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How to buy from 1688 in Cameroon

Updated

To buy from 1688 in Cameroon, you need a freight forwarder with a warehouse in China and a way to pay a Chinese seller. With Cofilo, you search in English or French, see the total in CFA francs before you pay, and pay with MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money. The seller delivers to your forwarder’s warehouse, with a tracking number for every parcel, and your forwarder brings the goods to Cameroon.

What is 1688?

1688 is China’s domestic wholesale platform: the factories and wholesalers that supply Chinese shops sell clothes, bags, shoes, accessories and homeware there. Three things get in the way from Cameroon: the site is in Chinese, it is paid in yuan through Chinese payment methods, and sellers only deliver within China.

The steps, in order

  1. Have a forwarder with a warehouse in China. They give you their warehouse address, in Chinese, and your shipping mark (唛头). No forwarder yet? Read how to choose a China–Cameroon freight forwarder.
  2. Find the item: a word in English or French, translated into Chinese for the search, a photo, or a pasted 1688 link. Only suppliers selected by Cofilo show up; a link to any other supplier is refused, and the app offers similar items.
  3. Read the item page: wholesale price tiers, the minimum order, variants, the seller’s estimated weight, the item’s rating and sales, and the seller’s ratings.
  4. See the full price in CFA francs: the item prices, converted from yuan, and the Cofilo fee, shown before you pay.
  5. Pay with Mobile Money: MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money or your Cofilo balance. You approve the request on your phone.
  6. Cofilo buys, the seller ships to your forwarder. We usually buy within 1 working day, and the seller usually ships within 2 to 5 days. Each parcel has its Chinese courier and tracking number, to give to your forwarder.
  7. Your forwarder brings the goods to Cameroon. Shipping, customs and the arrival date are arranged with them. Cofilo does not give an arrival date.

How much does it cost?

  • The items: the seller’s price, at the wholesale tier for your quantity, in CFA francs.
  • The Cofilo fee: 10% of the item prices, at least 5 000 F per order, less from your 6th order. It covers buying, the seller’s delivery to your forwarder’s warehouse in China, and the tracking of every parcel.
  • Not included: shipping from China to Cameroon and customs, at your forwarder’s rates. The weight the sellers estimate, shown before you pay, helps you ask them for a quote.

For example, for 250 000 F of items, the fee is 25 000 F and you pay 275 000 F, before shipping and customs. The details: paying a 1688 supplier with Mobile Money.

Without Cofilo, with Cofilo

  • Language: 1688 is in Chinese. With Cofilo, you search in English or French, and the item page is translated.
  • Payment: a 1688 seller is paid in yuan, through Alipay or a Chinese bank. With Cofilo, you pay with Mobile Money, in CFA francs.
  • Price: with many middlemen, the exchange rate and their margin are blended into the price. With Cofilo, the seller’s price and the fee are shown separately, before you pay.
  • The supplier: on 1688, you judge every seller on your own. With Cofilo, only suppliers selected by Cofilo show up, with their ratings. See how to tell a reliable supplier in China.
  • Tracking: with Cofilo, every parcel has a tracking number up to your forwarder’s warehouse.

Common questions

Can I pay 1688 with Mobile Money?

Not directly: 1688 sellers take yuan. With Cofilo, you pay with MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money, in CFA francs, and Cofilo pays the seller.

Do I need to speak Chinese?

No. You search in English, in French or by photo, and the item page is translated.

Do I need a freight forwarder?

Yes. 1688 sellers deliver within China: your forwarder receives the parcels at their warehouse and brings them to Cameroon. Cofilo does not recommend a forwarder.

How long does it take?

We usually buy within 1 working day of your payment, and sellers usually ship within 2 to 5 days. The time to Cameroon is your forwarder’s.

Is there a minimum order?

Each seller sets their own, sometimes a single piece; it is shown on the item page. The Cofilo fee has a minimum of 5 000 F per order, so put your items in one cart.

What if an item is missing?

Up to your forwarder’s warehouse, Cofilo is responsible for your items. An item missing, different or broken in the seller’s packaging is reported from the order: it is replaced if the seller agrees, or refunded, Cofilo fee included.

Before you order

We do not buy counterfeits or replicas, or anything banned from import into Cameroon. Batteries, phones, liquids, cosmetics and perfumes are often refused by forwarders, or shipped separately: ask yours before you order.