Business · Beginner
Order goods straight from Chinese marketplaces with confidence
A practical video course that takes you from registering on 1688 and Taobao to paying through Alipay, chatting with sellers and getting the parcel delivered.
- 22 video lessons
- Alipay and delivery guides
- Downloadable files and apps
- 3 months of access
- 14-day refund
Why buying from China feels harder than it looks
Most of the products you see in online shops, on resale platforms and in marketplaces were made in China. The factories that make them sell through their own marketplaces, often at a fraction of the price you pay after several resellers have added their margin. Yet most people never buy there themselves, because the first look at those sites is discouraging.
The platforms are in Chinese. Registration usually expects a local phone number. Payment runs through systems that are unfamiliar abroad. Even if you manage to place an order, questions follow: how do you talk to the seller, what happens if the item is wrong, who carries the parcel across the border, and how do you know the forwarder is reliable?
This course exists to remove those obstacles one at a time. It walks you through the process in the order you will meet it: choosing the right platform, registering safely, setting up the tools, finding products and factories, communicating with sellers, and following the parcel until it reaches you.
The lessons are built for people who are starting from zero. You do not need to speak Chinese, and you do not need any trading background. You need a computer or phone, patience for a few evenings of study, and a first product you would like to order.
What you will be able to do
- Choose the right platform for your goods
Understand when 1688 or Taobao fits clothing, home goods, branded items or electronics.
- Register without a Chinese SIM card
Follow the steps to create accounts and reach the full product catalogue.
- Set up Alipay safely
Register the payment system and use it with sensible security habits.
- Install and configure the apps you need
Prepare your phone and computer using the downloadable files included in the course.
- Search for factories and manufacturers
Use the platforms' own tools to find producers rather than resellers.
- Navigate the sites in translation
Move around Chinese-language pages with a translation app and find almost any product.
- Communicate with sellers
Ask the right questions, agree details and handle returns and exchanges.
- Track an order inside China
Follow your parcel from the seller to the forwarder's warehouse.
- Compare freight forwarders
Use the contacts of vetted cargo companies as a starting point for delivery.
- 22
- video lessons
- 6
- modules
- 3 months
- of access
- 3
- bonus resources
The method: follow one order from start to finish
Rather than explaining the platforms in the abstract, the course follows the life of a single purchase. You begin by deciding what you want to buy and where it is most likely to be sold. Then you create the accounts and payment method that this purchase needs, install the necessary apps, search for the item, message the seller, pay, track and receive.
Every lesson answers one practical question that appears at that stage, and most come with a file, a list or an app that you can use immediately. By the time you reach the last module you will have walked through the whole chain at least once, which is the best protection against mistakes with real money.
The course also keeps its scope honest. It teaches you how the marketplaces work and how to buy from them carefully. It does not promise that any particular product will be cheaper or that any purchase will be profitable; prices, availability and shipping costs change, and you will learn how to check them yourself.
How the course works
The course is delivered as recorded video lessons on an online learning platform. You can watch on a computer or phone, pause at any point and repeat the steps on your own screen while the lesson plays. There are no fixed class times, so you can fit the lessons around work and family.
Lessons are short and focused on actions: install this, register here, send this message, check that status. Where a lesson needs supporting material, such as setup files, a link list or a translation app, it is attached to the lesson so that you do not have to hunt for it.
Your access lasts three months from purchase, which is enough to complete the material at a relaxed pace and to place your first real orders while the lessons are still at hand. The course also gives you access to a shared chat with other graduates, where you can compare experiences.
The programme
Six modules, arranged in the order you will meet each step of a real purchase.
1Module 1 — Understanding the marketplacesHow the main Chinese platforms differ and which one suits what you want to buy.
- How 1688 and Taobao are organised
- Wholesale and retail: who sells where
- Which platform for clothing, home goods, brands and electronics
- What to expect from prices, minimum orders and listings
2Module 2 — Safe registration and AlipayCreating accounts and a payment method without a local SIM card.
- Preparing for registration
- Registering on the platforms step by step
- Setting up Alipay
- Security habits for your accounts and payments
3Module 3 — Apps and toolsEverything you install before your first search.
