How to Buy Products from 1688 in Latin America This is a question that is becoming increasingly common among entrepreneurs, e-commerce sellers, wholesalers, and small businesses looking to purchase products directly from Chinese suppliers.
1688.com is one of China's leading domestic wholesale marketplaces. The platform features manufacturers, wholesalers, trading companies, and suppliers across numerous product categories.
However, shopping on 1688 from Latin America doesn't work exactly the same way as shopping on an international B2B platform.
1688 is primarily geared toward the Chinese market. For this reason, international buyers may encounter challenges related to language, communication with suppliers, payments, factory verification, quality control, cargo consolidation, and international shipping.
For buyers in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and other Latin American countries, understanding the entire process before placing an order can significantly reduce risks.
In this guide, we explain Step-by-Step Guide to Shopping on 1688 from Latin America, from product search to final delivery.
What is 1688?
1688.com It is a Chinese wholesale platform owned by the Alibaba Group.
Unlike Alibaba.com, which has a strong focus on international trade, 1688 was developed primarily for China's domestic wholesale market.
On the platform, you can find suppliers in categories such as:
• Consumer electronics
• Household products
• Fashion accessories
• Packaging
• Beauty products
• Car accessories
• Hardware Store
• Industrial equipment
• Pet products
• Toys
• Office supplies
One of the reasons international buyers use 1688 is that it gives them direct access to a significant part of the Chinese supply chain.
However, the price published in 1688 should not be confused with the final import cost.
You also need to consider domestic transportation in China, inspection, warehousing, consolidation, international transportation, tariffs, taxes, customs clearance, and local delivery.
Can you buy directly from 1688 from Latin America?
In certain situations, an international buyer can handle some parts of the process on their own.
However, 1688 continues to be primarily focused on the Chinese market.
This can create various challenges for Latin American buyers.
Among the most common are:
• Product information primarily in Chinese
• Communication with Chinese suppliers
• Payment Methods
• Vendor Verification
• Receipt of goods within China
• Consolidation of various suppliers
• Quality inspection
• Preparation of export documents
• International shipping
• Customs brokerage in the destination country
For this reason, many importers use a Purchasing agent in China in 1688, a sourcing company, a freight forwarder, or a consolidation warehouse.
The best solution will depend on the order size, the buyer's experience, the type of product, the destination country, and logistics capacity.
Step 1: Research the Latin American market
The shopping process shouldn't start by looking for the cheapest product on 1688.
First, you must analyze the market where the product will be sold.
Before looking for suppliers, it is advisable to determine whether there is sufficient demand and whether the selling price can cover the total cost of importation.
Analyze local demand
It investigates factors such as:
• Search query
• Competition on marketplaces
• Retail prices
• Existing brands
• Customer Reviews
• Market Trends
• Potential profit margin
For example, let's imagine that a Colombian entrepreneur wants to import electronic accessories from China.
Finding an affordable provider is only part of the decision.
You should do some research first:
- What accessories are in demand?
- What features are customers looking for?
- What is the average selling price?
- Are there any mandatory certifications?
- How many competitors sell similar products?
Therefore, the product is selected first, and then the supplier is sought.
Step 2: Search for products on 1688
After identifying a business opportunity, you can start searching for products on 1688.
Using keywords in Chinese can help you find more relevant results because many of the listings are tailored to domestic buyers.
You can translate the product name into Chinese before performing the search.
For example:
“Bluetooth Speaker”
It can be translated into the corresponding Chinese term and used to locate manufacturers and wholesalers.
Don't choose based solely on price
One of the most common mistakes is automatically selecting the supplier with the lowest price.
It's a good idea to compare different publications and review:
• Specifications
• MOQ (minimum order quantity)
• Prices based on quantity
• Customization options
• Business Information
• Sales history available
• Product photos
• Packaging
• Production capacity
It is advisable to create a list of potential suppliers before making a decision.
