This article was written in collaboration with Taobao Singapore. All views expressed in this article are the independent opinion of DollarsAndSense.sg based on our research. DollarsAndSense.sg is not liable for any financial losses that may arise from any transactions and readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence. You can view our full editorial policy here.
Anyone who’s shopped online will know that there’s always a certain level of risk involved – we just never know the exact quality (or size sometimes!) of the product until it’s delivered to our doorstep.
With this at the back of our minds, it can be a relief to know that there are clear policies to get a refund or return an item if they are defective or not up to a satisfactory level. That’s exactly what international buyers, like us in Singapore, can do on the Taobao app now.
With this enhanced feature, we can now submit a request for selected items to be returned to Taobao’s local warehouse if they do not meet our requirements. At this point, do note that the item return feature only applies to products that are labelled ‘本地退’ (English translation: Local return).
This gave me the ideal opportunity to buy a balance bike for my 5-year-old girl as a surprise gift. My husband and I are unsure if she will like it, and given that we’re not sure if the height of the bike will be appropriate for her, I decided to purchase one from a seller with the refund option.
In the event that the bike is too big for her or if she simply dislikes the bike, we can still return it back within the 7-day period.
Source: Taobao Singapore
How To Return Items (In Just 3 Easy Steps)
As mentioned, the item we buy has to be labelled ‘本地退’ (English translation: Local return) to be able to return the item and get a refund. You can refer to this icon in the main page if you are unsure of the steps too. 
Source: Taobao Singapore (printscreen from the main app)
Step 1: Go to your Order page to look for the product that you want to return. Once you locate the product, click ‘退换’(English translation: Return) to initiate the return process. You must select a reason for the return – there are options such as sizing issues, product quality issues and even price point issues (if you think the product is too expensive after receiving the actual item).
Source: Taobao Singapore
Step 2: Schedule a pick up time slot and pack the item in the original packaging with the tag. Paste the code on the parcel.
Source: Taobao Singapore
Step 3: Wait for the refund confirmation after the product is returned to the warehouse for inspection.
Source: Taobao Singapore
Do note that we should keep the original packaging and tag if we intend to return any of our purchased items back. We also need to initiate the returns process within 7 days after parcel is delivered.
Tips When Shopping On The Taobao App.
When shopping on the Taobao app, you will realised there is a Tmall (天猫）logo on the app and wonder what is Tmall?
Source: Taobao Singapore
In general, Tmall is a curated marketplace for brand owners or authorised distributors. It places a much more stringent process for businesses or other entities to open an online Tmall store. In short, it is a business-to-consumer (B2C) marketplace – where you are buying from a business rather than an individual.
Do take note when you shop on the Taobao app, there will be 2 types of cross store discounts for you to enjoy. They are Tmall Cross Store Discounts and Taobao Cross Store discounts, so do ensure you purchase your items based on this indicator to enjoy more perks.
If you have been through a series of disappointing purchases online, you can also read our English guide to shopping on Taobao in Singapore on how to screen through the reviews and comments or shop on Tmall (Taobao mall) for better quality and services.
Enjoy Even More Savings And Shop At Taobao’s 99 Mega Sale
The lure of buying online is that products are cheaper, and Taobao has built a reputation for listing very cost-competitive products.
Starting from 8pm on 6 September 2022 to 10 September 2022, you can enjoy cross store discounts when you check out. Don’t forget to grab promo codes and vouchers along the way when shopping on 9.9.
You can snatch up a S$60 off S$200 payment voucher by exchanging 1,000 Taobao Rewards Coins (金豆). This Rewards Voucher promotion, worth a 30% discount, is only available during 9.9 campaign period. With attractive bank promotions that you can stack, paying directly via your credit cards allows you to enjoy even more attractive prices, even when compared to your multi-currency account.
From 8am on 7 September 2022 to 10 September 2022, DollarsAndSense readers can stack another RMB30 discount (with minimum spend of RMB499) when you use the promo code TB99DS30. There are limited redemptions available, so fastest fingers first. Terms and conditions apply, and you can check out details on Taobao’s 9.9 Mega Sale here!
Read also: Taobao Singapore: How To Save Money (And Time) When Shipping To Singapore
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