ACBuy Spreadsheet vs Manual Search: Which Is Better?

The Great Debate: Spreadsheet vs Manual Search

When shopping through ACBuy, you have two main approaches: using a curated spreadsheet or manually searching Chinese marketplaces.

Using an ACBuy Spreadsheet

Advantages

• Time-saving — browse pre-organized categories instead of searching from scratch
• Verified links — community-checked sellers reduce the risk of scams
• Price comparison — easily compare similar items from different sellers
• Dead link filtering — maintained spreadsheets remove broken links regularly

Disadvantages

• Limited selection — you are restricted to what has been added to the spreadsheet
• Potential bias — some spreadsheets may favor certain sellers

Manual Marketplace Search

Advantages

• Unlimited selection — access every product on Taobao, Weidian, and 1688
• Latest products — find newly listed items before they appear on spreadsheets

Disadvantages

• Time-consuming — searching without Chinese language skills is challenging
• Higher risk — no community verification of seller reliability

Our Recommendation

For most users, especially beginners, starting with an ACBuy spreadsheet is the best approach. The ideal workflow combines both methods.