Itaobuy spreadsheet FAQ: a treasure hunter's logbook
Answers about how finds are logged — when they were spotted, where they came from, what the saving was — and what that record means when you order.
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Why does this sheet read like a logbook?
Because each row records the discovery: date found, source marketplace, and the price gap against an obvious alternative. Hunting is half the value.
Is anything sold directly here?
No. This page documents finds; Itaobuy performs the buying, inspection, packing and shipping once you act on a row.
Do I pay to read the log?
Reading is free, always. Payment begins only after you convert a logged find into an order inside Itaobuy.
Buying & payment
How recent are the finds?
Each row carries the date it was logged, so you can see freshness rather than guess. Older rows are re-checked; listings that died are removed or re-sourced.
What if the price gap has closed since logging?
Then the row is honest about it. Rows are re-priced or retired; a find whose advantage has evaporated is simply no longer worth your click.
Which marketplaces get logged?
Taobao, Weidian, 1688 and JD. Weidian in particular hides a lot of good small-run items that never surface in a normal search.
QC & shipping
How do I verify a lesser-known seller?
Ask for photos before shipping and compare against the listing images. Unknown sellers are often excellent, but verification should always be yours to do.
Should I consolidate finds from several sellers?
Usually yes, provided everything has cleared QC. One outbound parcel spreads the first-kilo charge across every row in your log.
What about fragile and oddly shaped finds?
Request reinforced packing and expect the volumetric weight to rise. Fragile and awkward shapes are exactly where paying protection beats saving freight.
Money & safety
How do I read a row's economics?
Item price, domestic leg, freight, service portion, duty, plus extras. Rows show their source and gap so you can judge whether the hunt paid off.
What is the biggest trap with great finds?
Believing a price that has not been re-checked. Cheap listings go stale fast; rows are meant to be verified at the moment you order, not when they were written.
Can I return something that was disappointing?
Before it leaves China, yes, and that is the window to act in. After international shipping, returns rarely make financial sense for single rows.
Consolidation and customs
Is consolidation always cheaper?
Usually, because it removes repeated base charges. It stops being cheaper when bulky items inflate the volumetric weight of the whole box, or when one slow seller holds everything up.
Who pays import duty?
The recipient, in most destinations. Some lanes collect it in advance; others bill on delivery. Either way it is not included in the shipping quote.
Can I remove an item after consolidation?
No, consolidation is a packing decision. Choose what goes in before you confirm, and split anything you may still want to return.
Logbook-style reference. Itaobuy's live pages remain authoritative for pricing, shipping and refunds.