How our China buying agent service works: 6 steps from link to delivery
Paste a link or find an item, get a manual quote, we buy using store coupons available at that moment, check goods at the warehouse, consolidate and quote shipping, then hand over to the carrier. Every charge is shown before you pay.
Reviewed: · ChinaCarty LLC
| Step | What ChinaCarty does | What you approve or pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Send a link or find the item | Reads the product link or share text; helps source from a photo or model number when there is no link | Nothing to pay yet; share options, quantity, destination country and postcode |
| 2. Manual quote | Checks seller, option, stock, domestic shipping, shipping eligibility and store coupons available | Approve the quote: item price after coupons + domestic shipping + stage-one service fee |
| 3. Order placed | Buys the exact link, option and quantity you confirmed; no look-alike substitutes | Pay first; we only buy after payment |
| 4. Warehouse check | Checks quantity, confirmed options and visible exterior damage; 30 days free storage | 2–3 free inspection photos per item; extras optional |
| 5. Consolidation and shipping quote | Combines, weighs and measures parcels; quotes routes by chargeable weight | No stage-two service fee; pay international shipping and confirmed optional services |
| 6. International delivery | Hands the parcel to an independent carrier | Destination duties, VAT/GST and clearance fees are generally the recipient's responsibility |
This table explains the process and fee structure only; it is not a price or delivery estimate for any order. Stage-one service fee: CNY 6 when the actual item amount is CNY 100 or less, 5% above CNY 100. Domestic shipping is excluded from the fee base. Your confirmed quote governs.
1. Paste a link, or find the item first
Found something on Taobao, Tmall, JD, Pinduoduo, 1688, Xianyu, Douyin or another Chinese store? Copy the product link or the full share text from the app and paste it into the link box on the homepage. Add colour, size, model and quantity, and a screenshot of the selected option if prices differ by option. No link yet? Search products on the homepage, or send a photo, model number and budget so staff can help source it. Include your destination country and postcode so shipping eligibility can be checked. You pay nothing at this step.
2. Manual quote, with store coupons applied when available
Staff check the seller, selected option, stock, the seller's domestic shipping and whether the item can be shipped internationally. When we buy, we apply the store coupons available to our purchasing account at that moment, so the item price you pay is often lower than the listed price. Coupons depend on the store and are not always available, and a coupon, new-customer price or screenshot from your own account does not transfer automatically. The quote itemizes the item price after coupons, domestic shipping and the stage-one service fee (CNY 6 up to and including CNY 100, 5% above). We normally respond within one business day.
3. You approve and pay, then staff place the order
Nothing is bought until you approve the quote and pay. You can pay from your USD shopping balance; before each payment you approve the CNY quote, exchange rate and USD bill. When the order is placed, the item cost, domestic (China) shipping and service fee are deducted from the balance (the service fee base excludes domestic shipping). Staff then order the exact link, option and quantity you confirmed. If an item is out of stock or an option cannot be bought, we contact you first and do not substitute a similar item without your confirmation. Orders are usually placed the same day you pay; orders that need clarification with you usually take 2–3 days. After that, seller dispatch time depends on the seller.
4. Warehouse check and inspection photos
When parcels arrive, the warehouse checks quantity, the confirmed colour, size or model, and visible exterior damage. This basic check is not authenticity verification or performance testing; detailed inspection and reinforcement need separate agreement. Each item includes 2–3 free warehouse inspection photos; extras beyond that allotment are optional. Storage is free for 30 calendar days from warehouse receipt. If an item, variant or quantity does not match your order, raise it before international dispatch. The check and free photo upload are usually finished within 1–2 days of arrival. The basic check and storage carry no separate charge.
