Buying on Yiwu | Top 5 FAQs Explained

Those familiar with Yiwu wholesale markets have likely heard of Yiwugo and are curious about it. In today's article, we'll guide you through Yiwugo from five perspectives that are of great interest to users.

What is Yiwugo?
Who usually uses Yiwugo?
How to download and use the Yiwugo app?
Yiwu vs Alibaba vs 1688, what's the difference?
Is it necessary to hire a Yiwu agent?

What is Yiwugo?

Launched in 2012, Yiwugo.com is Yiwu's online supplier directory. There are 75,000 stores on the site. All of them belong to the world's largest commodity supermarkets: Yiwu International Trade City (5 districts), Huangyuan Market, and Yiwu Production Material Market. The online stores have corresponding physical stores at Yiwu wholesale markets.

Everything you can find in Yiwu markets is available in Yiwugo, such as jewelry, toys, clothing, shoes, handbags, office supplies, and other small, low-cost accessories.

Currently, both the Yiwubuy website and mobile app support switching between Chinese and English. In addition, Yiwubuy has its own international version, Yiwubuy.com, which is exclusively in English for ease of use by foreign visitors. Yiwubuy products and stores are identical to those on Yiwugo. You’ll also see a “Yiwugo Original (义乌购)” link below the product images on Yiwubuy.

Who usually uses Yiwugo?

Yiwugo is primarily used by Chinese, with only 10% of users coming from outside China. According to Yiwugo's latest 30-day data on foreign visitors, the majority of foreign visitors come from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, India, and Russia.

On Yiwugo, the main users are retailers and small wholesalers. The minimum order quantity for most products is usually a few dozen. For experienced foreign buyers, Yiwugo has become an essential app on their smartphones. They can directly source the types of small products they want at competitive prices, without intermediaries. They also rely on well-known carriers to arrange international shipping.

Another important type of Yowugo user is foreign importers planning to visit Yiwu markets. They use Yiwugo to:

  • Get an overview of wholesale markets.
  • Gather information about interested suppliers, such as store addresses and 360-degree panoramic views, providing a clear view of every angle and product within the store.
  • Use Yiwugo's precise location services to navigate the vast marketplace and visit offline suppliers more effectively.

This saves a lot of time and energy. The Yiwu market is exceptionally large, and for those unfamiliar, it's easy to get lost. Even food delivery drivers use Yiwugo to locate stores to deliver to.

How to download and use the Yiwugo app?
3 ways to download Yiwugo app.
Go directly to your phone's app store and search for "yiwugo"—use the Google Play Store for Android phones or the App Store for iPhones. Then, download and install the app.

Type "yiwugo" into your browser. You'll see the Yiwugo app installation icon provided by Google Play. Simply click on it to download the app.

Visit Yiwugo's official website and click the "Save more on our app!" link at the top. Download options are available for both Android and iPhone.

Register an account after downloading the Yiwugo app.

One way to register is through your email address. Another way to register is through your mobile phone: choose your country, enter your mobile phone number, click "send code," check your phone's messages for the verification code, and then set your password.

Search directly for products and suppliers or use Yiwugo RFQ.

The easiest way is to type in the keywords you're looking for and search for the exact products or suppliers who offer similar items. You can also search for products through images. For those suppliers you find interesting, you can chat with them online to get quotes or send inquiries, as shown below.

Additionally, it's recommended to download the most widely used Chinese messaging app, WeChat, and add the supplier's WeChat ID for quick communication. In addition, you can also communicate with suppliers through phone calls, emails, WhatsApp, and other means.

In addition to direct search, Yiwugo also offers an RFQ (request for quotation) channel, similar to Alibaba's RFQ. You post a purchase request, and suppliers will bid on it. Below are three images showing you how to use Yiwugo's RFQ channel step by step.

At this point, you may be wondering, "Which is better, direct search or RFQ?" If you want to quickly connect with several suppliers, use RFQs to get suppliers to come to you. Then, select two or three suppliers that seem right for you to evaluate and communicate with further. If you're not satisfied, you can launch another round of RFQs or opt for direct search until you find satisfactory suppliers.


Comparison between Yiwu and Alibaba and 1688

Platform language and English skills of providers.

The Yiwugo platform has an English version, making it easier for foreign buyers than 1688 , which is only available in Chinese and requires automatic translation. However, most suppliers on either platform are not fluent in English, as Yiwugo and 1688 primarily target the Chinese market, and most users are Chinese entrepreneurs.

In contrast, Alibaba is positioned for the international market, and suppliers generally speak English. The platform supports English and other languages ​​such as French, Spanish, and others.

Language barriers pose the biggest challenge for importers. For example, when browsing Yiwu, you'll see that many product details are in Chinese, as shown below.

