Detailed explanation of the types and modes of cross-border purchasing

1. The definition and development history of cross-border purchasing

The concept of “purchasing agent” is not a legal term, but a term gradually formed in cross-border commodity transactions with the development of social economy. Purchasing initially refers to the behavior of using one’s own convenience to help others buy goods. It first appeared when international students or people working and living abroad returned home to help relatives and friends bring some items that were difficult to buy or expensive in China, such as watches, cosmetics, etc. However, due to the existence of arbitrage space, purchasing agents gradually became commercialized and eventually evolved into today’s professional and group-based operations.

2. Main types of cross-border purchasing

Flash order collection type

This type of purchasing agent creates orders by obtaining a large amount of personally identifiable information, gathers the goods to a certain location in the country, and then distributes them. The specific process includes: obtaining other people’s identity information through various means, and orders placed using this information can directly enjoy tax-free treatment; overseas companies package and mail them to China based on the order information; after the goods arrive, the purchasing agent organizes personnel to receive and re- Distribute, and finally complete transactions with consumers through online payment and other methods.

Collection of orders and direct mail type

In this model, purchasing agents collect orders from domestic customers and place orders with overseas suppliers based on order requirements. Customers need to provide ID card information for customs clearance. The goods are mailed directly from overseas to consumers, and the purchaser acts as an intermediary to handle payment throughout the entire process.

Direct order and mail type

Different from the first two models, here consumers directly contact overseas suppliers to place orders for goods. The supplier is responsible for processing the order and shipping the goods directly to the consumer. The role of purchasing agents changes to helping consumers connect with suppliers and earn commissions from them.

3. Characteristics of the “overseas purchasing platform” model

Typical representative

Taobao Global Shopping and American Shopping Network are the pioneers of this type of model. They mainly operate by attracting third-party sellers, who are responsible for product procurement and logistics, and the platform draws commissions from them.

Model advantages and challenges

This type of platform provides consumers with a variety of product choices, but due to the lack of in-depth involvement in the supply chain, the main problems they face are low trust and insufficient competitive advantages.

4. Challenges faced by personal purchasing agents

Although personal shopping is popular for its convenience and flexibility, it also has many problems, including but not limited to:

• High supply cost: Most personal purchasing agents rely on relatives and friends to purchase directly from abroad, resulting in high costs.
• It’s difficult to tell the authenticity from the fake: Some unscrupulous merchants may sell fake products as genuine products.
• Legal Risk: Purchasing activities that fail to pay taxes as required may violate the law.
• Difficulties in logistics supervision: Goods are prone to loss or damage during transportation.
• Insufficient after-sales support: Because the invoices come from abroad, many products cannot enjoy domestic warranty services.

5. The role of buyers in cross-border e-commerce

With the development of the industry, “overseas shopping buyers” who specialize in product selection and promotion have emerged. Compared with traditional purchasing agents, they focus more on discovering high-quality products and recommending them to consumers. At the same time, buyers have also begun to try to work in teams to improve efficiency and service quality.

The above content is entirely based on the reference materials provided and no personal opinions or conclusions have been added.