How to Buy from a CNFans Spreadsheet

This guide walks through the six steps in the order they actually happen, with the numbers that decide cost and the mistakes that cost the most time.

Step 1: Find the listing, not the photo

Start with a product you can describe in one sentence: “black 400gsm hoodie”, “AJ4 in a neutral colour”, “canvas tote with a zip”. The more specific the description, the easier it is to compare sellers.

Open the listing and check the seller name, the size chart and the available colours. If the listing has no measurements, assume the fit is unknown until QC.

Use the CNFans search engine like a buyer

The search engine is not Google. It matches product titles, not intent. Search a specific noun (“Nuptse”, “Oxford shirt”, “AJ4”) rather than a sentence, and remove colour words if the result set is thin.

If the exact item does not appear, search the seller name or the silhouette plus “batch”. A broader query with a good QC set beats a precise query with no photos.

• Start with one noun, not a phrase
• Try the silhouette before the colourway
• Search the seller name if you already have one
• Use the category page when search returns nothing

Step 2: Check the seller and the QC set

A seller with a long history and clear QC photos is worth a higher price than a cheaper listing with no evidence. Look for warehouse photos that show the item from more than one angle, with a scale or tape measure.

Ask one question before ordering: “Can you confirm the measurements in cm?” If the answer is vague, the return risk is yours.

• Stitching, symmetry and hardware colour
• Measurements against the size chart
• Weight, especially for shoes and outerwear
• Packaging: box, dust bag, or poly bag

Step 3: Estimate the real shipping cost

Shipping is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is (length × width × height) ÷ 6000 for most lines, so a bulky jacket can cost more than a heavier pair of shoes.

Build the parcel in your head before you pay: two hoodies (1.4kg), one pair of shoes without the box (1.0kg), one cap (0.1kg) is about 2.5kg actual. If the box is 40×30×20cm, volumetric weight is 4kg, and that is what many lines will charge.

Step 4: Pay, then wait for the warehouse

Payment methods vary by agent. Card and PayPal are the most common; some support local wallets. Keep the order number and a screenshot of the item page until the parcel arrives.

Domestic delivery to the warehouse usually takes 2–5 days. When it arrives, you get a QC window. Use it: request extra photos if the first set does not show the area you care about.

Step 5: Consolidate and choose a line

Consolidation combines several warehouse items into one international parcel. It saves money on the base fee but adds processing time. If one item is late, the whole parcel waits.

Choose the line by country, weight and what you can afford to lose. The cheapest line is rarely the fastest; the fastest line is rarely the cheapest per kg.

Step 6: Track, declare and receive

Save the tracking number in your phone, not just your inbox. Customs delays are normal; a parcel showing “handed to customs” for three days is not necessarily lost.

Declare honestly and keep the value consistent with what you paid. Under-declaring is not a strategy; it is a way to lose the parcel and the money.

Five mistakes first-time buyers make

• Ordering the wrong size because the listing used a different size chart
• Skipping QC and discovering a defect after the window closed
• Consolidating a fast item with a slow pre-order
• Forgetting volumetric weight on bulky outerwear
• Using a “mirror” site that asks for the agent password