Differences between 1688.com and Alibaba

What are the major differences between 1688 and Alibaba?

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Alibaba and 1688 are to China what Amazon and eBay are to the US.

Although these two sites are some of the biggest places for Nigerian mini-importers to source goods, a lot still don't know the major differences between the two.

Are there any? We'll talk about a few every Nigerian mini-importer should be concerned about.

• The first difference is language.

While 1688 uses Chinese as a default language for its app and website and demands a translator for non-Chinese users, Alibaba has an option that allows its users to switch to their preferred language. You could switch to English and make your navigation breezy in a few clicks.

• The second difference between Alibaba and 1688 is product prices.

While it is widely accepted that Alibaba has a wide range of high-quality products from trusted suppliers, it is also believed that their products are expensive just as their shipping rates are high.

Meanwhile, 1688 on the other hand is known for having affordable products with lower shipping rates.

• The third and last difference between these two e-commerce giants is ease of payment.

While 1688 only accepts payments through an Alipay wallet, Alibaba has wider options which include credit/debit card payments from globally recognized issuers like MasterCard or Visa. Still, on payments, there's one more thing to note.

Alibaba accepts only dollar payments while 1688 accepts only Chinese currency.

It was exciting taking you through that brief run. We believe you’ve learned a thing or two.

Before you head off, you should remember that the easiest and safest way to send RMB from Nigeria to your suppliers’ Alipay account in China is through Remit by Midddleman.

Do you have a Midddleman account? Get one here.