The four marketplaces behind your Asdbuy finds

Taobao — the everyday giant

What it is

Taobao is China's largest consumer marketplace, with millions of independent sellers listing mostly new retail goods. If a spreadsheet lists a mainstream item, there is a good chance the link points here.

Best for

The widest selection and the most sellers per item. When you want choice — different colours, sizes or price points for the same thing — Taobao usually has it.

Check before you order

• Look at the seller's sales volume and rating, not just the photos.
• Prefer listings with real product photos over pure stock images.
• Confirm you selected the right variant (colour, size, version) — the price can change with it.
• Read the size or spec table in the listing; do not assume your usual size.

Mistake to avoid: picking the cheapest listing without reading it. On a marketplace this large, an odd price often means a different variant or a thin seller.

Asdbuy note

Paste the Taobao link into Asdbuy; it buys from the seller, receives the parcel in its warehouse, and shows you grade-check photos before shipping onward.

Browse sneaker finds on W2CSpreadsheet →

1688 — the wholesale side

What it is

1688 is Alibaba's domestic wholesale platform. It is aimed at businesses and bulk buyers, and it is often the factory or supplier behind a Taobao listing.

Best for

Buying multiples or lower unit prices when you already know exactly what you want — for example a run of the same blank tee or several of one accessory.

Check before you order

• Watch for a minimum order quantity (MOQ) — some listings will not sell just one.
• Confirm whether the price is per piece or per lot; wholesale pricing reads differently.
• Listings can be terse — fewer photos and business-style terms — so verify details before assuming.
• Do not expect consumer-style easy returns; this is a B2B environment.

Mistake to avoid: ordering a single unit of a lot-priced listing. Read the quantity terms first, or ask Asdbuy support to confirm.

Asdbuy note

1688 shines when you are confident about the item. Asdbuy can receive several units and consolidate them into one parcel so you are not paying to ship each piece separately.

Xianyu — the second-hand marketplace (read this one closely)

What it is

Xianyu (闲鱼) is China's largest second-hand and peer-to-peer marketplace — think of it as a nationwide resale app. The key difference from the other three: items are sold by individual people, not shops. Many listings are pre-owned, and it is also where sold-out, discontinued or hard-to-find pieces reappear.

Best for

Pre-owned and rare finds — discontinued colourways, out-of-stock releases, and occasionally lower prices than buying new. This is the reason Asdbuy's four-marketplace reach matters: a find that is dead everywhere else may still be here.

Why second-hand changes everything you check

Because a real person is selling one used item, there is no store standard behind it. That shifts more of the verification onto you and onto the warehouse photos. Go through this list every time:

• Condition & wear: "like new" is subjective. Assume some use and look for it — scuffs, fading, stretched fabric, worn soles, scratches.
• Read the whole description: individual sellers often disclose flaws in the text rather than the photos. Have someone translate it fully before ordering.
• Request extra photos before you commit: ask for the specific stress points — soles and heels for shoes, corners and hardware for bags, the dial and movement for watches, tags and seams for clothing.
• No-returns culture: individual sellers rarely accept returns. Treat a Xianyu purchase as close to final sale and decide accordingly.
• Stock is one-of-one: each listing is a single used item. If it sells while you hesitate, it is usually gone for good — but never rush past the checks to secure it.

Why grade checks matter more here

On a new-goods listing, a grade-check photo mostly confirms the seller sent the right thing. On Xianyu it does more: it is your main chance to confirm the actual condition of a used item matches what the listing promised, before it ships across the world. Use the warehouse photos deliberately — compare them against the description, and hold the parcel if something looks worse than advertised.

Mistake to avoid: treating second-hand as "discounted but perfect." Budget for wear, verify condition, and only then order.

Asdbuy note

Asdbuy lists Xianyu among its supported marketplaces, so you can source pre-owned pieces through the same account. Lean hard on the grade-check step here, and read the checks guide before you buy anything used.

How to read grade-check photos → Browse watch finds on W2CSpreadsheet →

Weidian — small independent stores

What it is

Weidian (微店) is a platform of small, independent micro-shops. It is popular for niche, trend-led and specialist sellers, and many community-recommended stores live here.

Best for

Boutique and niche items, and buying from a specific store that a community or spreadsheet has recommended by name.

Check before you order

• Check the store's reputation — these are smaller shops with less built-in buyer protection than a giant marketplace.
• Confirm the exact item and variant on the store page you were pointed to.
• If a detail is unclear, have Asdbuy help you ask the store before you pay.

Mistake to avoid: assuming every Weidian store is equal. Reputation varies shop to shop, so verify the seller, not just the item.

Asdbuy note

Paste the Weidian store link into Asdbuy and it handles the purchase and the grade check, the same as any other source.

Browse hoodie finds on W2CSpreadsheet →