Taobao Focus for Dummies Like Me (and other awesome dolly people)
Whassup! I thought I'd put together a quick little guide for people on how to use TaobaoFocus! It's really easy and I can have you shopping in no time. Like in twelve steps! It's a twelve step program. Wait crap, that's Alcoholics anonymous. Errrrrr 8 steps! 8 Easy steps!
Step 1. Go to the main site and create your account. The register tab it in the top right. Click and it'll ask for all the normal stuff to send you an activation through email. Follow all the steps just like you would for any other website.
Step 2: Are you all logged in? Great! Bravo! Give yourself some applause for getting this far, you're awesome. Now there's lots of stuff you can do but first let's search Taobao! Open up Taobao.com in a separate window and try out some search terms. See what works to find what you're looking for and make sure you do this on Google with the auto-translate on. it makes things so much easier.
If you want it really simple they have a search link on the Focus main page where you can type in english and it'll give you the price already in US bucks but their search does not work well (I get maybe 1/100th of the item matches I get otherwise), you want to use the actual other tab to do any in depth searching.
Step 3: Ooh! It looks like you found an item but oh god that price! What is that like a bazillion dollars?! No my friend that price is in Chinese Yuan. To find your price open a third tab and use this Yuan to dollars converter. It is one of many on the web but it works quick and easy.
Step 4: You ready to buy some shit? Cool. Log in and on the top right it will have a link that says shopping cart. (see it above my blacked out name). It will lead you to this page:
Now copy the URL of the item on Taobao you want (actually be on the item's page, not just in the store's page) and paste it in this box. Click preview.
Always keep in mind big items will have big shipping. Shipping is gonna be a bitch but this plush makes a good example.
So hit preview and you get this:
If there are size or color options enter the info in the comment boxes. then click add to cart. It'll give you a page with the same thing but in a new tab. Either submit it or cancel it and return to cart.
Once you submit the item is in your shopping cart and on the top right is the total in dollars of your first payment. First payment = shipping to them, fees, and the item's cost. The second payment is shipping from them to you and that will not be payed until they have the item in their hands at which time they open it and take a photo for you. At this point you can add more items if you like.
Step five: So our order is good and done. We totally want a plushie Pikachu because who the hell doesn't?
Okay now enter your shipping address and preferred shipping method. Now in gray right under that spiel below the shipping method tab will be a button that says "create order" Push it when you are 100% sure your order is done. Remember you can have up to 25 items in each order and the more you buy the cheaper it is per item to ship.
Step 6: Now it's gonna want you to pay for that order but you don't just pay for the item, you apply the money to your account and then apply it to your order. I use Paypal since they accept it and it's easy as hell but they also take credit cards and other payment sources. (bear with me, I'm not actually ordering the plushy so I can only get so many pics right now). It will give you a list of links to pick your funding source. Paypal link takes you right to Paypal. After you have sent the Paypal cash return to Taobaofocus and on the top right click "my orders" there your orders will be arranged by how complete they are. The first link is "awaiting first payment" that's where you go. Then you'll see your order number and the date it was placed. Click it. Now you're on your page and there will be a link to apply payment to order. Boom you just payed! Sit back and have a rest. Now it's up to them.
Step 7: in 1-3 days it will switch status to in process. You can click your order at any time and it will say how far it has gone. First status is "processing" which has been ordered and is on it's way to them. When it arrives they update it to "ready for shipping" and snap a photo of it. the arrow is your photo link.
Now if all looks well then it will have a shipping total. (If it doesn't yet, give them a day and they'll update it. don't worry your stuff isn't going anywhere) Just repeat what you already did for the first payment again and apply it. Tada! Now they will ship it and you can see where they will give you a tracking number above. I always do air mail because I'm cheap as shit thrifty so it takes about 3 weeks to make it here. (this is a completed order I got a week or two ago) They also ship EMS or DHL if you prefer. My last order was about 15 small toys and it was about $30 and $9.50 shipping. It would have cost me way TOO MUCH MORE on Ebay though.
Step 8: sit back and wait or refresh your tracking like mad and slowly stare into the gaping maw of the abyss until you go insane. you know, whatever works for you. It'll get to you and then you enjoy your order!
If you have any problems they have live support chat and a Facebook. They are awesome and I hope that helps someone. I'm probably just rambling on idiotically at 4am again but hell, someone's gonna find this to be useful.
