Sourcing Guides

Step-by-step guides for buying from China: 1688, supplier verification, shipping, Incoterms and quality control.

• How to Buy from 1688 as a Foreign Buyer: A Step-by-Step Guide

  1688.com is China's domestic wholesale marketplace with prices far below Alibaba. This step-by-step guide shows foreign buyers how to register, search, negotiate and pay safely.

• How to Verify a Chinese Supplier Before You Pay

  Don't wire money to a stranger. Learn to check Chinese business licenses, run video factory tours, use inspection services, and spot the red flags of supplier scams.

• Incoterms Explained Simply: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and More

  EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — what these trade terms actually mean, who pays for what, where risk transfers, and which term to choose for your first vs. scaled-up orders.

• Quality Control Basics for First-Time Importers

  A practical introduction to QC for new importers: inspection types, AQL sampling explained with examples, what goes in a QC checklist, and what to do when goods fail.

• Shipping from China: Express, Air, Sea and Rail Explained

  Compare express couriers, air freight, sea freight (FCL vs LCL) and China-Europe rail. Volumetric weight explained with a worked example, plus realistic timelines and costs.