The minimum order rule, as KakoBuy states it
1688 is Alibaba Group's domestic wholesale marketplace, built for Chinese businesses buying from suppliers. KakoBuy lists it among its well-supported platforms and has two help pages for it. Both say the same thing: every seller sets a minimum quantity, and if you submit fewer, the order is invalid. You then cancel and place it again.
That differs from Taobao, where a single unit is normally fine. On 1688 the row in your spreadsheet may show a unit price that only applies at a quantity you did not plan to buy. The first check on any 1688 row is the minimum, not the photo.
Read the minimum before the price; it decides whether the row is usable.
How price tiers change the maths
KakoBuy warns that unit price and shipping fee shift with quantity, so you should verify the exact figures before submitting. Below is a hypothetical listing, converted at about $0.14 per yuan, to show why the best tier is rarely the one you pay.
| Quantity | Unit price | Order total | Total in USD, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 (minimum) | ¥30 | ¥60 | $8.40 |
| 10 | ¥24 | ¥240 | $33.60 |
| 50 | ¥18 | ¥900 | $126.00 |
If you need two, you pay ¥30 each. The ¥18 headline only appears at 50 units, which is a reseller quantity. When a spreadsheet quotes the lowest tier, work out your own tier before you compare it with a retail row. Our Weidian page covers a small-shop alternative with no wholesale tiers.
Quote the tier you will actually buy, not the one in the headline.
Box counting and who settles a shortfall
KakoBuy checks 1688 goods by the number of boxes. It does not open them to count pieces and gives no guarantee about the quantity inside. If the pieces are short or defective, it says it will help you negotiate with the seller. It does not promise a refund.
That shapes how you buy. Ask the seller what is in each box (KakoBuy says it can coordinate between you and the seller), and keep the listing screenshot. A mismatch is far easier to argue with that record. Our QC photos page covers what the standard inspection does and does not check.
KakoBuy counts boxes; you are responsible for knowing what a box should hold.
A landed-cost example on a 1688 order
Take the 10-unit tier above, ¥240, and assume the pieces weigh 2,000 g together. KakoBuy's estimator on 12 October 2026 quoted $57.80 for 2,000 g on its UPS Duty-Free line to the United States (no dimensions entered). The declaration cost is generally ¥8.
Goods: ¥240 × $0.14 = $33.60
Declaration: ¥8 × $0.14 = $1.12
Line, 2,000 g: $57.80
Total: 33.60 + 1.12 + 57.80 = $92.52, before domestic freight
Per unit: $92.52 ÷ 10 = $9.25
Shipping is more than half of the bill, so a 1688 order only pays off if pieces are compact and light. Heavy items change the picture; see the line quotes on the shipping page.
Divide the full total by the pieces you will keep.
Choosing a 1688 seller and handling returns
KakoBuy suggests picking sellers with the TrustPass badge, comparing several suppliers and settling return terms first, including who pays return shipping. Its general return window is 5 days after stocking and applies only where the seller offers returns. Wholesale sellers often do not, so the return agreement belongs before payment.
Parcels over 10 kg are more likely to be treated as commercial, and large identical quantities can have the same effect. If a 1688 order starts to look like stock rather than personal use, read your country's rules on the official customs site, not a spreadsheet note. Or, if you want help sizing a first order, scan the QR on the contact page and pay per order. For a retailer-style alternative, read the AliExpress page.
Agree returns and contents before paying, not after the box arrives.
Questions buyers ask
What is a minimum order quantity on 1688?
It is the smallest number of units a seller will sell on a listing. KakoBuy's help centre says all 1688 sellers set one, and that an order below it is not valid. You must cancel and place it again with the right quantity. The minimum can differ between variants, so check it for the exact colour or size you pick.
Does KakoBuy guarantee how many pieces are in a 1688 box?
No. KakoBuy's 1688 help page says it counts the number of boxes and does not guarantee the count of pieces inside each one. If you receive too few or defective pieces, KakoBuy says it can only coordinate between you and the seller. That makes multi-piece orders riskier, so agree contents with the supplier before purchase.
Why does the unit price change when I change the quantity?
1688 sellers publish tiered pricing, and KakoBuy warns that unit price and shipping fee change with quantity. Enter your exact quantity on the item page and read the total it shows before submitting. A spreadsheet cell with one price is usually the best tier, which you may not qualify for.
Is a 1688 row cheaper than the same item on Taobao?
We have no sourced comparison, so we do not claim it. Wholesale pricing can be lower per unit, but only at quantities that suit resellers. For one personal item, minimums, tiered shipping and extra pieces often erase the saving. Work out the all-in cost per piece you will actually use before choosing.
What is a TrustPass seller on 1688?
KakoBuy's 1688 guide advises choosing sellers granted TrustPass, saying they give better protection on product quality and on return or exchange service. It does not publish the criteria, and we could not verify them. Treat it as one filter among others, and confirm return terms and who pays return shipping before ordering.
Do bulk 1688 parcels get treated differently in customs?
KakoBuy says parcels over 10 kg are more likely to be treated as commercial. Large quantities of identical items can have the same effect, and commercial shipments face different clearance. Check your destination's rules on the official customs page, and ask yourself honestly whether you need that many units at all.