Guide
What is a Taobao agent?
A Taobao agent buys from Chinese shops on your behalf and ships the goods to you abroad. Here is why agents exist, the different kinds and what they cost.
Why you need one
Taobao is built for buyers in China. From abroad you run into:
- Language: listings, size charts and seller chat are in Chinese.
- Shipping: most sellers ship only inside China. Taobao's own international shipping covers some countries and many items are excluded.
- Payment: sellers expect Alipay; foreign cards can be declined.
- Problems: returns and complaints are handled in Chinese, within a few days.
An agent has a Chinese address, account and payment, speaks to sellers and ships everything together.
The three kinds of agents
| Type | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Agent platforms | Self-service website: paste links, pay, choose shipping in your account | Experienced buyers who want to do everything themselves |
| Personal agents | A person or small team you message, who handles the order for you | First-time buyers, sizing help, unusual requests |
| Forwarders | You buy yourself and send it to their warehouse; they ship it on | People who read Chinese and can pay on Taobao |
We are a personal agent: you message us on WhatsApp and we handle the rest. See how it works.
What agents charge
- Service fee: from 0% to about 10% of the item total
- Shipping: by weight and line; often where 0% agents earn their money
- Extras: photos, storage, packing, insurance, currency conversion
Compare the total cost of the same order rather than the headline fee. Our fees are on one page: fees.
What to check before choosing
- Total cost for a real order, including shipping
- Number of free inspection photos
- Free storage time
- Payment methods and their fees
- Who handles returns, and how fast
- Whether they refuse replicas (agents that sell replicas risk seizures and account closures)
Read more in how to choose a Taobao agent.
Questions
Is a Taobao agent the same as a freight forwarder?
Not quite. A forwarder only receives parcels you ordered yourself and ships them on. An agent also buys for you, talks to sellers and handles returns.
Is using a Taobao agent legal?
Yes. You are buying goods for yourself through a purchasing service. Import taxes and your country's rules on restricted items still apply.
Is it cheaper than AliExpress?
Often, for the same unbranded item, because Taobao prices are set for the Chinese market. Fees and shipping close part of the gap, so it pays most when you combine several items.