This article provides a detailed breakdown of the complete process, core advantages, and common pain points of 1688 transshipment for overseas Chinese, cross-border e-commerce sellers, and buyers. It delves into how to safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively transport high-quality factory-sourced goods from the 1688 platform overseas through professional international transshipment services. It covers a full-chain solution from registration, ordering, warehousing, packing to international shipping, and introduces how Welisen International Logistics makes this process simple and worry-free.
The Complete Guide to 1688 Transshipment: How Overseas Users Can Easily Source Products from Chinese Factories?
Introduction: Tapping into 'Made in China', 1688 is the 'Treasure Trove' Gateway for Overseas Sourcing
For overseas Chinese, cross-border e-commerce sellers, and global buyers, Alibaba's 1688.com is an unignorable 'treasure trove' platform. It aggregates a massive number of Chinese factories, wholesalers, and source suppliers, offering highly competitive prices and novel styles, making it an excellent place to find first-hand sources. However, a core challenge stands in the way: How to safely, efficiently, and economically transport the desired goods from warehouses in China to doorsteps or warehouses around the world? This is the very purpose of '1688 Transshipment' services. This article will comprehensively demystify 1688 transshipment and provide a one-stop solution, helping you overcome logistics barriers and effortlessly reap the benefits of Chinese manufacturing.
What is 1688 Transshipment? Why is it Crucial?
1688 Transshipment, in simple terms, is a logistics forwarding service provided for overseas buyers who do not have a Chinese delivery address. You can freely place orders on 1688 like a domestic buyer, but fill in the delivery address as the warehouse address of the transshipment company in China. After the transshipment company receives your multiple parcels, it provides services such as warehousing, inspection, repackaging, and consolidation. Finally, it ships the consolidated goods to your overseas address via international couriers (like DHL, FedEx, UPS) or air/sea freight.
Its importance is reflected in:
- Breaking Purchase Restrictions: The vast majority of 1688 sellers do not support direct shipping overseas; transshipment service is your only bridge for shopping.
- Significant Cost Savings: By consolidating multiple parcels (combining boxes), you can significantly reduce international shipping costs and spread out the initial weight charges.
- Enhancing Shopping Experience: Professional transshipment companies offer free warehousing, photo inspection, removal of excess packaging, reinforced packing, etc., ensuring cargo safety and reducing volumetric weight.
- Simplifying the Process: You don't need to coordinate domestic logistics yourself; everything is handled by the transshipment company, and you just wait to receive the goods overseas.
Step-by-Step Detailed Explanation of the Complete 1688 Transshipment Process
Step 1: Choose a Reliable Professional Transshipment Company
This is the most critical step in the entire process. A good transshipment company determines the safety of your goods, shipping costs, and overall experience. You need to evaluate its qualifications, channel stability, customer service responsiveness, transparency of fee standards, and value-added services (such as free warehousing, box consolidation, packing reinforcement, etc.). For example, Welisen International Logistics (WELISEN), as a professional comprehensive service provider, offers overseas users a one-stop 1688 transshipment solution covering purchasing agent services, warehousing, packing, and international shipping.
Step 2: Register and Obtain Your Exclusive Chinese Warehouse Address
After registering an account on the chosen transshipment company's official website (e.g., https://www.welisen.com), the system will assign you an exclusive Chinese delivery address (usually containing your unique customer identification code). This address is the 'delivery address' you fill in when placing orders on 1688.
Step 3: Freely Purchase on the 1688 Platform
Use your 1688 account to browse, compare prices, and communicate with suppliers as usual. After confirming your purchase, on the checkout page, accurately fill in the delivery address as the exclusive address provided by the transshipment company. Be sure to correctly fill in your customer identifier from the transshipment company in the remarks or order information so that warehouse staff can accurately identify your parcels.
Step 4: Parcel Inbound and Warehouse Management
After the 1688 seller ships the goods, you can use the domestic tracking number to pre-declare parcel information in the transshipment company's backend. When parcels arrive at the transshipment warehouse, the warehouse will scan and receive them, updating them under your account. Premium service providers like Welisen offer free storage for up to 180 days, giving you ample time to wait for parcels from different sellers to arrive before proceeding with consolidation operations, maximizing shipping cost savings.
Step 5: Submit Transshipment Order and Consolidate & Pack
When all parcels have arrived, or if you want to ship a portion first, you can submit an international transshipment order in the transshipment company's backend. You can instruct the warehouse to perform 'consolidation'—removing the outer packaging of multiple small parcels and reasonably, compactly repacking the goods into one box. This effectively reduces parcel volume and the final chargeable weight. Professional packing teams will also perform internal reinforcement based on product characteristics to prevent damage during transit.
