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Answers before you order

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46 buying questions

How do I start buying from China?

Send a product photo, link or clear description, the quantity and specifications, your total budget and delivery city. We review the request, confirm the service and any fee, then prepare the agreed quotation. Approve the selected goods and payment instructions before purchasing starts.

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Can I buy one item or place a small trial order?

Small personal or trial orders can be reviewed, subject to supplier MOQ and the shipping route. Fixed service, local-delivery and handling costs can make one or two items expensive. The ₦100,000 minimum combined goods value applies to Toppingdom Store orders. Product-specific MOQs still apply; separately sourced or logistics-only requests are reviewed under their agreed service scope.

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Can I start with ₦20,000–₦50,000?

Tell us whether this is your goods-only budget or your total delivered budget. Service fees, China delivery, international freight and clearance may use much of a small budget. We can review feasibility before paid work; local buying or waiting to combine a larger order may be better value. A low 1688 price alone does not mean importing will be cheaper.

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Do I need a registered company to send an inquiry?

You can make a personal or small-business inquiry. If you have no company, state “Individual / Personal purchase” and provide your own contact details. Any additional information required for the particular goods, payment or shipping arrangement will be confirmed separately.

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How should I send a long shopping list?

Number each item and attach one clear photo or link. For every item, state quantity, colour, size or model and acceptable alternatives. Add your total budget, delivery city and preferred shipping method once. Mark your latest list “Final list” and identify additions or removals by item number. This prevents missed items and repeated questions.

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Is the price shown on 1688 or in a catalogue the final price?

No. A displayed price may apply to one variant, a sample, a promotion or a higher quantity tier. Confirm the exact model, condition, quantity and unit with the supplier. Product price normally excludes service, China delivery, international freight and clearance unless the quotation expressly includes them.

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Can I mix sizes, colours and designs? What is the MOQ?

MOQ means the supplier’s minimum order quantity. It can apply per style, colour, size or order. Ready-made stock and custom manufacturing may have different minimums. Send the exact mix you want; we will check supplier acceptance and pricing. There is no single clothing or footwear MOQ that applies to every supplier.

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Why is the initial review free but Starter costs ₦25,000?

The free review for 1–5 products checks the information you submit and advises the next step. The ₦25,000 Starter Plan pays for agreed first-purchase work, including supplier communication, order coordination, receiving and shipping preparation. We confirm eligibility and scope before paid work begins. Free review does not include a complete supplier search or detailed negotiation.

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What does the ₦25,000 Starter Plan include?

For an eligible new customer, it covers one first purchase request of up to 5 product categories, basic supplier/product checks, supplier communication, order confirmation, payment coordination, follow-up, China receiving checks and shipping preparation. It includes up to 2 reasonable revisions. Goods, applicable supplier-payment fees, delivery, freight, customs and extra inspection or packing are separate.

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When is the separate 5% payment fee charged?

It applies only when Toppingdom pays your Chinese supplier, and is calculated on goods value—not freight or customs. For example, 5% of ₦100,000 of goods is ₦5,000. If you pay the supplier directly, this Toppingdom payment fee does not apply. Other agreed sourcing, receiving or logistics services may still be chargeable.

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What happens if I have more than 5 products?

For sourcing requests with more than 5 distinct products, a ₦10,000 commitment fee activates the agreed research work. If the same reviewed case becomes a formal order, this is credited toward the applicable Toppingdom service fee. It is not a goods deposit or freight payment. Requests outside Starter scope receive a regular service quotation.

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Is Starter refundable or deducted from my order?

Starter is a service fee, not a product deposit. Once paid, it must be recorded as Paid and not charged again for the same agreed request. Deduction from goods, freight or later services is not automatic and must be expressly stated in your quotation. The first verified Starter quotation uses the one-time offer even if you do not proceed; cancellation and refund requests follow the published refund policy.

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Do I pay ₦25,000 again on every order?

