Let it be Alibaba, SheIn, or one of the many other Chinese Online Shops currently gaining popularity. These kinds of Online Shops offer great prices and plenty of different products for everyone’s taste, but can you just buy something on these websites without any issues? How long is the shipping process? What if the package never arrives, and what if I want to return the product? This article will cover everything you should be aware of when it comes to ordering something from China.
Shopping in Chinese Online Stores is getting more and more popular!
A t-shirt for 2 dollars, headphones that look like Apple AirPods, or clothing from expensive brands, but everything for the small money? This sounds too good to be true, and oftentimes that’s the case. But if you are looking to buy something, for example, for a costume party or even a lovely dress, that you just need for one night, then choosing an option from a Chinese store like Wish might be the way to go. So many people all over the world shop in those stores daily. Just to keep it in perspective, the famous Chinese Online Shop Alibaba had a revenue of US$109.480 billion (2021)! This shows how popular and widespread shopping in these Online Shops is, but can you just buy something without any second thought? Unfortunately not! You need to keep in mind some aspects when it comes to buying from a Chinese Online Shop!
Want to order something from China? This is what you should be aware of
You should keep a few things in mind when ordering from a Chinese online store, like taxes and shipping. Here we will give you more helpful information!
Taxes
When you buy something from China, you ALWAYS have to pay VAT on top of the product price. If you are a business owner and want to buy products from China, you can get your VAT back. Ask your accountant for further information. Plus: If the value of your goods is over 1600 Dollars you also have to pay duty. That’s why we would recommend staying under this expense.
Lost packages
Shipping from China usually takes a long time – starting from 30 days! The seller on these websites usually offer free shipping, but no tracking number, etc. We wouldn’t recommend using these providers, but rather pay extra for a secure shipping method with a tracking number like Yun Express. This way, you can always see where your package is and be secured if your parcel gets lost.
Quality
Don’t expect excellent quality from products that only cost a few dollars. If you are looking for a high-quality product that will last a long time – this might not be the right choice for you. Of course, there are also great Chinese Online Shops with good material and high-quality goods, but these pieces have their price.
Forbidden goods
Be aware that you are not allowed to import whatever you want! There are rules for what is allowed; for example, it is forbidden to import fresh goods, meat, cheese, drugs, guns, etc. If you want to be sure, we advise you to check out the US Customs website. This will help you to determine what you can buy import and what is forbidden.
