Note: this post is from 2016. Please read my updated posting about Taobao shipping.
To a newbie, i think Taobao shipping options is too hard to comprehend. To simplify things, Taobao has come up with Taobao Global Direct Shipping, which probably works well for newbies. In this posting, i discuss the pros and cons of each method of shipping based on what i’ve learned through experience.
Taobao Global Direct Shipping
This is the default choice and the one Taobao tries to recommend you take up. No further action is required to arrange for the delivery of goods beyond the point of sale.
Pros – payment for shipping is made at the same time when doing check out, which relieves customers from having to monitor and consolidate the shipment.
Cons – the local courier company handling the delivery in Singapore is DPEX, with which i have had a bad experience. Sensitive items such as battery, cosmetics and food are not allowed. This option is most probably more expensive than the rest.
When to choose Taobao Global Direct Shipping – for newbies.
Global Consolidate And Shipping
This means the goods will be delivered to a warehouse in China, and you will have to monitor the arrival of your goods at the warehouse (which is very easy anyway) and initiate the delivery to Singapore.
Pros – Shipping is calculated based on actual weight (there may be exceptions though, and nobody knows for sure. Update: Parcels are measured in 0.1kg increments). There are 4 choices of courier companies One can choose between delivery or self collection from POPstation lockers. No GST if value of goods is under S$400. Gives you the flexibility to group and send your parcels in more than one shipment, which may be necessary sometimes to avoid paying GST (import duty).
Cons – There are limitations to the weight and dimension of shipped items. Sensitive items such as battery, cosmetics and food are not allowed.
When to choose Global Consolidate And Shipping – when you’re confident that you can save money on shipping, which is the case for light but bulky items. If your preference is for delivery, or collection at POPstation. In comparison to sea freight, Global Consolidate And Shipping could end up cheaper, even for heavy or bulky items, because you need not pay GST.
Third party shipping
This is similar to Gloabal Consolidate and Shipping, whereby you ship your goods to a China warehouse, and thereafter, initiate the shipping to Singapore. The difference is, you are using a third party forwarder company instead of one of the four designated partners on Taobao. Example of a third party forwarder: ezbuy 86of.
Pros – shipping via sea freight can be a lot cheaper. Sensitive items, such those containing a battery, can be shipped (at higher shipping rate). Other than items banned from import, it is possible to ship just about anything. Shipping rate could be more favourable, and the delivery speed could be faster than Taobao Consolidate and Shipping.
Cons – shipping cost is calculated based on volumetric weight, which will incur a much higher cost (vs actual weight) for light but bulky items.
When to choose third party shipping – to ship heavy/bulky items via sea freight, to ship sensitive items and to ship items that exceed the dimensions or weight limitation imposed for Taobao Consolidate and Shipping. Home delivery is possible with third party shipping also, but opting for home delivery may result in the overall cost being more than Taobao’s Global Consolidate and Shipping.
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I have never used Taobao Global Direct Shipping before, but in my most recent Taobao order, i made it a point to take note of whether it is actually more worthwhile. I was postulating that it would be more expensive, since the shipping cost is purely based on estimation, and in order not to lose out, i presumed they will have to quote higher. Turns out that i was wrong. The shipping cost quoted for Taobao Global Direct Shipping was 105 Yuan, whereas the final cost quoted for Global Consolidate And Shipping was 160 Yuan. Update 23 Jun 2016: this is more an exception than the rule. For all my subsequent shipments, the shipping cost quoted for Taobao Global Direct Shipping was significantly more than what it costs to ship via third party forwarder. I guess Global Direct is really for those people who are lazy to have to do follow up actions on their purchases.
Update 19 Jan 2020
This post has been around for a long time by now and the info is a little outdated. I would have to say now that Taobao shipping sucks. Expect to wait two weeks or more for your delivery – this is comparable to sea shipping duration. Nowadays i just stick to Ezbuy. Fast, reliable and kept informed of every change in status. Reasonably priced too.
