8 tips for first-time Taobao shoppers

1. Buy from a reliable Taobao seller

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Shopping online always holds its risks, so it’s best to check on the Taobao seller’s rating before purchasing from them! There are a total of four different icons – hearts, diamonds, blue crowns and gold crowns – and they all refer to different ratings!

According to 65Daigou (now known as Ezbuy), sellers should at least have 1 diamond to be considered reliable, but if you are purchasing something pricier, it is advised to find sellers of at least 5 diamonds.

2. Use the live chat function

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If you have any doubts, be sure to clarify them before purchasing! With this function, you can speak to the seller directly.

3. Check the product description

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This is where you’ll find product dimensions, colours, other available pictures of the item you are purchasing, and authenticity guarantees.

4. The reviews matter

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Besides the Taobao seller rating system, this is also a great way to gauge how reliable your seller is! Always check what other customers have to say about the seller.

5. Checking the numbers

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This number refers to how many successful transactions this product has, and once again ties in to how reliable this seller is!

6. Always be wary

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With Taobao, what you see might not always be what you get. There have been cases of Taobao sellers sending out wrong or faulty products. To avoid this, always make sure that you take a look at the vendor’s reviews and ratings before purchasing!

7. It’s all in the keywords

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Google Translate is your best friend when it comes to getting keywords for browsing Taobao. But if you’re looking for something more specific, check out this cheat sheet that 65Daigou has provided, complete with useful keywords for searching!
[["Minimalist\/Simple: \u7b80\u7ea6\u73b0","Sofa: \u6c99\u53d1"],["Scandinavian: \u5317\u6b27\u73b0\u4ee3","Closet: \u58c1\u6a71"],["Modern: \u73b0\u4ee3","Wardrobe: \u8863\u67dc"],["Contemporary: \u5965\u7f8e","Coffee\/End Table: \u5496\u5561\u684c\/\u8336\u51e0"],["Industrial Chic: \u5de5\u4e1a\u522b\u81f4","TV console: \u7535\u89c6\u67dc"],["Vintage: \u00a0\u540e\u73b0\u4ee3","Nesting Table: \u5d4c\u5957\u684c\u5b50"],["Open-arm Chair: \u6276\u624b\u6905","Extendable: \u4f38\u7f29"],["Chaise lounge: \u8eba\u6905","Glossy Finishing: \u5149\u6ed1"]]

8. Getting them shipped

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Sometimes, the cost of a product isn’t inclusive of the shipping fees. Charges for shipping your buys over to Singapore depends on the actual or volumetric weight, whicever is higher. On certain occasions, shoppers might might have to pay a higher fee for the shipping costs as compared to the price for the product itself.

However, here are some points worth mentioning to your seller before they ship your products:

Use wooden boxes for shipping heavier of fragile items
Refrain from using damaged boxes or containers
Fragile items should be well cushioned

Alternatively, you can utilise Ezbuy's shipping services for an easier time! They can help with your purchasing process, as well as inspection, shipping and repacking of your parcels.

This article was first published on Home & Decor.