Taobao....... Who has used them?

Here We Go Again · #1 10-17-2009

Has anyone used them before?
Taobao Link

Besides the fact that the entire site is based in China as well as the text.
I understand that there are "Agents" that will do your buying and re-shipping for you.
Such as this site:
Spree on Taobao Now!

Pros?

Cons?

Burning · #2 10-17-2009

I was thinking about doing that before but I never considered it since it took too much time and money. You first have to wit for the item to come to them which could take a while. It's easier just sourcing out a supplier and doing it yourself.

GreenBean · #3 10-17-2009

MyBad. I read the title as Tobacco....

#4 10-17-2009

I clicked the link. When I arrived at the page, I didn't recognize the font. I got about 1 inch from my monitor, tilited it almost perpendicular to my face, squinted and crossed my eyes. I think I made out a line-art image of Ozzy Osbourne wearing a Micky Mouse hat. But I was unable to discern what he was demonstating.

What is taobao?

GreenBean · #5 10-17-2009

^^^taobao is the Chinese equivalent to ebay. Buy-it now format. Hilarious to use, though you can get English-speaking guides to help.

Taobao Field Guide - Buy from Taobao with English Guides

Burning · #6 10-17-2009

Taobao is the most popular auction site in China. It is the biggest ebay competitor in china. Unfortunately taobao is only for chinese users, but they have launched a new site called aliexpress which can be found at alibaba.com. Aliexpress is in english but it is not an auction site. Aliexpress is comparable to dhgate.

#7 10-17-2009

Ah, so Ozzy could have been holding anything. The thrust of the thing is that he was selling 'something' using taobao.

Thanks for the explanation. It's clear as mud, now. Before, I had no clue whatsoever.

On the less humorous side, I'm intrigued.

Lyda · #8 10-17-2009

I more interested in other big Asian auction sites. Taobao would not have a product I am looking for..

Burning · #9 10-17-2009

Lol, we have some chinese users on the forum. Maybe they can help us read chinese.

Burning · #10 10-17-2009

What other auction sites are there lynda? The only big auction sites I know of are taobao and ebay.

Lyda · #11 10-17-2009

While back you could get your own password and talk to sellers directly...There was website explaining how to do this. I'll look if I have this link still..

flipstardirect · #12 10-17-2009

I have frequently purchased resellable goods from taobao, think of it as the no-rules, black-market half-brother of eBay, where pakes and illicit items are commonplace, and at very reasonable prices. ^_^

And to get an account all you need is to be able to read basic chinese, and make frequent use of google translator. Furthermore you need a chinese bank account to use their payment system 'Alipay', which won't be too hard to get legally, just finding someone to help you set one up would be the problem - especially if you live in a country which does constant overseas sweeps to counter tax evasion via offshore bank accounts. ^_^

flipstardirect · #13 10-17-2009

You either contact the seller directly, probably 5-10% direct EMS ship internationally. For the rest you'll need a friend/contact/agent to physically receive the items at a chinese address, and reship them to you.

Burning · #14 10-17-2009

Yes, you probably need a friend in china. I have 2-3 friends in china.

flipstardirect · #15 10-17-2009

And they have to be pretty trustable and loyal friends that you can count on to not take your money and bail, if not then use many of the many 'taobao agents/buying services' on the net. Just google that. They should charge 5-10% commissions on everything incl. shipping fees, and their forex currency rates are usually reduced to add to their commission. But most of them I hear are good...

Burning · #16 10-17-2009

Yes, I would rather have some agent do it for me since I have never met those so called "friends." Also most agents get a discounted ems quote.

Here We Go Again · #17 10-18-2009

So has anyone ever ordered anything from a "taobao agents/buying services"?

If so then what was your experience?

inverser · #18 10-18-2009

Google Translate

apconcen · #19 10-18-2009

Green, I am interested in your guide, I especially made note of the fact when they said

"Experience in dealing with Chinese sellers, overseas buyers may not know the quirks of Chinese mentality. "

Man I feel like a fish out water but god willing i will jump into the China scene DIRECTLY by 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenBean

^^^taobao is the Chinese equivalent to ebay. Buy-it now format. Hilarious to use, though you can get English-speaking guides to help.

Taobao Field Guide - Buy from Taobao with English Guides

moomooj · #20 10-21-2009

I use TaoBao ALL the time! Since I can speak and write in Chinese, all my suppliers are from TaoBao. You can pretty much find any thing you want to sell on Ebay being sold on TaoBao (Once I even bought some Chinese snacks). But none of the branded stuffs are real. Besides that, you can still find some computer related items to sell.

The difficult part is that you need someone who can speak and read Chinese to use the site. And you need someone in China to help you pay for the items. Sometimes the sellers will take Western Union payment, but most time they accept bank transfer only. In conclusion, the language is huge barrier. If you can figure that part out, TaoBao is way better than DHgate and Alibaba.

forever.yz · #21 10-22-2009

Anybody who wants to use TAOBAO find supoliers, i can help you.

ivonnewun · #22 10-23-2009

i use taobao a lot.. i've got a friend over there who works as an agent for me..

I've never used the guides though so couldn't comment on them..

a lot of the items sold on ioffer are half the price on taobao