I bought 4 of the cheapest things I could find on Taobao, China's most popular shopping site. Here's the verdict on my haul, which include a pair of Yeezy Foam Runner lookalikes

Marielle DescalsotaJan 10, 2023, 14:42 IST

The author trying on an item from Taobao.Screenshot/Taoabao; Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Taobao is known for offering cheap apparel.
I purchased a phone case, a watch, a bag, and a pair of shoes for just a few dollars.

Taobao is China's largest online shopping site. It's often dubbed the Amazon of China, where shoppers can order everything from groceries to beauty products on the platform — for some of the cheapest prices online.

The author's Taobao haul.Screenshot/Taobao

Taobao is China's largest online shopping site. It's often dubbed the Amazon of China, where shoppers can order everything from groceries to beauty products on the platform — for some of the cheapest prices online.

Expectation: A simple, yet sleek iPhone case. Despite looking pretty basic, it still seemed to be good value, costing just 3 Chinese yuan, or less than 50 cents.

iPhone cases from Taobao.Screenshot/Taobao

Reality: A simple, yet sleek iPhone case. The product looks exactly like it did in the photos, and it gives my iPhone a minimalist feel. The cardholder works as advertised too — for the price, I can't complain.

The cardholder is also perfect for name cards.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Reality: A simple, yet sleek iPhone case. The product looks exactly like it did in the photos, and it gives my iPhone a minimalist feel. The cardholder works as advertised too — for the price, I can't complain.

Expectation: An Apple Watch clone with a touchscreen. As an avid watch collector, this watch on Taobao caught my eye, and for ¥11.90, or just $1.70, the price was just unbeatable for a watch.

Digital watch from Taobao.Screenshot/Taobao

Expectation: An Apple Watch clone with a touchscreen. As an avid watch collector, this watch on Taobao caught my eye, and for ¥11.90, or just $1.70, the price was just unbeatable for a watch.

Reality: A basic digital watch without touchscreen capabilities. Surprisingly enough, the watch works well. Batteries come included, which means that the watch can be used straight out of the box.

Testing Taobao's Apple Watch dupe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Reality: A basic digital watch without touchscreen capabilities. Surprisingly enough, the watch works well. Batteries come included, which means that the watch can be used straight out of the box.

Expectation: An affordable yet robust travel bag. I wanted to gauge the quality of Taobao's travel bags, so I bought a lightweight, foldable duffel bag that cost ¥15.80, or $2.33. It looked sturdy and functional in the online photos.

A shopping tote from Taobao.Screenshot/Taobao

Expectation: An affordable yet robust travel bag. I wanted to gauge the quality of Taobao's travel bags, so I bought a lightweight, foldable duffel bag that cost ¥15.80, or $2.33. It looked sturdy and functional in the online photos.

Reality: A flimsy mess. Unfortunately, the duffel bag that arrived feels shoddy and its build quality is terrible. Threads in the handles are already coming undone, and it just looks cheap.

What the tote bag looks like in real life.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Reality: A flimsy mess. Unfortunately, the duffel bag that arrived feels shoddy and its build quality is terrible. Threads in the handles are already coming undone, and it just looks cheap.

Expectation: A pair of Yeezy Foam Runner lookalikes. I was intrigued by these shoes, which were the most unique and expensive of all the items I purchased. They cost ¥23.32, or $3.40.

Taobao's version of the Yeezy Foam Runner.Screenshot/Taobao

Expectation: A pair of Yeezy Foam Runner lookalikes. I was intrigued by these shoes, which were the most unique and expensive of all the items I purchased. They cost ¥23.32, or $3.40.

Reality: A pair of painfully uncomfortable clogs. The shoes that arrived feel slippery and fit my feet terribly. Wearing them for more than a few minutes is a recipe for blisters.

Trying on Taobao's version of Yeezy Foam Runners.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Reality: A pair of painfully uncomfortable clogs. The shoes that arrived feel slippery and fit my feet terribly. Wearing them for more than a few minutes is a recipe for blisters.

I ate at a tiny restaurant in Paris beloved by the Kardashians. The cheeseburger was delicious and refreshingly unpretentious for an A-list hotspot.

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I bought 4 of the cheapest things I could find on Taobao, China's most popular shopping site. Here's the verdict on my haul, which include a pair of Yeezy Foam Runner lookalikes

Taobao is China's largest online shopping site. It's often dubbed the Amazon of China, where shoppers can order everything from groceries to beauty products on the platform — for some of the cheapest prices online.

Expectation: A simple, yet sleek iPhone case. Despite looking pretty basic, it still seemed to be good value, costing just 3 Chinese yuan, or less than 50 cents.

Reality: A simple, yet sleek iPhone case. The product looks exactly like it did in the photos, and it gives my iPhone a minimalist feel. The cardholder works as advertised too — for the price, I can't complain.

Expectation: An Apple Watch clone with a touchscreen. As an avid watch collector, this watch on Taobao caught my eye, and for ¥11.90, or just $1.70, the price was just unbeatable for a watch.

Reality: A basic digital watch without touchscreen capabilities. Surprisingly enough, the watch works well. Batteries come included, which means that the watch can be used straight out of the box.

Expectation: An affordable yet robust travel bag. I wanted to gauge the quality of Taobao's travel bags, so I bought a lightweight, foldable duffel bag that cost ¥15.80, or $2.33. It looked sturdy and functional in the online photos.

Reality: A flimsy mess. Unfortunately, the duffel bag that arrived feels shoddy and its build quality is terrible. Threads in the handles are already coming undone, and it just looks cheap.

Expectation: A pair of Yeezy Foam Runner lookalikes. I was intrigued by these shoes, which were the most unique and expensive of all the items I purchased. They cost ¥23.32, or $3.40.

Reality: A pair of painfully uncomfortable clogs. The shoes that arrived feel slippery and fit my feet terribly. Wearing them for more than a few minutes is a recipe for blisters.