In this guide
How should a UK business negotiate a bulk order on 1688?
Give each supplier the same SKU specification and quantities per variant. Ask for a written offer covering unit price, minimums, packaging, China delivery, sample charges and payment triggers. Compare the complete cost and the conditions that change it. Approve one final version before purchasing or paying.
Give the supplier a quantity it can price
Begin with what your UK business needs to stock. A request for a better price needs an exact product, a quantity and a proposed mix. Include the material, dimensions, finish, components and packaging that affect the offer. Ask each shortlisted supplier to price that version. Keep a proposed alternative on a separate line so a cheaper material or smaller pack remains visible.
- Your SKU and the supplier’s exact listing variant, with the specification revision.
- Units per colour, size or model, plus the total quantity.
- Any sample, artwork or packing requirement that must be approved.
- The China receiving address and the date you need the goods ready.
Ask which minimum and price tier apply to your mix
Ask the supplier to confirm how your order reaches its minimum. A total across several variants may be treated differently from the same quantity in one colour. If you ask for a smaller first order, request a revised offer covering the unit price, packaging and readiness date. Keep the quantity you can sell in view when comparing the saving with the extra stock commitment.
Scroll sideways if needed. Keyboard: focus the table area and use the left and right arrow keys.
| Part of the offer | Supplier confirmation to request |
|---|---|
| Product minimum | Does the minimum apply across this SKU or separately to each variant? |
| Colour and size mix | Can the proposed mix share a price tier? List the accepted units per variant. |
| Custom packaging | Does the print run or carton format have its own minimum or setup charge? |
| Smaller first order | What price and other conditions apply to the reduced quantity? |
| Future purchases | Is any repeat-order price conditional on a later commitment? |
Give the supplier a quantity it can price
State the proposed mix by SKU, colour and size. Ask which minimums, packing quantities and price tiers apply to that mix before revising the order.
Compare the price with its inclusions
A public 1688 discussion asks why sellers provide tax-inclusive and tax-exclusive quotes. It records an export buyer’s question, with no confirmed transaction outcome. Ask your own supplier what each price includes, which invoice it covers and which business will issue it. Keep that answer with the quote. A Chinese supplier’s tax wording does not settle UK import charges or your business’s tax treatment.
- Confirm whether the price is per item, pair, set, pack or carton.
- List included components and the agreed retail and export packing.
- Separate China domestic delivery, setup and sample charges.
- Record the invoice description and the supplier’s explanation of the tax basis.
Negotiate the conditions attached to the price
Ask about sample charges, payment stages and the supplier’s dispatch commitment while discussing price. If a sample fee can be credited later, record the qualifying order and how the credit will appear. Define the evidence needed before a balance becomes due. Where inspection needs to precede payment or dispatch, ask the supplier to accept that sequence in writing. Confirm what happens if the agreed variant is unavailable.
Send a request the supplier can answer line by line
Use the wording below as an original enquiry example. Replace the bracketed details with your own SKU, specification and quantities. Attach the version you want priced. The message requests an offer; the supplier still needs to confirm each point before you can rely on it.
- English: Please quote [SKU/specification revision], [quantity per variant], delivered to [China address]. Confirm the unit price and counting unit, minimum per variant, packaging, invoice and tax basis, domestic delivery, sample-credit conditions, payment stages and ready date. Please list any proposed change separately.
- Chinese: 请按[SKU及规格版本]、[各款数量]报价，送至[中国收货地址]。请分别确认单价及计价单位、各款起订量、包装、发票及含税口径、国内运费、样品费抵扣条件、付款阶段和备货日期。如需调整规格或条款，请单独列明。
Keep a record of what each revision changes
Save the original offer beside each revision. Compare a proposed saving with the specification, quantity and work it changes. Include the supplier’s reply and the person authorised to accept the revised commitment. Leave an unanswered condition open until you have a specific response. This suggested record can be kept in an ordinary spreadsheet or purchasing file.
Scroll sideways if needed. Keyboard: focus the table area and use the left and right arrow keys.
| Record | What to keep |
|---|---|
| Quote identity | Supplier, SKU, specification revision, quote date and validity. |
| Initial offer | Variant quantities, unit price, currency and included work. |
| Requested change | The quantity, price or term you want changed and any condition attached. |
| Supplier’s revised offer | Confirmed price, inclusions, sample credit, payment triggers and readiness. |
| Buyer decision | Accepted version, approver, date and any point still awaiting agreement. |
Give an agent a defined negotiation brief
If someone negotiates for you, state which details must stay fixed and which alternatives you will consider. Agree whether the task covers finding suppliers, clarifying an existing quote or placing the approved order. Ask for the supplier replies and a final offer with the agent’s charges shown separately. The brief should identify changes that need your approval, including extra quantity, altered materials or a different payment trigger.
Pass the accepted terms to the next team
Keep the agreed product, packing, payment stages and dispatch conditions in one current offer. Use that record for the checking brief and shipping quotation.
Pass the accepted offer to the checking and shipping teams
Use the accepted version for the purchase order, payment instruction and inspection brief. Carry the agreed variants and packing into the China warehouse receipt plan. If the supplier later changes the carton format or ready date, review the effect on checks, consolidation and freight before approving it. International shipping and UK warehouse receiving still need their own confirmed scope.
Review the supplier offer before you commit
Send the product links, required quantities per variant and supplier quote. Tell us which features must stay fixed and which terms you want to discuss so we can define the negotiation work for your order.
Questions before you order
Can an agent guarantee a lower 1688 price?
The supplier decides which terms it will accept. An agent can clarify and negotiate the offer within the agreed brief. Compare the supplier price, agent charges and delivery scope together before approving the purchase.
Should I order more to reach a cheaper price tier?
Compare the total spending, stock you expect to sell and the added checking, storage and freight needs. Ask for quotes at both quantities with the same specification. Choose the commitment your business can support.
What if the supplier changes the terms after I agree a price?
Keep the proposed change beside the accepted version. Ask what changes for the goods, payment, checks and dispatch. Review the effect on your order before approving revised terms or another payment.
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
- Public buyer discussion: two supplier prices (export enquiry; no confirmed outcome)
- WorldFirst UK: How to source supplies from 1688 (provider background)
The buyer discussion is a self-reported question, with no confirmed UK location or completed transaction. WorldFirst provides sourcing background. The enquiry wording and negotiation records are our original practical suggestions. Confirm the current offer and terms for your own order.
Product acceptance, inspection scope, charges and delivery arrangements need to be agreed for your order.