Starter is a one-time first-purchase offer, not a lifetime service subscription. Later orders use regular pricing for the services you need. A 5% supplier-payment fee applies only when Toppingdom pays the supplier. Confirm the scope and fee for each new order. Starter quotations are valid for 2 days.

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Do I pay Starter, research and a sourcing percentage together?

These charges do not automatically stack. Starter, research for a larger list and regular sourcing have different scopes. Regular sourcing pricing is confirmed in your quotation; percentages mentioned for another order are not a universal rate. Ask for one itemised quote showing applicable fees, credits, amounts already paid and the balance.

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Is consolidation charged per seller or per shipment?

The quotation must state the charging unit and scope: for example, an agreed batch, number of parcels, repacking work or storage period. A batch fee should not be read as a fee for every item. Handling prices from another customer’s quotation are not automatic charges for your order. Confirm extra costs before adding suppliers or changing the batch.

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Can I see the total cost before paying?

You can request a free initial feasibility review. Detailed supplier research or Starter work may require the agreed service fee first. Before paying for goods, review the itemised quotation and selected products. Shipping is initially estimated from supplier packing information and confirmed after measurement; ask which figures are fixed, estimated or still to be confirmed.

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Can I pay in naira? Do I need a dollar card?

Ask for the official payment instruction for your order, including currency, beneficiary and the available transfer method. A freight price shown in USD does not by itself mean you must use a dollar card. Card payment or a particular payment link is not assumed to be available; confirm the method before attempting payment.

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What RMB-to-naira exchange rate will you use?

The working rate for an estimate may differ from the rate confirmed for payment. Your quotation or payment instruction should show the rate used, the currency amount and any separate payment service fee. Do not treat an older chat rate or a calculator default as a guaranteed settlement rate.

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What costs are included in the total landed price?

Check goods, China local delivery, applicable service and payment fees, inspection/packing, international freight, clearance and Nigerian onward or last-mile delivery. Only applicable charges should be included. A product price or a per-kg freight rate is not the complete delivered total. Ask for the exact collection point or delivery address covered.

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Does the air or sea freight rate include clearance?

Do not assume it does. The standard reference routes list freight and clearance separately. Check both lines in your quotation, plus any Nigerian onward delivery. Sensitive cargo may need a different rate and route. Use the shipping guide and calculator for current reference settings, then obtain confirmation for your shipment.

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Do you charge actual weight or volumetric weight?

For the standard air route, charging compares actual gross weight with volumetric weight and uses the higher applicable figure. The route’s minimum charge also applies. Sea charging and express-courier conversion rules depend on the selected route. The calculator shows the applicable basis; final warehouse measurements replace estimates.

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Do you use product size or the final carton size?

Shipping calculations use the packed outer dimensions and gross weight, not the product’s display dimensions alone. Bags may flatten, furniture may dismantle and suitcases may nest, but packing must be confirmed. Weigh and measure the final consolidated shipment before confirming its billable weight or CBM.

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I do not know the weight or CBM. Can you still help?

Send the product links or photos and quantities. Supplier carton dimensions and gross weights can support a preliminary estimate. Mark missing measurements as unknown rather than inventing them. The number of pieces alone is not enough to calculate reliable shipping costs; the final figure follows receiving and packing.

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What is the minimum shipment? Can I send 0.1 CBM?

The standard air reference has a 1 kg minimum charge. Small consolidated sea shipments may be reviewed, but acceptance, minimum charge and rounding depend on cargo and route. Confirm whether 0.1 CBM is accepted and how it will be billed before sending goods; a calculator result does not confirm route acceptance.

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How long will delivery take? Can I pay for faster shipping?

Ask for the estimate for your actual route and cargo. Supplier preparation, China delivery, consolidation and waiting for dispatch occur before international transit; Nigerian onward delivery may add time afterward. Air or express may be options for urgent goods once accepted by the carrier. Paying extra does not guarantee a date until the service is confirmed.

