Sourcing glossary
1688
Also known as: 1688.com, Alibaba 1688, 阿里巴巴1688
Alibaba Group's domestic Chinese wholesale marketplace, where factories and wholesalers sell to Chinese businesses in RMB, mostly with delivery inside mainland China.
1688.com often shows lower prices and smaller minimums than export platforms because it serves Chinese retailers and online sellers. Listings and chat are in Chinese, payment normally runs through Alipay, and most sellers only ship to an address in China, so overseas buyers typically use a purchasing agent or a China-based forwarder and pay through a cross-border payment route.
1688 has its own secured-transaction and dispute rules; Alibaba.com's Trade Assurance does not apply. See how to buy from 1688 and 1688 vs Alibaba vs Taobao.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
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What Alibaba.com Trade Assurance covers and excludes, which payments qualify, refund windows, delivery-delay compensation and how to file a claim.
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QC
Defective Goods from China: What to Do When Your Order Arrives Wrong
Defective goods from a Chinese supplier? How to document evidence, use your PO terms, negotiate a fix, file Trade Assurance or insurance claims, and prevent repeats.
Updated 2026-09-21 · 5 min read
Private label
How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Suppliers
Why Chinese factories set minimum order quantities and practical ways to lower them: stock colours, shared materials, trial orders, mixed SKUs and how to ask.
Updated 2026-09-18 · 5 min read
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How to Verify an Alibaba Supplier Before You Pay
Check an Alibaba.com supplier step by step: what Verified and Gold Supplier badges mean, business license lookups, factory vs trader signals and red flags.
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Part of 1688, Alibaba & Taobao.