The whole journey, one stop at a time.
Every GTBuy order follows the same seven stops. Read it once and the whole "agent" idea stops feeling mysterious. Nothing here is a fee quote — confirm live pricing and policies on gtbuy.com.
- You pay in two stages — the item (plus domestic shipping) up front, international shipping later once the weight is known.
- Nothing leaves China until you approve the QC photos.
- Storage lets you gather several finds and combine them into one parcel.
- Times depend on the seller and the shipping line; GTBuy shows live estimates in your account.
Create your account
Sign up on GTBuy with an email. This is your dashboard: every item, photo and parcel lives here.
Register on GTBuyPaste a product link
Found something on the spreadsheet? Copy its link and paste it into GTBuy. It pulls in the listing so you can choose size, colour, quantity and add a note to the buyer.
Pay for the item
You pay the item cost (plus domestic shipping to the warehouse) up front. GTBuy then buys it from the Chinese seller for you. International shipping is paid later, once you know the weight.
It arrives at the warehouse
The seller ships to GTBuy's warehouse, not to you. When it lands, your dashboard updates. Multiple orders? They all gather in the same place.
QC photos
Staff photograph your item so you can inspect it before it leaves China — colour, size tag, obvious flaws. You approve it or raise a problem.
How to read QCStore & consolidate
Wait for other items if you like — storage lets you build a haul. When ready, GTBuy combines everything into one parcel and removes bulky boxes to cut volumetric weight.
Why this saves moneyChoose a line & ship
Pick a shipping method to your country, pay the international leg, and track the parcel home. Customs and taxes depend on where you live.
How paying actually works
The single thing that confuses first-timers most is when you pay. With an agent it happens in two stages, and understanding this removes almost all the anxiety:
- Payment one — the item. When you submit an order, you pay the product price plus the small domestic shipping from the seller to GTBuy's warehouse. GTBuy then buys the item on your behalf.
- Payment two — international shipping. This is paid later, once your items are in the warehouse and you know their combined weight and the line you want. You are never asked to guess international shipping up front.
That gap between the two payments is deliberate — it's the window where QC and consolidation happen. Nothing ships until you've seen it and paid the second leg.
Set your expectationsHow long each stop takes
We don't quote fixed days — real times depend on the seller, the season and your shipping line, and GTBuy shows live estimates in your account. But the shape of the timeline is predictable, and knowing it stops the "where is my order?" panic:
| Stop | What sets the pace |
|---|---|
| Seller → warehouse | How fast the Chinese seller ships domestically. Usually quick; a made-to-order or restocking item is slower. |
| QC photos | Warehouse processing time after arrival. You then decide as soon as you've looked. |
| Storage window | Entirely your choice — hold to gather more items, or ship straight away. |
| International leg | The line you pick: express is fastest, economy is cheapest and slowest. |
What beginners get wrong on their first order
- Shipping one item at a time. You pay the base international cost every time. Let items gather, then consolidate — see why it saves money.
- Skimming the QC photos. This is your one look before it leaves China. Actually inspect them with the QC checklist.
- Vague buyer notes. "Make it nice" helps nobody. State the exact size, colour and any must-haves when you order.
- Forgetting customs. The shipping quote isn't the landed cost — your country may add duty on arrival.
Want the full list? We collected them on the beginner mistakes page.
Journey FAQ
Do I need a Chinese address or phone number?
No. You use GTBuy's warehouse address automatically — that's where sellers ship. You just need your own delivery address for the final international leg.
Can I add more items after I've started?
Yes. Everything you buy pools in the same account. That's exactly what makes consolidation possible — keep adding, then ship it all together.
What if my item never arrives at the warehouse?
Your dashboard tracks each order's status. If a seller fails to ship, raise it with GTBuy support from the order — this is a normal agent situation with a normal resolution path. Confirm current policy on the official site.
Walk it for real
Open GTBuy to start an order, or browse the spreadsheet first to find something worth shipping.