Style Within Budget

  Buying clothing on Taobao as a non Chinese-speaker can be daunting. Even if you're using a Taobao agent to purchase, a lot can go wrong (please read our article on How to Buy On Taobao if you need some tips). Aside from gathering the measurements of the garment for you, agents won't be willing to do much to make sure that the item you are buying will 1) fit and 2) look exactly as shown! It's really a buy-at-your-own-risk situation. Therefore, here are some things to consider and do before buying custom clothing on Taobao. I will use this custom gown I got from Taobao as our example purchase... At best, the garment will look 55% like the photos. Beware of poorly made closures. Be prepared to spend $100 to $150 to have the item altered and modified. Let's take a closer look... 1. At best, the garment will look 55% like the photos. Again, here is the garment that was shown ... ... and here is what I received (my blood pressure goes up every time I look at this dress...

Congratulations on discovering the hidden gem known as Taobao! Taobao opens you up to a world of fashion that is generally hard to find or just too expensive in the United States. Taobao has styles that, while can be found in the United States, would be too pricey if you bought it here. Additionally, not only are Taobao listings sometimes only 1/4 of what you would normally pay if you purchased in your own country, but they can be even cheaper . But of course, if you don't live in China, it can be very difficult to order from Taobao. Most of us who live outside of China are not fluent in Chinese. No worries. That's what a Taobao agent is for... Table of Contents What is a Taobao Agent? How does buying through a Taobao agent work? What if I want to return the item I bought? How do Taobao agents make money? What is the true cost of purchasing through a Taobao agent? How do I choose a Taobao Agent? List of Recommended Taobao Agents Here is a quick-break down of how Taobao Agents w