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1688 vs Alibaba: which one for resellers?

Updated

Both sites belong to the same Chinese group, and you often find the same kinds of factories on each. But they are not aimed at the same buyers, and that changes how you buy from Cameroon. Here is what sets them apart, and what stays the same.

Alibaba.com: the export site

  • Who it is for: buyers around the world. Sellers present their export offer there.
  • Language and prices: in English, with prices mostly in dollars.
  • Payment: international payment methods.
  • Delivery: many sellers offer to ship outside China, or to a forwarder.

1688: China’s wholesale market

  • Who it is for: traders in China. It is where Chinese shops and wholesalers restock.
  • Language and prices: in Chinese, with prices in yuan and wholesale tiers by quantity.
  • Minimum order: it varies by seller, sometimes a single piece.
  • Payment: Chinese payment methods, hard to use from Cameroon.
  • Delivery: sellers deliver within China. You need a forwarder with a warehouse in China to bring the goods over.

How to choose

Alibaba.com suits you when you want to deal in English with a seller used to exporting, and pay with an international method. 1688 suits you when you want to buy from China’s wholesale market, in small or large quantities, and you already have a forwarder in China: that is the case for many Cameroonian resellers.

On both sites, compare the price at the tier you will buy, the minimum, the seller’s page and the estimated weight, to ask your forwarder for a quote. When you start with a seller, a small first order lets you judge the quality before buying more.

What stays the same

  • Shipping to Cameroon and customs still need planning, with your forwarder or with the seller, depending on what they offer.
  • Sensitive goods: batteries, phones, liquids, cosmetics and perfumes are often refused by forwarders.
  • Replicas: "copy", "1:1 quality", fake brands. Avoid them, whichever site you use.
  • The seller: on 1688, prefer factories or professional sellers that their buyers rate well.

Buying from 1688 with Cofilo

Cofilo handles what gets in the way on 1688: you search by keyword or by photo, among suppliers selected by Cofilo only; you see the price in CFA francs; you pay with Mobile Money. The Cofilo fee, 10% of the item prices and at least 5 000 F per order, covers buying and the seller’s delivery to your forwarder in China. Shipping to Cameroon and customs are settled with your forwarder.

To go further: how to buy from 1688 in Cameroon, step by step, and how to tell if a Chinese supplier is reliable.