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Notes from running a marketplace shop

200 articles on platform fees, costs, cash tied up in stock and importing from 1688, in 13 topics.

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Costs & Landed Cost

Why Your Margins Are Typically Off by 30-⁠40% From Reality

The formula (selling price - purchase price) / selling price is not wrong mathematically. It is just measuring the wrong thing. This post explains the most common mistake in how shop owners calculate margin, and why the real figure is often 30 to 40 points lower.

Every article, by topic

Selling on Marketplaces

20 articles

Turn imports into orders: pricing, listing optimization, platform fees, ads, branding, and handling returns.

Topic page
  1. Pricing on TikTok Shop After Importing From 1688
  2. Optimize 1688 Import Listings on Shopee: A-Z Checklist
  3. 1688 Imports: Shopee vs TikTok Shop 2025, Which Pays More?
  4. How TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada Fees Shape Your Margin
  5. Shopee Mall vs Regular Shop for 1688 Goods
  6. Avoiding Platform-Policy Violations With 1688 Goods
  7. Content and Photos for 1688 Goods That Do Not Look Cheap
  8. Bundling 1688 Products to Raise Order Value
  9. Running Flash Sales on 1688 Goods Without Losing Money
  10. Livestreaming 1688 Goods: Prepping Inventory
  11. Using Affiliates and KOCs for Imported 1688 Goods
  12. What ROAS Makes Imported 1688 Goods Profitable
  13. Break-Even When Running Ads on Imported 1688 Goods
  14. Real Return Rates for 1688 Imports on Shopee, TikTok
  15. Handling Returns When Selling 1688 Goods on TikTok Shop
  16. Handling Bad Reviews From 1688 Quality Issues
  17. Selling Unbranded vs Building Your Own Brand From 1688
  18. OEM and Private-Label Orders on 1688 for Beginners
  19. Reselling 1688 Goods Wholesale to Smaller Shops
  20. Scaling to TikTok Shop from 1688 Sourcing: A 40% Order Case Study

Real Margins by Category

16 articles

The real margin of each 1688 import category after freight, breakage, and that category’s own risks are added in.

Topic page
  1. Real Margin on 1688 Household Goods Sold on Shopee
  2. Real Margins: 1688 Homeware Sourced to Shopee 2025
  3. Real Margins on 1688 Fashion for TikTok Shop 2025
  4. Real Cosmetics Margins from 1688 on Shopee & TikTok Shop
  5. Real Margin on Health Supplements Sourced from 1688
  6. Real Margin on Pet Products From 1688
  7. 1688 Personal Care Margins: What You Actually Make
  8. Real Margin on Kids Toys From 1688
  9. Baby Gear from 1688: Real Margin Breakdown for Shopee
  10. Real Margin on Kitchen Goods From 1688
  11. 1688 Decor Margin: What Bulky Shipping Actually Costs You
  12. Real Margin on Sports and Gym Goods From 1688
  13. Real Margin on Phone Accessories From 1688
  14. Real Margin on Stationery From 1688
  15. Protect Your Margin from CNY/VND Rate Risk on 1688
  16. Lock In the CNY Rate Before You Pay 1688 Suppliers

Costs & Landed Cost

11 articles

Get landed cost right: break down every cost layer, hidden fees, FX, and the max buy price your target margin allows.

Topic page
  1. 1688 Landed Cost Formula: 6 Cost Components Explained
  2. Real Cost of a First 1688 Order: Every Line Item Broken Down
  3. Full Cost of Sourcing From 1688: Factory Price to Net Profit
  4. Hidden Costs of Importing From 1688 That Most Shop Owners Miss
  5. 1688 Import Cost Breakdown: 7 Fee Layers Explained
  6. 6 Fees People Get Wrong When Using 1688 Order Services
  7. Reading 1688 Tiered Volume Pricing
  8. How to Calculate Max 1688 Buy Price by Target Margin
  9. Why Your Margins Are Typically Off by 30-⁠40% From Reality
  10. How CNY to VND Rate Swings Hit Your 1688 Import Cost
  11. Case Study: 1688 Import Shop Lifts Margin From 8% to 22%

Capital & Inventory

28 articles

Keep cash from dying in stock: cash flow, minimum capital, safety stock, reorder points, and turnover by category.

