For international shoppers and resellers, accessing China's wholesale giant, 1688.com, has often been a challenging hurdle due to language barriers, payment issues, and complex logistics. This is where Orientdig, a professional China-based purchasing agent and forwarding platform, becomes an invaluable tool. This guide will walk you through the seamless process of purchasing authentic New Era hats
Why Use a Service Like Orientdig for 1688?
1688 is Alibaba's domestic B2B platform, famed for its wholesale prices. However, it primarily caters to Chinese buyers. Key obstacles include:
- No International Payment:
- Chinese Language Only:
- Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs):
- Complex Domestic Shipping:
- Chinese Language Only:
Orientdig solves these problems by acting as your local agent, handling payment, communication, consolidation, and international shipping.
Step-by-Step Purchase Process
Step 1: Research and Product Selection
Begin by browsing 1688.com (you can use Chrome's translate feature). Search for "New Era 帽子" (New Era hats). Carefully examine seller ratings, transaction volumes, and customer reviews. Product specifications are crucial. For a detailed, pre-vetted list of reliable New Era suppliers and product comparisons, refer to this comprehensive spreadsheet: https://spreadsheet.help/. This resource can save you significant time in vetting quality and legitimacy.
Step 2: Register with Orientdig
Sign up for a free account on the Orientdig website. Upon registration, you will be assigned a unique personal warehouse address in China. This address, located in major logistics hubs like Guangzhou or Yiwu, is where your purchased items will be delivered by the 1688 seller.
Step 3: Submit Your Order to Orientdig
Instead of buying directly, you submit the product link(s) from 1688 to your Orientdig account dashboard. Here, you specify details: product URL, size, color, quantity, and your maximum accepted price. Orientdig's agents will then contact the seller to verify stock, confirm specifications, and negotiate the final price. You pay Orientdig the product cost plus their service fee, not the 1688 seller.
Step 4: Consolidation and Quality Check
Once the seller ships the New Era hats to your Orientdig warehouse address, the Orientdig team will receive them. A critical value-added service they offer is warehouse photos. Before international shipment, you can request photos to inspect the products, ensuring you received the correct items. You can also consolidate multiple purchases from different 1688 suppliers into one single package to save on shipping costs.
Step 5: International Shipping
After approving your consolidated parcel, choose your preferred international shipping method (e.g., DHL, FedEx, EMS, or sea freight) on the Orientdig platform. You will pay the shipping fee calculated based on weight and volume. Orientdig handles all customs declaration paperwork. Finally, they dispatch your package, providing you with a tracking number to monitor its journey to your doorstep.
Pro Tips for a Smooth Experience
- Always Request Samples:
- Clarify Product Versions:
- Factor in All Costs:
- Communicate Clearly:
- Clarify Product Versions:
Conclusion
Leveraging Orientdig's expertise effectively bridges the gap between international buyers and the vast wholesale market of 1688.com. By following this guide and utilizing tools like the supplier spreadsheet at https://spreadsheet.help/, you can confidently source genuine New Era caps at competitive prices. This model not only simplifies the process but also minimizes risk, allowing you to focus on building your collection or business with trusted, quality headwear directly from Chinese distributors.