Online marketplaces are goldmines for renovation steals but between Shopee, Taobao, and Lazada, which one truly gives you the most bang for your buck? (based on editor's personal experiences)
1. Price & Variety Comparison
Taobao: Often the cheapest per item, with endless SKU variety. Need a quirky accent tile or niche hardware piece? Taobao’s got it. Longest waiting time among the other 2 platforms. Longest waiting time among the 3 platforms. Expect shipment by ships to be within 4 weeks and 2 weeks via air freight.
Shopee: Highly local sales culture with buyers review sharing, in-app vouchers, and seller ratings make it easy to pick existing furnishing that local users have purchased and tried. Shortest waiting time across the 3 platform, usually delivers within 3-4 days.
Lazada: Ideal for electronics, smart home gadgets, and tools with warranty option. usually pricier but more reliable with actual electronic stores having an electronic SKU variety there. Delivers within 5 days.
2. Hidden Costs Breakdown
Shipping from Taobao can double your cost if you're not careful, especially for bulky items. Quality risk? If the seller has poor reviews and doesn’t show actual wear photos, it's a red flag. Definitely more time consuming.
3. Real-Life Case Study
We scanned the 3 platforms for purchasing a wood-look with laminate type of chair:
Taobao: $95 +$22 est. shipping by weight = $117 (does says it's real walnut wood though)
Shopee: $60 (free delivery)
Lazada: S$76 (free delivery)
4. Use Buildd’s 3D Visualiser
Before deciding on how’s the look and feel of the furnishing fitting in your home and visualising the space. Try out the furniture options in Buildd.sg’s platform to check scale, colour harmony, and fit before hitting the payment button
The pricing point and platform fees here are for illustrations purposes only and not an actual example or representation of the the actual items and pricing indicated.