Just want to share my experience. I purchased from Taobao for the first time on 7 Feb. I read review everywhere that global direct shipping is more expensive. Just want to share my experience here, that I used consolidated shiping. Before I did that I clicked on the direct shipping to see the cost.

And upon receiving all my goods, both prices amazingly turned out to be the same!

So I just want to share that not necessarily direct shipping is more expensive.

I bought items from 17 sellers, total 6.31kg. Amount quoted by direct shipping "coincidentally" same as what I paid under consolidation