Leo Li
Backed by China’s powerful manufacturing hubs, we offer sourcing across all product categories. Whether you need large-volume bulk orders, small batches, samples, or a specific single item, we can find and source it for you.
For faster communication, we highly recommend having product images and detailed specifications ready before sending your inquiry.
Many overseas buyers start sourcing from Alibaba.
That makes sense. The platform is easy to use, suppliers speak English, and the whole process looks familiar.
But after working in China sourcing for years, I can tell you one thing clearly:
The price you see on Alibaba is not always the source price.
In many cases, the same product can also be found on 1688, China’s domestic wholesale platform. The price there is often lower because the platform is mainly built for local Chinese buyers and domestic businesses.
This does not mean Alibaba is bad.
Alibaba is useful for global buyers. But if you want to source products from China with better cost control, it is worth understanding how 1688 works.
1688 is used by many local factories, small workshops, wholesalers, and Chinese trading companies.
Some Alibaba sellers also source from 1688, then resell the same product to overseas buyers with a markup. This is common in many categories, especially small consumer goods, pet products, tools, home goods, accessories, and trending items.
The markup is not always unreasonable. Alibaba sellers need English-speaking staff, ads, customer service, and international communication.
But as a buyer, you should know what you are paying for.
Sometimes you are paying for real service.
Sometimes you are only paying for another layer in the supply chain.
That is why price comparison matters.
Many buyers ask me, “Can I just buy from 1688 myself?”
Technically, yes.
Practically, it is not easy.
1688 is built for the Chinese market. Most suppliers only speak Chinese. Many product titles use local industry words that translation tools cannot handle well.
Payment is another problem. Many sellers prefer Alipay, WeChat Pay, or domestic bank transfer. They may not accept PayPal or foreign credit cards.
Shipping is also limited. Most 1688 sellers do not ship directly to the US, Europe, or other overseas markets. They usually expect a China warehouse address.
There is also a quality risk.
The lowest price on 1688 is not always the best option. Some listings use low prices only to attract clicks. Some suppliers show one price online but quote differently after you ask for details. Some products look the same in photos but use different materials.
So 1688 can save money, but only if you know how to filter suppliers.
As a China sourcing agent, I use 1688 as one of my tools, not as the only answer.
When a client sends me an Alibaba link, Amazon product, photo, or product idea, I can search with Chinese keywords and compare possible suppliers on 1688 and other local channels.
Then I check:
If the supplier does not ship overseas, they can send the goods to my China warehouse. I can help check the products, combine orders from different suppliers, repack if needed, and arrange international shipping.
This is especially useful for buyers sourcing several small products at once.
A buyer may find a pet toy on Alibaba for around $2.80 per piece.
After checking 1688 with the right Chinese keywords, we may find similar or even identical products at a lower local price.
But I still do not suggest choosing only by price.
I would check the material, size, packaging, sample quality, supplier history, and whether the bulk order can stay consistent.
Saving money is good. Receiving the wrong product is not.
1688 can be a strong sourcing channel, but it is not a shortcut for every buyer.
You still need supplier verification, sample checking, quality control, warehouse coordination, and shipping support.
At MyChinaMate, I help overseas buyers source products from China, compare Alibaba and 1688 suppliers, verify factories, negotiate with sellers in Chinese, inspect goods, consolidate orders, and arrange shipping.
My job is not just to find the cheapest listing.
My job is to help you find a supplier that makes sense for your product, budget, quality level, and order quantity.
If you want to source from 1688 but do not speak Chinese or do not have a warehouse in China, I can help you handle the local side of the process.
