I just made my first order on taobao last Tuesday using direct global shipping. Surprisingly it arrived today! I've never received anything from overseas this fast (unless using FedEx or DHL). And this one just used regular airmail.

Total oversea shipping cost was RMB55. I weighted the box, it's about 5kg++.

Quite happy with the experience. Next I'm gonna try consolidated shipping...

Maybe the box size or shape is not regular? (in case of abnormal box any courier will use volumetric instead so it will be more expensive than normal weight).

I shopped on 8th March. Got RM3.90 cashback for about rm360 worth of shipment. Just about 1% hahaha

Good thing that taobao stuff is really cheap and I wasn't looking forward for the cashback.

I see. Thanks for the heads up. I thought consolidated shipping will always be cheaper than direct. Maybe gonna try it if I buy lightweight stuff.

Btw now I have no idea which courier they used. Because I chose the cheapest shipping I thought they gonna send it using normal post. It was my brother who received the item and he said a guy in iswara sent it lol.

My location is in Bangi, not KL.

Yes you are most probably correct.

Good thing that skynet's service has improved lately. I have had many bad experience with them some time ago that I decided to never use their service anymore. I used to write to sellers that I specifically do not want skynet and insists on other couriers, otherwise i wont buy hahaha. Oh well that's off topic.

Anyway if we choose consolidated, do we know the shipping cost upfront or are they gonna quote only after it reached warehouse?

Ok noted, many thanks for all the info!

Based on my experience:

- Option 1 (direct) - cheaper if heavy items. If different sellers, must order together in the same checkout and will pay all cost upfront including shipping.
- Option 2 (consolidated) - cheaper for not so heavy shipment (less than 2kg or so). Only pay for the items at checkout and shipping will only be quoted later when they arrived at warehouse. Then you decide when you want them to send out the entire batch, and you can add new order in the meantime. They can keep the items in warehouse for free for some days (i forgot how many). If exceed the days you need to pay the 'rental'.

- Both options allow you to buy from different sellers.

- Example from my experience: 1) Shipment A, I used Option 1 and was quoted ¥55 for overseas shipment. It actually weighed 5kg+ so if I use option 2, it should cost ¥100++. 2) For shipment B, I was quoted ¥89 for Option 1. It actually weighed 1.8kg so Option 2 had costed ¥44.

- You might not know the weight to decide which option to take so you will need to estimate yourself (whether your items are heavy or light).

- Option 3 is almost always most expensive but probably fastest because each seller will send them separately and no need to wait for other orders to arrive at warehouse.

No, option 3 is shipping direct by seller, not using agent or forwarder. The fastest one they usually use DHL.

Actually that post was old. I'm not sure what options they have now. I don't remember seeing the third option during my recent buys.

I noticed they have added many agents/couriers to choose from for consolidate shipping. Skynet is one of them. Not sure which courier is fastest, but I chose ABX.

I personally would never use skynet because of bad experience before, but if skynet serves your area ok, then it's fine.