Topic page
  1. 1688 Consignment vs Buying Outright: Which Fits You?
  2. 1688 Capital for Shopee Sellers: How Much Do You Really Need?
  3. How Much Capital to Start Importing from 1688 (3-Tier Table)
  4. Managing Cash Flow When Importing in Volume
  5. Managing Deposit Cash Flow Across Multiple 1688 Orders
  6. 30-⁠60-90 Day Cash Plan for Your First 1688 Import
  7. Managing 1688 Supplier Payables When Importing Regularly
  8. Cash in stock is not cash in the bank
  9. Managing Multi-SKU Inventory for an Online Shop
  10. Listing One SKU Across Platforms: Inventory Pitfalls
  11. ABC-Classifying SKUs to Prioritize Capital
  12. Signs to Kill a SKU and Move the Capital
  13. Spotting and Clearing Dead SKUs
  14. Setting Safety Stock for Imported 1688 Goods
  15. 1688 Reorder Point Formula: Never Run Out of Stock
  16. Real Lead Time So You Do Not Stock Out
  17. Inventory Turnover for 1688 Importers: How to Avoid Dead Capital
  18. 1688 Capital Turnover Speed by Category: 8 Niches Ranked
  19. Scheduling Restocks Around Your Sell-Through Rate
  20. Forecasting Demand to Import the Right Quantity
  21. Reading Seasonality to Import Ahead of Demand
  22. 1688 Small-Batch vs Bulk Orders: Which Strategy Wins?
  23. Seasonal vs Year-Round 1688 Inventory: Risk Comparison
  24. Stocking Up for Tet With 1688 Goods
  25. Planning 1688 Imports Before Shopee and TikTok Shop Sale Season
  26. 1688 Seasonal Pricing: When to Buy for the Best Price
  27. Managing Expiry and Lot-Tracked Goods
  28. Tracking Per-SKU Profit With a Simple Sheet

Operations & Scaling

9 articles

As the shop grows: standardize processes, build an importing system, pick a 3PL, and scale supply and assortment.

Topic page
  1. 1688 Import Operations Upgrade Roadmap for Scaling Shops
  2. 1688 Sourcing SOP: Delegate to Staff and Step Back
  3. 1688 Sourcing Software: Pick the right tool for your stage
  4. When to Move From Parcel Imports to a Container
  5. From One SKU to a Catalog: A Scaling Path
  6. From 5 to 60 SKUs on 1688: Capital Plan and Lessons
  7. Building a 1688 Supply Chain That Doesn't Depend on One Supplier
  8. 1688 Self-Stock vs Domestic Dropship: 5 Real Criteria
  9. 1688 Dropship vs Pre-Stock Vietnam: 2025 Comparison

1688 Basics for Beginners

18 articles

Start from zero: what 1688 is, how it differs from Taobao, the first-order workflow, and the mistakes beginners make.

Topic page
  1. What 1688 Is and Why It Is Cheaper Than Taobao for Wholesale
  2. 1688 vs Taobao: A Real Comparison of Price and Quality (2025)
  3. 1688 vs Taobao vs Alibaba for Wholesale: Which Platform to Choose
  4. How 1688 Cross-Border Differs From the Domestic Site
  5. 1688 Global vs 1688 China Domestic: What's Different?
  6. How to Source From 1688: A Practical Guide for TikTok Shop and Shopee Sellers
  7. How to Import from 1688: A-Z Guide for New Sellers
  8. Getting Started Selling 1688 Goods on TikTok Shop
  9. A Checklist Before Placing Your First 1688 Order
  10. First 1688 Order: Step-by-Step Guide + 5 Costly Mistakes
  11. Common Mistakes New 1688 Importers Make
  12. Source Direct from 1688 or Use an Agent? Choose Right
  13. Creating and Verifying a 1688 Account From Vietnam
  14. Paying 1688 from Vietnam: Fee Comparison Guide 2025
  15. Using Alipay and Cards to Pay 1688 Safely
  16. How to Cancel a 1688 Order Without Losing Your Deposit
  17. 1688 vs Pinduoduo for Cheap Bulk Sourcing | Ordinex
  18. 1688 Payments: Credit Card vs Bank Transfer Fees Compared

Suppliers & Negotiation

23 articles

Find, vet, and keep 1688 factory relationships: capability checks, price negotiation, deposit terms, and handling problems.

