Alibaba, 1688 or a sourcing agent: which should a small importer use?
Short answer: Alibaba.com is the export marketplace: sellers speak English, accept foreign payments and offer Trade Assurance. 1688.com is the domestic Chinese marketplace with lower prices, but it is in Chinese, takes Chinese payment methods and sellers rarely export. A sourcing agent works for you on the ground: finding and checking factories, negotiating, inspecting goods and arranging shipping, for a service fee. Many small importers combine them: find suppliers online, then use an agent to verify and inspect before paying the balance.
Alibaba.com
Alibaba.com lists factories and trading companies that sell for export. You can message suppliers in English, order samples and pay by card or bank transfer. Trade Assurance lets you open a dispute and claim a refund if the goods are not shipped on time or do not match what was agreed in the order.
What it does not do: check the factory before you order, stop a bad shipment before it leaves, or settle quality disputes quickly. You need clear specifications in the order for a dispute to work.
1688.com
1688.com is the domestic wholesale platform used by Chinese shops and traders. Prices are often lower because they are for the Chinese market. But the site is in Chinese, payment needs a Chinese account, delivery is to an address in China, and most sellers do not handle export documents.
Foreign buyers use 1688 through an agent or a forwarding service that pays, receives the goods in a Chinese warehouse, checks them and ships them abroad.
A sourcing agent
A sourcing agent is a person or company in China who works for the buyer. A good agent:
- finds and compares factories, not only online listings;
- checks business licences and the bank account name before you pay;
- negotiates in Chinese and follows up production;
- inspects goods before the balance payment and arranges shipping.
Agents are paid in different ways. Prefer one who charges a separate, written service fee and lets you pay the factory directly. An agent who is "free" usually earns a hidden margin on the product price or a commission from the factory, so their interest is not fully yours.
Which one should you use?
| Situation | Good choice |
|---|---|
| Testing a product with a small order | Alibaba.com with Trade Assurance, plus an inspection |
| Lowest unit price on standard goods | 1688 through an agent or forwarder |
| Custom product, your own logo or packaging | Factory found online or at a fair, verified and followed up by an agent |
| First order with a new factory | Factory audit before deposit, inspection before balance |
| Many products from many suppliers | Agent to buy, check and consolidate into one shipment |
Questions buyers ask
Can I buy from 1688 as a foreigner?
Not easily on your own: the site is in Chinese, needs Chinese payment and delivers within China. Most foreign buyers use an agent or forwarding service that orders, receives, checks and exports the goods.
Does Alibaba Trade Assurance protect quality?
Partly. You can open a dispute if goods do not match the agreed order terms, but it works after the problem has happened. A pre-shipment inspection finds problems before you pay the balance.
How do sourcing agents get paid?
Either by a separate service fee or by a margin hidden in the product price or a factory commission. A written service fee with direct payment to the factory is the more transparent model.
Is a sourcing agent worth it for a small order?
It depends on the risk. For a first order with a new supplier, one factory check and one inspection usually cost less than a single bad shipment.
Found a supplier on Alibaba or 1688? We can check the factory, follow up production and inspect the goods. Send us the link on WhatsApp or get a free sourcing plan.