Taobao English guide ?

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

Is there a guide how to buy from Taobao ?

I want to contact a seller about an item to purchase :/

Any ideas ?

[kidchunks]

http://taobaofieldguide.com has some information on ordering from taobao.

If you go with the agent obook. All you have to do is send them an email (obook@yahoo.cn) with the links to the items you want to purchase and questions you have for the seller. They will send you back a quote along with responses from the seller. It's really that easy. :biggrin:

[woks]

Taobao uses a Instant Messaging system for buyers to contact the seller. Make sure you are logging in Taobao with Internet Explorer because that is the easiest way to install their Addon.

Here is what you will see in a search result page:


Here is what you will see in a individual detail page:


Click on the red circled orange button to continue. If the seller is offline, click the blue circled grey button to leave him/her a message.

Here is what you will see after clicking the button:


Chat with him/her the way you are using Windows Live Massager. Most sellers, I guess, do not understand English.

Please note in this way, taobao won't record your messages with the seller, and there are hardly any buyer protection if there are disputes. You can download their clients to better protect yourself (Buyers ediction:http://www.taobao.com/wangwang/2010_fp/buyer.php?tracelogww2010=buyerclick), but I have no experiences with that. One thing to remember, do not open any document the seller sends you through the IM system on any circumstances. 90% it is a virus.

Good Luck with your purchase!

Note: Members in Mainland China may not view the images properly because imageshack is blocked in China. Use a proxy.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

@woks thx i will try that. Previously i did get to that messenger windows but it gives out a message that both sides need to add to contacts to continue the conversation.

So i downloaded the instant messenger, but not clue how to add or anything :X it's insanely frustrating.

System messages (22:01:12)
 You send a message today to cap a stranger, and you need to add each other as contacts, to continue to negotiate with each other!

@kidchunks i'm seriously considering it even though i know i will have to pay the 15 % service charge.

I'll give a few tries first and see how it goes.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

The messenger thing keeps nagging me to bind my mobile number.


00 = exit code for China

60 = Malaysia

12 = area

then the rest is my mobile number :/


doesn't seem to work though :{

[woks]

I am not sure when you say 'messenger', you are referring to the webpage messenger or the client?

I installed the client just now, but didn't find any messages concerned with mobile number. I think it helps if you can give a screenshot to tell what exactly your problems are like.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

ok ill take some screenies. but using both the web messenger and the software installed onto pc messenger, both have the same issue.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

[woks]

I got it. You are trying to send the sellers a mobile text message. That is the wrong way to contact the seller. (I don't know either why they design this feature.)

Here is what you should do if you decide to use the client:

1. Find the seller by his/her name. Let's say we are going to contact 'zm1501' in the above screenshot:






2. Send him/her your message:




I must say the client is harder to use than imagined. If you do not care much about buyer protection, webpage messenger is much easier to use

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

The part where you add friend, it didn't pop out the captcha.

Also the pop up in bottom right keeps coming up :X



PS: You know what the scary thing is. Chinese is going to surpass English on the internet. So many things will be in Chinese !!! i'm screwed :d

[woks]

If the captcha didn't pop up, then what popped up?

The pop up in bottom right appears because you are trying to send the sellers a mobile text message. Ignore that.

I need to remind you that if the Chinese language is a problem for you, taobaofieldguide.com  may be a better choice, because: 1.Taobao does not accept paypal; 2. I am not sure if sellers on taobao would ship internationally; 3. Taobao is not as secure as ebay and if the seller happens to conduct fraudulent activities (quite unlikely if you just wanna buy a keyboard, though), it would be hard for you to get your money back.

The irony thing is that ebay could have been predominant in China but they failed. Taobao wouldn't be so crappy if ebay is still a competitor in the market.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

a ! sign popped up. I'm guessing it means waiting for the person to accept my adding them.


It's crazy, i don't intend to send mobile message but that bottom right notification keeps appearing whenever i message them.

I can't figure out how then to toggle to normal chat :{ this software is insane.

[woks]

I see. If you insist using the client, post a screenshot to see what is going on. Or you may try the webpage messenger.

Honestly I have bought things on taobao for more than 10 times, and this is my first time using the client.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

I uninstalled the im software. Now using the web interface but i still get the same message :{

您今天陌生人发送的消息达到上限了，您需要添加对方为联系人，才能继续和对方洽谈！

[itlnstln]

I see following instructions isn't a top priority.

No screenshot for you, woks.

[woks]

That is weird. Try sending messages to see if you can proceed.

Anyway, it says you are sending too many messages to strangers (above limits) TODAY. If you cannot send messages any more, you may try sending tomorrow. (how silly is that!) It also says you need to add the seller as a contact to start chatting, but I don't know how to add a seller as a contact in webpage messenger either.