In recent years, Chinese e-commerce platforms like 1688 (Alibaba's wholesale marketplace) have become popular among international shoppers seeking affordable fashion. However, purchasing directly from 1688 can be challenging due to language barriers and international shipping restrictions. This is where Loongbuy, a China-based purchasing agent, comes into play. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Loongbuy to buy Acne Studios items from 1688.
1. Finding Acne Studios Products on 1688
First, browse 1688.com (requires Chinese interface) to search for Acne Studios-inspired products. Many Chinese manufacturers produce high-quality alternatives or unintentional replicas of designer items at significantly lower prices. For a curated list of suppliers, check this product spreadsheet guide
Register an account on Loongbuy.com (their English-friendly platform). Their service acts as a middleman—purchasing items on your behalf, consolidating packages, and shipping internationally. Unlike competitors, Loongbuy specializes in translating product pages and handling quality checks before forwarding items. "Loongbuy saves me 40% compared to buying Acne Studios retail, even with shipping fees." — Verified customer review After copying the 1688 product link, paste it into Loongbuy's order form. Specify details like size, color, and quantity. A unique feature of Loongbuy is their "Bulky Purchase Discount"—when ordering multiple items, they negotiate better prices with sellers (unavailable on Western platforms like Taobao).2. Signing Up with Loongbuy
3. Placing Your Order
Cost Breakdown Example (USD):
| Item | 1688 Price | Loongbuy Fee | Est. Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acne-style sweater | $25 | $4 | $12 |
| 4-piece haul | $100 | $15 | $30 (combined) |
4. QC and Shipping
Upon receiving your items in their warehouse (usually 3-5 days), Loongbuy provides free QC photos. If unsatisfied, they can return/exchange before international shipment. They offer multiple shipping methods (DHL/FedEx for speed, EMS/ePacket for budget). Pro tip: Select "Remove Original Packaging" to reduce volumetric weight costs.
Note:externally maintained spreadsheet
5. Custom Duties and Delivery
Loongbuy declares lower customs values by default (you can adjust this), minimizing import taxes. Delivery takes 7-15 days post-shipment. While not as fast as Amazon, their parcel tracking is reliable.
Why Loongbuy Over Other Agents?
- No service fees
- Export invoices for customs included free of charge
- English support via WhatsApp/email with < 12-hour response time
Final cost for an Acne Studios-style wool coat: ~$80 via Loongbuy vs. $350+ retail. Fashion enthusiasts report over 90% satisfaction with the quality-to-price ratio through this method. For seasonal product alerts, follow Loongbuy's Instagram @loongbuy_official where they share 1688 finds weekly.