000pcs, US$6.9/pcs
Buying from 1688.com | |||
| Product & Service Items | Unit Price / Service Rates | Calculation | Subtotal |
| S8Ultra Smart Watch | US$3.88 | 5,000*3.88 | US$19,400 |
| Payment Solution | 5% | 5,000*3.88*5% | US$970 |
| Warehousing | 1% | 5,000*3.88*1% | US$194 |
| Quality Inspection | 1% | 5,000*3.88*1% | US$194 |
| Labeling | 1% | 5,000*3.88*1% | US$194 |
| Total | US$20,952 | ||
Buying from Alibaba.com |
|||
| Product | Unit Price | Calculation | Total |
| S8Ultra Smart Watch | US$6.90 | 5,000*6.90 | US$34,500 |
In this historical example, the calculated total was US$20,952 through 1688.com and US$34,500 through Alibaba.com, a difference of US$13,548.
These figures illustrate one order and are not a guaranteed saving. Actual costs vary by supplier, specifications, quantity, quality standard, negotiation, service scope, exchange rate, domestic freight, and international shipping.
1688.com primarily serves China’s domestic wholesale market, so some suppliers may quote lower prices than export-oriented marketplaces. However, there is no fixed percentage difference, and the lowest listing price is not always the lowest landed cost.
Compare like-for-like quotations using the same specifications, materials, packaging, MOQ, lead time, inspection requirements, payment fees, domestic delivery, and international shipping. Verify the supplier and request samples before placing a larger order.