1688 Spreadsheet: A Landed-Cost Example Against the AliExpress Price

What does a 1688 order cost per item, landed?

Here is the arithmetic, using WorldFirst's published figures and a simple assumption about weight. Each tee costs $3.50 on 1688 (the middle of WorldFirst's $3–4) and weighs about 200 g; freight is $4–8 per kilo; we assume a 1 kg minimum charge for small parcels, which is typical.

Our calculation from WorldFirst's example prices and freight range (updated Jul 21, 2026). Excludes agent payment fees, domestic delivery to the warehouse and import duty/VAT; AliExpress price is WorldFirst's $8 example.

The pattern is what matters. A single tee through an agent costs more than on AliExpress because it carries a whole parcel's minimum freight. By five, 1688 is already cheaper; by twenty, it's around half the AliExpress price. Duty and VAT apply either way, and in the EU the €3-per-category charge is the same for a parcel of one category whether it holds one tee or twenty.

Verdict: 1688 through an agent pays off from about five units. Below that, buy on AliExpress.

Dealing with 1688 minimum orders

1688 is a wholesale site, and many listings set a minimum order quantity — two pieces, ten, sometimes a hundred. That's the main practical difference from Taobao or AliExpress, which sell single units. Three things help:

• Look for low-MOQ listings. Plenty of 1688 suppliers accept one or two pieces, often at a slightly higher unit price.
• Mix colours and sizes. A minimum of ten often counts across variants, so ten tees in five colours can qualify.
• Ask the agent. Agents buy on 1688 daily and can message the supplier about minimums and bulk discounts.

Superbuy charges no service fee on 1688; other agents vary. Check the agent's rule before choosing, because on a large order a few percent is real money.

Who should buy on 1688, and who shouldn't

1688 suits three kinds of buyer. Resellers and small shops buying several units of the same item, for whom the price gap is the business. Creators sending the same product to followers or running giveaways. And ordinary shoppers with a big basket of basics — tees, socks, phone accessories — who are happy to wait for one large parcel.

It suits one-off shoppers badly. The listings are in Chinese, quality varies between suppliers even for identical-looking goods, and there are no after-delivery returns through an agent. For a single item, AliExpress's price, English listing and 15-day returns are worth the premium. For anyone reselling, the dropshipping sheet works out margins with both prices side by side.

1688 or AliExpress, line by line

1688 against AliExpress, line by line:

Sources: WorldFirst; AliExpress Buyer Protection page; Superbuy fee page.

Same photo, different factory: checking 1688 quality

The biggest risk on 1688 isn't the price, it's that identical photos can hide different products. Many suppliers use the same product images, and the item behind them varies in fabric weight, stitching and sizing. AliExpress has the same problem, but its reviews with buyer photos and its 15-day returns soften it. On 1688 through an agent, your checks happen before shipping:

• Order one sample first before committing to a minimum order, and ask the agent for close-up QC photos of seams and labels.
• Ask for a measurement photo — chest width, length — and compare with a garment you own.
• Check the supplier's badges on 1688, such as years on the platform and factory verification, which agents can read for you.
• Keep the listing screenshot, because 1688 listings are edited frequently.

A sample costs you one parcel's minimum freight. A bad batch of twenty costs you the whole order. For anyone reselling, the sample is not optional.