BESIDES language issues, the main thing that holds expats back from shopping on Taobao is the fact that setting up an Alipay account requires a Chinese ID and a passport number is not an alternative. Here we show you how to shop on Taobao without Alipay or a Chinese ID number. To do so, you only need to activate one of your debit cards for online banking. Go to your bank in person and tell them that you want to activate online banking services (开通网上银行), and the bank staff will do the rest. It’s pretty much all about signing papers. On Taobao, when you submit your order, you’ll be offered a variety of ways to make your payment. Scroll down to the button of the page to look for the online banking option (网上银行). You will only see this option after you activate your online banking service. Click on the blue characters 选择其他, which means “select another option.” A pop-up window will emerge with all the different banks. Select your card’s bank and click the orange button 下一步 (next step). On the next screen, just click the orange button that says 登陆到网上银行付款 (sign into your online bank to pay). Do not tick the box that says 同意 (agree), as it will take you back to Alipay. You will be taken to your bank’s online payment site. Select 卡号密码支付 (use card number and PIN to pay), enter your debit card (借记卡) number, and click 下一步 (next step) to proceed. On the next page, click 免费获取 (obtain for free) and it will send a security code to your mobile phone. Enter the code in the first field and your debit card PIN in the second field. Review the security code, the PIN and the payment due, click the blue box 确定支付 (confirm payment) to complete the deal. You should also get a confirmation text message on your mobile phone. Once you’ve made your payment, then it’s time to wait for the courier company to deliver your purchase. When you receive the product, don’t forget to log onto Taobao and make the transaction complete. Click on 确认收货 (Verify that you’ve received the courier) once you’ve received your purchase. | 