How Are Australians Buying from Taobao

Pumpkin_rrr on 15/09/2024 - 12:02
Last edited 15/09/2024 - 12:16 by 1 other user

I can't quite believe this Topic hasn't been discussed. I tried to search but although there are some "indirect" answers, there isn't a dedicated one. So here I go. In case this has been asked, my apologies, and please kindly share the thread.

It has been some years since I looked at TaoBao. Pre-Covid I have a workmate whose husband travelled a bit and happy to buy (small) stuff for me. But they have moved, and I am desperately in need of this item: Morphy Richards Hot Pot Tub/Tray. Have asked the Company and got no reply. There other accessories are super-expensive. Have looked at AliExpress and Temu, have none. Looks like TaoBao is the only one.

As you would expect, I don't have Chinese Credit Card, and I suspect shipping would be super-expensive. How is everyone buying from TaoBao nowadays?

P.S.- Whilst browsing, there are many other interesting stuff, none of which are essential items, but fun to have.

Cheers!

General Discussion

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Comments

  • SBOB on 15/09/2024 - 12:08
    +5

    Morphy Richards Hot Pot Tub/Tray.

    As in just try tray accessory?
    Google says $37 locally. Can't imagine the effort/hoops to jump through make something like that cost effective for a single item but from taobao

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 15/09/2024 - 16:37

      Yep, just the tray/pot as we have the base.
      The original pot is huge, and I would like the split one for hotpot.
      See if you can see it here: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?_u=t2dmg8j26111&id=65568727…

      I have googled for 2-weeks now and cant find anyone locally who sells the split ones.
      Funny enough, Bunnings is selling the "normal" one!

  • Pikaloo on 15/09/2024 - 12:09
    +5

    Superbuy - basically ship forwarder + consolidator.

  • 87percent on 15/09/2024 - 12:12

    Use a agent

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 15/09/2024 - 16:38
      +2

      Would appreciate if you can advise contact details, I will then find out how it works.

  • Downvoter on 15/09/2024 - 12:24
    -8

    Thought this said tobacco. No idea what taobao is

    • illogicalerror on 20/09/2024 - 15:20

      I first read tobasco, then was disappointed. We should have a thread about tobasco.

  • Baysew on 15/09/2024 - 12:44
    +3

    I can't quite believe this Topic hasn't been discussed

    Nothing but TaoBao is being discussed in all the major sporting arenas as finals are being played, in churches synagogues mosques, at Westfield and Bunnings, - it's the only thing people want to talk about. Even the parrot in the fruit shop.

  • May4th on 15/09/2024 - 13:34
    +1

    there's overseas postage direct now. or you can organise your own dropshipper.
    ebay/aliexpress seems easier though if you go into all that effort

  • jizmo on 15/09/2024 - 15:06
    +2

    I've used AIO for Taobao a couple of times back in 2021 to bring heavy motors in. They give you a postal address in China the dealer sends to, then they work out the postage costs to Australia. AliExpress is a lot easier and if something goes wrong

    https://en.aioexpress.com/

    广东省广州市白云区黄石街道鹤联街中海联8立方创意园A2-412#RBOxxxxxx
    ENGLISH
    A2-412, Zhonghailian 8 Cube Creative Park, Helian Street, Huangshi Street, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province #RBOxxxxxxx

  • 852 Neon Nights on 15/09/2024 - 15:19

    It depends on what you're buying, but I’ve found that things are generally cheaper locally in Australia now that I returned from Hong Kong.

    Big W or Kmart generally bring in goods from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh which are cheaper than producing in China. These can include cotton shirts I wear when sleeping and are cheaper than if you bought from taobao. I find for basic items, local is cheaper because of economies of scale, or possibly it is because of monopolistic purchasing power. For niche items, taobao has a reasonable price which is where I get all my stationery from.

    Shipping kills everything on taobao unless you are buying replicas.

    Sadly, I am also not sure how Australian payments are handled. I remember there used to be a shopping card you could buy from Australia Post but I believe that has disappeared?

  • wednesdayfaye on 15/09/2024 - 16:41
    +7

    You can use your Australian card on taobao, there's also no international transaction fee associated with this either because they have a presence in Melbourne.

    There's a few options to buy and ship from TB:

    Taobao itself. Buy and forward via their native shipping service.
    - Pros: longer warranty period (it doesn't count as delivered until it actually reaches you). all done in taobao website/app
    - Cons: you need a rudimentary understanding of chinese (google translate isn't accurate), know how to navigate and use TB, shipping is charged as weight or size whichever is more expensive, very inflexible (if you accidentally ship an item to their air ship storage you have to go with air), short storage time (15 days), you will be charged GST, 15 day storage only

    English speaking freight forwarder such as superbuy who will also purchase for you (I've never used any of these companies, so I can't speak to more specific pros and cons)
    - Pros: english speaking (or good enough), no GST, longer storage time (generally a couple months or more)
    - Cons: fees, they won't help you beyond requesting refunds, TB warranty period is not extended

    Shipping proxy/forwarder only
    - Pros: cheaper shipping, much longer storage time (most are at least 6-9 months), there's soooo many of these guys who ship to Aus that they get very competitive pricing and service wise, no GST
    - Cons: most are chinese speaking and wechat only (I've never asked if any of them speak english but I doubt, they're geared towards chinese immigrants), you have to handle everything on the taobao side of things, TB warranty period is not extended

    All these companies offer air and sea shipping, but air is generally insanely expensive. Sea shipping is the most cost efficient and generally takes 3-4 weeks.

    Edit: formatting

    • onceupon8 on 15/09/2024 - 17:01
      +3

      I agree with what wednesdayfaye has said. My summary would be:

      • If you will be purchasing regularly, use Taobao's native shipping. They support shipping to Australia. Air shipping is good for small items (eg 1-2kg) and sea mail is good for larger items. Sea mail is really cheap. Air mail is significantly more expensive than sea mail, but significantly cheaper than shipping from the US. You will need to patient and invest time in learning to navigate Taobao.

      • If the need arises (eg you are shipping large quantities, oversize items, move onto 1688 etc), find a shipping proxy/forwarder.

      • If you are only purchasing occasionally, use an English freight forwarder like Superbuy. More expensive, but easier.

      • If you don't know what Taobao is, just buy items from Temu.

    • Navanod66 on 16/09/2024 - 09:59
      +3

      Storage time has been extended to 90 days (from 21 days) now. Shipping costs have also dropped slightly, especially bulky item surcharge ($150 yuan to $100).
      So now it's worth buying and just accumulating until one can make full use of a shipment (either 20 items or close to 20kg).

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 16/09/2024 - 13:48

      Thank you so much for your patience and sharing. I'll digest this slowly.

  • omguleh on 15/09/2024 - 17:14

    Cainao is one shipping forwarder, need to link the account in your Taobao app. Then it should be an option at the cart page and shipping/tracking is all done via the Taobao app.

    Cainao have local warehouses, can save a bit more if you are willing to pick it up.

  • rw on 15/09/2024 - 19:31
    +1

    A shipping agent like superbuy is probably the easiest way, shipping can get a little expensive but offer a bunch of shipping lines (Sea, EMS, DHL, China Post etc etc)

  • Wiadro on 16/09/2024 - 22:45

    what is it that you cant get on aliexpress?

    • skillet on 17/09/2024 - 10:30
      +3

      Go on Aliexpress, look for a seller who sells similar items or same brand. Send them to taobao link, get them to help you source the item. Save you all the 'service' fees in between. Works for me many times. I've made many seller friends over the years which I seek for when I need something from China.

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