1. Tiered Volume Pricing and Minimum Order Thresholds (MOQ)
The primary visual difference on 1688 compared to retail stores is the tiered wholesale pricing block (阶梯价). Factories display two or three pricing levels tied directly to batch volume. The first column reflects low-volume wholesale, the second medium wholesale, and the third large factory batches.
Adjacent to the price sits the minimum order threshold — 起批量 or 起订量 (MOQ). A listing indicating ≥2件 permits ordering from two units. If marked ≥50个, the factory rejects smaller quantities. Variations within the same style often count toward the combined MOQ.
Exercise caution with listings advertising symbolic rates such as 1 CNY; these almost always denote packaging add-ons or color swatches rather than the actual merchandise.
- •Wholesale unit prices decrease as order quantities cross tiered thresholds
- •The MOQ (起订量) is legally binding for obtaining wholesale pricing
- •Confirm whether MOQ applies per individual SKU or across the product style
2. Navigating the SKU Matrix and Verifying Factory Inventory
Below the price block is the specification matrix (规格 / 颜色 / 尺码) listing available colors, dimensions, and configurations. Each row displays the recorded warehouse stock (库存).
If an SKU is marked 缺货 or displays zero stock, it cannot be dispatched immediately. Submitting payment for out-of-stock variations triggers delays as the factory queues up a production run.
Always copy the exact Chinese characters corresponding to your chosen color and size into your procurement brief to eliminate translation discrepancies.
- •Check individual inventory numbers (库存) for every single SKU
- •Out-of-stock configurations require custom factory production runs
- •Use original factory Chinese text for precise color and size specifications
3. Domestic Inland Freight: Why Final Totals Differ
Listed prices on 1688 represent factory-gate or local ex-works costs. Domestic courier and line-haul shipping (快递 / 物流) within mainland China are billed separately based on parcel weight and distance.
To preview realistic domestic courier costs, select Guangdong Province, Guangzhou City (广东省 广州市) in the destination selector — the location of our cross-border hub.
Heavy and bulky commercial shipments travel via dedicated trucking lines (物流, Wuliu) rather than standard express couriers, saving substantial logistics costs on larger batches.
- •Inland Chinese shipping is billed separately based on parcel gross weight
- •Set the destination to Guangzhou, Guangdong to preview accurate domestic shipping
- •Bulk shipments utilize economical freight trucking networks (Wuliu)
4. Physical Specifications, Materials, and Carton Metrics
The lower section of the listing features the technical specification table (商品属性), detailing composition (材质), gross weight (毛重), individual packaging dimensions, and units per master carton (装箱数).
These carton metrics are essential for calculating freight density (kg/m³) and estimating transport rates before placing an order.
Review the customer photo review section (买家秀) to inspect real-world seams, true fabric textures, and manufacturer packaging quality.
- •Review carton packaging metrics to calculate density and shipping costs
- •Verify raw material claims in the official 商品属性 technical table
- •Inspect authentic buyer photographs in the review section
How Cargo-W69 Streamlines 1688 Procurement
We eliminate miscommunication and specification errors when ordering from Chinese factories.
Optional cargo insurance (1–3%). Freight payments collected upon arrival at the destination terminal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the checkout total differ from the price shown on the page?
This occurs either because the order quantity fell below the next discount threshold or because domestic courier freight to our Guangzhou hub was added. We verify all totals before payment.
Can I order a single unit on 1688 to test quality?
Many suppliers offer sample purchasing (拿样). Sample pricing is typically higher than wholesale, but manufacturers often credit this difference against your subsequent bulk order.
How can I discover actual carton weight if it is omitted from the listing?
Our manager contacts the factory dispatch desk directly via internal chat to obtain exact carton dimensions and gross weights before confirming your shipping estimate.