It can be misleading if you choose items only by checking the photos, because there might be additional information, such as: price provided only for pre-order, item for sale is only part of what is displayed on the photo and so on. Before placing an order, you need to check item description.
To check item description, you need a translator: the best option is to install Google Chrome browser, which is able to immediately translate the whole page from Chinese to any convenient language. Despite the fact that the translation is quite basic and sometimes not very accurate, you still can check and find keywords and phrases. Example: on the photo you see a T-shirt with shorts, but item description refers only to a T-shirt: you should assume that the seller offers for sale only the T-shirt.
Attention: items which are shown by pairs or there are multiple items on the photo – are usually sold individually, so the price is for one item, otherwise, it is specified in item details.
Selecting the color: the color should be chosen only from those offered on taobao item page (available colors are usually displayed in the menu next to the main item photo). Most sellers provide a lot of photos, but it does not mean that all colors are available. You should check all available colors and select the desired one. It is better if you can copy the color in Chinese version, so to avoid confusion later on during your order processing. In any case, in your order you can write item specifications in Chinese, English or Russian.
If there is no information about color, so available color should be considered the same as in the main photo – then you do not need to fill in color field in your item order form.
Selecting the size: the size should be chosen only from those offered on taobao item page. Available sizes are displayed in the menu next to the main item photo, just below the item price. If the seller does not provide size table, then we should assume that the size is standard, or taobao seller will provide the most appropriate size, based on the European or American standard sizes. If taobao seller provide the size chart for the item, you should choose the size correspondingly to the information provided in the size chart.
Here are the most used dimensions/size in Chinese:
height 身高
size 尺寸 or 尺码 or 码
weight 重量
length 衣长
chest 胸围
waist 腰围
hips 大腿围
shoulder width 肩宽
sleeve length 袖长
trousers length 裤长
Please note that Google often translates “size” as “yard” – it’s wrong (10码 is size 10, not 10 yards).
Attention: some taobao items are displayed only in one size (or without size) – in this case, you should consider that item is of standard M size. There may be additional details in taobao item description.
Price: sometimes item price depends on a certain size or configuration (i.e. electronic goods). In this case, our taobao order system initially takes the maximum value that you should pay in the first payment and then the real price will be recalculated before the second payment and difference deducted from the payment for shipping. While ordering such items, you should write the exact price in the field “Price adjustment” in taobao item order form. To see the exact price for desired configuration, on taobao item page you need to choose desired size or configuration (set a mark) – then the price below item title will change automatically.
If price difference is significant, you can contact Online Support before the first payment and make a request to recalculate the order considering the adjusted prices. To do this you need to provide your order number.
Now we can see How to submit item to our taobao order system.