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Q: Are people still able to buy things on Taobao/tmall?
It seems now they are linked to Alipay/ Paypal? Do you need an Alipay account that your bank card is link to in order to buy things on taobao. I have online banking but the route to pay is now different than when I bought stuff in December last year. Can someone please help me figure out how to pay for things on Taobao if you have Bank of China online banking.
I have ICBC. I just bought things from Taobao last week. ICBC will give you a small calulator type of thing to use to enter in a code when paying. Just ask them to show you how to use the gizmo. Take notes or, better yet, pictures, of the process as they show it to you. You do have to jump through some hoops to place an order. But, I am used to the chaos China puts me through sometimes. I have heard that Amazon is now in China. I have yet to look at the site and see how it works.
along this topic..... ABC's software for registering for online payment services doesn't accomodate OSX! kinda pissed me off. never had any problem with CMB.
* Hey ABC , lotsa people use OSX! 
I've been dealing with the same problem but I've finally figured it out.
ICBC and ABC both allow foreigners to purchase items on taobao using their passport number. For the longest time, I was told you needed a Chinese ID (身份证） to open an Alipay account but I've opened mine using my passport a month ago.
You should open an ICBC bank account, ask them to enable it for online purchases and download an Alipay Wallet app on your phone or iPad.
I'm fluent in Chinese but I asked the people working in the bank to help me through the process. It took time but life is so much easier now!!
Shining_brow:
It's the addition of having the 'wallet' that is the problem. That wasn't there before!
diverdude1:
yeah, that is where I got stuck. we were trying to open my own taobao acct. on my friends PC, and we got to the ID field and my PP was a no-go. I do not believe I opened a 'wallet' when I opened this new ABC acct. they just gave me the little 'code box' doo-dad that u plug into the USB port on your computer (that doesn't work w/ OSX).
Glad it's not me who find this sucks!! I much preferred using online banking.
I suspect Alipay just wants to get more control over your purchasing - and no doubt somewhere along the line, use your money for other stuff (the way the banks do when you have your money with them - market trading, loans, etc etc).
Now I just need to figure out if ABC pays bills for the companies I'm with....
<p>Thanks for the answers, t I a using BOC , which is like ICBC which gives you a a key code to input. I figured out how to get ride of alipay and use online banking. Was able to buy and recivied the thing I wanted to buy.<br type="_moz"> </p>
<p>Thanks for the answers, t I a using BOC , which is like ICBC which gives you a a key code to input. I figured out how to get ride of alipay and use online banking. Was able to buy and recivied the thing I wanted to buy.<br type="_moz"> </p>
I often help my foreigner friends to buy things from taobao . I can help if you need .You can add my wechat : zyq867352876 .I also sell stuff out of China ,I have two online stores : http://www.aliexpress.com/store/429399 / http://www.aliexpress.com/store/930488
