Shipping from Alibaba
Shipping from Alibaba and 1688 suppliers to the USA
Alibaba makes finding a supplier easy. Getting the goods to the US without overpaying is the part that catches buyers out. Here's how to handle shipping when you buy on Alibaba or 1688.
- Usual supplier quote
- EXW or FOB
- Ask the supplier for
- Carton count, sizes, weights
- Watch out for
- Shipping bundled into the unit price
Updated
Your three shipping options
| Option | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Alibaba shipping / Trade Assurance logistics | Book shipping in the order checkout | Limited control over routing and customs; check exactly what is included at the US end |
| Supplier’s own forwarder | The supplier arranges shipping and adds it to the invoice | Hidden mark-ups, and destination charges you discover only on arrival |
| Your own forwarder | You buy EXW or FOB and your forwarder collects from the supplier | You need to coordinate pickup, but costs are transparent and you choose the service |
For anything beyond small sample orders, your own forwarder usually gives you the clearest costs and the most control, and lets you combine goods from several suppliers into one shipment.
What to get from the supplier before you pay
- The Incoterm and named place — for example "FOB Ningbo" or "EXW Dongguan factory". See which term to ask for.
- Packing details — number of cartons, carton dimensions, gross weight per carton, and units per carton. Without these, no forwarder can give you an accurate quote.
- The ready date — when the goods will be packed and available for pickup.
- The pickup address — often a factory, not the trading company's office address on the listing.
- Product documents for regulated goods — battery test reports, children's product testing, FCC information for wireless devices.
- Labelling — "Made in China" on products and packaging, and FNSKU labels if you sell on Amazon.
When "shipping included" isn't what it seems
Some listings quote a delivered price "including shipping to USA". Before accepting it, ask:
- Is it delivered to my door, or only to a US port or airport?
- Are US customs clearance, duty and tariffs included — and who is the importer of record?
- How will the goods be described and valued on the customs entry?
- What happens, and who pays, if the shipment is held by Customs?
Buying on 1688
1688.com is Alibaba's domestic Chinese marketplace. Prices are often lower, but suppliers there sell to Chinese buyers, so:
- Listings and communication are in Chinese, and prices are in RMB
- Suppliers usually deliver only within China, so goods need to be sent to a warehouse there to be consolidated and exported
- Many 1688 suppliers aren’t set up to handle exports, so the forwarder handles the export declaration
We can receive goods from several Alibaba or 1688 suppliers at our Dongguan warehouse, check carton counts against your orders, and ship everything together. See ocean freight for how consolidation works.
Shipping samples
For samples, express courier is usually the simplest choice: 3–6 days door to door, with the courier handling customs. Ask the supplier to declare the real value — even free samples need a value for customs — and to describe the product precisely. Once you're ready for a production order, switch to air or sea freight.
FAQ
Shipping from Alibaba: common questions
The questions importers ask us before the first booking. If yours is not here, ask us directly — a real coordinator replies, not an auto-responder.
Should I use Alibaba shipping or my own freight forwarder?
Alibaba’s shipping is convenient for small orders. For larger orders, or goods from several suppliers, your own forwarder usually gives clearer costs, more control over customs, and the option to consolidate.
What Incoterm should I ask my Alibaba supplier for?
FOB for ocean freight when the supplier is near a port, or EXW if your forwarder will collect from the factory or consolidate several suppliers.
Can I combine orders from several Alibaba suppliers into one shipment?
Yes. Each supplier delivers to a consolidation warehouse in China, where the goods are checked and shipped together, which spreads fixed costs across the whole order.
Do I pay customs duty on goods from Alibaba?
Yes. Goods from China are dutiable, including small shipments — the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies to Chinese goods.