15-Step Guide to Shop on Taobao Like an Expert

Do you want to shop on Taobao.com, China’s biggest e-commerce platform for some of the latest and unique trends in products? Taobao sells the latest styles of all categories of products including clothing, fashion accessories, electronic goods, household goods, personal grooming, utilities and more. However, since the website is fully in Mandarin, it might be a challenge for English speakers to shop from this site.

If you don’t know Mandarin, but still want to shop on Taobao like a professional and make the best of the deals available on this site, this 15-step guide will help you with the same.

Translating The Website into English

Before you get into shopping on Taobao, the first hurdle you’ll face is the language barrier. While Taobao is primarily in Chinese, you don’t need to be fluent in Mandarin to shop like a pro. I’ve found that translating the website into English makes the whole experience much smoother. When you first land on Taobao.com, your browser might offer to translate the page automatically. If it doesn’t, you can use Google Chrome’s built-in translation feature. Simply right-click anywhere on the page and select “Translate to English.” You’ll notice that while some translations might seem a bit quirky, they’re usually good enough to help you understand what you’re looking at.

Getting a Taobao Account for Yourself

Let me walk you through the exact process of setting up your Taobao account. I’ve broken it down into clear, manageable steps to make it easy to follow:

Step 1: Access the Registration Page

Navigate to Taobao.com and locate the “Register” button in the top right corner of the homepage. If the page appears in Chinese, use your browser’s translation feature (right-click and select “Translate to English”) to convert the text.

Step 2: Choose Your Registration Method

Select your preferred registration method. You’ll see two options:

• Email registration (recommended for international users).
• Phone number registration.

Step 3: Enter Your Information

Fill out the registration form with the following details:

1. Enter your email address.
2. Create a password (must include letters and numbers, minimum 8 characters).
3. Re-enter your password to confirm.
4. Enter your name as it appears on your identification documents.

Step 4: Verify Your Identity

Complete the verification process:

1. Check your email for a verification code.
2. Enter the code in the designated field on the registration form.
3. Complete the sliding puzzle verification (drag the puzzle piece to complete the image).

Step 5: Set Up Account Security

Enhance your account security by:

1. Setting up security questions.
2. Adding a backup email (optional but recommended).
3. Enabling two-factor authentication (recommended).

Step 6: Complete Your Profile

Add essential information to your profile:

1. Input your shipping address.
2. Select your preferred currency.
3. Choose your language preference.
4. Add a profile picture (optional).

Pro tip: Save a copy of your login credentials in a secure location and consider using a password manager to keep your information safe. Once these steps are complete, you’re ready to start exploring Taobao’s vast marketplace.

Looking for The Product You Want on Taobao.com

Search Method	Description	Example	Best Used For	Search Results Quality
Basic English Search	Using simple English terms	“women dress”	Quick, basic searches	Fair – Limited results
Specific Keywords	Breaking down search into specific terms	“cotton summer midi dress”	Finding exact items	Good – More targeted results
Category-based Search	Using product category terms	“casual dress lightweight breathable”	Finding items within specific categories	Very Good – Precise category matches
Brand + Feature Search	Combining brand names with features	“Zara style office dress black”	Finding brand-similar items	Good – Style-matched results
Image Search	Uploading a picture of desired item	Upload photo of a dress	Finding exact item matches	Excellent – Visual matches
Combined Method	Using multiple search terms together	“floral maxi dress cotton summer beach”	Detailed product searches	Excellent – Comprehensive results

Additional Search Tips Table

Search Technique	How to Use	Benefits
Price Range Terms	Add “cheap” or “high quality” to search	Helps filter by price range
Material Specification	Include fabric type (cotton, silk, etc.)	Better quality matches
Size Indicators	Add size terms (S, M, L, XL)	More accurate size results
Color Terms	Specify colors clearly	Better color matching
Style Keywords	Include style terms (vintage, modern, etc.)	More accurate style matches

Applying More Filters to Search for The Exact Product

When you’re shopping on Taobao, using filters is essential to find exactly what you want without spending hours scrolling. I always start with the basic filters on the left side of the search results. You’ll see options for price range, brand, material and more. Here’s a pro tip I’ve learned: start with the price filter first – set your minimum and maximum budget. This immediately narrows down your options to what you can actually afford. Next, look for the “Ships From” filter. I usually select “Mainland China” because items shipping from other locations might have longer delivery times. Remember, while the filter names might be translated a bit oddly, the icons next to them usually make their purpose clear.

Knowing How to Sort Based on Certain Conditions

You may find many types and styles of dining sets on the site, after you have narrowed down your search. Browsing through each of them will consume a lot of time. However, you can quickly sort them in a particular order, even if you don’t know mandarin. Every product comes with it’s price and on the right side of the price, you will see a number in grey. This denotes the number of times that particular product has been purchased recently. You can sort by that number to know about the most popular products in the dining set category. You should also sort products that have a “7+” sign against them, as this indicates that they come with a 7-day, full money-back guarantee, when returned.

