Articles
Articles
Guides for buying from China.
DDP shipping from China: why customs documents aren't in your name
Most DDP shipments from China are cleared by the forwarder as importer of record, often consolidated with other buyers' cargo, so there is no customs declaration or MRN in your company's name. Here is why that happens, what it blocks, and what to ask before you book.
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Can you buy from 1688 directly without an agent?
You can buy from 1688 without an agent, but only if you already have a verified Chinese account, a domestic payment method, a Chinese delivery address and Chinese-language support. Most foreign buyers do not, and that is where direct orders stop.
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Why is shipping from China so expensive for small orders?
Small orders cost a lot to ship because couriers charge for the space your parcel takes up, not just its weight — and most factories quote fast commercial express by default. Get the weight and volume first, then ask for quotes that cover the same service and the same delivery point.
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China electronics sourcing guide: how to buy consumer electronics without getting burned
Electronics are the highest-risk, highest-margin category in China sourcing. Specs are easy to copy and hard to verify, certifications get faked, and a factory that shows you a beautiful sample can still ship you 5,000 units of something subtly worse. Here is the process to run, step by step.
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Documents needed to import from China: the complete checklist
Your goods can sail, fly and arrive perfectly — and still sit in a customs warehouse for two weeks because one document had the wrong name on it. Here is every document in a standard China import, what it actually does, and where things go wrong.
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How much does a factory audit cost in China?
Straight answer first, then the parts nobody puts on the price list: what the fee includes, what a cheap audit silently skips, and how the numbers compare with the cost of a wrong deposit.
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