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Can you deliver to my city, or must I collect in Lagos?

State your city and whether you want pickup or delivery to your address. Kano, Onitsha and other onward arrangements depend on the confirmed route. A Lagos arrival quote does not automatically include Kano or home delivery. Ask for the endpoint, local carrier and extra charge in writing before dispatch.

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How can I reduce the shipping cost of a small order?

Compare the complete air and sea totals, including minimum charges and local delivery. Fewer suppliers and compact products may reduce handling and packing costs. Ask whether shoe boxes can be removed, suitcases nested or furniture dismantled safely. Repacking may have a fee and does not guarantee lower billable weight.

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How do I get the China warehouse address for 1688?

First confirm your goods, service and shipping route. Toppingdom then provides the correct receiving name, phone, Chinese address and customer mark for that arrangement. Some orders pass through a collection point before Foshan. Do not copy another customer’s address or send parcels before your receiving instructions are confirmed.

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Is my inquiry number also my warehouse/customer code?

Do not assume so. Ask Toppingdom to issue or confirm the warehouse entry number and the exact outer-package label. Give the confirmed mark to every supplier and send each China tracking number with the corresponding item. An inquiry reference identifies your inquiry; it may not be a valid warehouse receiving mark.

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Can I send goods from my own 1688 suppliers to your China warehouse and ship them to Kano?

Yes. After we confirm your products, supplier count, estimated parcel count, arrival schedule and shipping route, your suppliers may send the goods to our designated China receiving point. We will issue the correct receiving details and your customer name or code before dispatch. Every supplier must use that mark and provide the China tracking number. For security and parcel identification, the complete address is not published for unrestricted use and goods should not be sent before receiving instructions are confirmed.

This is Plan 6 — Logistics Only, so the ₦25,000 Starter Plan does not apply when you have already selected and paid your suppliers. The batch handling fee is ₦20,000 for 1–5 parcels, ₦35,000 for 6–10, ₦60,000 for 11–20, ₦90,000 for 21–30, and ₦90,000 plus ₦3,000 for each parcel above 30. It covers standard receiving records, parcel-count confirmation, visible outer-condition checking and consolidation coordination. Open-box inspection, detailed quantity or quality checks, repacking, special reinforcement, storage and supplier problem-solving are charged separately when required.

Shipping to Kano is calculated after all parcels arrive and the consolidated cargo is weighed and measured. Your quotation will show international freight and customs-clearance charges clearly. Collection from the confirmed Kano logistics-partner point may be arranged under the selected route; delivery from that point to your home or shop is not included unless written into the quotation. Toppingdom handles the condition specified in your order, but routine parcel receiving alone cannot verify that every item is brand-new—request an agreed open-box inspection if condition verification is important.

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I already paid my supplier. Can you receive and ship the goods?

We can review a receiving, consolidation and shipping-only request. Confirm the route and charges before dispatching to our receiving address. Paying your supplier directly avoids Toppingdom’s 5% supplier-payment fee, but receiving, repacking, inspection or logistics may still cost extra. For self-purchased goods, an open-box or quality check must be specifically agreed.

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Can you combine parcels from different suppliers?

Yes, where the cargo and route allow it. Supply one numbered order list and every supplier’s tracking number. Confirm whether to wait for all parcels or send a partial shipment, and agree any repacking and storage charges. Storage duration and fees must be stated for your batch; do not assume unlimited free storage.

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Can you buy for me and send to my own freight forwarder?

This can be reviewed as a separate purchasing/payment and China-delivery arrangement. Provide your forwarder’s complete receiving instructions and customer mark. Toppingdom’s service fee and China delivery should be quoted separately; the forwarder’s international freight and Nigerian delivery are not automatically included.

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Will I see photos, weight and the final shipping cost before dispatch?