- Installing the required apps on your phone
- Working with the downloadable files
- Using the app for fast translation of Chinese websites
4Module 4 — Finding products and factoriesSearching, filtering and judging what you find.
- Navigating the platforms in translation
- Searching for a specific product
- Finding factories and manufacturers
- Using the list of vetted Taobao stores as a starting point
- Reading a product page and spotting warning signs
5Module 5 — Talking to sellers, returns and exchangesCommunicating clearly and protecting yourself when something goes wrong.
- Writing your first message to a seller
- Clarifying sizes, materials and packaging
- How returns and exchanges work
- Resolving problems with an order
6Module 6 — Tracking and deliveryFrom the seller's door to your own.
- Following your parcel inside China
- Understanding how freight forwarding works
- Contacts of vetted freight companies
- Preparing for your first delivery
What you get
- 22 recorded video lessons
Short, practical lessons you can pause and repeat.
- Platform guides for 1688 and Taobao
Including how to find factories and manufacturers.
- Safe Alipay setup walkthrough
Registration and use of the payment system.
- App installation instructions and files
Downloadable files that save you setup time.
- Translation app for Chinese sites
A bonus app for quickly reading product pages.
- A list of vetted Taobao stores
A bonus starting point for your first searches.
- Freight forwarder contacts
Vetted cargo companies to compare for delivery.
- Graduates' chat
A shared space to compare experiences with other learners.
- Three months of access
Enough time to study and place your first orders.
Is this course for you?
This course is for you if…
- You want to buy goods from Chinese marketplaces yourself but do not know where to start.
- You have tried the sites, got stuck at registration or payment and want a clear path.
- You are curious about buying directly from factories rather than through resellers.
- You prefer practical, step-by-step video lessons you can follow on your own screen.
- You do not speak Chinese and want a method that works with translation tools.
Probably not a fit if…
- You are looking for a guaranteed income or a promise of profit; the course teaches buying skills, not results.
- You want personal one-to-one coaching or live classes; this is a self-paced video programme.
- You need an advanced course on Pinduoduo, Poizon or WeChat; this course concentrates on 1688, Taobao and Alipay.
- You expect someone to place orders on your behalf.
After the course
When you finish, the Chinese marketplaces will no longer be a closed door. You will know which platform to open for a particular kind of product, have working accounts and a payment method, and be able to read and search the pages with a translation tool.
You will be able to write to sellers, ask the questions that matter, deal with returns or exchanges, and follow a parcel inside China. You will also have a list of vetted freight forwarders to compare, so that delivery becomes a decision you make rather than a mystery.
What you do next is up to you. Some graduates will simply order a few items for themselves at a better price; others will look into buying for friends or for a small shop. Whichever path you choose, you will start from a clear understanding of how the process works and where the risks are.
Questions before you buy
How much time do I need per week?
The course has 22 video lessons, and you set the pace. Two or three evenings a week is enough to finish comfortably within the three-month access period, and you can go faster if you prefer.
Do I need any prior experience or knowledge of Chinese?
No. The course starts from zero and relies on translation tools for the Chinese-language sites. You only need a computer or phone, an internet connection and a willingness to follow the steps.
How does access work after payment?
After checkout you receive access to the lessons through the order confirmation. You can start straight away, and access runs for three months from purchase.
What format are the lessons in?
Recorded video lessons, supported by downloadable files, instructions for installing the apps and bonus materials. You can watch on a computer or phone whenever it suits you.
Does the material stay available?
The lessons stay available throughout your three-month access period. Files and apps you download are yours to keep and use afterwards.
What is your refund policy?
If the course is not what you expected, you can ask for a refund within 14 days of purchase.
Will the course guarantee savings or profit?
No. It teaches you how to find products, pay and arrange delivery. Prices, availability and shipping costs vary, so you will learn to compare them yourself rather than rely on promises.
Can I ask questions or share experience with other learners?
Yes. The course includes access to a shared chat with other graduates, where you can compare experiences and tips.
Place your first order with confidence
Start with the first lesson today and follow one purchase from registration to delivery.