Do I need a Chinese company to buy from 1688?
Not necessarily. An agent or supported cross-border payment and receiving workflow can purchase on your behalf.
Section 1
What international buyers need
Start with the exact listing and variant. A buying workflow then confirms the seller and quote, arranges payment, receives the domestic parcel and prepares the product for the destination route. If you are planning this model for your market, see how ProveedorPro connects sourcing and fulfillment.
- Listing and variant confirmation
- Seller communication in China
- Payment and purchasing record
- China warehouse address
- Inspection and international dispatch
Section 2
Why a receiving address matters
Many 1688 sellers are set up for China-domestic commerce. A warehouse can receive separate parcels, resolve discrepancies and consolidate goods before export. For the next part of the decision, review 1688 dropshipping agent: turn a domestic listing into a deliverable SKU.
Section 3
Keep a clear purchase record
Save the listing, selected specification, agreed price, seller conversation and payment record. This creates a reference if the delivered product does not match the approved order.
Before you publish or scale the product
Run this final operating check with the exact SKU and destination. A supplier badge or successful app connection does not replace product-level verification.
- Approve the exact variant, specification, package contents and product evidence.
- Calculate landed cost with packing, fulfillment, route, fees, acquisition and expected exceptions.
- Test a sample or low-risk live order through the destination customers will actually use.
- Confirm inventory, processing, tracking, cancellation, defect and replacement procedures.
- Align the product page, delivery range and return language with the tested workflow.
- Document the approved source and keep a qualified backup for any critical SKU.
Authoritative resources
Verify current platform, trade, consumer or quality requirements before making a customer promise. Product and destination rules can change.
Frequently asked questions
Can 1688 sellers ship internationally?
Some may, but many focus on domestic delivery. A China warehouse and separate international route are common.
Can I pay a 1688 seller in dollars?
Payment options vary. Confirm the supported method and currency before ordering.
Can an agent communicate with the seller?
Yes, including variant, stock, packaging and lead-time questions.
Turn a dropshipping idea for your market into operating numbers
Share a product link, photo or description so the source, product details and available fulfillment route can be reviewed together.