Direct answer: You pay three separate amounts: the product price, a service fee, and international freight. CNCartGo's own service fee is 6–15% on the value of the order, international shipping is paid after warehouse receipt and confirmation of the packed parcel's weight and dimensions, before dispatch. The first 100 days of storage are free. From day 101, storage costs USD 0.10 per parcel per day. Parcels may be stored for a maximum total of 200 days and are automatically destroyed after 200 days. Payment runs through Stripe, your bank card or your Wallet Balance.
The three fee stages
Stage 1: Buying the item
You pay the item price plus any domestic shipping from the seller to the agent's China warehouse. Some agents add a percentage service fee at this stage. CNCartGo's fee is tiered by order amount: 15% under $50, 10% from $50–$200, and 6% over $200. The fee covers procurement, seller communication, quality inspection, warehousing and packaging support.
Stage 2: Warehouse and consolidation
Items wait at the warehouse while you accumulate more orders. CNCartGo gives 100 days of free storage. Combining eligible parcels is free. Consolidation may reduce repeated charges or unnecessary packaging, but it does not always lower the final shipping cost. The result depends on the goods, packed dimensions, chargeable weight and available route. Ask support to confirm the availability, scope and price of any additional photos, repacking or other requested service before ordering it.
Stage 3: International shipping
After arrival, the warehouse measures actual weight and dimensions and quotes shipping lines. This is usually the largest cost, not the service fee. Express, standard and economy routes differ in availability, charges and estimated transit time. Compare a quote for your destination, goods, packed dimensions and chargeable weight; no single per-kilogram rate applies to every parcel.
Fee table (CNCartGo)
| Order amount (USD) | Service fee | Example on $100 order |
|---|---|---|
| Under $50 | 15% | - |
| $50 – $200 | 10% | $10.00 |
| Over $200 | 6% | - |
Hidden charges to check before paying
- Exchange rate: some agents profit from the currency spread. CNCartGo states it does not add extra fees on Stripe payments; the rate is set by Stripe or your card issuer.
- Volume weight: light but bulky parcels are billed by volume weight, which can exceed actual weight. Ask for dimensions before quoting.
- Customs duties and taxes: Before approving a route, check the written shipping quote for which destination duties, taxes and clearance charges are included or excluded, and who is responsible for each payment. Do not assume that every route has the same tax treatment.
- Storage over 100 days: extensions are billable; submit the parcel within the free window.
Illustrative budget example - not a current shipping quote
This is a hypothetical calculation, not an actual order or an available shipping offer. Assume items cost USD 85, the applicable service fee is 10% (USD 8.50), China domestic delivery costs USD 3 and the prepared parcel receives an international shipping quote of USD 22. These assumed amounts total USD 118.50. Any optional services, payment or conversion charges, and destination taxes or clearance charges would need to be checked separately. For your order, use the actual checkout amounts and the confirmed quote after parcel preparation and measurement.
Common mistakes when budgeting agent costs
- Treating the service fee as the total cost. Freight is usually the biggest line item. Always get the parcel-level quote.
- Forgetting the exchange rate. Card issuers and processors apply their own rates; a 2–3% spread on a $200 order is $4–6 of quiet cost.
- Leaving items in storage past the free window. CNCartGo gives 100 days free; beyond that, extensions cost money.
- Paying for extras you do not need. Review the included QC and storage services, and confirm the availability and quoted charge for any optional service before requesting it.
Deeper FAQ
Is the service fee negotiable for bulk orders?
Retail checkout fees are fixed by the published tiers. Business buyers with repeat volume should use the sourcing flow instead, where quotes are case-based and MOQ, samples and bulk inspection change the economics.
Do I pay the fee again if I return an item?
Refundability depends on whether procurement has started or goods have entered inventory. Check the order status and the current refund policy before cancelling; the fee treatment follows that policy.
Why is the fee a percentage instead of a flat rate?
