Statement October 2026Channel Order costsPages read 15 October 2026
Oopbuy costs for UK buyers: the order lines, the rate, QC and the parcel payment
Top-up fees are one layer. This page covers the rest of what you pay for: the order lines, the exchange rate built into prices, supplements, QC photos and the second payment for shipping.
The full cost of a UK order
Keep five lines in your budget: the item, seller delivery inside China, payment and currency conversion, warehouse extras, and international freight. Destination tax or carrier handling can be separate again.
The official Service & Fees page checked 18 October 2026 lists goods including domestic freight, international freight and a declaration charge generally 8 CNY depending on the route, with optional services. A missing service-fee line does not mean zero payment cost or zero exchange-rate margin.
Start with an estimated basket, check shipping eligibility before paying, then replace your estimate with the real packed quotation. The funding calculator covers only one layer.
Exchange rates: display price, provider charge and credited balance
The original estimator observation from 10 and 15 October 2026 used 5.9756 CNY per USD and 7.9148 CNY per GBP to display prices. These are historical display divisors, not a current market rate or the rate your payment will receive.
Compare the amount debited in GBP with the amount actually credited in CNY, after stated fees. That gives a useful effective rate for that particular transfer. Do not infer the same rate for another date, channel or amount.
For illustration only: if a completed payment cost £50 and credited ¥400, the effective rate was 8 CNY per GBP. A quoted headline rate can look better while a fixed fee makes the net result worse.
03Supplements: when the seller's price changes
The FAQ on outstanding balances says some orders need a further payment after submission, because the seller changed the price; the difference "mainly relates to Chinese domestic delivery fee". You confirm and pay it following the instructions page.
For your top-up plan, a supplement is a small extra payment that may arrive at short notice. Leaving a modest buffer in the balance means you will not pay a second top-up fee, and wait for a second credit, just to cover a few yuan of freight.
QC is evidence to inspect, not a quality guarantee
Incoming checks cover visible attributes such as quantity, colour, size labels and obvious condition. Standard photos are generally three; confirm extra photography charges in the account. Images do not guarantee authenticity, fit or electrical function.
Open the original photographs, match them against the saved listing and request any missing measurement. A photo of the outside of a watch cannot establish that it keeps time.
Optional services: add only what solves a problem
Rehearsal packing, extra photos, reinforcement and storage extensions can change the cost. Older fee examples on this site are observations, not a guarantee that your account offers the same service or price today.
Ask for a size-label close-up when the size is unclear. Consider rehearsal packing when a bulky parcel makes the estimated charge uncertain. Confirm the charge and what the service provides before paying; extra photos do not automatically include testing.
A return decision comes before international freight
If a photo shows the wrong variant or visible damage, raise the issue while the item is still at the warehouse. The reviewed policy has a conditional five-day / 120-hour return window, seller eligibility and resale requirements. International dispatch can make the problem much harder to resolve.
Do not mistake normal 90-day storage for 90 days to return an item. Check both deadlines and the return costs, then select only accepted items for the parcel.
Shipping to the UK: compare the packed parcel
Enter the real destination, contents and weight in the account’s shipping estimate. Compare eligible lines by chargeable weight, dimensional limits, restrictions, tracking, compensation terms and any excluded charges. A quoted transit range is not a delivery appointment.
Actual weight is the parcel on a scale. Volumetric weight reflects its packed size; the route’s formula and charging rule decide which applies. Keep the seller box if its protection matters, or request removal only after considering what can be damaged.
Check the packed dimensions, final charge and optional services before the second payment. If the estimate changes, ask which weight or service changed rather than paying an unexplained difference.
Declarations, delivery and problems after dispatch
Use accurate item descriptions, quantities and values. Do not assume a line label guarantees tax treatment. The UK Government explains that VAT, Customs Duty or Excise Duty may be payable on goods sent from abroad; check the rules for the destination and goods before shipping. Current GOV.UK guidance, checked 18 October 2026.
After dispatch, follow the parcel record and carrier scans. A label-created event is different from carrier acceptance. If tracking stops, keep the last scan, date and parcel number, and ask account support whether a handover or carrier investigation is needed.
At delivery, inspect the sealed parcel and keep the label and packaging. Photograph visible damage and compare the contents with the item list. Report the problem promptly with order IDs and evidence; confirm the applicable route claim deadline instead of assuming every route uses the same terms.