This is quite common because Yiwu sellers use machine translations that can't translate Chinese text within images. When you have questions about product details and want to consult with online suppliers, their response can be slow, and communication via machine translation can lead to misunderstandings, making it difficult to fully understand what you're trying to say.

Buying abroad is more complex than buying at home, and no one can guarantee that the entire process will be problem-free. When problems arise, communication costs due to cultural and linguistic differences can be considerable.

Variety and richness of product types.

Yiwugo primarily offers a variety of small products provided by Yiwu wholesalers and manufacturers. In comparison, Alibaba and 1688 offer a wider range of product types. 1688 brings together suppliers from all over China, while Alibaba brings together suppliers from China and other countries.

For example, raw materials and industrial products, such as tractors and excavators, can be quickly found on 1688 and Alibaba, which have numerous suppliers. However, you'll notice that Yiwu has very few, if any, suppliers offering these products.

International payment options.

Typically, for overseas buyers, Yiwugo sellers allow you to place orders through Yiwubuy. This platform is specifically designed for overseas buyers and supports payment methods such as PayPal and bank transfer. For small orders, PayPal is suitable .

Regardless of the payment method chosen, the platform applies a service fee ranging from 3% to 20%, depending on the order value. Let's assume it's a bank transfer , but you'll still have to pay some service fees to the bank. Please note that the order payment does not cover shipping costs.

Yiwugo's payment options are more varied compared to 1688, which only supports Alipay and online banking with Chinese bank accounts. However, Yiwugo's payment options are less flexible than Alibaba's. Alibaba supports a wide range of international payment methods. Additionally, Alibaba's Trade Assurance service provides additional protection for your payment.

International shipping.

For international shipments, you can forward your order to Yiwubuy platform agents. They will calculate the shipping costs and send it to you for review. Packages up to 2 kg are generally shipped using the most economical options, such as ePacket, although delivery times are long and logistics information is difficult to track. If larger packages are shipped by sea or air ...

If you find the shipping time and price suitable, the platform will arrange shipping for you. Alternatively, you can ask Yiwugo sellers if they have cooperative carriers who can handle shipping for you.

Overall, Yiwubuy's international logistics is better than 1688's. Most 1688 products are limited to domestic delivery within China, with some cross-border items available for overseas delivery.

However, Yiwubuy's international logistics is not as flexible and user-friendly as Alibaba's. On Alibaba, you can enter the product's weight and volume to intuitively compare shipping costs. Additionally, most Alibaba suppliers have partnered with carriers for international shipping.


Is it necessary to hire a Yiwu agent?

By reading this, I believe you now understand how to download and use Yiwugo. Learning to buy on Yiwugo isn't easy for beginners. If you're inexperienced and just want to buy a few everyday items for personal use, you can check out AliExpress as an alternative. If there isn't a big price difference, buying on AliExpress is more convenient.

If you are using Yiwugo to purchase a variety of items for home decor projects or wholesale products for resale, I highly recommend you find a reliable Yiwu purchasing agent to save a lot of time and reduce potential risks.

Additionally, we work with reliable carriers to obtain quotes from shipping company agents, airlines, and courier companies. We can also help you consolidate items purchased from different suppliers. This means we can help you optimize shipping costs and save a significant portion of overseas sourcing expenses. With years of experience handling international shipments , we can tailor the best logistics solutions based on your specific situation.

Monthly Product Report: We collect the most popular items from over 1,000 customer orders to help you find your winning product.

Looking for more categories?

Most popular topics

View all
  • ¿cuál es el mejor? 9 materiales de tazas explorados

    Which is the best? 9 cup materials explored

    Explore 9 exquisite materials for making cups Glass Glass is the most popular material for making cups. Thanks to its transparency, it allows the color and appearance of beverages to...

    Which is the best? 9 cup materials explored

    Explore 9 exquisite materials for making cups Glass Glass is the most popular material for making cups. Thanks to its transparency, it allows the color and appearance of beverages to...

  • Principales clasificaciones de las perlas

    Main classifications of pearls

    Checking pearl grading can help you identify pearl value and quality, even if you're not a pearl expert. However, there's no universal grading system. Pearl manufacturers use different grading standards,...

    Main classifications of pearls

    Checking pearl grading can help you identify pearl value and quality, even if you're not a pearl expert. However, there's no universal grading system. Pearl manufacturers use different grading standards,...

  • ¿Cuáles son los diferentes tipos de bolsos?

    What are the different types of handbags?

    30 types of bags you should know Today I'll introduce you to 30 types of handbags based on their shape and function. I'll also show you several examples from popular...

    What are the different types of handbags?

    30 types of bags you should know Today I'll introduce you to 30 types of handbags based on their shape and function. I'll also show you several examples from popular...

1 3
View all