What does 1688 Overseas UK charge for purchasing and warehouse services?
1688 Overseas UK's purchasing service fee is 9% of the goods purchase amount. Receiving, quality checks, photography, storage and packaging are free. For £1,000 of goods, the purchasing fee is £90. Goods, transport and applicable import costs remain separate parts of the order budget.
Connect the goods purchase amount, purchasing fee and transport budget to one order brief.
Third-party scene photography accompanies the guidance. It does not document our facilities or an order handled by us.
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Calculate the purchasing fee from the goods amount
Calculate the purchasing fee as goods purchase amount × 9%. Keep both figures in the same currency. Shipping is outside this fee base. Retain the approved variants, quantities and supplier prices so a changed order can be reconciled against the goods actually purchased.
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| Goods purchase amount | Purchasing service fee | Goods plus purchasing fee |
|---|---|---|
| £500 | £45 | £545 |
| £1,000 | £90 | £1,090 |
| £2,500 | £225 | £2,725 |
Keep the free services visible in the order plan
Receiving, quality checks, photography, storage and packaging are all free with our service. List them in your brief even though they carry no service charge: the team still needs to know which goods to receive, what to check, which photographs you need and how the order should be packed. For example, a free photo is useful when it shows the exact variant and a measurement you requested. A general image of an unlabelled carton may leave that question unanswered.
- Receiving: match the supplier dispatch to your order and expected stock.
- Quality checks and photography: give the current specification and the details you want recorded.
- Storage: identify goods to hold, outstanding decisions and the intended release sequence.
- Packaging: provide the approved packing and label instructions before dispatch.
Build a total budget beyond the service fee
Build the delivered-cost budget from separate lines for goods, the purchasing fee, China domestic transport, international transport and destination charges. Add any payment or currency costs shown in the actual quotation. Mark each figure as confirmed, estimated or still missing. Free warehouse services do not settle the transport or import amounts.
Back to guide contentsChoose a route against the shipment you will send
Our network offers 3000+ routes covering destinations worldwide. Options include international express and parcel logistics, plus air, sea and road freight with consolidated, full-container and full-truck services as applicable. Begin with the destination postcode, goods description, carton count, outside dimensions, gross weight and required receiving date. A route count describes the network; the available service for your order depends on its goods, destination and packing. Ask for the suitable choices using one consistent shipment brief.
Quote the actual shipment
The transport choice needs the destination, contents and final packing. Compare the same shipment across the proposed services.
Compare DDP and DAP using their written responsibilities
We support DDP and DAP services. Confirm the named delivery place, import arrangements, included charges and receiving requirements for the option quoted. A taxes-included quotation still needs an accurate goods description and customs information. The purchasing fee does not determine the duty rate or your business's VAT position. Keep any uncertain destination amount visible until the relevant provider or adviser has answered it.
Back to guide contentsReconcile an order change before approving the new total
Suppose an invented order changes from £1,000 of goods to £800 before purchasing. At the same 9% rate the purchasing fee calculation changes from £90 to £72. This illustrates the fee base only; it does not describe a refund entitlement or an actual transaction. If money has already moved, ask for an order-specific statement identifying goods bought, payments made, amounts still held and any supplier refund pending. Use that statement to agree the next instruction rather than assuming a changed quantity means funds have already returned.
Back to guide contentsGet a cost breakdown for your order
Send product links, variant quantities and the delivery postcode. We can separate goods, the 9% purchasing fee and suitable transport options.
Questions before you order
Is the 9% fee calculated on goods plus shipping?
The purchasing service fee is 9% of the goods purchase amount. Keep shipping separate when checking the fee base.
Do you charge for receiving, QC photos, storage or packaging?
Receiving, quality checks, photography, storage and packaging are free. Give us the order's checking and packing instructions so the work can be organised.
Does the 9% include international freight or import taxes?
The 9% is the purchasing service fee. Goods, freight and applicable import costs are separate parts of the quotation; confirm the agreed DDP or DAP scope.
Can you ship beyond the UK?
Yes. Our 3000+ route network covers destinations worldwide. Send the goods details and destination so we can identify suitable services.
Related visual references
Look more closely at the storage, handling and transport settings that inform an order plan. Each photograph links to its original source.
Sources & further guidance
Our 9% fee basis, free services and global route scope were confirmed by the business owner on 25 October 2026. The competitor article informs the questions, not our prices. Calculations are original illustrations; request an order-specific quotation.
Our published purchasing fee and free China warehouse services apply. Confirm product acceptance, inspection scope, freight charges and delivery arrangements for your order. See our 9% purchasing fee and free services.
