In this guide
How can a UK business buy from 1688?
Define the products, confirm the supplier and agree the order terms. Arrange an eligible payment route, receipt and checks in China, then freight and UK import preparation. You can manage those tasks directly or use a sourcing agent for agreed parts. Confirm where the supplier’s delivery ends before committing funds.
Plan the supplier order and the UK shipment together
Buying from 1688 for a UK business involves a supplier order in China and a separate plan to bring the goods into the UK. WorldFirst’s buying guide describes 1688 as a platform focused on the Chinese domestic market. Before committing, establish where the supplier will deliver and who will receive the order. Your purchasing, payment and freight arrangements need to cover the whole journey.
Write down the product you actually need
Start with a short stock brief. Search results and translated listings help you discover products, but the final specification needs a supplier answer. A single listing may offer several materials, sizes or pack quantities. Save the link and a dated copy of the agreed details so later changes are visible.
- Record the exact variant, material, dimensions and quantity for each SKU.
- Explain the intended use and any packaging or labelling requirements.
- Ask which items are available now and which require production.
- Identify any sample or document you need before approving the main order.
Shortlist suppliers against the same brief
Send the same requirements to each supplier. Compare their answers on specifications, minimum quantities, samples, dispatch and issue handling. Store badges, transaction history and product photos can help you screen a seller. Use them alongside the business identity, sample evidence and written order terms. A low headline price leaves too many questions unanswered to support a purchase on its own.
Confirm account access and your checkout route
If buying directly, follow 1688’s current official registration and identity-verification instructions. Confirm you can access your account and check the intended payment route for the order before agreeing payment. Use current platform guidance for account requirements and resolve any verification issue before committing funds.
Choose who will manage each part
You can investigate buying directly if you can manage supplier communication, an eligible payment method and receipt in China. A sourcing agent can take on agreed purchasing and coordination work. Payment-only help has a narrower scope. List the work you need before choosing support, then name the person responsible for each task.
- Who asks supplier questions and records the final specification?
- Who places the order, pays and keeps the order account records?
- Who receives the cartons and carries out the agreed checks?
- Who manages freight, customs information and UK delivery?
Confirm payment and check the goods before release
WorldFirst offers a World Pay route for eligible 1688 purchases. Check your business, supplier and order eligibility against its current terms. Whichever method you use, connect the payment request to the agreed order and verify the payee. Decide in advance what evidence you need after receipt in China: a carton count, variant check, sample comparison or a separately scoped inspection. Record any issue before authorising international dispatch.
Build the UK delivery brief
Ask for freight using the product description, value, packed weight, carton dimensions and delivery postcode. Confirm included charges, the importer and customs responsibilities, and the receiving warehouse’s rules. Use the GOV.UK import checklist to establish the product and import requirements that apply to your goods. Keep supplier readiness and final delivery as separate milestones when planning your stock date. Check the requirements for the intended destination; rules can differ between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Send one useful quotation request
Bring the decisions into one brief: product links, agreed variants, quantities, sample needs, checks, expected carton details and destination. Mark unanswered questions clearly. For sourcing support, include the services you want handled and the approvals you want to retain. A complete brief makes it easier to compare quotations and see what still needs resolving before you buy.
Prepare your first 1688 purchasing brief
The sourcing service describes the purchasing and China-side coordination work available. Email or WhatsApp us with the product or order details you already know to discuss where support would be useful.
Questions before you order
Can I buy from 1688 without a sourcing agent?
You can assess a direct route if you can manage supplier communication, the account and eligible payment method, receipt in China and onward shipping. Give each task an owner. An agent can be scoped for the parts your team needs help handling.
Does a successful 1688 payment arrange delivery to the UK?
Check the supplier order and delivery scope. Payment does not establish who receives goods in China, checks them, books freight or prepares UK import information. Agree those arrangements and the receiving warehouse’s instructions separately.
What should I prepare for a first-order enquiry?
Send the product links, exact variants, quantities, intended use, sample or checking needs and UK postcode. Add your required stock date and identify unanswered supplier questions. Mark carton measurements as estimates until packing is confirmed.
Sources & further guidance
- WorldFirst UK: How to buy from 1688
- WorldFirst UK: How to source supplies from 1688
- GOV.UK: Import goods into the UK, step by step
- WorldFirst UK: 1688 World Pay
These references provide platform, payment or import background. The purchasing checklists are our practical guidance. Check the current terms and official requirements for your product and destination.
Product acceptance, inspection scope, charges and delivery arrangements need to be agreed for your order.