Step 3: Select Potential Suppliers
Once you've found the right product, compare different suppliers.
A professional sourcing strategy typically involves analyzing several options before placing a large order.
Manufacturer or trading company?
Both models can be useful.
A manufacturer may offer:
• Greater control over production
• Competitive prices
• Customization
• Greater capacity for large orders
A commercial company may offer:
• Wider variety of products
• Flexibility for small orders
• Easier communication
• Option to purchase different categories
The choice depends on the business model.
An importer who purchases large quantities of a customized product will likely look for a factory.
A small business that needs a variety of products may find it more convenient to work with a trading company or a purchasing agent.
Step 4: Verify the Chinese supplier
La Verification of 1688 suppliers It is one of the most important stages.
You should not assume that all listings directly represent a factory with exactly the advertised capabilities.
Before paying for a large order, check the supplier.
Review business information
Depending on the order, it may be helpful to check:
• Chinese Business Registration
• Legal name of the company
• Registered address
• Business Activities
• Years in operation
• Information about the factory
• Production capacity
For higher-value orders, a factory audit or an independent verification may also be considered.
Request product documentation
Depending on the goods and the destination market, request the relevant documents, such as:
• Technical Specifications
• Test reports
• Certificates
• Material Information
• Packaging Details
• Manuals
• Technical documentation
Requirements vary depending on the product and the country.
A certificate that is valid in one market does not necessarily guarantee regulatory compliance in another.
Step 5: Contact and negotiate with the supplier
Clear communication prevents many problems down the road.
Before placing your order, determine exactly what you need.
Question by:
• Unit price
• MOQ
• Available colors
• Materials
• Dimensions
• Weight
• Packaging
• Logo customization
• Production time
• Sample prices
• Domestic shipping within China
• Policy on Defective Products
For custom products, prepare a specification sheet.
It may include:
• Dimensions
• Materials
• Pantone Colors
• Logo placement
• Packaging
• Tags
• Accessories
• Quality Requirements
Putting these requirements in writing helps prevent misunderstandings.
Step 6: Request Samples
Before placing a large order, it is advisable to request samples when it is economically feasible to do so.
A sample may reveal problems that do not appear in the photographs in the publication.
Check:
• Materials
• Dimensions
• How It Works
• Appearance
• Color
• Packaging
• Tagging
• User experience
For electronic products, the corresponding functions and technical specifications must also be checked.
The approved sample can subsequently be used as a reference for evaluating mass production.
Step 7: Calculate the total import cost
One of the biggest mistakes new importers make is focusing solely on the price of the product.
The true cost is much higher.
A simplified formula would be:
Product cost + Shipping within China + Inspection + Warehousing + Packaging + International shipping + Insurance + Tariffs + Taxes + Customs clearance + Local delivery
The exact figures will depend on the product, country, and shipping method.
Practical Example
Let's imagine a purchase of goods worth US$5,000.
In addition, there may be expenses related to:
• Domestic transportation in China
• Warehouse handling
• Quality inspection
• International shipping
• Customs broker
• Tariffs
• VAT or other applicable taxes
• Transportation to the final warehouse
If all these items total another US$2,000, the relevant commercial cost will be closer to US$7,000 than to US$5,000.
That is why it is essential to calculate the landed cost before confirming an order.
Step 8: Arrange Payment
Payment can be one of the practical challenges when using a platform designed primarily for domestic transactions in China.
The available options will depend on the provider, buyer, payment method, and structure used to make the purchase.
Many international buyers use a purchasing agent to handle payments to Chinese suppliers.
In this model:
Latin American buyer → Purchasing agent in China → Supplier on 1688
Payment Security
Before transferring large amounts:
• Verify the receiving company
• Confirm the beneficiary's information
• Use written purchase agreements
• Confirm the specifications
• Defines the terms and conditions
• Keeps records of transactions
• Be wary of unexpected changes to bank accounts
For large orders, it may be advisable to negotiate payments tied to specific production stages, when the operation allows it.