Request the agreed receiving or inspection photos and the final packed gross weight and dimensions before approving dispatch. These support the billable weight/CBM and shipping-cost confirmation. Specify any required photo, video or inspection scope in advance; routine receiving is not a promise to test every product.

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What is the difference between receiving checks and quality inspection?

Receiving checks identify parcels and their visible condition under the agreed scope. Open-box quantity, colour/model checks, garment measurements, detailed stitching checks and functional testing are different tasks. Specify the items, checks and whether sampling or every-unit inspection is required before quoting. Photos alone do not prove durability, authenticity or performance.

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What happens if the supplier sends the wrong or defective item?

Report the issue as soon as it is found, with the order details and clear photos or video. When found in China, request a hold on the affected goods while the supplier is contacted about correction, replacement or return. Resolution, costs and eligibility depend on the supplier terms and agreed service; a refund or free replacement is not automatic.

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Can I order a sample? Is it free or credited later?

Ask the supplier about sample availability, quantity and price. Samples, China delivery, inspection and international shipping may all be chargeable. A sample credit against a later bulk order applies only if expressly agreed. Approve the sample specification and total cost before ordering.

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How do I choose clothing and shoe sizes from China?

Send the supplier’s size chart and the measurements you need. For clothing, include relevant body or garment measurements; for footwear, provide foot length and the required size mix. Age labels, M/L labels and EU sizes can vary by supplier. Agree any actual measurement checks before shipment rather than relying on the label alone.

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What details should I send for wigs or hair bundles?

Send a reference photo for each texture and length, quantity, colour and budget. Confirm human or synthetic hair, whether the weight is per bundle or per complete set, closure size and lace type. Terms such as bone straight, deep wave and pixie curl still need a visual reference and an agreed quality specification.

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What should I confirm before buying a phone or refurbished laptop?

Confirm the exact model, memory/storage, new/used/refurbished condition, accessories, supplier warranty and return terms. Ask for actual-unit photos and any agreed functional checks, battery-condition evidence and lock/activation checks. A listing image, serial number or very low price alone does not establish authenticity or a working device. Special testing must be agreed separately.

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Can you ship batteries, power banks or electronics with batteries?

These require cargo and route review before acceptance. Send the exact product, battery type/capacity, quantity, packing and documents supplied by the manufacturer. Do not apply an ordinary-goods freight rate automatically. Confirm the required documents and approved channel for the exact item; a document for another model or supplier is not assumed acceptable.

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What details are needed for food, seeds or other special goods?

State the exact product, intended use, ingredients/material, grade, quantity and packaging. For food-related requests, include shelf life and any required product or certification claims for verification. Supplier documents and shipping acceptance must be reviewed before purchase. A product being listed online does not establish that it can use the standard shipping route.

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How can I verify Toppingdom or visit a Nigeria pickup point?

Review the business-verification page and public delivery cases. Kano and Onitsha locations shown on the website are logistics-partner distribution points, not Toppingdom-owned branches. Confirm the appointment, contact and pickup arrangement before visiting. Payment instructions and receipts should come through the verified Toppingdom order channel, not an assumed arrangement with a pickup partner.

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I already sent my details. How do I follow up with a person?

Reply in the same WhatsApp conversation with your inquiry reference, latest final list and the specific missing item—for example, product options, packing details or the quotation. Ask for a human review and an expected update time. If your list has changed, identify only the changes. A chat acknowledgement is not confirmation that a quotation or purchase is complete.

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Do you offer credit, consignment or guaranteed resale profit?

Do not assume these are part of a normal sourcing order. Purchasing begins after the agreed payment is received; any different commercial arrangement must be separately agreed in writing. Product selection and trial orders can help you assess demand, but sales volume or profit is not guaranteed.

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Reviewed 13 September 2026. Fees and service scope follow the current service-fee guide. Route rates, timing and inclusions are confirmed for your shipment. A calculator estimate is not a final quotation.

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