How to Buy From 1688 Without Agent (2026): A Simple Guide for Nigerians

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Buying directly from 1688 can save you a lot of money. But it can be difficult to get through the platform because it’s mostly in Chinese and uses the Chinese currency (yuan).

That is why many international buyers who don’t speak Chinese use sourcing agents to help them communicate with suppliers, pay for goods, and arrange shipping.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to buy from 1688 in Nigeria without agents.

5 things you need to have when buying from 1688

Below are things you need before buying from 1688:

1. A web browser/the 1688 mobile app: Chrome works best for auto-translate.

2. Use Google Translate to translate keywords.

3. A payment plan: Payments on 1688 are usually made through Chinese payment systems like Alipay or WeChat Pay, not international debit or credit cards.

4. A China pickup address or a freight forwarder: This is if the supplier won’t ship directly to Nigeria.

A lot of patience is needed (i) to avoid mistakes and (ii) because buying from 1688 involves more steps (e.g., translating Chinese pages, chatting with suppliers, arranging payment, and using a freight forwarder), unlike the simpler process on AliExpress.

Do you need an account on 1688 to start?

The short answer is no, you don’t need an account to start.

But you should create an account before you place an order.

In fact, the right moment to create an account on 1688 is when you’re ready to start chatting with suppliers and preparing to place an order.

But don’t worry about that. This guide will tell you when to create your account.

For now, let’s focus on the practical steps to order from the platform.

How to order from 1688 to Nigeria without agent

Here are the simple steps to follow:

1. Translate the site into English.

2. Find the product.

3. Read the product page carefully.

4. Contact the supplier.

5. Pay the supplier.

Note: Before we jump into the steps to order xxxxx,

Step 1. Translate the site into English.

Use Chrome or Google Translate to read pages and search for products.

To translate the site into English, follow these steps:

I. Open the site in Chrome.

From the screenshot, the website is a mixture of Chinese and English.

II. Right-click on a blank part of the page.

This will show the option to translate to English, as you can see from the screenshot below.

III. Click on “Translate to English.”

Having translated into English, the text now shows English.

Note:

If Chrome doesn’t offer translation, use the Google Translate app’s camera on the product page. You can also copy the product title and paste it into Google Translate.

Use the product image search (camera icon in 1688 search) if you can’t find keywords for your search.

Step 2. Find the product.

At this stage, you can:

• Read listings

• Check prices

• And try image search.

There’s no need to create an account yet. Your goal should be to shortlist the products you’re interested in buying.

There are 3 easy ways to find the product you want to buy:

I. English to Chinese keywords

Type an English keyword into Google Translate, switch to Chinese (Simplified), and copy it into the 1688 search box.

Example: “phone case” → 手机壳

If you’re wondering why you should translate keywords from English to Chinese when you’ve already translated the site to English in the first step, it’s because only part of the site is translated, not everything.

So, even if you translate the page into English in Chrome, the 1688 search system still works primarily with Chinese keywords. That’s why translating product keywords into Chinese helps you find more results and better suppliers.

II. Image search

Click the little camera in the search bar and upload a photo of the product.

III. Category browsing

Use site menus to narrow categories and find products.

Step 3. Read the product page carefully.

When you find the product you want to buy, click on it to go to the product page.

When you open a product page, there are a few key things you should check before contacting the supplier or placing an order.

Each one helps you avoid surprises later.

I. Unit price and price table

This shows:

• How much one item costs

• And how the price changes depending on how many units you buy. The price is often lower per unit if you buy larger quantities.

Example:

• 1–50 pieces → ¥5 each

• 51–200 pieces → ¥4 each

• 201+ pieces → ¥3.50 each

Why this is important:

It helps you know how much money you need and whether buying more units will make the product cheaper per piece.

II. MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)

MOQ is the minimum number of items a supplier is willing to sell in a single order.

Example:

If the MOQ is 100 pieces, you cannot buy just 10 pieces.

Why this is important:

It tells you whether the supplier’s minimum order fits your budget. Some factories only sell in large quantities.

