For American businesspeople and entrepreneurs who want to profit from China’s strong manufacturing capabilities, 1688 is undoubtedly an extremely attractive choice. As the largest B2B market in China, 1688 connects various manufacturers and suppliers of home products and industrial equipment, and its prices are so low that they often attract people’s attention. However, purchasing from 1688 and shipping directly to the United States was not all smooth sailing. This article will delve into the challenges that American sellers face when purchasing on 1688 and how to overcome these difficulties with the help of freight forwarding services.
I. The Business Model and Challenges of 1688
- Domestic wholesale is the main focus
1688 mainly targets the domestic market in China rather than international sellers. This means that the transportation decisions, payment options and communication options on the website all revolve around domestic transactions. Many suppliers focus on bulk sales, targeting local Chinese store owners, expecting sellers to handle domestic logistics and transportation on their own, and have limited experience or infrastructure in international transportation. - Language, payment and logistics barriers
The official language of 1688 is Chinese, which is a huge obstacle for cross-border sellers. Many sellers rely on services such as reverse image search on Taobao or Taobao English to browse products, but this language barrier makes placing orders, communicating with suppliers or solving problems extremely complicated. The payment method is also a problem. Most suppliers accept local payment methods such as Taobao Pay or Alipay, but cannot receive international payments through credit cards or PayPal. In terms of logistics, a few 1688 sellers directly ship overseas, but these services are often unreliable and costly. - Common Challenges for American Sellers
The problems that American sellers encounter when purchasing on 1688 are not only language barriers but also a series of complex traps. The most urgent problem is that it is impossible to ship directly abroad. Compared with international trade platforms, most of the suppliers on 1688 do not conduct international shipments. International transportation may bring strict restrictions and delays, which may offset the advantages brought by low prices. Another major issue is the minimum order quantity (MOQ).
Although the MOQ requirements of 1688 May be lower than those of some traditional manufacturers, suppliers usually set higher minimum requirements for international orders to cover the additional costs of processing and shipping to overseas locations. In addition, customs procedures and tariffs are also issues that many sellers overlook, and these costs may increase additional expenses.
II. Solution: Advantages of Freight Forwarding Services
- Professional services
Freight forwarders offer one-stop services, from goods reception, warehousing, sorting, packaging, labeling to transportation, all handled by professional teams. The freight forwarding team is familiar with international logistics and transportation standards and can customize packaging solutions based on the characteristics of different goods to ensure their safety during transportation.
For instance, fragile items are protected by multiple layers of bubble columns and cushioning cotton. Liquid goods will be equipped with leak-proof sealed bags to ensure that the goods remain intact during long-distance transportation. The waybill printing strictly adheres to international standards, adheres firmly, and prevents it from falling off during transportation and affecting delivery. - Cost optimization
Relying on its long-term accumulated industry resources, freight forwarders have established partnerships with major shipping companies and airlines, enabling them to obtain more favorable freight rates. By integrating multiple batches of goods and adopting methods such as LCL and consolidation shipping, the transportation costs are shared, helping sellers reduce logistics expenses. For instance, if a seller sends a small package to the United States alone, they may have to pay a relatively high shipping fee. However, after the freight forwarder integrates the goods of multiple sellers and tranuses them in bulk, the shipping fee per shipment can be significantly reduced. - Customs clearance support
Freight forwarders are familiar with the customs policies and clearance procedures of various countries, and can prepare compliance documents in advance to improve the efficiency of customs clearance. The freight forwarder will review the product qualifications in advance, assist in preparing a full set of materials such as commercial invoices, packing lists, and certification documents, and cooperate deeply with the customs clearance agency of the destination country to conduct pre-customs clearance declarations, reducing the inspection risk by more than 60%. Even if there are any abnormalities in customs clearance, the freight forwarder can communicate and coordinate with the local customs immediately, solve the problem quickly and ensure the smooth entry of the goods. - Efficiency improvement
Freight forwarders have professional logistics teams and a wide range of transportation channels. They can quickly match the best transportation plan based on factors such as the urgency, weight and volume of the goods. From domestic warehouses to the United States, whether by air, sea or land, we can rationally plan the route, reduce the number of transshipments, improve transportation efficiency, ensure that goods are delivered to sellers on time, and avoid negative reviews from sellers and a decline in store ratings due to delayed shipments. - Risk aversion
The freight forwarder offers comprehensive after-sales service, including logistics tracking, anomaly handling, after-sales consultation, etc., ensuring that sellers have no worries during the cross-border logistics process. The professional team of the freight forwarder can handle logistics anomalies in a timely manner to ensure that the rights and interests of sellers are protected.
III, the freight forwarding service for purchasing on behalf of others has been of great help
SmartDropping is a professional cross-border logistics service provider, dedicated to offering one-stop solutions for cross-border e-commerce sellers. It offers a full range of services including purchasing on behalf of others, packaging on behalf of others, labeling on behalf of others, and shipping on behalf of others. It has a warehouse in Shenzhen, which is adjacent to the official transfer warehouses of major independent stations. The delivery speed is fast and the transfer cost is low.
It has integrated API interfaces with multiple cross-border platforms such as 1688,shopify, and woocommerce, supporting one-click authorization to pull orders. The team members have many years of experience in cross-border logistics. The system has undergone multiple optimizations and upgrades, enabling it to efficiently handle various types of orders and cope with order peaks such as major promotions, ensuring the safe and timely dispatch of goods.
Dear seller friends, when purchasing from 1688 and shipping to the United States, finding the right freight forwarder can really make your life much easier. Our expertise and experience will open up a green channel for your procurement in China, enabling you to easily purchase high-quality goods and facilitating the vigorous development of your cross-border e-commerce business. Contact us right away and start your purchasing journey in China!
Dear friends, if you have any questions, please leave a message in the comment section! Looking forward to your reply. Contact information: WeChat: rongexpress, Whatsapp:+86 19129561508