Trying out Taobao Southeast Asia

With Taobao Southeast Asia (sea.taobao.com) launched with forwarding agents delivering to Singapore and Malaysia, I’ve decided to give it a try since I have no problem reading Chinese.
The site provided a comprehensive guide on how to register your address with the forwarding agent. Signing up with Alipay.com to pay with my VISA/MasterCard is also a breeze since the sign-up is linked with the membership registration.

After signing up for the member on sea.taobao.com and choosing 4PX as my forwarding agent back to Singapore. I can now proceed with the real shopping!
Having always wanted to try working with remote flash triggers and a secondary flash, hence decided to place order for the Yongnuo YN560-III Speedlite and the Yongnuo RF-603 N1 wireless transceivers.
The cost of the Yongnuo YN560-III cost 343 CNY inclusive of 10 CNY delivery cost (SGD 74.33). The Yongnuo RF-603N1 cost 151 CNY inclusive of 8 CNY delivery cost (SGD 32.72).

Yongnuo RF-603 N1 @ 151 CNY (SGD 32.72), Yongnuo YN560-III @ 343 CNY (SGD 74.33)
Yongnuo RF-603 N1 @ 151 CNY (SGD 32.72), Yongnuo YN560-III @ 343 CNY (SGD 74.33)

You will be sent an SMS when the order arrived at the forwarding agent warehouse.

SMS notificationNext consolidate the orders to be forwarded back to Singapore.

Prepare to combine orders for oversea delivery
Prepare to combine orders for oversea delivery
Status showing 2 items due for combined shipment
Status showing 2 items due for combined shipment
Proceed to pay the forwarding fee which cost 47CNY for 1.03kg
Proceed to pay the forwarding fee which cost 47CNY (SGD 10.21) for 1.03kg

Finally, wait for the SMS from your forwarding agent when the packages are in Singapore ready to deliver to your doorsteps!

Taobao Package via 4PX
Taobao Package via 4PX
Taobao Package via 4PX
Taobao Package via 4PX
Unboxing of the spree from taobao
Unboxing of the spree from taobao

After receiving your orders. Remember to proceed to the website to confirm the delivery. After confirmation of the delivery on taobao.com website, Alipay will then be trigger to pay the seller the outstanding amount of the order. Likewise for the forwarding agent delivery fee back, do remember to “confirm delivery” to trigger Alipay to pay up any outstanding payment!

Summary of the actual cost after the bank’s credit card exchange rate:

Cost of the Yongnuo RF-603 N1:
151 CNY (SGD 37.82 => SGD 32.72 + SGD 5.10 4PX forwarding fee)

Cost of the Yongnuo YN560-III:
343 CNY (SGD 79.43 => SGD 74.33 + SGD 5.10 4PX forwarding fee)

All in all my order placed on November 15 was delivered to me via the forwarding agent on November 27. I am quite satisfy with the speed of the delivery which is less than 2 weeks from the day my orders were placed.

6 thoughts to “Trying out Taobao Southeast Asia”

  1. Hi I see that your shipment cost is only $5.10 which is quite reasonable. can I ask, does 4px charge by actual weight or volumetric weight?

    hows the final packaging if we order multiple items and consolidate at their warehouse? do they usually pack in carton box or they will just seal up 2parcels as shown in your pic? (cos I’ ordering like ten over items and im not sure whether the sellers ship to 4px in boxes or just plastic bags)
    and im worried about the possibility of the items being damaged in transit.

    Thanks n advance! 🙂

    1. Hi there, the shipping cost usually is between SGD7.20 to $8.00 (Depending on exchange rate) for first 1KG via 4PX and they charge by actual weight and not volumetric.

      When consolidating multiple items:
      1. If the items are shipped in boxes, they would just tape them up together, then wrap it over their 4PX packing bag.
      2. Secondly, so far for loose items, they might put everything inside a sack/bag and tape them up securely to prevent movement during transit.

      Check out my newer post of how my bigger items are being packed and delivered to me by 4PX:

  2. Hi, I would like to know how long does it take for 4px to deliver the items to you from their warehouse? Did you track the parcel while waiting for it? Thanks.

    1. It usually takes 3 to 4 days (since they work during weekends too) for the items to be delivered from their warehouse once you initiated the consolidation and payment.
      As for tracking, I will usually live text-chat with the 4PX customer service via Aliwangwang to get the actual courier/dispatch company fulfilling the delivery for that particular shipment in Singapore/Malaysia.

      1. I wouldn’t be too worry about it. It just happen your delivery schedule is during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival which generally will have some delay.

  3. hi, i think its great that 4px charges actual weight because i’ve been using agent for the past 2 years and they will take whichever is higher, actual or volumetric and i always end up paying double or more if the item is bulky. so im not very happy about using agent and want to try buying myself. but the forwarder doesnt do inspection right? what if the seller sends a wrong or damaged item? do you just report to 4px when the stuff arrives at your place?

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