What changed in this handbook

We used to say only "then there's international freight". Now it's an explicit ledger: item price, domestic shipping, buying service, customs, international freight, tax.

The important one is how freight is billed: whichever is larger, real or volumetric weight. That's why a puffy coat often costs more to ship than to buy.

The fees page also gained a landed-cost calculator, so you can put your own numbers in and see.

Four situations worth asking for extra shots: logo detail, stitching, zip hardware and size-tag print.

We also put one line up front: QC is your only window to say no. Once the parcel is with the carrier, refusing it is no longer an option.

The journey page also lines up the nine lookup stages with the official timings so you can follow along.

Each card now follows the same four lines: what to look for, what to pin down, where to look in QC, and where it goes wrong.

Categories that were missing are now covered — eyewear, jewellery and hats among them.

Every card links straight to its category, so you can go browsing right after reading.

Added what each is actually for: Tmall leans brand-official, JD leans electronics and household goods.

Also spelled out that the link decides the source — in most cases you never pick the platform by hand.

The caveat stays: 1688 is cheaper per unit but often carries a minimum, so a single item isn't always worth it.