One good question before you buy can save a return, a wasted shipping fee and a lot of frustration. This usfans Spreadsheet Guide explains when to ask sellers on Taobao, Weidian, 1688 and Pinduoduo for more information, what to ask, and how to phrase questions so they survive translation. It applies to every one of the usfans Product Links in the sheet.
For the full buying process, start with the usfans Spreadsheet questions and answers on our home page.
How asking a seller works
You do not need a Chinese account or a Chinese messaging app. When you order through usfans, you can add a remark to the order or contact the agent’s support team. The agent passes your question to the seller in Chinese and relays the answer back. Some agents also let you ask before paying; others handle questions once the order is placed. Either way, the agent is the go-between, which keeps the conversation on record.
When a question is worth asking
- The size chart is missing or unclear. Clothing and shoes without centimetre measurements are a gamble.
- The listing has many similar options. Two greys, two fabrics or a “set” option you do not understand.
- Stock or dispatch time is uncertain. Especially on Weidian, where many items are made in small batches.
- The material is not stated. Important for jackets, knitwear and anything you plan to wash often.
- A 1688 listing shows tiered prices. You need to know the minimum order quantity and the price at your quantity.
Question templates that translate well
Machine translation handles short, literal sentences far better than casual phrasing. Use numbers, avoid slang and ask one thing at a time.
| You want to know | Ask it like this |
|---|---|
| Garment size | “Please tell me the chest width and length of size L in centimetres.” |
| Shoe size | “What is the insole length of size 42 in millimetres?” |
| Stock | “Is colour black, size M in stock now?” |
| Dispatch | “How many days until this item ships?” |
| Material | “What is the fabric composition? Please give percentages.” |
| Fabric weight | “What is the fabric weight in grams per square metre?” |
| 1688 quantity | “What is the minimum order quantity? Can I mix colours and sizes?” |
| Colour accuracy | “Is the colour in the photo accurate? Please send a real photo.” |
Platform-specific advice
Taobao
Taobao sellers are used to customer questions and usually answer quickly. Many shops have customer-service staff who respond within hours. Fit questions are the most useful: ask for measurements of the exact size you plan to buy rather than general advice like “true to size”.
1688
1688 suppliers are used to business enquiries and often reply with precise specifications. Ask about minimum quantities, whether you can mix variants, and whether a sample option exists. Factories may also confirm fabric weight and composition accurately.
Weidian
Weidian sellers are often small teams who know their products well. They are good sources for real photos and honest sizing advice. Ask whether an item is ready to ship or made to order, because batch production can add a week or more.
Pinduoduo
Pinduoduo sellers handle very high volumes, so replies can be brief. Keep questions simple and focus on stock and size. For low-cost items, the buyer photos in reviews often answer your question faster than the seller will.
Asking the warehouse instead
Some questions are easier to answer once the item has arrived. You can ask the agent’s warehouse to measure a garment, photograph a detail in daylight, check that a zip runs smoothly or confirm the care label. These checks are often more reliable than a seller’s description, because they are done on the exact item you will receive.
Reading seller answers carefully
Translations can blur meaning. Treat numbers as reliable and adjectives as approximate. If a seller says a garment is “a little big”, check the centimetres yourself. If an answer seems to contradict the listing, trust the measurements and photos over the words, or ask the warehouse to confirm.
Questions you do not need to ask
Some questions waste time because the answer is already in the listing or the spreadsheet row: the price (check the live listing), the general category or the platform. Others cannot be answered reliably by a seller at all, such as how a colour will look on your screen. Focus your questions on facts — measurements, materials, stock and timing.
Keeping a record
Save the answers you receive. If an item arrives different from what the seller confirmed, that record helps the agent resolve the issue. Over time, your notes also show you which sellers answer clearly and honestly, which is a strong sign of a shop worth returning to.
Example: one question that saved an order
Imagine a heavyweight hoodie listed with only S, M and L. You normally wear L, but the chart is missing. You ask for the chest width and length of size L, and the seller replies with figures four centimetres smaller than your favourite hoodie. You choose XL from another listing instead. Without the question, you would have waited weeks for a hoodie that did not fit.
Summary
Ask when sizing, stock, material or quantity is unclear. Use short, literal questions with numbers, let the agent handle translation, and use warehouse checks for details only the physical item can answer. For more on judging products before you buy, read the photo reading guide and the fit guide.