How to Use a Purchasing Agent, Start to Finish

A purchasing agent is a company with a Chinese address, a Chinese payment layer and an English front desk. You don't need a Chinese bank, phone or friend — the agent is all three for you.

Step 1 — Find the item

Browse the find file here, or wander 1688 / Taobao / Weidian directly. Every entry on our shelves shows the source price, fabric weight and the agent fee structure.

Step 2 — Pick an agent

We test with three regularly: oopbuy, kakobuy and hoobuy. All three handle every shelf on this site. The compare page lays out fees, storage windows and quirks side by side. There is no wrong answer — only trade-offs.

Step 3 — Submit the link

Copy the product page URL, paste it into the agent's order form, choose size and colour, submit. The agent buys in yuan on your behalf using their own account.

Step 4 — Wait for the warehouse

Your parcel arrives at the agent's warehouse in a day or two. There it waits — free storage windows run from 60 to 90 days depending on the agent — while you add more items.

Step 5 — Inspect the photos

Before shipping the agent sends 3–5 inspection photos per item: the actual garment, not catalogue renders. Wrong size, pulled seam, colour off — request a swap now, before international freight kicks in, not after.

Step 6 — Consolidate and choose a line

Multiple parcels merge into one box. Choose the freight line — budget takes 2–5 weeks, express takes a week — pay the agent's fee plus freight, and tracking begins.

Step 7 — At your door

Local duties depend on your country and the declared value. The freight-math guide below works through the common cases so nothing at the border is a surprise.