“I found a supplier on 1688. Great price. Samples look good. But now I have absolutely no idea how to get my products to Amazon’s warehouse. My supplier says they don’t handle international shipping. What do I do?”
This question pops up on r/FulfillmentByAmazon and r/smallbusiness pretty much every week. The people asking range from first-timers to sellers who’ve been at it for a while. Everyone gets stuck at the same point — not “should I sell this?” but “how do I actually get the goods over here?”
If that sounds familiar, this post is for you.
Why Shipping from China Is More Complicated Than You Think
Let’s start with what you already know: Taobao, 1688, and Alibaba prices are hard to beat. You run the numbers, and the margins look great.
Then you place your order. And then the problems start.
Chinese platforms don’t ship internationally. Taobao and 1688 are built for the domestic Chinese market. You can’t just enter a US address and expect your package to show up. You need someone in China to receive your goods, check them, and send them out again.
Multiple suppliers = multiple shipping bills. If you order from three different factories, you’ll pay international freight three separate times — unless someone in China collects everything and combines it into one shipment.
Amazon has its own set of rules. FNSKU labels, carton labels, poly bag specs, pallet requirements — if any of these are wrong, your shipment gets rejected at the warehouse door. And since Amazon stopped offering in-house prep services in January 2026, every unit now has to arrive fully labeled and ready to receive before it even leaves China.
So you need someone in China. Someone who can receive your goods, inspect them, label them, pack them, and ship them.
That person is a Taobao freight forwarder. Or a 1688 shipping agent. Or an Alibaba shipping agent. Different names, same job.
What a Good Freight Forwarder Actually Does for You
You might think a freight forwarder is just someone who ships boxes. But for Amazon sellers sourcing from China, they do a lot more than that.
1. Receiving & Consolidation (This Alone Is Worth It)
You found three suppliers on 1688: one for the product, one for the packaging, one for the inserts. If each one ships to you separately, the total freight cost could easily exceed the cost of your goods.
A good freight forwarder Amazon FBA does one simple thing: they have all three suppliers send their goods to their warehouse in China, combine everything into one shipment, and send it out as a single package.
You pay one freight charge. You clear customs once. You track one shipment.
That alone typically saves you 15–25% on shipping costs.
2. Quality Check & Photos
This is the step people skip — and the one they regret skipping the most.
You’re not in China. You can’t check if the goods your supplier is sending match the samples they showed you. Is the quantity right? Is the packaging intact? Is the quality consistent?
A reliable forwarder does one thing: when your goods arrive at their warehouse, they inspect them — count, quality check, packaging check — and send you photos. You confirm everything looks right before they pack and ship.
3. FBA Labeling & Prep (More Important in 2026)
Since Amazon stopped offering in-house prep services in January 2026, every FBA shipment now has to be fully labeled and packaged before it arrives.
An Amazon freight forwarder or freight forwarder China to USA Amazon FBA handles this in China: FNSKU labels on every unit, correct carton labels, poly bags where required, palletization if needed. Your goods arrive at Amazon’s warehouse ready to receive — no rejections, no delays.
4. Warehousing (Free, if You Pick the Right Forwarder)
If your suppliers’ goods arrive on different days, you need somewhere to store what’s already arrived while you wait for the rest. Many forwarders offer free warehousing for a period of time — which means one less cost for you to worry about.
5. Shipping to the US
The final step. You’ve got three options, depending on your timeline and budget:
- Sea freight (LCL or FCL) : Cheapest, takes 20–35 days
- Air freight : Faster, takes 5–10 days, but costs more
- Express courier (DHL, FedEx, etc.) : Fastest, takes 3–7 days, most expensive
Questions Amazon Sellers Ask the Most
“Are freight forwarders on Alibaba reliable?”
There are forwarders on Alibaba, but if you spend any time on Reddit, you’ll see plenty of sellers sharing their horror stories — quotes that suddenly go up, cargo held hostage until you pay extra. That doesn’t mean every forwarder on Alibaba is bad. It means you can’t just rely on platform ratings. Look for one with a real warehouse you can video-call and check, client references you can actually contact, and clear communication from the start.
“What exactly is DDP? Should I use it?”
DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid — your forwarder handles freight, customs clearance, and duties all in one price. You pay one total cost, and your goods arrive with no surprise fees. For first-time shippers, DDP is the easiest option. You don’t need to figure out US customs forms or duty rates yourself — your forwarder handles it all.
“What’s the difference between an Alibaba forwarder agent and a regular freight forwarder?”
An Alibaba forwarder agent is basically a freight forwarder with a storefront on Alibaba. The platform gives you some level of buyer protection and a dispute resolution process. But at the end of the day, a good Alibaba freight forwarding agent does the same thing as any good freight forwarder — the key is finding one with real experience, a real warehouse, and real knowledge of Amazon FBA rules.
What to Look for in a Freight Forwarder (If You Want a Long-Term Partner)
Amazon sellers aren’t one-and-done. You need a freight forwarder you can work with over the long haul — not someone who disappears after your first shipment.
Check where their warehouse is. If they’re not near Shenzhen or Guangzhou — close to factories and export ports — your domestic shipping costs will be higher and your lead times longer.
Ask about your product category. If you’re shipping apparel, find an apparel freight forwarder — someone who’s handled clothing before. Apparel has its own quirks: packaging requirements, size labels, material tags. A forwarder who’s done it before knows what to look out for.
See if they send photos without being asked. A forwarder who proactively sends photos and a forwarder who only sends them when you ask are two different tiers of service. The one who sends them proactively cares about your shipment.
Check if their quote is clear. If a forwarder gives you one lump sum and can’t break it down, there’s probably a “surprise” waiting for you. A reliable forwarder breaks it down: freight, customs clearance, labeling, delivery. You know exactly what you’re paying for.
How We Do It
You’ve read this far — so here’s what we actually do.
We’re based in Shenzhen — right in the middle of China’s manufacturing hub. We help Amazon sellers do one thing: buy from Taobao, 1688, or Alibaba, and ship to Amazon warehouses in the US.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Consolidation — one supplier or ten, we receive everything at our warehouse and combine it into one shipment.
- Quality checks & photos — we inspect your goods, take photos, and send them to you. You confirm before we ship.
- FBA labeling & prep — FNSKU, carton labels, poly bags, palletization — all handled in China. Your goods arrive Amazon-ready.
- Free warehousing — we hold your goods while you wait for other suppliers’ shipments to arrive. No storage fees.
- DDP shipping to the US — freight, customs, and duties all included in one price. No surprises.
- 1688 purchasing support — if you don’t know how to navigate 1688 or communicate with suppliers in Chinese, we can handle the buying side too.
Whether you’re shipping apparel, electronics, home goods, or toys — we’ve shipped it all.
What’s Next?
If you’ve read this far and thought “this sounds exactly like my situation,” here’s the next step:
Tell us what you’re shipping — product type, approximate quantity, and where your suppliers are — and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours with a quote and a shipping plan.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Shipping rates and transit times may vary. Always verify current Amazon FBA requirements with your freight forwarder before shipping.
