1688 is where many products in the usfans Product Spreadsheet are actually made — or at least where the factories sell them first. Prices are often the lowest in China, but the platform works differently from Taobao. This guide explains minimum order quantities, tiered pricing, factory listings and the situations where 1688 usfans Finds genuinely save money.
For the general ordering process, start with the main usfans Spreadsheet guide. This article assumes you know how to paste a link into the agent and review QC photos.
What 1688 is
1688 is Alibaba’s domestic business-to-business marketplace. Its sellers are mostly factories, trading companies and wholesalers supplying the shops you see on Taobao, Weidian and Pinduoduo. Because the buyers on 1688 are usually businesses, listings are designed for volume. That shapes everything about how you should use it.
Minimum order quantities (MOQ)
Many 1688 listings set a minimum order quantity — the smallest number of pieces the seller will sell in one order. It may be two pieces, five pieces or fifty. Some listings allow mixing colours and sizes to reach the minimum; others require the minimum per variant. Always check this before you get attached to a price.
- MOQ of 1–2: works like Taobao. Ideal for spreadsheet buyers.
- MOQ of 3–10: workable if you need multiples (blank tees, socks) or are splitting with friends.
- MOQ above 10: rarely worth it for personal orders unless the item is tiny and cheap.
The spreadsheet tries to list 1688 rows with low minimums, but sellers can change them. If the agent shows a quantity box that will not go below a certain number, that is the MOQ.
Tiered pricing
1688 listings often show two or three price levels: one price for the minimum quantity, a lower price above a threshold, and a lower price still for bulk. For example, a blank heavyweight tee might be priced one way for 2–49 pieces and noticeably cheaper above 50. For personal buying, only the first tier is usually relevant — but it is still often below the Taobao price for the same factory product.
Where 1688 beats every other platform
| Category | Why 1688 works |
|---|---|
| Blank T-shirts | Factory-direct heavyweight cotton at low unit prices |
| Socks and underwear | Sold in packs, light to ship |
| Caps and beanies | Plain headwear made in bulk |
| Basic hoodies | Good fabric weights without brand markup |
| Bags and small accessories | Same items as retail shops, before the markup |
Where 1688 is weaker: fashion pieces with detailed prints, sneakers, and anything where you need many sizes and fit notes. Factories often publish a single generic size chart, and detail photos may be catalogue images rather than real product shots.
Reading a factory listing
Supplier type
1688 marks whether a seller is a manufacturer or a trading company. Manufacturers usually have better prices and more consistent stock. Trading companies offer wider choice but add a layer between you and production.
Years on the platform and repeat rate
Look for suppliers with several years on 1688 and a healthy repeat-purchase rate. Businesses do not reorder from factories that let them down, so repeat rate is one of the most honest signals on the site.
Specifications
Factory listings often include a technical table: fabric composition, grams per square metre, available sizes and packaging. This is gold for spreadsheet buyers. A 280–300gsm cotton tee and a 160gsm tee are completely different garments, and 1688 often tells you which one you are getting more clearly than retail listings do.
Ordering 1688 links through usfans
- Paste the 1688 link from the spreadsheet into the agent.
- Check the minimum quantity and the price tier shown.
- Select colour and size combinations to meet the MOQ if mixing is allowed.
- Pay the goods price and domestic freight. 1688 freight is sometimes calculated per weight rather than a flat fee.
- Expect slightly longer dispatch than Taobao if the factory produces to order.
- Review QC photos for every piece — with multiple units, check that sizes and colours match what you selected.
Samples before bulk
Some 1688 suppliers offer a sample option at a slightly higher unit price. If you are considering a larger shared order, buying one sample first lets you check fabric and fit before committing the whole group.
Is 1688 always cheaper?
Not after everything is added up. A 1688 item that costs less per unit can become more expensive if the minimum forces you to buy extras you do not need, or if freight is calculated by weight. Compare the total landed cost — item, domestic shipping, agent fee and your share of international shipping — against the same item on Taobao. The Taobao guide covers how those listings are priced.
Building a haul around 1688 finds
1688 is ideal for the “light and useful” layer of a parcel. A sensible pattern is to choose your main piece — sneakers or a jacket — from Taobao or Weidian, then fill the parcel with 1688 basics: blank tees, socks, a cap. These items add little weight, cost little, and turn a single-item shipment into a parcel full of everyday clothing. The shipping guide explains how consolidation keeps the cost down.
Used carefully, 1688 is one of the most powerful tools in the spreadsheet. Check the MOQ, read the specification table, prefer manufacturers with strong repeat rates, and compare the total landed cost. Do that, and the factory floor becomes your best-value source.