Topic page
  1. 1688 Supplier Short-Shipped Your Order? Here's What to Do
  2. Evaluating 1688 Suppliers Without Visiting in Person
  3. How to Verify a 1688 Supplier Business License via Qichacha
  4. Telling Factories From Trading Companies on 1688
  5. Reading 1688 Supplier Ratings: Diamonds, Crowns, Reviews
  6. 8 Red Flags of Bad 1688 Suppliers to Avoid
  7. Negotiating Prices with 1688 Suppliers: Copy-Paste Message Scripts
  8. How to Negotiate Price on 1688: Chinese Script Templates
  9. How to Negotiate Lower Prices on 1688 (Chinese Scripts)
  10. How to Negotiate Rush Delivery Times with 1688 Suppliers
  11. How to Get Full Wholesale Price Sheets from 1688 Suppliers
  12. 1688 Supplier MOQs: How to Negotiate Below the Minimum
  13. 1688 MOQ Explained: Hard vs Soft MOQ for Importers
  14. What Is 1688 Trade Assurance? Buyer Protection Guide
  15. Chatting With 1688 Suppliers Without Chinese
  16. 1688 Supplier Risk Management: A 3-Layer Framework
  17. Building Long-Term Relationships With 1688 Suppliers
  18. When a 1688 Supplier Ships the Wrong Goods
  19. 1688 Supplier Raises Price After Deposit: What to Do
  20. 1688 Refund and Dispute Policy: What Importers Get
  21. 1688 Supplier Swapped My Product Sample: A Case Study
  22. How to Write a 1688 Spec Sheet to Avoid Wrong Production
  23. 1688 Supplier Financial Health Check: Full Framework

Shipping & Freight

20 articles

Move goods from factory to a Vietnam warehouse: routes, volumetric freight, consolidation, packing, and tracking.

Topic page
  1. 1688 Shipping: Sea vs Land vs Air Compared 2025
  2. Shipping from 1688: Sea vs Air Freight, How to Choose
  3. Choosing a 1688 Shipping Route by Product Type
  4. Cheapest Way to Ship 1688 Goods to Vietnam (2025): 3 Routes Compared
  5. 1688 to Vietnam Lead Times by Product Type
  6. 1688 Freight by Weight or by Volume
  7. Understanding Domestic China Shipping Fees on 1688
  8. Packing Bulky 1688 Goods to Cut Freight
  9. Packing Fragile 1688 Goods to Survive the Trip
  10. How to Pool Orders and Hit 1688 MOQ as a Small Shop
  11. Consolidate 1688 Orders to Cut Per-Unit Shipping Costs
  12. How China Consolidation Warehouses Work
  13. China Bonded Warehouse vs Direct 1688 Import: Which Fits?
  14. China Consolidation Warehouse Fees for 1688 Orders
  15. SF vs YTO vs ZTO: China Domestic Shipping for 1688 Orders
  16. Tracking a 1688 Order From Factory to Your Warehouse
  17. Track 1688 Orders When Factories Use Different Couriers
  18. Lost or Damaged Goods in Transit: Who Is Liable
  19. Cargo Insurance for 1688 Imports: Worth It
  20. 1688 Ordering Services in Vietnam: Comparing Fees and Speed (2025)

Product Research & Sourcing

17 articles

Pick the right thing to import: find the source, read market signals, validate demand, and avoid loss-making niches.