Step 9: Ship the products to a warehouse in China
When you purchase from multiple suppliers on 1688, shipping all the products to a single warehouse can significantly simplify the process.
For example:
Supplier A → Warehouse in China
Supplier B → Warehouse in China
Supplier C → Warehouse in China
Warehouse → Consolidation → International Shipping → Latin America
This process is known as consolidation of goods.
Benefits of Consolidating Products
Consolidation allows for:
• Combine goods from different suppliers
• Review products in one place
• Counting boxes
• Replace damaged packaging
• Attach labels
• Optimize box dimensions
• Prepare a single international shipment
This strategy can be particularly useful for small and medium-sized businesses that purchase different product categories.
Step 10: Conduct a quality inspection
Whenever possible, the inspection should be conducted prior to international transport.
Once defective products have already reached Latin America, returning them to China can be costly and impractical.
What should be checked?
Depending on the product:
• Quantity
• Model
• Dimensions
• Color
• Materials
• Finishes
• How It Works
• Accessories
• Packaging
• Tags
• Barcodes
The inspection criteria should be defined before the inspection begins.
For large or custom orders, an independent inspection company may be hired.
Step 11: Choose the shipping method from China to Latin America
The appropriate method depends on the volume, weight, urgency, value, and destination of the goods.
Express Shipping
Suitable for:
• Samples
• Small packages
• Urgent shipments
It's usually fast, but it can be expensive for large volumes.
Air Transport
Suitable for:
• Higher-value products
• Medium loads
• Urgent inventory
It is generally faster than shipping by sea, but also more expensive.
Maritime Transport
Suitable for:
• Heavy cargo
• Large quantities
• Wholesale imports
• Operations sensitive to transportation costs
Shippers can use LCL for smaller shipments or FCL when they have enough volume to fill an entire container.
Step 12: Understanding Incoterms
Incoterms establish important responsibilities, costs, and points of risk transfer between the seller and the buyer.
Some of the terms used in international trade include:
• EXW
• FCA
• FOB
• DAP
• DDP
EXW
Under EXW terms, the seller generally makes the goods available to the buyer at the seller's premises, and the buyer assumes a significant portion of the subsequent responsibilities.
For international buyers, it is advisable to carefully consider whether EXW is truly appropriate, especially given the formalities involved in exporting.
DDP
Under DDP, the seller assumes many more obligations and typically arranges for transportation and handles the export and import formalities through to the agreed destination.
However, DDP should not automatically be considered the best option.
In certain countries, a foreign seller may encounter legal or administrative difficulties in properly handling the import process.
Therefore, before selecting DDP, it is advisable to verify how customs clearance will actually be handled.
Step 13: Prepare for customs clearance in Latin America
Each Latin American country has its own regulations, taxes, tariffs, procedures, and import requirements.
Before shipping, you must correctly identify the product's tariff classification and verify whether it requires any permits, registrations, or certifications.
Common documents include:
• Commercial Invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of lading or air waybill
• Certificate of origin, when applicable
• Import permits, when required
• Product certificates, when required
Tariffs may depend on the tariff classification, customs value, country of origin, and the applicable regulations in the importing country.
For this reason, there is no single tax rate that applies to all imports from China to Latin America.
Before shipping the goods, consult the appropriate customs authorities or a professional customs broker.
Step 14: Receive and inspect the merchandise
After customs clearance, the products can be transported to the warehouse, fulfillment center, store, or the buyer's final destination.
However, the process should not yet be considered complete.
When you receive the merchandise, please check:
• Number of boxes
• Exterior damage
• Quantities
• Product Status
• Missing products
• Damage to the packaging
Document any problems immediately.
Photographs and videos can serve as evidence in the event that you need to file a claim with the supplier, warehouse, carrier, or insurance company.
