Buy from 1688.com for India with a clear plan for supplier selection, payment, inspection and shipping. IFC – Imports From China Inc helps buyers coordinate these steps and assess a shipment before ordering. Share your product links and quantities for a written quotation covering the services you need.
What is 1688.com?
1688 is Alibaba Group’s domestic wholesale marketplace in China. Its listings can help you discover suppliers and compare products, but a listing price alone does not tell you the cost delivered to India. Check the exact variant, quantity tier, materials, packaging and seller before comparing offers.
Read Alibaba Group’s official overview of 1688.
How to buy from 1688 and ship to India
- Define your product: collect the listing URL, photographs, dimensions, materials, colour, model and quantities by variant. An image match does not establish identical quality or specifications.
- Check the seller and offer: ask who manufactures or supplies the product, whether stock is available, the minimum quantity and the expected readiness date. Compare written offers using the same specification.
- Approve a sample: where practical, inspect a sample before a bulk order. Record your approved specification and acceptable variations.
- Confirm the buying arrangement: identify the order holder, payment beneficiary, agent fees, exchange-rate basis and documents you will receive. Available account and payment options depend on eligibility and the seller; confirm them before placing the order.
- Arrange receipt in China: agree the receiving warehouse, shipping mark and supplier delivery instructions with IFC before the seller dispatches. Avoid using an address copied from an old message without confirmation.
- Inspect and consolidate: agree the inspection scope, reporting and any repacking. Reconcile supplier deliveries against your order and packing list before international dispatch.
- Confirm shipping to India: obtain a written quotation based on the actual cargo, documentation and delivery pincode.
What IFC can help you coordinate
Discuss supplier communication, buying assistance, inspection, warehouse consolidation, air or sea shipping, customs-clearance support and delivery to the agreed address. The quotation should identify exactly which tasks are included, who performs them and what is excluded. Read our China buying agent guide for a service and fee checklist.
Compare the delivered cost, not just the listing price
Ask for product cost, China domestic transport, buying fees, inspection, storage or repacking, international freight, insurance arrangements, applicable import charges and last-mile delivery. A cheaper listing may use a different material, smaller size or different packaging. Compare equivalent specifications and the full quoted scope.
Send both gross weight and packed carton dimensions. For example, ten cartons measuring 0.60 x 0.40 x 0.50 metres occupy 1.20 cubic metres in total. This is a volume example, not a freight quotation. Use the IFC shipment calculator for an initial estimate, then ask IFC to confirm it against the goods and packing.
Buying from several 1688 suppliers
Keep a supplier-by-supplier list with product, quantity, readiness date and expected cartons. Ask sellers to use the agreed shipping mark. Consolidation can bring several purchases into one shipping plan, but warehouse handling, inspection, storage and supplier delays can affect its cost and timing. Read the LCL shipping guide and FCL versus LCL comparison before choosing a mode.
Returns, disputes and product checks
Confirm the return window, eligibility, condition requirements and who pays return freight for your specific order. Do not assume every seller offers free returns or that a domestic return arrangement covers international freight. Inspecting goods before they leave China gives you an opportunity to raise discrepancies while the cargo is still there; it does not guarantee a refund.
Ask IFC to assess product eligibility and documentation before supplier payment. Listing availability does not itself establish suitability for import into India. Any required product approvals and compliance checks must be resolved for the actual goods.
Watch IFC’s 1688 buying introduction
Frequently asked questions
Is 1688 always cheaper than Alibaba?
No universal saving percentage applies. Compare matching specifications, quantities and the total delivered cost before deciding.
Can I send IFC the product image instead of a link?
Send the image together with dimensions, materials and intended use. Similar-looking results still need specification and supplier checks before purchase.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It depends on the seller, product, variant and customisation. Confirm the minimum for each line item rather than assuming one minimum applies to the whole order.
How long will 1688 delivery to India take?
The schedule includes supplier preparation, China domestic delivery, inspection, consolidation, freight, clearance and final delivery. Request an estimate for your shipment; a listing’s domestic delivery estimate is not an India delivery commitment.
Request a 1688 buying and shipping quotation
Send product links or images, quantities, supplier city, value, packed weight and dimensions, and your Indian delivery pincode. WhatsApp IFC: +91 99119 51631 or submit your enquiry. See our office and delivery city guides.