Topic page
  1. Manual 1688 Sourcing vs Automated Tools: Which Is Faster?
  2. Finding Source Suppliers on 1688 Instead of Middlemen
  3. Find 1688 Products by Image: No Chinese Keywords Needed
  4. Find Hot Products to Source on 1688 Using TikTok Signals
  5. Finding Low-Competition Niche Products on 1688
  6. How to Choose 1688 Product Niches for Shopee and TikTok
  7. 1688 Product Portfolio Strategy: Picking Hero and Volume SKUs
  8. Studying Shopee Competitors to Pick Imports
  9. Validating Product Demand Before Importing From 1688
  10. How to Tell a Product Is About to Saturate
  11. Evergreen vs Trend Products: Which to Import First
  12. A Product Is Going Viral on TikTok Shop. Should You Jump In?
  13. Five Product Groups to Avoid Sourcing on 1688
  14. Reading 1688 Sales Data: Sold, Reviews, Repeat
  15. Sample Orders on 1688 Before Buying in Bulk (2026)
  16. How Much to Import for a First Market Test
  17. Sourcing from 1688 vs Thailand vs India: Margins & Risk

Customs & Compliance

14 articles

Clear customs without surprises: HS codes, informal vs formal channels, tax, VAT, sub-labels, and restricted goods.

Topic page
  1. How to Calculate 1688 Import Customs Fees in 2025
  2. Informal vs Formal Import Channels for 1688
  3. HS Codes for 1688 Imports: How to Look Them Up
  4. Your 1688 Order Held at Customs: How to Respond Fast
  5. When Customs Reassesses Value: How to Respond
  6. Customs in Peak Season (Tet, 11/11): How to Prepare
  7. Banned and Restricted Imports to Know Before Ordering
  8. VAT Invoices When Importing 1688 Goods Formally
  9. Taxes When Selling Imported Goods Online
  10. Registering a Business to Sell Imported Goods Online
  11. Import from 1688: LLC, Sole Trader or Individual?
  12. Vietnamese Secondary Labels for Imports: The Rules
  13. Certifying and Declaring Imported Cosmetics
  14. Counterfeit and IP Risk When Importing From 1688

Quality Control

11 articles

Don’t let defects eat your margin: sampling, pre-payment inspection, inbound QC, and resolving defect disputes.

Topic page
  1. 1688 Quality Control Checklist: Practical QC Guide
  2. 1688 Pre-Shipment Inspection: Full QC Process Guide
  3. QC Workflow When 1688 Stock Arrives
  4. Requesting and Judging 1688 Samples Properly
  5. 1688 Sample Order vs Bulk: When Is the Risk Worth It?
  6. 1688 Listing Photos vs Reality: How to Check Before Ordering
  7. How to Read 1688 Chinese Reviews to Spot Product Defects
  8. Tracking Defect Rates per Supplier
  9. 1688 Defect Rates by Category and How to Budget for Loss
  10. Handling Defective 1688 Goods: Your Rights and the Return Process
  11. Handling Defective 1688 Goods: Opening a Dispute and Claiming Compensation

Ordinex Product

8 articles

Posts about Ordinex tooling from an earlier stage. The tools are still in development, and the roadmap now puts net profit for TikTok Shop sellers first.

Topic page
  1. Introducing Ordinex Scout: Private Beta
  2. Inside Scouts Filter: How We Score Products
  3. Why We Put Landed Cost Into the Filtering Step
  4. Real Data From 50,000 Product Screens on 1688
  5. Scout v0.2: Real Landed Cost Calculation Built Into the Filtering Workflow
  6. Faster Batch Import: Drag and Drop, Multiple Files, Auto Format Detection
  7. Ordinex Orders Enters Private Beta
  8. Scout Private Beta: The First Cohort Is In

Founder Journey

5 articles

The story behind building Ordinex: why it started with importing from 1688, what we learned, and the real numbers.

Topic page
  1. Why We Built Ordinex: The Infrastructure Gap in Cross-Border Commerce
  2. Why Ordinex Started With 1688
  3. Nine Months Building Ordinex: Numbers and Lessons
  4. One Month of Private Beta: What Scout's First Users Showed Us
  5. Why We Are Not Rushing to Open Scout to Everyone