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Checking a claim yourself: sellers, agents and catalogue sites
The method this file uses, written down so you can apply it to anything: a seller, another agent, another catalogue site, or this one.
The four questions behind every exhibit
Every card in this file answers the same four questions. They work on any claim you read about any agent.
- Who wrote it? The operator, a seller, a forum user, or a site that earns from your click. Each has a reason to say it.
- Where exactly? A page you can open today, with a title or article number. “Everyone knows” is not a location.
- When? Record both the source date, if given, and the date you read it. An undated screenshot can show a past interface, but cannot establish when its terms applied.
- What would change it? A new payment, packed measurement, route restriction or policy update can change the answer. Recheck at the decision point; a suggested review date is not a guaranteed validity period.
When two sources do not say the same thing
Match the subject and scope before choosing a number. A later reading date shows when someone checked a page; it does not prove that the page supersedes another rule.
- Write down the exact decision. “How much will this payment debit?” is different from “What rate does the help centre describe?” “Can this order be exchanged?” is different from “How long is normal storage?”
- Compare the conditions. Record the goods, country, route, order status, clock start and fee unit. 100-day normal storage and 60-day abnormal storage cover different cases. Adding them or averaging them does not resolve a deadline.
- Keep genuine differences visible. The PayPal formulas remain different written statements. Record the actual checkout for your transaction; if the charge still cannot be explained, ask support before confirming payment. An old screenshot is not a current quote.
- Save the resolution with its scope. Keep the official page or support answer, date and affected order. A reply about one parcel does not establish a policy for every destination. If the answer is still missing, label the question unresolved and reconsider any purchase that depends on it.
For a concrete deadline example, see how to handle the 5-day and 14-day exchange wording. The aim is an answer tied to the order, not a more convenient number.
Choosing a seller: signals that hold up
The agent buys from the seller you pick; it does not pick for you. Signals that hold up:
- Shop age and a steady sales history on the same listing, not a shop full of unrelated products.
- Buyer photos in ordinary light that match the listing.
- A size chart in centimetres and clear variant names.
- Actual stock and a clear seller dispatch commitment; geographic examples are not arrival guarantees (T-05).
On 1688, Kakobuy's own article adds minimum quantities and seller credit to the list.
Choosing an agent: six questions to ask in writing
Comparing agents is reasonable; ranking them is not something this file does. Instead, check each agent you consider against the same list, and see which one answers in writing:
Swipe across the table to read all columns.
| Question | Where Kakobuy answers it | Exhibit |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a service fee, and where is the margin? | Help 63, help 64 | M-01, M-02 |
| Is the payment surcharge written down? | Help 64, 65, 99 (conflicting text and an older image) | M-03 |
| How long is free storage, and what happens after? | Help 1, help 120 | T-01, T-03 |
| What does inspection cover? | Help 89 | G-01 |
| Who pays if a parcel is lost? | Help 113, help 123 | S-04, A-05 |
| Which company is behind the brand? | Contact page, Privacy Policy | C-01, C-02 |
A missing or unclear written answer leaves a question unresolved. Ask for the applicable terms before committing; a published answer is useful evidence, but does not itself prove reliable performance.
Spreadsheet sites: the upkeep test
A catalogue site is only as useful as its upkeep. What makes a good spreadsheet site is visible from the outside:
- Dead links. Open five product cards at random. Several unavailable listings are a reason to check freshness; a small sample does not establish the entire site’s upkeep.
- Dates. Fee and shipping claims should carry the date they were read. This file prints one on every card.
- Category honesty. A tile labelled as a category should open a category; a search should say it is a search. Our women's tile says so.
- What it will not say. A site that never prints “not published” is probably filling gaps with guesses.
Apply the same tests to this site. If a card here is past its re-check date, treat it as unverified until you open the page.
Seven traps worth a second look before paying
- The 120-hour return window starts at stock-in, not when you see the photos (T-08).
- Electronics are not tested by the inspection (G-01).
- Confirm the PayPal fee at the actual payment screen; official text conflicts and the embedded screenshot is historical (M-03).
- Unused balance costs a fee to withdraw (T-07).
- Light parcels can be locked out of lines that look cheap (S-02).
- Normal storage is 100 days, abnormal unmatched storage 60; confirm the actual deadline and arrange any eligible paid extension before expiry (T-01).
- A damaged box has a 2-day post-office deadline as well as a 72-hour Kakobuy deadline (A-03).
Comparing other shopping agents with the same six questions
Kakobuy is one of many shopping agents that buy from Chinese marketplaces for overseas customers. You will see other names in forums and catalogue sites. They differ in exactly the places this file tracks: how the complete payable cost compares, including service and conversion charges, how long storage is free, what inspection includes, and which lines serve your country.
This file covers one agent only. To compare, take the table above to another agent's help centre and fill it in yourself. If an agent's answers come only from its marketing pages, note that too.