Ordering
What is a Taobao agent?
A Taobao agent buys items from Taobao and other Chinese marketplaces for customers outside China, receives them in a Chinese warehouse, and ships them abroad. BopoBuy is a Taobao agent that also covers Tmall, 1688 and Weidian, charges no buying commission, and photographs every item before it ships.
Is it safe to buy from Taobao through an agent?
You never pay the seller directly: BopoBuy places the order, checks each item on arrival and sends you photos before anything ships. If an item is missing, wrong or damaged, you can request a return or exchange within 5 days of it being stored.
Can BopoBuy buy from 1688 if the seller has a minimum order quantity?
Yes for most sellers: we place the order at the seller's minimum, or ask the seller for a sample order. If a seller refuses small quantities, we refund the item in full.
Payments
How much does BopoBuy cost?
You pay the item's price plus China domestic shipping, then international shipping by weight. There is no buying commission. Card payments carry a processing fee of 3.7% + US$0.30; paying from your wallet balance is free. Storage is free for 90 days.
What is the difference between the two payments?
The first payment covers the items and China domestic shipping. The second covers international shipping and is due only after your items are in the warehouse and you submit a parcel, so you decide how much to ship and by which line.
Do you charge a commission?
No buying commission on Taobao, Tmall, 1688 and Weidian orders. Optional services such as extra photos, video QC or vacuum packing are priced separately and shown before you pay.
Which payment methods do you accept?
Right now you pay from your BopoBuy wallet balance, which you top up in your account; wallet payments carry no processing fee. Card and local payment methods are being added, and the checkout only ever shows methods that are live.
Warehouse & QC
Can I combine items from different sellers?
Yes. Every item you buy is stored in our warehouse for up to 90 days free. When you are ready, select any items and we pack them into one parcel, so you pay international shipping once instead of per seller.
What happens when free storage runs out?
Each item is stored free for 90 days. Before that ends you can renew storage from your warehouse (+30 days per renewal, priced in the app) or ship the item. If the storage period expires without shipment or renewal, the item enters the warehouse disposal process and cannot be recovered.
Shipping & customs
How long does shipping from China take?
It depends on the line you choose: express lines usually arrive in about 5–12 days, standard lines in 8–20 days and economy lines in 15–30 days after the parcel leaves our warehouse. Add 4–8 days for items to reach the warehouse from the seller.
What happens if the parcel weighs more than estimated?
We weigh every parcel after packing. If the real weight is higher than the estimate, you pay the difference before it ships; if it is lower, the difference is refunded to your wallet.
What can't be shipped from China?
Liquids, powders, pastes, pure batteries, weapons and knives, medicines, most food and any counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods cannot be shipped by our lines. See the full list on the prohibited items page.
Do I have to pay customs duties?
For most lines you are the importer and pay any duties your country charges on arrival. For the EU, UK and US we offer tax-inclusive lines where duties are collected when you pay shipping, so nothing is due on delivery.
Returns & refunds
Can I return an item?
Once an item is shelved in our China warehouse you have 5 days to request a return or exchange. If it is wrong, damaged or counterfeit, the seller covers it and you are refunded in full to your BopoBuy balance. A change-of-mind return costs ¥5 per SKU plus ¥10 handling plus the seller's China-domestic return shipping; customised items cannot be returned.
Account
I never received my verification email — what now?
Check your spam folder first, then open the resend page: enter the email and password you registered with and we send the activation link again. Still nothing after a few minutes? Email support@bopobuy.com from your registered address and we verify the account for you.
How do I reset my password?
Open Reset password from the login page, enter your account email and we send a verification code. Enter the code and a new password of at least 6 characters. Codes expire quickly — request a new one if yours is rejected.
Guides and policies
Open a support ticket from your account, or email support@bopobuy.com with your order or parcel number.