We enjoy purchasing from Taobao due to the cost savings and variety of items available, and certainly frequently share about our Taobao hauls on our website and social media.
Why a Taobao shopping service in Singapore?
While we’re able to do so because we are comfortable with using Chinese, we understand that many of us may face problems buying & shipping with Taobao. There are also certain terms and phrases which are different from that used in China, which could certainly result in miscommunication.
While we’ve tried our best to compile guides on shipping with forwarders and keywords to use, we know that are some who would love to engage a service that will take care of everything for them.
Hence, the tofu house is introducing its Taobao shopping service for Singapore-based homeowners who have trouble shopping on the platform!
P.S. we’re happy to help folks who are looking to purchase non-home related items as well!
How our Taobao shopping service works
We’ve currently split the shopping service into 2 types of packages, based on our understanding of typical Taobao challenges:
| Package A: You have an idea of a specific item you want & are able to use reverse image search. | Package B: You have no idea where to start from, or want to explore different types of items in a certain category. |
| For those who are: – Looking for a specific item (have a photo or website link) – Unable to read listings & reviews – Unable to communicate with seller | For those who are: – Open to exploring different styles – May roughly know the style(s) you want – Unable to read listings & reviews – Unable to communicate with seller |
| What’s provided: – Listings that match your requirements with the best reviews & prices – Liaison with seller (includes haggling for discounts) – Liaison for delivery (Cainiao by default) – Updates on delivery status and expected timelines | What’s provided: – A variety of listings that match your requirements with the best reviews & prices – Liaison with seller (includes haggling for discounts) – Liaison for delivery (Cainiao by default) – Updates on delivery status and expected timelines |
| Add-on service: Liaising with 3rd party forwarder (3pf) for delivery in Singapore | Add-on service: Liaising with 3rd party forwarder (3pf) for delivery in Singapore |
| Pricing*: Fixed admin fee (S$25) + 5% service fee based on total value of items bought + Add-on, if any (S$10) | Pricing*: Fixed admin fee (S$50) + 6% service fee based on total value of items bought + Add-on, if any (S$10) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Payment will be made to us first before we place the order and pay the Taobao sellers via bank transfer or PayNow.
Do also note that you’ll need to make separate payments for item purchase and shipping costs. We will advise on the different payment stages accordingly.
To facilitate a smooth buying and delivery process, all orders will be deemed as final and no changes will be allowed once we have confirmed it with the Taobao seller(s).
However, we can make exceptions for extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances, on a case by case basis.
As experienced Taobao shoppers ourselves, we understand the nuances and difficulties of buying on the platform. This is especially so for bulky or fragile items that require more care and liaison work. Sieving through reviews to determine what’s genuine and what’s fake also takes sleuthing skills!
We also have a bonus tried-and-tested skill of bargaining with Taobao sellers (in Chinese!) to ensure that you get the best deals, be it paying the lowest possible fees or getting freebies.
If you’re keen to find out more or would like to engage the tofu house for your Taobao shopping & shipping, do fill up the contact from below or drop us a message on social media!
