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Q: Is taobao reliable to buy stuff online?
Asked and answered previously.
I use it regularly.
If you get screwed, just notify Tao Bao and they will make it right.
in taobao you should check the shopkeeper reputation, more diamond icons means this man have good fames. but you also need check the customer's comments, that will tell you a lots of useful informations. 
xunliang:
Not necessarily. Shopkeepers can pay to have their ratings changed
I've heard that payment and delivery is reliable. Almost all my Chinese friends use Taobao to buy stuff all the time and I've never heard them complain. I personally am still quite reluctant however, as I'd be mainly interested in buying Western cosmetics and beauty products. Since China is the land of fakes, I really don't there's a real guarantee that your products are real. In some cases, I'm sure the sellers themselves aren't even sure if their products are genuine. Somewhere down the line, there's a very high probability that someone altered the products to make an extra buck. 
I have also used taobao for a good many years both on higher ticket items and on small every day items. I received the goods in a timely manner in all cases -- except one and that had nothing to do with the sender but rather the local courier. The goods were received and were as they had been described. I continue to use it. As one of the posters above wrote, read the customer reviews and check the number of stars.
Yes, but if you can't read Chinese have a friend help you. They rely heavily on buyer feedback, so find someone to help you make sure the seller is good. Also, even though you can just order though Taobao, if you have any questions or issues you can get pretty good service by calling sellers directly. So again, a Chinese friend is key. But the shipping is usually lightening fast (only a day or two) and you can find literally anything on there if you know how to look.
Shining_brow:
Methinks you're not too familiar with the meaning of the word 'literally'...
Yes, it is reliable. If you know how many people buy from taobao, you will know it is reliable. As taobao is Chinese version, it is better to read taobao policy and guarantee policy from taobao agents, like 85china. The shipping cost sometimes maybe expensive, but it is worth the price, because still lots of items are cheaper than my country.
it rocks...my gf loves it too...she can buy stuff for me...I even get cheese there now haha, cheap! 
The same as the streets, if you buy cheap crap then that's exactly what you're going to get - crap.
Think a little cheaper when you're buying but not too cheap...
Hit and miss. Some stuffs good, somes crap.
It helps if you know Chinese. There was a big scandal recently saying the people who manage the site have been acting Chinese and shutting peoples shops down unless they bribe them. If a shop has a lot of sales but no reviews its their doing as well. Basically shops with bad reviews can bribe these site managers to delete the info. The biggest tell tale sign is what i just said, high sales but not so many reviews. So in my opinion its no safer than any shop in China. But it skips the hassle of having to speak and haggle with a arsehole of a shopkeeper 
technically, yes. However, sometimes it depends. Scammers and frauds are everywhere
about taobao shops,if you want to know their trustworthiness,you need to learn about chinese,because you can learn about the feedback from buyers of every item.to do that,you will get the good item.
but for most of foreigners,they cannot read chinese,so don't worry, you can find a taobao agent.
i know a agent called taobaobuying agent,they are a experienced, professional and efficient group.they can help you to solve all the problem with taobao.
Taobaobuying help people in overseas to buy goods from China shopping website.Low service fee,cheap international shipping cost with high quality service.Don't hesitate any more!To be your taobao agent,enjoy your taobao shopping!
no, don't use taoabao if you don't want to lose your money, this site is full of cheaters and liars and it doesn't care about it. they sell fake goods, contraband and steal money, i just lost my money there, i wanted to buy some shoes and after i paid the guy deleted his homepage and just dissappeared, and even i wrote several e-mails to the admins of taoabo they said they can't do anything and they don't care.
so if you don't want to waste your money stay away from taobao.com!!!
