What should I check before paying a 1688 pre-order deposit or balance?
Confirm the goods, total price, payment stage, deadline and supplier order reference. Ask what event starts the promised dispatch period and what evidence is needed before the next payment. A very low-priced link may concern an extra charge rather than the product. Have the supplier explain its purpose and the applicable cancellation terms before authorising it.
A pre-order needs its own goods reference, payment stages and confirmed readiness evidence.
Third-party scene photography accompanies the guidance. It does not document our facilities or an order handled by us.
Explore the visual libraryIn this guide
Establish whether the offer is stock or a future supply
Ask the supplier whether the selected variant is in stock, awaiting production or offered as a pre-order. Save the dated reply and available quantity. Identify the complete goods order behind any deposit, balance or supplementary link. Apply the rules and terms for the actual 1688 transaction; a payment record alone does not confirm that the batch is ready.
Back to guide contentsIdentify the role of the payment link
Retain the original Chinese wording. It helps identify a question but does not establish the complete agreement or a legal remedy. Ask the supplier to connect each request to its order, product and amount. Resolve an uncertain screenshot or translation before treating the displayed number as the goods price.
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| Wording you may encounter | Question to ask | Record to retain |
|---|---|---|
| 预售 / pre-order | Which goods are being offered for later supply, and what starts the dispatch period? | Variant, quantity, promise and start event |
| 定金 or 订金 | What does this advance payment secure, and what terms apply? | Amount, purpose and written terms |
| 尾款 / balance | Which order and earlier payment does this balance belong to? | Original order, amount already paid and remainder |
| 补运费 / supplementary freight | Which shipment or delivery change creates this request? | Original dispatch reference and agreed charge |
| 补差价 / price difference | Which approved product or order change explains the difference? | Old offer, revised offer and buyer approval |
Put the complete commitment above the deposit amount
Record the goods total and payment stages in one currency. In an invented example, a £500 order uses a £150 advance and £350 balance. Those stages add to £500; do not count the balance twice. Our purchasing service fee is 9% of the goods purchase amount: £45 for that unchanged order. Obtain the actual payment breakdown and timing rather than assuming when the fee or each supplier stage is due.
Back to guide contentsGive deadlines an owner and a time zone
Save the stated deadline and clarify its time zone. Name who receives the request, checks the evidence and authorises payment. Ask how long the payment process needs; your instruction and the supplier's receipt may happen at different times. Set an earlier review point for unresolved questions. Retain the supplier's confirmation of any changed deadline.
Separate a payment from a stock event
Record money paid and goods actually received as different entries. A paid balance does not by itself confirm warehouse receipt.
Ask what the next payment is meant to confirm
A balance request may accompany a production update, but establish the actual trigger in the agreement. Identify the goods, readiness evidence, checks and buyer approval needed for the proposed stage. Request clarification when a seller sends a generic photograph or a payment link without identifying the batch. Our quality checks and photographs are free; agree what can be examined and when. Supplier readiness, warehouse receipt and buyer release remain separate entries in the plan.
Back to guide contentsReview a changed total or missed stage explicitly
Compare changed prices, quantities or production dates with the approved version. Record payments made and outstanding. Obtain the cancellation, non-delivery and refund terms; a Chinese deposit word alone does not guarantee a refund or forfeiture. For a dispute, preserve the agreement and seek appropriate transaction-specific advice. A requested refund and returned funds are separate outcomes.
Back to guide contentsConnect the pre-order to the consolidation plan
Keep future goods off the ready-to-ship list until receipt and release are confirmed. If other stock has arrived, compare waiting with separately quoted dispatches. Our receiving, quality checks, photography, storage and packaging are free. Transport still needs the actual contents and packing. Record what may move, what remains pending and who reviews the outstanding pre-order.
Back to guide contentsSend the complete payment request
Share the product link, original wording, supplier order reference, previous payments and stated deadline. We can clarify the proposed purchase and the approval needed before funds are committed.
Questions before you order
Does a tiny advertised price mean the product is that cheap?
Check the purpose of the link. It may concern an advance, price adjustment or supplementary delivery charge. Ask the supplier to identify the complete goods offer and related order.
Is every deposit non-refundable?
Do not infer that from a translated label. Obtain the written terms and use the applicable transaction and platform process if an issue arises; this guide does not determine a legal entitlement.
Is a balance request proof that production has finished?
It shows that payment has been requested. Check the agreed milestone and the identifiable evidence for the actual batch before approving it.
Can a pre-order travel with stock already received?
Plan against the actual receipt and release position. You can compare waiting for the future goods with separately quoted dispatches; do not assume the pre-order's forecast date is a confirmed warehouse arrival.
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
The questions, payment register and £500 illustration are our original guidance. The Fishgoo article concerns other platforms and does not establish 1688 transaction rules. No automatic cancellation, refund, deposit forfeiture or delivery deadline is promised here.
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.
