Direct or through an agent: the plain answer
DHgate is a cross-border marketplace: sellers list products, DHgate takes payment, and the goods ship internationally to you. That is the same job a KakoBuy agent does for Chinese domestic sites, and the reason agents exist is that domestic sites usually do not deliver abroad. DHgate already does, so for a typical DHgate row you would simply buy on DHgate.
We did not review DHgate's policies for this page, so we publish no figures for its protection or delivery times. Read them on the order page, and compare them with the KakoBuy terms covered on the KakoBuy spreadsheet hub.
If it is on DHgate and ships to you, order on DHgate.
DHgate order against a KakoBuy row
| Point | DHgate direct | KakoBuy row |
|---|---|---|
| Where the seller is | On DHgate, shipping abroad | On Taobao, Weidian, 1688 etc. |
| Who inspects | You, on arrival | KakoBuy warehouse, before shipping |
| Combine items | Depends on the seller | One parcel from many sellers |
| Extra fee lines | See DHgate checkout | Declaration, generally ¥8; no handling fee |
| Storage | Not published here | 100 days free |
| Dispute route | Platform's own | 5-day return window, if seller allows |
The agent adds inspection and consolidation; direct adds simplicity.
Customs rules do not change with the route
A parcel from China is a parcel from China. The United States ended its duty-free threshold for China-origin goods on 2 May 2025, so duties apply on postal shipments at the tariff rate in force. In the EU, import VAT applies from the first euro, and since 1 July 2026 a temporary flat €3 duty applies per tariff category on parcels up to €150. The UK collects VAT on goods up to £135 at the point of sale. Canada exempts goods from China only up to CAD 20.
That means a DHgate checkout that shows no import tax may simply mean the tax arrives later, from the courier. Whichever route you take, compare the delivered total for your country. Our duty-free lines page shows how KakoBuy handles it on its own lines.
Compare delivered totals, not checkout totals.
What goes in a DHgate sheet
The sheets people actually use fall into two groups: shortlists and trackers. For either, these columns do the work:
- Listing link and seller name, because listings are removed and sellers change.
- Price and delivery quote on the day, with the date.
- Order number, tracking number and dispatch date for orders you place. Our haul tracker has these fields.
- What the item is, in plain words, so you can judge a listing for legality before ordering.
Track the order, not just the link.
Trademarks and seizure
Listings on any open marketplace can use other companies' marks. Goods that infringe trademarks can be detained or destroyed by customs in the US, EU, UK and Canada, and KakoBuy's terms prohibit them too. We do not recommend or rank branded goods. If a seller's description is vague about what the product is, treat that as a reason to skip it.
If you want one parcel that mixes a DHgate find with domestic-platform rows, the practical way is to buy the domestic ones through KakoBuy and the DHgate one direct, as two parcels. You can check lines on the USA page or ask by scanning the QR on the contact page. For the other direct-export option, read the AliExpress guide.
Skip any listing whose legality you cannot explain in a sentence.
Questions buyers ask
Can I put a DHgate link into KakoBuy?
Technically you can try the manual form, since KakoBuy's help centre says unrecognised links can be filled in by hand with name, price and link. But DHgate is not on its supported list, we did not test it, and DHgate already ships internationally. A direct order keeps the seller, the platform and the dispute process in one place.
Is DHgate cheaper than buying the same thing through an agent?
We have no sourced price comparison, so we will not claim it. The cost lines differ: DHgate quotes product plus delivery, while a KakoBuy row adds seller freight, a declaration fee of generally ¥8 and international shipping. Compare the all-in figure to your country for the same item, same weight, on the same day.
Does a DHgate order pay import duty?
Yes, the destination rules apply to any parcel. The US ended its $800 duty-free threshold for China-origin goods on 2 May 2025. EU parcels face import VAT from the first euro and, from 1 July 2026, a flat €3 duty per tariff category. UK VAT on goods up to £135 is collected at the point of sale.
What is a DHgate spreadsheet normally used for?
Most are product lists someone has collected: link, price, seller, rating and photo. Others are order trackers where buyers log order number, tracking, dispatch date and dispute status. Because DHgate sellers are many and listings change, the useful columns are seller name, order date and the price paid, not just the product link.
Can DHgate items be seized at customs?
They can, if the goods infringe trademarks. Customs in the US, EU, UK and Canada can detain or destroy such parcels, whichever platform or agent carried them. A low price or a seller's claim does not settle what an item legally is. If a listing leaves that unclear, treat it as a risk to avoid, not a gamble.
When does an agent still help with a DHgate find?
When the same product also sits on a Chinese domestic platform you want to combine with other rows into one parcel, or when the DHgate seller does not ship to your country. In those cases a KakoBuy order for the domestic listing can make sense. Otherwise, one direct order is simpler.