Practical example: a small Latin American vendor who buys at 1688
Let's imagine an e-commerce seller who wants to import home accessories from China.
Instead of immediately purchasing 5,000 units of a single product, he decides to try four products from three different suppliers.
The process could be as follows:
- Research local demand.
- Select four products.
- Compare different providers.
- Verify the selected companies.
- Request samples.
- Confirm specifications.
- Place small initial orders.
- Send all products to a warehouse in China.
- Inspect the merchandise.
- Consolidate orders.
- Optimize packaging.
- Carry out international transportation.
- Complete customs clearance.
- Deliver the products to the local warehouse.
- Analyze sales before placing a new order.
This strategy does not eliminate all business risks.
However, you can reduce the capital committed before testing whether the products actually work in the market.
Common Mistakes When Shopping on 1688 from Latin America
Always choose the cheapest provider
The lowest unit price does not necessarily mean the lowest final cost.
Quality issues, delays, incorrect specifications, or poor packaging can turn a cheap purchase into a costly transaction.
Do not request samples
The photographs do not allow for a complete assessment of the quality.
Samples are especially important for customized, technical, or electronic products.
Ignoring import regulations
Just because a product can be sold in China does not automatically mean that it meets the requirements of Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina, or any other market.
Check the regulations before placing your order.
Send without inspection
Detecting a problem before exporting the goods is usually much easier than resolving it after they have arrived in the destination country.
Ignore the volumetric weight
A large, lightweight box can result in high shipping costs.
For this reason, optimizing packaging can have a significant impact on logistics costs.
Confusing the purchase price with the total cost
The price published in 1688 represents only a portion of the cost.
Always calculate the landed cost before deciding whether a product is profitable.
Is it a good idea to use a purchasing agent from 1688?
For buyers in China who do not have their own equipment, working with a purchasing agent from 1688 It can simplify the process.
Depending on the service you've signed up for, the agent can help with:
• Product Search
• Communication with suppliers
• Vendor Verification
• Negotiation
• Request for Samples
• Payments in China
• Order Management
• Quality inspection
• Consolidation in the warehouse
• Repackaging
• Export Coordination
• International shipping
However, working with an agent does not eliminate the need to conduct a proper assessment.
Always ask for a transparent breakdown of:
• Agent's commission
• Product price
• Domestic shipping
• Inspection
• Storage
• Packaging
• International shipping
• Customs-related services
The buyer must clearly understand who is responsible for each step.
Checklist for Shopping on 1688 from Latin America
Before placing an order, please check:
✓ You've researched the demand for the product
✓ You've compared several providers
✓ You have verified the supplier's information
✓ The specifications are documented
✓ You have evaluated samples when appropriate
✓ The MOQ has been confirmed
✓ The payment terms are clear
✓ The quality requirements are documented
✓ Have you checked the import regulations?
✓ Have you reviewed the tariff classification?
✓ You have calculated the total import cost
✓ You have selected the shipping method
✓ The Incoterm is clearly defined
✓ You have scheduled the inspection
✓ The customs documentation is ready
✓ Final delivery is scheduled
Conclusion
Learning how to buy products from 1688 while in Latin America involves much more than just searching for cheap products in China.
A professional operation can follow this process:
Market Research → Product Selection → Supplier Search → Verification → Samples → Order → Quality Inspection → Consolidation → International Shipping → Customs → Final Delivery
1688 can provide access to a very broad segment of the Chinese wholesale market, but international buyers must also manage the challenges inherent in cross-border trade.
For a novice importer, it may be wiser to start with samples and relatively small orders before increasing volumes.
As experience grows, it becomes possible to optimize suppliers, quality control, packaging, consolidation, international shipping, and inventory management.
The goal should not simply be to find the cheapest product on 1688.
The goal should be to build a reliable purchasing system that allows you to import suitable products, maintain quality, and achieve a total import cost that is commercially sustainable.
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