Step 6: Choose International Channel and Pay Shipping Fees
Based on the nature of the goods (general cargo, battery-powered, liquids, branded items, etc.), weight/volume, delivery time requirements, and budget, choose the most suitable international shipping channel (e.g., DHL, FedEx, UPS, postal service, or dedicated lines). After paying the international shipping fees, the transshipment company will arrange for outbound shipping and provide you with an international tracking number.
Step 7: Track Logistics and Receive Overseas
Using the international tracking number, you can track your parcel's cross-border journey in real-time. Customs clearance matters are usually assisted by the logistics provider or transshipment company. Finally, the parcel will be delivered to your designated overseas address, completing the entire 1688 sourcing journey.
Core Advantages and Value of 1688 Transshipment
- Maximized Cost Advantage: Source procurement price + intensive logistics costs give your products ultimate cost-effectiveness.
- Unlimited Product Selection: Completely breaks geographical restrictions, giving you access to tens of millions of SKUs on 1688.
- Enhanced Supply Chain Control: Direct connection with factories facilitates customization, small-batch trial orders, and flexible response to market demands.
- One-Stop Hassle-Free Service: Integrates everything from payment agent services (if needed) and domestic logistics tracking to international shipping, saving a lot of time and effort.
Common Challenges and Welisen's Solutions
Challenge One: Communication and Payment Issues.
Some 1688 sellers are impatient with overseas customer communication or only support domestic payment methods like Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Solution: Welisen provides professional purchasing agent and payment agent services. You just need to provide the product link and specifications; customer service can assist in communicating with the seller to confirm details and complete the payment on your behalf, resolving the first hurdle of procurement.
Challenge Two: Product Quality Mismatch with Description.
Unable to inspect goods in person, there is a risk of receiving goods that do not match the description.
Solution: Welisen's warehouse can provide a paid 'Photo Inspection' service. Before packing, they will take photos of the actual goods for you to confirm color, style, quantity, and any defects, allowing you to control quality at the domestic stage and avoid problematic goods incurring high international shipping costs.
Challenge Three: Difficulties in Shipping Sensitive Goods.
Cosmetics, liquids, powders, battery-containing products, branded goods, etc., are often considered sensitive goods, and many logistics channels refuse or have strict restrictions.
Solution: Welisen has mature dedicated channels for sensitive goods, capable of safely and compliantly shipping most common sensitive product categories, meeting the diverse product selection needs of cross-border e-commerce sellers.
Challenge Four: Unstable Logistics Timeliness.
International shipping is affected by peak seasons, weather, customs clearance, and other factors, leading to fluctuating delivery times.
Solution: Welisen has deep cooperation with mainstream courier companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and multiple high-quality air/sea freight dedicated lines. They can recommend the most balanced and stable channels based on your needs and provide professional customs clearance guidance to ensure smooth parcel transit.
Practical Tips for 1688 Transshipment Beginners
- Start with Small Trial Orders: When working with new suppliers, start with small-batch purchases to test product quality and the entire logistics process.
- Pay Attention to Product Weight and Volume: When ordering on 1688, try to request the actual weight and packaging dimensions from the seller to estimate international shipping costs in advance. Pay special attention to lightweight, bulky goods (large volume, light weight).
- Communicate Clearly: Give clear instructions to the transshipment company, e.g., 'Please remove all shoe boxes during consolidation' or 'This parcel requires photo inspection.'
- Understand Destination Customs Policies: Understand the import duty threshold and prohibited/restricted items list of your country/region in advance. Declare reasonable values to avoid customs clearance delays or additional charges.
- Utilize the Storage Period Wisely: For goods not urgently needed for shipping, use the free storage period to wait for subsequent orders to be consolidated and shipped together. This is one of the most effective strategies for saving shipping costs.
Conclusion: Open Your Convenient Global Sourcing Channel
1688 transshipment is no longer a complex project but a mature, systematic commercial service. It successfully connects global buyers with China's most active supply chain market seamlessly. The key is choosing a trustworthy partner like Welisen International Logistics (WELISEN). Upholding the philosophy of 'Making International Logistics Simpler, Making Overseas Shopping Worry-Free', we use professional services to resolve every pain point in your cross-border sourcing—from purchasing agent services, 180-day free storage, intelligent box consolidation, meticulous packing to diverse and stable international channels, we provide you with a fully managed experience.
Take Action Now, Source from 1688 with Ease!
No more worries about logistics; focus on your product selection and business.
Visit the Welisen Official Website https://www.welisen.com to register immediately, obtain your exclusive Chinese warehouse address, and start your efficient, cost-saving 1688 sourcing journey!
Have any questions? Our professional customer service team is always ready to assist you. WhatsApp/Phone: +86 132 2639 0888
Let Welisen be your most reliable international logistics steward, helping you enjoy the advantages of 'Made in China' and win in the global market!