Blog
Shopping guides & tips
Everything you need to know about shopping Taobao, Tmall, and 1688 from Canada.
Costs
How Much Does It Cost to Ship From Taobao to Canada?
The five things that actually determine your final bill — weight, volume, consolidation, duties and the service fee — and why a per-item quote is misleading.
2026-09-03
Customs
Do I Have to Pay Duty on a Taobao Order to Canada?
How CBSA assesses parcels from China, why the CAD$20 threshold is lower than most people expect, and who is legally on the hook when an invoice arrives.
2026-09-02
Shipping
How Long Does Taobao Shipping to Canada Take?
A realistic stage-by-stage timeline — seller dispatch, warehouse consolidation, air freight, customs and last-mile — plus what actually causes the delays.
2026-09-01
Comparison
AliExpress vs Taobao: Which Should Canadians Use?
AliExpress ships to Canada by itself; Taobao does not, but has far more selection and lower prices. An honest comparison of the trade-off, including where we fit.
2026-08-31
How-to
How to Use a Taobao Agent: A Step-by-Step Guide
What a buying agent actually does, the seven steps from finding a listing to a parcel at your door, and the mistakes that cost first-time buyers money.
2026-08-30
Price Comparison
Where to Buy Cheap Fabric, Craft and Hobby Supplies from China
Fabric by the metre, resin and moulds, cross-stitch and diamond painting kits — much of what a Canadian craft store stocks is sourced from these same listings, then marked up.
2026-08-28
Price Comparison
The Cheapest Place to Buy Phone Cases, Chargers and Cables
A phone case that costs $25 at the mall is often the same case, from the same factory, listed for a couple of dollars on Taobao. Where to look and how to spot the good sellers.
2026-08-24
Shopping Guide
5 Things Canadians Don't Know You Can Buy From Taobao
Custom clothing, hobby supplies, discontinued parts — five categories Canadian shoppers consistently underestimate on Taobao, and how to actually get them delivered here.
2026-08-21
Comparison
Taobao vs Tmall vs 1688: What's the Difference?
Three Alibaba platforms, three different buyers. Which one to search, when the higher Tmall price is worth it, and when 1688 wholesale pricing actually beats both.
2026-08-14