Your first haul: a step-by-step checklist
Your first haul feels intimidating. It is not, once you have done it once. Follow this checklist end to end and you will avoid the mistakes that catch most beginners.
- 1Create an account and grab newcomer coupons
New accounts usually get a welcome coupon bundle. Claim it before your first order so you can apply it to shipping.
- 2Find your items
Use a community finds sheet or paste a Taobao or Weidian link straight into your agent.
- 3Add to cart and pay the item deposit
You pay for the products up front. They ship to the agent warehouse in China, not to you yet.
- 4Review QC photos
When each item arrives, your agent posts quality-control photos. Check them carefully and request a return if something is wrong.
- 5Consolidate your haul
Wait for everything to land, then combine into one parcel. This is the biggest single saving on shipping.
- 6Pick a line and pay international shipping
Compare lines by price, ETA and carried categories, then pay for the one that fits your haul.
- 7Track and receive
Follow the parcel through customs to your door.
Customs And Declaration
The value your parcel is declared at affects the import tax you pay. Under-declaring is risky and can mean seizure or fines. Know your country duty-free threshold.
Consolidating everything into one parcel is the biggest single saving on shipping.
For a valuable haul, shipping insurance is cheap relative to losing the whole parcel. Most agents offer it at the shipping step.
Red Flags To Avoid
- Skipping QC to save time. You lose your only chance to catch defects.
- Shipping items one by one instead of consolidating.
- Ignoring category limits and picking a line that cannot carry your item.
- Chasing a headline discount without checking the total landed price.
Skip QC to save time and you lose your only chance to catch defects.