The Five Mistakes That Cost Buyers the Most
Sizing by letter, skim-reading QC, packing surprises, restricted items and slow approvals, each with the correction that keeps an order boring.
Updated 2026-10-17
Sizing by letter
Regional sizing differs and conversion tables smooth over the differences that matter. Measure a garment you own and compare flat numbers instead.
For footwear, use insole length in millimetres. It is the single most reliable number on a Chinese listing.
Skim-reading the QC set
The QC photographs are the only honest look at what you are buying. Opening them on a phone and approving in seconds is how avoidable problems ship.
Look at seams, prints, hardware and contact surfaces, and ask for another angle whenever the set does not answer your question.
Being surprised by packing
Freight is billed on the greater of actual and volumetric weight, so a bulky light parcel costs more than expected. That is normal, not a mistake.
Ask about compression and box removal before dispatch, and group bulky items with dense ones rather than with light ones.
One restricted item reroutes the box
Batteries, liquids and magnets can move a parcel onto a slower lane, and in a consolidated box that applies to everything inside.
Ship them separately. The second base charge is cheaper than rerouting an entire order.
Approving too slowly
Free storage windows are finite, and daily charges after them can exceed the value of the flaw you were hesitating about.
Know the window, look at the areas that matter, and decide. A prompt decision is a real saving rather than a compromise.
FAQ
Which mistake costs the most money?
Packing surprises, because volumetric weight scales with the whole box rather than with one item.
Which is easiest to fix?
Measuring instead of converting. It takes a minute and prevents the most common problem outright.
Is any of this agent-specific?
Mostly not, which is useful: these five apply whichever agent you use, so fixing them pays off everywhere.