If you’ve ever spotted great deals on Taobao or 1688, you’ve probably wondered: “How do I actually buy and ship these to the UK?” Cross-border shopping is exciting, but the language, payment, and logistics can be complicated. That’s where shopping agents like Sugargoo, CNFans, and ACBuy step in.
To keep it real, I tested all three agents using a simple scenario — a 3kg clothing parcel shipped to the UK. Here’s what I found when comparing their shipping fees, storage rules, extra charges, QC photos, and delivery experience.
💰 Shipping Fees: Sugargoo, CNFans, and ACBuy Compared
- Sugargoo
- Royal Mail PH: $27.94 (10-15 days)
- Royal Mail: $34.93 (10-15 days)
- UK clothing line: $32.83 (10-15 days)
- CNFans
- EUR-P-H: $35.24 (10-19 days)
- Royal Mail: $43.43 (10-19 days)
- ACBuy
- YunExpress: $35.48 (6-15 days)
- Royal Mail: $44.74 – $46.63 (6-14 days)
👉 Takeaway: All three agents offer Royal Mail, but there are noticeable price differences. In my UK case, Sugargoo started from $27.94, while CNFans and ACBuy were $43+ for Royal Mail. ACBuy does provide faster shipping lines (as quick as 6-10 days), though naturally the price comes higher.
📦 Storage: How CNFans and ACBuy Compare to Sugargoo
- Sugargoo: 100 days free.
- ACBuy: 90 days free + grace period (up to 180 days).
- CNFans: 60 days free.
👉 Takeaway: For my 3kg clothing parcel, Sugargoo gave me the most room to wait for other items to arrive before shipping out. CNFans was the shortest, while ACBuy sat in the middle but did allow extensions.
⏳ Storage Extensions: Sugargoo vs CNFans vs ACBuy
- Sugargoo: ¥8 per 30 days, extendable up to 180 days.
- CNFans: ¥10-40 depending on +30/60/90/120 days.
- ACBuy: ¥10 per 30 days, max 90 days.
👉 Takeaway: Sugargoo is the cheapest to extend. CNFans is the most expensive, while ACBuy is somewhere in between.
💡 Fee Structure: Any Hidden Costs with CNFans or ACBuy?
- Sugargoo
- Free agent service.
- Two payments: product + domestic shipping → international shipping.
- Includes free QC photos and 100 days storage.
- CNFans
- Free agent service.
- Same two-payment model.
- Extra services beyond 60 days are paid.
- ACBuy
- Free service for regular platforms; ¥10 per order for Xianyu/Douyin/Xiaohongshu.
- International fees include customs clearance (¥10-30) and warehouse handling (¥8).
👉 Takeaway: Sugargoo and CNFans keep things simple. ACBuy has more potential add-ons, so it’s worth checking your invoice carefully.
📸 QC Photos: Sugargoo vs CNFans vs ACBuy
- Sugargoo: 5 free QC photos.
- CNFans: 3-5 photos, depending on product type.
- ACBuy: 3 photos; more requires paid photo services.
👉 Takeaway: Sugargoo gave me the most visibility into my clothing order. CNFans was close, but ACBuy had the fewest photos included.
🚚 Shipping Channels: What Each Agent Uses
- Sugargoo: Offers Royal Mail at the lowest rate.
- CNFans: Also has Royal Mail, but at higher cost. Other lines use Evri/GLS.
- ACBuy: Focuses on YunExpress, with Royal Mail available but pricier.
👉 Takeaway: For UK buyers, Royal Mail feels the most reliable. All three offer it, but pricing is where the differences show — with CNFans and ACBuy both costing more than Sugargoo in my test.
📝 Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Sugargoo | CNFans | ACBuy |
| 3kg UK Parcel | from $27.94 (Royal Mail) | from $35.24, Royal Mail $43.43 | from $35.48, Royal Mail $44+ |
| Free Storage | 100 days | 60 days | 90 days |
| Storage Extension | ¥8 /30 days | ¥10-40 /30-120 days | ¥10 /30 days |
| Fee Structure | Free agent, two payments | Free agent, two payments | Extra charges (clearance, handling) |
| QC Photos | 5 free | 3-5 | 3 |
| Local Channels | Royal Mail (lowest rate) | Royal Mail (higher) | Royal Mail (higher) + YunExpress |
🎯 Final Thoughts: Sugargoo, CNFans, or ACBuy?
Based on my 3kg clothing parcel to the UK:
- Sugargoo: Best if you want lower shipping fees and longer free storage.
- CNFans: Works fine if you’re already comfortable with it, but the 60-day storage is restrictive.
- ACBuy: Great if you want faster lines or shop on special platforms — though extra charges can add up.
All three will deliver from China to the UK. The difference is simply whether you care more about price, storage flexibility, or speed.
📌 Useful Resources
- Taobao Sale Calendar 2025: China’s Biggest Shopping Festivals
- Is Sugargoo worth it?
- How to Find Products from Taobao and 1688 Using Sugargoo
- Step-by-step ordering guide
- Combine parcels into one package
- Value-added services overview
- Insurance services
- Shipping methods explained
- The Full Guide to International Customs & Import Taxes
✨ That’s my side-by-side look at Sugargoo vs CNFans vs ACBuy, tested with a 3kg clothing parcel to the UK. Hopefully this helps you figure out which agent fits your shopping style best.
