Before ordering from 1688, confirm the minimum quantity, the price for your actual order size and the seller’s return terms. Inspection is not necessarily a piece-by-piece check: Type A uses sampling and Type B has no standard QC.
Comparing Supplier Offers
Compare offers on the same specification and quantity. Include material or model, dimensions, colour, set contents, packaging and domestic freight. A lower headline unit price may apply only to a larger order or a different configuration from the one you need.
Ask which details are confirmed and which are still estimates. Product images may show several variations, while the price tier describes only one. Keep the supplier’s answer attached to the purchasing record so the warehouse has a usable reference for the goods that should arrive.
Check the supplier’s return terms before relying on a low price. A purchase that is difficult to return can have a different practical cost from a comparable offer with clearer after-sales arrangements. Make that comparison before the agent commits funds rather than after a carton reaches the warehouse.
Minimum Order Quantity
1688 listings can set wholesale quantity requirements. Check the threshold for the exact item and options you want before submitting an agent order.
If your order does not meet the seller’s minimum, it can be treated as invalid and you will need to place a new order. A low displayed unit price does not establish that a single piece is available at that price.
Read whether the threshold applies to a single model, a colour, a size or a combination allowed by the supplier. If the listing is unclear, ask the agent to confirm the combination before payment. Several visually similar options should not be assumed to count toward one shared minimum.
Quantity-Based Pricing
The unit price and Chinese delivery charge may change with the amount purchased. Use your actual quantity when reviewing the product total and freight.
Compare suppliers using the total for the same quantity and specification. A headline wholesale price is not a delivered quote to your country.
Keep unit count and package count separate when comparing quotations. A price per piece, per pair and per carton cannot be compared directly. Record what the quoted unit contains, then calculate the amount for the quantity you actually intend to receive.
Samples & Order Scope
If you want to assess one piece before buying a larger quantity, ask whether the supplier offers a sample and on what terms. A sample is not automatically available at the bulk unit price. Its purchasing and delivery cost should be evaluated as a separate decision.
Use a sample to check the features it can actually show, such as dimensions, construction or visible finish. A photographed sample does not establish that every later unit will be identical. Confirm the specification again when placing the larger order, especially if the supplier changes options or packaging.
Avoid ordering extra pieces solely to reach an attractive price tier. Compare the total quantity you need with the complete purchasing and shipping cost. Unwanted stock, larger cartons and additional inspection requirements can outweigh a lower unit figure.
Supplier & Return Terms
Compare the seller’s product information and available services before buying. Confirm whether a return or exchange is supported and who pays the resulting freight.
Do not assume that a wholesale order has the same return arrangement as a single-item retail purchase. Resolve unclear terms through the agent before placing the order.
The official guide recommends supplier research and discusses TrustPass sellers, but a badge does not replace the exact specification and after-sales agreement. Review the product details and what the supplier commits to provide. Save important clarifications before the purchasing order is placed.
Type A/B Classification & Sampling Scope
Type A and Type B identify the warehouse inspection arrangement for 1688 goods; they do not certify product quality. Confirm the assigned class for the actual listing and order. Clothing, accessories and electronics are browsing categories, so their names alone are insufficient to assign an inspection class.
For Type A, selecting standard inspection results in a sample check. For Type B, standard QC is not supplied; the inspection instructions allow a separately paid sampling request through an order note. Ask what service will be accepted, what it costs and which details the sample check will cover.
A sample answers questions about the units examined. It does not verify every piece or establish that unseen units match. Keep the sample size and inspected features in the order record if they are provided. Confirm a counting arrangement separately when receiving the exact quantity matters.
- Record how many units were inspected and how the sample was selected.
- Record which features were checked, such as labels, visible condition or selected options.
- Keep the inspection result and any unresolved discrepancy with the purchasing-order record.
Carton Counts, Packaging & Freight
Establish the units per pack, packs per carton and expected carton total before purchase. The official 1688 guide warns that a warehouse quantity check may follow box counts without guaranteeing all units inside. Keep “cartons received”, “pieces declared” and “pieces actually counted” separate.
If a full count matters, ask whether an additional service is available and how the result is recorded. A photograph of closed cartons can support a carton observation without establishing every box’s contents. Connect the reported count to the scope agreed before purchase.
Review packed weight, dimensions and route limits for the actual shipment. Bulk pricing may lower the purchase price per unit while creating a larger freight requirement. Confirm which supplier packaging and protective materials need to remain before considering repacking.
A Pre-Dispatch Wholesale Record
Keep a record that connects the supplier agreement to warehouse receipt. It should distinguish the ordered quantity from the quantity actually checked and the number of boxes received. This makes a shortage enquiry more specific and exposes gaps in the evidence before international dispatch.
Check route eligibility for the product category as well as the shipment size. A bulk order does not receive an exception from restricted-goods rules. If a product is unclear, ask about its exact composition, contents or power source before arranging a large parcel.
Resolve an identified problem while the goods remain at the warehouse whenever possible. Returning a carton domestically and pursuing an issue after overseas delivery are different processes. Do not assume either one is available or economical without the supplier’s terms and a service quote.
- Supplier listing and the agreed specification.
- Ordered units, units per pack and expected carton count.
- Price tier and domestic delivery charge for that quantity.
- Selected inspection service and what it actually verifies.
- Seller return conditions and who pays the relevant freight.
Shortages & Defects
If goods arrive short or defective, document the issue and contact the agent with the order details. Lolobuy can assist with seller negotiation; that does not establish an automatic refund for every wholesale problem.
Review the available warehouse evidence before international shipping. Keep the supplier’s agreed specifications and return terms alongside your order record.
Describe whether the concern is a missing carton, an apparent unit shortage or a defect in an inspected sample. Those are not interchangeable findings. Record the box count, available photos and agreed quantity so the agent can present a precise enquiry to the supplier.