What you pay
Fees
One service fee, shown in every quote. Items and shipping are passed on at what we pay, and there are no charges for photos, storage or combining parcels.
| Cost | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Item price | What the seller charges on Taobao, converted at our stated rate. | At cost |
| Seller's shipping in China | From the seller to our warehouse. Often free; usually ¥0–15. | At cost |
| Service fee | Buying, seller chat in Chinese, problem handling and returns inside China. | 8% of the item total, min $5 per order |
| Inspection photos | 3 photos per item: overall, details and label or size tag. | Free; extra photo or short video $1 each |
| Storage | Items wait while you add more or a pre-order arrives. | Free for 60 days, then $1 per item per month |
| Combining and packing | One box for all items; shoe boxes and extra packaging removed if you ask. | Free |
| Payment | Wise or Western Union: you pay only your provider's own fee. PayPal charges us about 4.5%. | Wise / Western Union: no surcharge; PayPal: +4.5% |
| International shipping | Price of the line you choose for the real packed weight. | Quoted per parcel before you pay |
| Duties and taxes | Set by your country. Some lines include them; others are paid on delivery. | Explained in your shipping quote |
Example
You order a cardigan for ¥268 and a pair of shoes for ¥159, and the shoe seller charges ¥10 shipping inside China.
| Items + China shipping: ¥437 ÷ 6.60 | $66.21 |
| Service fee: 8% | $5.30 |
| Paid before we buy | $71.51 |
| International shipping for the packed parcel | quoted after weighing |
What is free
- 3 inspection photos per item
- 60 days of storage from the arrival of the first item
- Combining items from different shops into one parcel
- Removing shoe boxes and extra packaging if you ask
- Asking sellers questions in Chinese, before and after you buy
- Handling exchanges and returns with the seller
What can cost extra
- Extra photos or a short video: $1 each
- Storage after 60 days: $1 per item per month
- Returns or exchanges inside China: the seller's return shipping, usually ¥10–15, unless the seller made a mistake
- Price changes: if a seller raises the price before we buy, we ask you first
Shipping and taxes
International shipping depends on the line, the parcel's weight and size, and your country. We quote it when your parcel is packed, with typical delivery times. Some lines include import VAT or duty; on others the carrier collects them on delivery. Read shipping and customs and duties.
How we compare
Large agent platforms show service fees from 0% to about 10%. Several earn instead through shipping prices, currency conversion or paid extras such as more photos and packing. Compare the total for the same order: items, fees, photos, packing and shipping. See how to choose a Taobao agent.
Questions
Why a percentage fee instead of 0%?
Agents that advertise 0% usually earn on shipping markups, currency margins or paid extras. We prefer a single visible fee and pass items and shipping on at cost.
Is the $5 minimum per item?
No, per order. An order with ten items from five shops still has one minimum. That is why combining items into one order saves money.
Are there payment fees?
Wise and Western Union: no surcharge from us; you pay your provider's own transfer fee. PayPal: +4.5%, because PayPal charges us that on international payments. Payment.
What exchange rate do you use?
The rate is written in every quote. It is currently 1 USD = 6.60 CNY, slightly below the market rate, to cover currency movement between your payment and our purchase.