The most popular Chinese e-site will be Taobao marketplace. Many small businesses and individual entrepreneurs have their online stores on this platform. But there are other many other Chinese e-sites too.
Taobao Shopping Tips:
1. When browsing Taobao, use Google Chrome as your browser and it will automatically translate the site into English.
2. Check out customer reviews for descriptions, sizing guides, and photos to see how the items look like in real life. Some customers post photos of themselves wearing the item, so you can get a better idea of how the item fits. Also, don’t forget to read the item measurements before ordering – China’s sizing is usually smaller so always check out the measurements given.
3.
Check seller ratings at the top right box of the product listing. Every seller on Taobao has a rating, consolidated from their customer feedback and transaction history. Here’s a breakdown of the seller ratings system. (The higher points have a better rating so it is recommended to buy from sellers who have diamonds or crowns.)
4. Search for what you want using an image. Click the little camera at the end of the search bar, upload a photo of an item you’re looking for, and Taobao will list items that look similar – no more fumbling with Google Translate! Do note that this search by image function doesn't work on the international website (world.taobao), so remember to change the region to China or go directly to taobao.com to access this function.
Happy shopping!
