Alibaba vs 1688: what is the difference?
Both platforms belong to the same group but serve different buyers. Alibaba.com is built for overseas buyers, while 1688.com is China’s domestic wholesale market. That difference shapes everything from price to delivery.
- Language: Alibaba runs in English; on 1688 the interface and seller communication are in Chinese.
- Price: 1688 usually reflects domestic market prices, which tend to be lower; Alibaba prices include an export service layer.
- Minimum order: MOQs on Alibaba are often negotiable; 1688 sellers also sell small lots, but terms vary by seller.
- Delivery: Alibaba sellers are used to exporting; most 1688 sellers only ship within China.
- Protection: Alibaba orders paid through Trade Assurance are covered by the platform; on 1688 the buyer works under domestic rules.
Ordering on Alibaba: what to watch
Filter not just by product but by seller status: the verified supplier badge, years on the platform, response rate and reviews. The RFQ (Request for Quotation) tool lets you collect quotes from several sellers at once.
Sellers often quote shipping all the way to Azerbaijan. You do not have to accept it: you can change the Incoterm, agree delivery to our Guangzhou warehouse and hand the international leg and customs to TuranKargo. That way your total costs are clear upfront.
Pay inside the platform through Trade Assurance. If a seller asks for payment off-platform, especially to a personal account, treat it as a warning sign.
If a seller offers DDP or "door-to-door" terms, ask in writing who will clear customs in Azerbaijan, in whose name and with which documents. If that question goes unanswered, the cargo risks getting stuck at customs with no one to clear it.
Ordering on 1688: the China address problem
Direct shipping from 1688 to Azerbaijan is rarely possible because sellers mostly operate within China. To receive the goods you need a local delivery address in China — and our Guangzhou warehouse solves exactly that.
The seller sends the goods by domestic courier to our warehouse; we receive, measure and prepare the cargo for shipment to Azerbaijan. Add your TK number to the recipient name so the parcel is matched to you.
Payment on 1688 usually goes through Chinese payment systems such as Alipay. Buyers without such an account often use a purchasing agent. When choosing one, clarify the fee, how payments are documented and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
How to give the supplier our warehouse address and your TK number
Goods from both platforms are routed to the warehouse the same way. Following these steps prevents misaddressed and unidentified parcels.
- Register on the site for free and take the exact Guangzhou warehouse address and your customer number (TK-XXXXXXX) from your online account.
- Send the address to the seller in writing before the order is finalised, and check it against the order form.
- Ask the seller to write your TK number clearly and indelibly on every box.
- After dispatch, get the domestic courier tracking number and the number of cartons from the seller.
- In your request, describe the goods, the approximate weight and volume, and flag any items that need special conditions.
What to ask the supplier for: marking, invoice, packing list
Customs clearance and warehouse intake depend directly on the quality of the paperwork. Agree on these points when you place the order — getting documents after dispatch is much harder.
- Commercial invoice: seller and buyer, a clear product description, quantity, unit price and total value, currency, country of origin.
- Packing list: number of cartons, contents of each, net and gross weight, dimensions.
- Carton marking: your TK number, the carton sequence number (for example, "3/12") and handling marks where needed.
- Sturdy export packaging: thin cartons made for domestic sales may not survive a long journey.
- Product certificates or test reports where required.
Shipping and customs clearance
From the Guangzhou warehouse to Azerbaijan there are two shipping speeds: Express, around 5–7 days, and Economy, around 25–30 days. These are estimates, not guarantees. TuranKargo chooses the route and transport mode based on the cargo, urgency and budget.
Small and medium orders travel as consolidated cargo — several clients on one manifest, priced by weight. For larger volumes, FCL, LCL, FTL and dedicated shipments are arranged on request.
With Transport + Customs ("Cargo"), we handle customs clearance and you see one final amount. If you choose Transport only, you or your broker clear the goods. The cargo is handed over at our warehouse in Baku.
Pitfalls: branded goods, batteries and volumetric weight
Low prices on Alibaba and 1688 often hide risks. These are the issues that most often lead to unexpected costs and delays.
- Branded goods: copies of well-known brands infringe intellectual property rights and can be detained by customs. Do not order them.
- Batteries: battery-powered products (power banks, electronics, toys), as well as liquids and gels, ship under special conditions — declare them in your request upfront.
- Volumetric weight: you pay for the greater of actual and volumetric weight. For light but bulky goods (cushions, plastic containers, lampshades), the difference is significant.
- Sizes and materials: dimensions and material descriptions on listings are not always accurate — verify with a sample.
From order to collection in Baku: the sequence
To keep your first Alibaba or 1688 order on track, follow this sequence. Keep a written record of each step — if there is a dispute, that correspondence is what you will need.
Samples can travel the same way: the seller sends the sample to the Guangzhou warehouse under your TK number, and it ships to Azerbaijan with the next dispatch.
- Register on the site and get the warehouse address and your TK number.
- Choose a seller, then order and check a sample.
- Agree the terms: price, quantity, delivery to the Guangzhou warehouse, documents and carton marking.
- Pay and start production; get photos, videos or an independent inspection before dispatch.
- Domestic delivery to the warehouse; intake, measurement, document check and final price confirmation.
- Shipment to Azerbaijan, customs clearance (with the Cargo service) and handover at our warehouse in Baku.