5. Consolidate, weigh and quote international shipping
Once your items have arrived, they can be combined into one or more parcels, then weighed and measured. International shipping is quoted by chargeable weight (actual or volumetric), destination, product attributes and the routes actually available. There is no ChinaCarty service fee on international shipping: you pay freight and any optional services you confirm. Consolidation does not always save money; fragile items, liquids or batteries may need separate packing or routes. We ship only after you choose a route and approve the quote. Prefer your own freight forwarder? Choose "Use my own forwarder/courier" when you order and enter the forwarder name, its China warehouse address, the recipient and the phone number or customer code. We send the goods to that warehouse (domestic shipping is shown in your quote), and you arrange and pay for international shipping directly with your forwarder.
6. International delivery
We ship worldwide, to almost any country, using independent carriers. Transit time depends on the destination, the carrier and customs; an estimate is given with your shipping quote. It is an estimate, not a guaranteed delivery date, and customs inspections and clearance are outside our control. The recipient is generally responsible for destination duties, VAT/GST and clearance fees; declarations must be accurate. If a parcel is lost or damaged in transit, contact us as soon as possible and we'll help with the carrier claim; carrier rules and timelines vary, and compensation is decided by the carrier.
Buying agent disclaimer: when refunds apply
ChinaCarty is a buying agent only. We buy from third-party sellers on your behalf and are not the seller of the goods. Items bought as you confirmed (link, variant and quantity) cannot be returned or refunded. Refunds are given only when we could not buy the item (including when the checkout price differs from your quote and you choose a refund) or when we bought the wrong item: a different item, variant or quantity from your confirmed order. See the full Refund Policy and Buying Agent Disclaimer.
Read next
- Refund Policy and Buying Agent Disclaimer
We are a buying agent: when refunds apply, and why items bought as requested cannot be returned.
- Service Fees & Calculator: CNY 6 or 5%
Calculate the stage-one service fee and see which costs are separate.
- Taobao buying agent guide: Tmall links, quotes, inspection and shipping
How to send Taobao and Tmall links, and how store coupons differ from personal offers.
- China parcel consolidation: buying agents, shipping weight and forwarders
Consolidation, volumetric weight and nominated forwarders in detail.
- China Product Sourcing: Hard-to-Find Items from Photos
No link? How to source from a photo or model number.
Checklist to include in your inquiry
- Product link or full share text; without a link, a photo, model number and budget.
- Colour, size, model and quantity, plus a screenshot of the selected option.
- Destination country, city and postcode; disclose batteries, liquids and other special attributes.
- Each item includes 2–3 free warehouse photos; note any extra photos, consolidation or reinforcement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay as soon as I send a link?
No. Staff check the item first and send a quote listing the item price after coupons, domestic shipping and the stage-one service fee. We only place the order after you approve the quote and pay.
Will every item get a store coupon?
Not always. When we buy, we apply the store coupons available to our purchasing account at that moment, but coupons depend on the store and are not always available. The confirmed quote shows the actual item price.
Is the service fee based on the price before or after a coupon?
It is based on the actual item amount in your quote, after coupons. Using the illustrative homepage example: a CNY 200 listed price with a CNY 20 store coupon becomes CNY 180, so the service fee is CNY 9.00 (CNY 10.00 without the coupon). Domestic shipping is not part of the fee base.
Can items from different stores ship together?
Yes, you can request consolidation once everything has arrived. Whether to combine, how to pack and whether it saves money depend on the measured parcels; some items need to ship separately.
How soon is my order placed after I pay?
Usually the same day. Orders that need clarification with you usually take 2–3 days. If the checkout price differs from your quote, you can choose a refund or, with your approval, we look for the identical item.
Is international shipping really free of service fees?
There is no ChinaCarty service fee on international shipping. Freight, optional services you confirm (such as extra photos beyond the free allotment) and destination taxes are still payable.
Payment methods available at top-up
- Rabbit LINE Pay
- BPI
- BillEase
- Kredivo
- Toss Pay
- Kakao Pay
- GCash
- K PLUS
- Touch 'n Go eWallet
- TrueMoney
- AlipayHK
- Boost
- NAVER Pay
- DANA
Payments are provided by Antom. Availability varies by country or region, currency, amount and account eligibility. Please refer to the methods shown at the top-up checkout.