Checking Diamonds and Crowns of Sellers

Let me tell you about one of the most important things I’ve learned while shopping on Taobao site – checking seller credentials. Look for two main things: diamonds and crowns. These aren’t just pretty icons; they’re your quality indicators. Diamonds show how long a seller has been on Taobao (one diamond equals one year), while crowns indicate their sales volume. Here’s what I always check:

Seller Rating Table

Symbol	Meaning	Reliability Level
1-2 Diamonds	Newer Seller	Exercise Caution
3-4 Diamonds	Established Seller	Generally Reliable
5+ Diamonds	Veteran Seller	Highly Reliable
Golden Crown	High Sales Volume	Popular Choice

Reading Reviews Smartly

The reviews section is your goldmine of information, but you need to know how to use it effectively. I always look for reviews with photos first – these are the most reliable indicators of product quality. While the review text might be in Chinese, the pictures tell the real story. Look for a small camera icon next to reviews; this means they include photos. Another trick I use is to focus on reviews from the last three months, as these are most likely to reflect the current product quality. Pay special attention to reviews mentioning size, material quality and shipping time – these are usually the most helpful details when making your decision.

Knowing When to Use Taobao and Tmall

When you’re shopping on Taobao, you might notice some products are listed on Tmall instead. Let me explain the difference. Think of Taobao as a bustling marketplace where individual sellers and small businesses set up shop, while Tmall is more like a high-end shopping mall with official brand stores. I usually use Taobao when I’m looking for unique items or better deals and switch to Tmall when I want guaranteed authentic branded products. While Tmall tends to be pricier, it offers stronger buyer protection and usually has English-speaking customer service. The products on Tmall often come with detailed size guides and product specifications in English, which I find super helpful when making decisions.

Adding Products to Your Basket

Once you’ve found the perfect item, it’s time to add it to your cart. This part can be a bit tricky, but I’ll walk you through it. First, look for specific variations like size, color or style – these options usually appear as pictures with Chinese text. After selecting your preferences, you’ll see a number input box where you can choose the quantity. Pro tip: I always check if the seller offers a discount for buying multiple items. You’ll find two buttons near the price: one for buying immediately (usually in orange) and another for adding to cart (usually in white). I recommend using the cart option first, especially when you’re planning to buy multiple items.

Checking out the website

The checkout process is where many first-time Taobao shoppers get stuck, but don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. Once you’re ready to pay, head to your cart and select the items you want to purchase. Double-check your selections because some items might have shipping restrictions. You’ll see a big orange button at the bottom of the page to proceed to checkout. At this stage, Taobao will show you a summary of your order, including the item prices, domestic shipping fees (within China) and any additional charges. Pay attention to the shipping options – some sellers offer free domestic shipping if you spend above a certain amount. I always take a screenshot of my order summary, just in case I need to reference it later.

Providing Your Personal Details like Name and Address

Now comes an important part – entering your shipping information correctly. You’ll need to provide your name, address and contact details. Here’s my tried-and-tested method: I always write my address in both English and Chinese (you can use Google Translate for this). Most experienced Taobao sellers can handle English addresses, but having it in Chinese helps avoid any confusion. When entering your phone number, make sure to include your country code. I’ve learned to double-check every detail before proceeding – even a small error in your address can cause delivery issues. Pro tip: save your address details in your Taobao account settings, so you don’t have to enter them every time you make a purchase.

Choosing Your Shipping Method

Selecting the right shipping method can make a big difference to your Taobao shopping experience. When I first started shopping on Taobao, I was confused by the various shipping options, but now I understand how to choose wisely. You’ll typically see several international shipping carriers to choose from, each with different prices and delivery times. Here’s what I consider: if I need the items quickly, I go for EMS or DHL, though they’re more expensive. For regular purchases, I usually choose the more economical options like ePacket or sea shipping. Remember that some shipping methods might not be available for certain items, especially those containing batteries or liquids.

Choosing Delivery Location

The final stage of your Taobao journey is waiting for your package to arrive. After payment, you’ll receive a Chinese tracking number. I recommend using websites like 17Track.net to monitor your package’s journey – it shows updates in both Chinese and English. Typically, there are two phases to track: first, the domestic delivery within China to the warehouse and then the international shipping to your address. Be patient during this process; delivery times can vary significantly depending on your chosen shipping method. From my experience, express shipping usually takes 5-7 days, while economy options might take 2-3 weeks. I always keep my tracking number handy and check it regularly to know exactly where my package is.

Once you complete placing the order and paying for the same, you cannot do much except track the same and wait for the final delivery.

Final Thoughts

Remember when I first started shopping on Taobao? It seemed overwhelming, but now it’s become second nature. The key is to start small – maybe order one or two items to get familiar with the process. As you gain confidence, you can explore more sections of the platform and try different sellers. I’ve found that keeping a document with useful Chinese phrases, reliable seller’s names and my successful purchases helps streamline future shopping. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they’re part of the learning process. With these 15 steps and additional tips, you’re well-equipped to start your Taobao shopping journey.