Percentage tiers align the fee with the value and complexity of the order - a $300 electronics order involves more verification work than a $10 accessory, while the lower 6% tier keeps large carts competitive. Fixed fees punish small orders and underprice big ones.
How agents price freight (and why quotes vary)
International freight is quoted by carriers per weight unit with a first-weight charge, plus fuel surcharges, and often a customs-handling component. Two agents can quote different prices for the same parcel because they hold different line contracts, apply different volume-weight divisors, or include different handling fees. That is why a parcel-level quote beats a percentage-fee comparison: the fee table tells you the buying stage, but only a real quote tells you the shipping stage.
Fee transparency in practice
CNCartGo's checkout displays the service fee automatically before payment, lists which services are included (procurement, QC, 100-day warehousing, packaging, shipping assistance), and keeps freight as a separate post-arrival charge. Review the settlement currency and any recharge, payment-provider or currency-conversion charges displayed before confirming payment. Refer to the current Payment Policy and the terms of your selected payment method. Review the checkout amounts and payment-provider terms, and confirm any selected additional services separately.
Fee quick reference
| Cost item | Typical amount | When charged |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | 6%–15% of item value | At checkout (buying stage) |
| Domestic shipping (seller → warehouse) | Seller-specific amount shown before purchase | At checkout |
| International freight | Quoted for the prepared parcel and eligible route | After warehouse arrival |
| Storage extension | Billable after 100 days | On demand |
| Destination customs | Varies by country | Check the written route quote and destination requirements |
The table is a budgeting reference, not a final landed-cost quote. International freight depends on the packed parcel and selected route. Confirm any optional services, storage charges, payment or currency-conversion charges, and applicable destination duties, taxes or clearance costs separately before approving the relevant payment.
FAQ
How much does a Taobao agent charge?
Commonly 0%–15% depending on the agent and order size, plus international shipping billed separately. CNCartGo charges 15% under $50, 10% for $50–$200 and 6% over $200.
Is the international shipping fee included in the service fee?
No. Service fees and international shipping are separate charges at CNCartGo. Freight is quoted after the parcel's actual weight is confirmed at the warehouse.
Why did my shipping cost change after checkout?
Because the final parcel weight, volume weight and route availability are only known after warehouse arrival. Early quotes are estimates.
Can I see the fee before paying?
Yes. CNCartGo displays the service fee automatically on the checkout page before payment, and the shipping calculator previews freight routes by destination and weight.
What is the difference between the service fee and the platform fee?
They are the same charge described by two names: CNCartGo's service fee (6%–15%) is the buying-stage commission shown at checkout. The platform does not add a second hidden fee on top of it; international freight is billed separately because its real cost is only known after the parcel arrives at the warehouse.
Does the agent charge for consolidation?
No. Combining multiple orders into one parcel is included in the service fee at CNCartGo, and it is one of the main ways buyers reduce freight cost. Optional extras like repacking or extra photo sets are à-la-carte charges confirmed before they are applied.
Can I see every fee before paying anything?
Review the item price, domestic shipping and service fee shown at checkout. International freight is quoted separately after the parcel is measured. Check the written quote and any selected services for other charges, including any applicable destination duties, taxes or clearance costs. The shipping calculator provides an estimate for planning, not a guarantee of the final landed cost.
Last reviewed: September 5, 2026. Commission tiers are set by each agent, so read the current fee schedule before you order.
Related guides
Fee structures raise follow-up questions, and the usual ones are answered below.
- Superbuy vs PandaBuy vs CNCartGo: Fees, Storage and Shipping Compared
- Is Buying From Taobao Safe? Risks Overseas Buyers Face and How Agents Reduce Them
- What Is a China Buying Agent? How Shopping Agents Work (2026)
- Best Way to Pay Taobao and 1688 From Overseas: What Actually Works Without a Chinese Bank Card
- Taobao Payment Limits for Overseas Buyers: When an Agent Quote Makes Sense