III. Shipping terms

Some suppliers write things like:

“只发国内” — which means “ships only within China.”

This means that the supplier will not ship directly to Nigeria.

Why this is important:

If the supplier only ships within China, you’ll need a freight forwarder with a China warehouse address to receive the goods and send them to Nigeria.

IV. Seller rating and years in business

Most suppliers on 1688 have:

• Ratings

• Badges

• Number of years selling on the platform.

Why this is important:

It helps you know whether the supplier is reliable and experienced, which reduces the risk of scams or poor-quality products.

In summary, check these things so you can know:

• How much the product really costs

• How many units you must buy

• Whether shipping will work for you

• And whether the supplier is trustworthy.

This helps you avoid costly mistakes when importing from China.

Note: To get a clear picture and full product specifications, you have to create an account and make sure you’re logged in.

See: How to create an account on 1688.

Step 4. Contact the supplier.

By now, you should have created an account on 1688.

The next step is to contact the supplier.

I. Visit the store.

So, if you’ve found the product you want to buy (like the one in the screenshot below), click “Visit store.”

II. Select the product.

In the store, select the particular product to view the details.

III. Find the chat button.

Find and use the chat button to contact the supplier.

IV. Start chatting with the supplier.

In the message box, you can ask the supplier any questions about the particular product.

If the supplier replies in Chinese, paste this message template.

English → Chinese message (copy and paste):

“Hello, I’m interested in this product. What is the MOQ? Is the price shown for 1 unit or per 100? Do you ship outside China to Nigeria? If yes, what is the shipping cost to Lagos? Thank you.”

Chinese: 你好，我对这个产品感兴趣。请问最小起订量是多少？显示的价格是单价还是按100个计算？你们可以发到尼日利亚吗？如果可以，请问运费到拉各斯多少？谢谢。

Now, if the supplier says they only ship within China, it means they won’t send the goods directly to Nigeria. But you can still buy from them.

So what you do is:

1. Get a freight forwarder that has a warehouse address in China.

2. Give that China warehouse address to the supplier.

3. The supplier sends the goods to that address.

4. The forwarder then ships the goods from China to Nigeria for you.

In other words, the supplier ships within China, and your forwarder handles the international shipping to Nigeria.

Step 5. Pay the supplier.

This is the tricky part.

1688 primarily uses local Chinese payment methods (Alipay, WeChat, and Mainland bank transfers). That means you mostly can’t pay suppliers directly with an international Visa/Mastercard or PayPal.

To pay the supplier, here are some workarounds:

• Create an Alipay account and use its overseas options: Some people who use this option add money to their Alipay account by using an international debit/credit card or linking their bank card. But before they can do that, Alipay must verify their identity, and that verification can be difficult for people outside China.

• Use a trusted freight forwarder/payment agent just for payment: If all else fails, ask a freight forwarder or sourcing agent in China to pay the supplier on your behalf. This option comes with a small fee, but it’s cheaper than a full procurement agent.

• Use a third-party cross-border payment service: Some payment companies (e.g., WorldFirst) can pay the Chinese supplier on your behalf in Chinese yuan (CNY). You send money to them, and they convert it and pay the supplier for you. Then they charge you a small fee for helping with the payment.

Important: Always confirm payment instructions with the supplier before sending money.

See: What are the best payment methods for buying on 1688 without an agent?.

How to buy from 1688 FAQs

1. Can I use PayPal on 1688?

Not directly. Most suppliers require Alipay/WeChat or Chinese bank transfer. Third-party payment services can also bridge this gap.

2. Is it safe without an agent?

Yes, it’s safe to buy from 1688 without an agent. Many Nigerians order directly from the platform.

However, be careful when you do so without an agent. Always verify suppliers, ask for samples, use reputable forwarders, and always confirm payment instructions.

3. Does 1688 ship directly to Nigeria?

Most 1688 suppliers don’t ship directly to Nigeria because the platform serves China’s domestic market, not foreign markets.

To ship goods from 1688 to Nigeria, use a China freight forwarder or sourcing agent.

See: How to ship from 1688 to Nigeria.