Written by Miki · Updated 18 September 2026
What LitBuy is
LitBuy is a Chinese shopping agent. You give it a product link from Taobao, 1688 or Weidian, it buys the item on your behalf, receives it at a warehouse in China, photographs it, and ships it to you internationally. You pay the product price, a service fee of roughly 5 to 10 percent, and international shipping.
The reason agents exist is simple: most sellers on Chinese platforms do not ship abroad, do not accept foreign cards, and only communicate in Chinese. An agent removes all three barriers with one account. LitBuy handles the purchase in yuan, chases the seller if something is missing, and consolidates several orders into one parcel so you pay one international shipping fee instead of five.
Two features matter most for beginners. QC (quality control) photos show you the actual item in the warehouse before you decide to ship it. And warehouse storage, usually free for a set number of days, lets you collect items from different sellers before sending everything together.
How ordering works
An order on LitBuy runs through five steps: paste a product link, pay for the item, wait for it to reach the warehouse, review the QC photos, then choose a shipping line and pay for international delivery. From first payment to your door typically takes three to five weeks.
- Submit the link. Paste the Taobao, 1688 or Weidian URL into LitBuy, choose size, color and quantity, and add it to your cart.
- Pay for the item. LitBuy charges the product price plus domestic shipping and its service fee, then buys from the seller in yuan.
- Warehouse arrival. The seller ships domestically, usually 2 to 7 days. LitBuy logs the item and takes QC photos.
- Review and decide. Check the photos. If something is wrong, open a return or exchange request before shipping.
- Ship internationally. Select the items, pick a line, enter the customs declaration and pay shipping. Tracking follows within a few days.
What a spreadsheet is and why people use one
A LitBuy spreadsheet is a curated list of product links, usually organized by category, with photos, prices and a direct link that opens the item inside LitBuy. It exists because searching Taobao and Weidian in Chinese is slow, and because listings for the same item vary a lot in quality.
Spreadsheets started as shared Google Sheets in online communities and grew into sites like this one. The value is filtering: someone has already found the seller, checked the reviews and often the QC photos, so you skip the research. Our spreadsheet lists sneakers, clothing, bags, watches, accessories and electronics with the seller link and a note on sizing where relevant.
A spreadsheet is a starting point, not a guarantee. Sellers change stock and prices, so always read the current listing, check the seller's rating and use LitBuy's QC photos before you ship. If a link no longer works, the item has usually been re-listed under a new URL.
Which platforms you can buy from
LitBuy supports the three main Chinese marketplaces: Taobao, 1688 and Weidian. Each serves a different kind of buyer, and most people end up using at least two of them depending on what they are looking for, how many units they need and how much risk they accept.
- Taobao is the consumer marketplace, comparable to a mix of Amazon and eBay. It has the widest selection, detailed reviews with buyer photos and the strongest buyer protection.
- 1688 is Alibaba's domestic wholesale site. Prices are lowest, but many sellers require a minimum order quantity and descriptions are written for businesses.
- Weidian is a mobile-first storefront platform popular with small fashion and streetwear sellers. Prices are low, buyer protection is thinner, and seller quality varies more.
For a first order, Taobao is the safest choice. Our platform comparison goes into the differences in detail.
What an order actually costs
Expect to pay four things: the product price, a small domestic shipping fee in China, LitBuy's service fee and international shipping. Import duty or VAT in your country is a fifth cost that many beginners forget. Together, a $50 item usually lands at $80 to $100.
Worked example for one hoodie to a European address:
- Product price: $50
- Domestic shipping (seller to warehouse): $2
- LitBuy service fee (about 8 percent): $4
- International shipping, 0.7 kg on a standard air line: $18
- Import VAT (around 20 percent of goods plus shipping): $14
- Total: about $88
The per-item cost drops when you ship several items together, because international shipping is priced by weight with a large first-kilogram fee. Compare the total, not the sticker price, with what the same item costs locally. See the shipping guide for weight-based estimates.
Shipping options and timeframes
LitBuy offers several international lines per destination: economy air (15 to 30 days), standard air (10 to 20 days), EMS (7 to 15 days), express couriers such as DHL (4 to 8 days) and sea or rail for heavy parcels (35 to 60 days). Standard air is the usual choice for parcels under 2 kg.
Before shipping, LitBuy asks for a customs declaration: a description of the contents and their value. Enter the amount you actually paid. The United States removed its duty-free threshold for parcels in August 2025, and the EU and UK charge VAT from the first euro or pound, so import charges are a normal part of the cost rather than something a low declaration avoids.
Tracking can sit still for several days after handover and during customs clearance. Peak periods such as Chinese New Year and Singles' Day add one to three weeks. Read How to Declare on LitBuy before your first shipment.
Risks and how to reduce them
The main risks with any agent order are receiving the wrong or poor-quality item, sizing mistakes, customs problems and slow refunds. None of them are unique to LitBuy, and all of them can be reduced with a few habits that take a minute each.
- Check the seller, not just the listing. On Taobao, prefer sellers with a long history, a high rating and reviews that include buyer photos.
- Use the size chart in centimeters. Asian sizing runs small; measure a garment you own and compare.
- Read the QC photos carefully. Zoom in on stitching, logos and labels. If something is off, request a return before shipping; after shipping, returns are rarely worthwhile.
- Declare accurately and describe honestly. Under-declared or vaguely described parcels are the ones that get held.
- Avoid listings that misuse brand names. Customs can seize them, and you will not get a refund.
Start with a small order, then scale up once you know the timeline and costs for your address.
Common Beginner Questions
Is LitBuy legitimate?
LitBuy is an established agent with a public website, English-language support and the same model used by other agents: it buys on your behalf and charges a service fee. As with any intermediary, your protection depends on checking QC photos before shipping and raising problems early. Start small until you are comfortable.
How long does an order take?
Count 2 to 7 days for the seller to reach the warehouse, 1 to 3 days for QC photos, and then the shipping line's transit time: 10 to 20 days on standard air, 4 to 8 on express. Three to five weeks end to end is typical outside peak seasons.
Do I need to speak Chinese?
No. LitBuy's interface and support are in English, and product links work regardless of language. For reading listings, your browser's built-in translation is usually enough; size charts and material descriptions translate reliably.
What payment methods does LitBuy accept?
LitBuy accepts major credit and debit cards and, depending on your region, PayPal and local payment methods. You do not need Alipay, WeChat Pay or a Chinese bank account. Check the payment page on litbuy.com for the current list, as options change.
What if the item is wrong or damaged?
If you spot the problem in the QC photos, open a return or exchange request in LitBuy before shipping; the seller usually accepts returns within 7 days of delivery to the warehouse. After international shipping, contact LitBuy support with photos within 48 hours of delivery; damage in transit is covered if you bought shipping insurance.
Sources
Checked September 2026.
Ready to start shopping?
Browse the full LitBuy spreadsheet — every listing has QC photos and a verified buy link. If you know what you are after, jump straight to sneaker listings or clothing listings.
For a deeper dive on this topic specifically, see our editorial sister site's guide on first-haul checklist for new buyers.
