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How to buy products from 1688 to Australia

Discover the main steps to source low MOQ products from 1688 to Australia successfully.

Key takeaways

1688.com has over 10 million suppliers and 1,700 product categories
Australian businesses can find products at wholesale prices on 1688
MOQ is low. Product pricing further decreases as you buy more units
1688 doesn’t support international payments, but buyers in Australia can pay 1688 suppliers through WorldFirst’s Cross-border Pay

1688.com is one of the major online B2B marketplaces in China. Owned by the Alibaba Group, it hosts various sellers, including manufacturers, wholesalers, and suppliers. In 2021, it was the largest integrated domestic wholesale marketplace in China. But even with its domestic popularity, 1688 isn’t as widely known outside the mainland because it doesn’t support international payments. You needed a mainland bank account to pay 1688 suppliers. All that is changing with WorldFirst. WorldFirst Cross-border Pay allows Australian businesses and other international buyers to make payments directly to 1688 suppliers without needing a mainland Chinese bank account. That means businesses based in Australia can source products from China through 1688 and pay suppliers securely at highly competitive foreign exchange rates. Let’s delve into the exact process of buying from 1688 to Australia and make secure cross-border payments to suppliers.

Steps to buy products from 1688 to Australia

1. Open the 1688 website

Go to the 1688 website and translate it into English. Most browsers, like Chrome and Firefox, offer direct translation. If your browser doesn’t provide the option to translate the website into English directly, you can also use a browser extension or add-on.

2. Register and verify your 1688 account

To register on 1688, you can visit the 1688.com website on PC or sign up through the Taobao mobile app. (Taobao is also a subsidiary of the Alibaba Group, so you can use the same credentials for both).

After signing up, agree to the terms, and confirm to activate your account.

It’s necessary to verify your account to make international payments. To verify, create a personal Alipay account and link it to your 1688 account.

WorldFirst’s Cross-border Pay (跨境宝) solution allows international buyers in Australia and select other countries to pay 1688 suppliers directly. The exchange rate offered by WorldFirst is more competitive than bank transfers, and there are minimal fees.

Here are the steps to set up WorldFirst’s Cross-border Pay (跨境宝) solution on your 1688 account

Create a 1688 account
Create an Alipay account
Link your Alipay account to your 1688 account for verification
Setup a WorldFirst account
Authorise your 1688 account with WorldFirst
Place an order on 1688 and make direct cross-border payments

Pay 1688 suppliers with WorldFirst

1- Create an account on WorldFirst

2- After signing up, go to your account dashboard → Payments → Cross-border Pay (跨境宝).

3- Click on ‘Activate’ to authorise cross-border payments.

4- Authorise your 1688 account by adding your 1688 ID.

5- Read and agree with the agreement shared on the page and click ‘Next.’

6- You will get a 6-digit verification on your mobile number to authenticate your account.

7- You have now successfully activated Cross-border Pay (跨境宝) and you can pay suppliers on 1688 through international bank accounts.

3. Search for products

Finding products on 1688 can be overwhelming due to its vast marketplace, spanning 50+ industries and 1700+ subcategories. To make the process easier and quicker, you can:

Use Google Translate to change product names from English to Chinese and search them on the website.
Try image search by uploading product images directly on 1688 and finding the exact products

4. Find a suitable supplier

With over 10 million suppliers* on the platform, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Even when the same suppliers offer the same products, there can be a lot of differences in product quality and pricing.

To find reliable suppliers on 1688, assess them based on the following factors:

Years of operation
Response rate
Delivery time
Trustworthiness
Location
Repurchase rate
Minimum order quantity (MOQ).

Check out our in-depth 1688 guide to learn how to find the best products and reliable suppliers on the platform.

*Numbers provided by 1688.com

5. Communicate with the supplier

1688 allows buyers to directly communicate with suppliers through Aliwangwang (1688’s chat tool) or WeChat.

Most suppliers listed on 1688 have limited English proficiency. You should keep communication clear, professional, and concise. Inquire about return policies, delivery times, and inventory/manufacturing schedules before finalising the purchase.

Note: Alternatively, you can partner with a sourcing agent who can handle the entire product sourcing process and communicate with sellers on your behalf.

6. Place the order and make the payment

1688.com doesn’t support international payments. It accepts payments only from domestic bank accounts via WeChat, Alipay, and direct bank transfers.

Businesses based in Australia can use WorldFirst Cross-border Pay to make payments to 1688 suppliers securely and quickly.

To pay suppliers, select the WorldFirst’s Cross-border Pay (跨境宝) option on the checkout page. (Make sure you have already activated cross-border payments on your WorldFirst account.

After the payment, review the order summary once more to ensure accuracy and confirm the delivery timelines with the seller.

7. Find a shipping partner

1688 suppliers don’t support international shipping. Buyers must find the right shipping partner to deliver their products from China to Australia.

For cost-effective shipping, prioritise shipping partners close to your supplier’s location. The proximity reduces domestic shipping costs and accelerates delivery times.

You can also partner with freight forwarders to assist you with customs clearance and delivery, Freight forwarders can simplify international shipping by handling documentation, insurance, and customs processes. They can advise on the optimal shipping method for your cargo, ensuring smooth transit from factory to warehouse.

Note: If you want to order smaller units of products without the hassle of finding shipping agents or drop shipping partners, consider purchasing from AliExpress. The prices are generally higher than 1688, but the platform offers direct shipping and dropshipping options. Take a look at our 1688 vs AliExpress comparison guide

Streamline cross-border payments on 1688 with WorldFirst

Businesses in Australia can source a wide range of products from 1688 and make secure international payments to suppliers through WorldFirst. There are no limits to transaction amounts and you get access to competitive foreign exchange rates.

Pay your suppliers by linking your 1688 and World Account.

Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information. Information on 1688 and its products/services are sourced from and can be found at 1688.com.

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Written by Nidhi Kataria, Head of Marketing ANZ at WorldFirst

Nidhi Kataria has worked in marketing since 2009 across various functions, specializing in acquisition growth. She has held regional and global marketing roles at notable financial and technology firms and has lived in Australia since 2014. She believes that businesses can benefit from WorldFirst to make finances clearer, easier, and simpler to manage, allowing them to focus on growing their businesses.