With the growing popularity of Allbirds' eco-friendly footwear, many international shoppers are looking for ways to purchase these comfortable shoes directly from China's largest e-commerce platform, Taobao. If you’re unfamiliar with the process or prefer a professional intermediary, Mulebuy, a leading Chinese forwarding and purchasing platform, can bridge the gap. This guide will walk you through the seamless process of ordering from Taobao using Mulebuy—saving you time, eliminating language barriers, and ensuring secure transactions.
Step 1: Register an Account on Mulebuy
Start by creating an account on the Mulebuy website (currently available in multiple languages, including English and Chinese). Registration typically requires basic details like your email address and a secure password. Mulebuy serves as both a forwarding servicepurchasing proxy, meaning you can store items in their warehouse (e.g., consolidating multiple Taobao orders) or request a dedicated shopper to place orders on your behalf. If you're new to reverse shipping logistics, detailed guidance is also available on resources like: Spreadsheet.Help.
Step 2: Find Your Ideal Allbirds on Taobao
Allbirds' official Taobao store offers a full product line, sometimes at lower prices compared to Western retailers. However, navigating Taobao may be challenging if you can’t read Mandarin.
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Step 3: Submit Order Details via Mulebuy’s System
Once you’ve chose your preferred Allbirds style and size, log into your Mulebuy dashboard and input:
- Product URL from Taobao
- Color/size specifications (check against Taobao sizing charts—Allbirds may differ from Western standards)
- Special instructions (e.g., prioritizing eco-packaging)
An agent will verify stock availability and forward the total cost (product + Taobao domestic shipping fees) for confirmation.
Step 4: Payment and International Shipping Logistics
After approving the quote, pay through Mulebuy’s secure channels (they accept PayPal and major credit cards). Mulebuy then assigns a local shopper to purchase the item and ship it to their Guangzhou warehouse. From there, international delivery options include:
- DHL, FedEx (3–7 business days to the US/EU)
- Budget EMS/SAL (slower but cheaper)
- Combined shipments—ideal if ordering collaborations from other Taobao stores.
For recurring shoppers, consolidating parcels helps save on volumetric weight fees.
Step 5: Tracking and Customer Support
Mulebuy provides real-time tracking updates via email or their dashboard (product in-transit to their warehouse ➔ repackaging ➔ international waybill assignment). For unexpected issues (e.g., wrong size shipped or defective items), contact their bilingual support team for returns/exchanges—Taobao policies typically allow 7-day refunds. Refer to negotiation strategies on Spreadsheet.Help
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