When to Use
User wants to shop on Taobao (淘宝) or Tmall (天猫). Agent helps with product search, seller verification, price negotiation tactics, and navigating China's largest C2C/B2C marketplace.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|
| Seller vetting | sellers.md |
| Price negotiation | negotiation.md |
| Platform differences | platforms.md |
Core Rules
1. Platform Selection: Taobao vs Tmall
| Platform | Best For | Trust Level | Price Range |
|---|
| Tmall (天猫) | Brand authenticity guaranteed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Higher, fixed prices |
| Taobao (淘宝) | Variety, bargains, unique items | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | Lower, negotiable |
| Taobao Global | Overseas buyers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Higher (intl shipping) |
Decision Matrix:
- Electronics/Luxury → Tmall (authenticity matters)
- Fashion/Accessories → Taobao (variety + savings)
- Bulk purchases → Taobao (negotiation possible)
- First-time buyer → Tmall (simpler, safer)
2. Seller Vetting Protocol
Check These Before Buying:
| Metric | Green Flag | Red Flag |
|---|
| Store Rating | 皇冠 (Crown) or 钻石 (Diamond) | 心级 (Hearts only) |
| Positive Rate | >98% | <95% |
| Sales Volume | High on specific item | Zero or very low |
| Reviews | Detailed, with photos | Generic, repetitive |
| Store Age | >2 years | <6 months |
| Return Rate | <5% mentioned | >15% mentioned |
Seller Tiers (highest to lowest):
- 天猫旗舰店 (Tmall Flagship) - Brand official
- 天猫专卖店 (Tmall Authorized) - Authorized dealer
- 皇冠卖家 (Crown Seller) - High volume/experience
- 钻石卖家 (Diamond Seller) - Established
- 心级卖家 (Heart Seller) - Newer, higher risk
3. Search Optimization
Effective Search Strategies:
| Goal | Search Technique |
|---|
| Exact item | Use model numbers, brand + product code |
| Best price | Sort by price + filter by sales volume |
| Quality | Add "正品" (authentic) or "专柜" (counter) to query |
| Reviews | Sort by "销量" (sales) to see popular items |
Search Operators:
- Quotes for exact match: "iPhone 15 Pro"
- Minus to exclude: 手机 -二手 (phone -used)
- Price range: 手机 1000-2000
- Location filter: Add city for faster shipping
4. Price Intelligence & Negotiation
Understanding Pricing:
| Price Type | What It Means |
|---|
| 标价 (Listed) | Often inflated 20-50% for negotiation room |
| 券后价 (After Coupon) | Realistic starting point |
| 到手价 (Final Price) | After all discounts applied |
Negotiation Tactics (Wangwang Chat):
- Bulk discount: "买X件能便宜吗?" (Can you discount for X items?)
- Price match: "别家卖X元" (Others sell for X)
- Shipping waiver: "能包邮吗?" (Can you include shipping?)
- Gift request: "能送小礼物吗?" (Any free gifts?)
Timing for Best Prices:
- 3.8 (Women's Day), 6.18, 11.11, 12.12 - Major sales
- End of month - Sellers hit quotas
- Late night (11PM-1AM) - Flash deals
- New store openings - Grand opening discounts
5. Product Authentication
Spotting Fakes:
| Authentic | Suspicious |
|---|
| Detailed product photos (5+) | Stock images only |
| Specific model numbers | Vague descriptions |
| "专柜正品" (counter authentic) | "高仿" (high copy) in description |
| Brand authorization certificates | No proof of authenticity |
| Consistent branding | Logo slightly off |
For Luxury/High-Value Items:
- Request "专柜验货" (counter verification)
- Check for "假一赔十" (fake = 10x compensation) promise
- Verify seller's authorization documents
- Use Tmall for guaranteed authenticity
6. Shipping & Logistics
| Shipping Type | Speed | Cost | Best For |
|---|
| 普通快递 | 3-7 days | ¥8-15 | Standard items |
| 顺丰速运 | 1-3 days | ¥15-25 | Urgent/valuable |
| 菜鸟驿站 | 3-5 days | Often free | Convenient pickup |
| 同城配送 | Same day | ¥10-20 | Local purchases |
Free Shipping Threshold:
- Usually ¥99-299 depending on store
- Some items "包邮" (free shipping) regardless
- Tmall Supermarket often has free shipping promotions
7. Payment Protection
Payment Flow:
- Pay → Alipay holds funds (担保交易)
- Seller ships → You receive
- Confirm receipt → Funds released
- Never confirm before receiving!
Dispute Window:
- Open dispute within 15 days of receipt
- Evidence needed: photos, chat logs
- Taobao intervenes if seller uncooperative
Refund Types:
- 仅退款 (Refund only) - Item not received
- 退货退款 (Return + refund) - Item issues
- 换货 (Exchange) - Wrong size/color
8. Communication Best Practices
Wangwang (旺旺) Chat Tips:
- Save all chat records (dispute evidence)
- Confirm details in writing: color, size, model
- Ask about stock before ordering
- Request real product photos if uncertain
Common Phrases:
- "有货吗?" - Do you have stock?
- "什么时候发货?" - When will you ship?
- "发什么快递?" - Which courier?
- "能开发票吗?" - Can you provide invoice?
Common Traps
- Too good to be true pricing → Likely fake or bait-and-switch
- No reviews or generic reviews → Bot reviews, avoid
- Pressure to confirm receipt early → Scam signal
- Off-platform payment requests → Never pay outside Taobao
- Vague shipping timelines → Ask specifics before buying
- Ignoring return policy → Check before purchasing
- Not comparing sellers → Same item, vastly different prices/quality
Platform-Specific Features
Taobao Features
- 闲鱼 (Xianyu) integration - Secondhand deals
- 直播 (Live streaming) - Real-time product demos
- 淘金币 - Loyalty points for discounts
- 聚划算 - Group buying deals
Tmall Features
- 天猫超市 - Grocery delivery
- 天猫国际 - Overseas products
- 品牌闪购 - Flash sales
- 88VIP - Membership program (free shipping, discounts)
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
shopping — general shopping assistancevip — VIP.com flash sale guidancejd — JD.com shopping guidanceecommerce — broader ecommerce patterns
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