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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inside the Ordinex tooling: Scout, Margin Engine, Orders, and how we turn landed cost into a buy decision.

The story behind building Ordinex: why 1688, what we learned after private beta, and the real numbers.