Four names, different page types
Spreadsheet rows often mix marketplace listings and catalog pages. That matters because the information available on the destination may be different.
- Weidian
- Often appears as a marketplace product or store link. Look for the current title, options, visible pricing, seller or store identity, and whether the page still represents the row.
- Taobao
- Usually points to a retail marketplace listing. Options, promotion displays, availability, and page content can change, so check the current selection rather than relying on the spreadsheet snapshot.
- 1688
- Often presents wholesale-oriented listings with option, quantity, and supplier context. Do not assume that one displayed price applies to one unit or every variation.
- Yupoo
- Commonly functions as a visual catalog or album. It may help with photos and product organization while leaving price, availability, transaction terms, or the underlying marketplace link unresolved.
Check whether the link still matches the row
Start with the simplest question: did the link land on the item you expected? Compare the product family, visible option names, color, material wording, model or item code when present, and image set. A working page can still be the wrong destination.
Watch for redirects to a store homepage, a generic search page, a login screen, or an unrelated replacement listing. Do not “repair” a mismatch by assuming the closest-looking item is equivalent. Mark the row as changed and decide whether it still belongs in your comparison.
Read options before the headline price
Some listings combine several products, sizes, materials, bundles, or accessories on one page. The most visible price may belong to the cheapest option rather than the option described by the row. Select or inspect the relevant variation before recording a price.
Check the size and color before trusting the number. The same caution applies to minimum quantities, domestic delivery, optional packaging, and included pieces. If the page does not make the option clear, write “option unresolved” rather than copying the headline price into your shortlist.
Original link, converted link, and catalog link
An “original” or “raw” link usually means the destination on the source platform rather than a copied preview inside another service. A converted link may be convenient for opening a page elsewhere, but it can hide the underlying product identity or lose context.
When possible, keep the original product link beside any convenient browsing link. An original Taobao link or original Weidian link makes it easier to revisit the destination, compare what changed, and avoid treating a temporary redirect as the permanent product record. agentsben does not operate a link converter, so converter and login issues belong with the service that provides them.
Record enough detail to revisit the row
A useful source note
“Weidian product page; black option; store name visible; checked July 30; row title matches; size chart missing.” This note captures the destination, variation, date, match, and remaining gap without pretending the link proves quality.
- The destination is a product or catalog page, not an unrelated redirect.
- The product family and option match the spreadsheet row.
- The recorded price belongs to the relevant option and quantity.
- The source URL is saved when another service displays a converted link.
- The date checked is recorded because external pages change.
- Missing information remains labeled as unknown.
When a link breaks
A broken spreadsheet link does not automatically make the item bad, but it removes important evidence. Search for the item code, store name, or a distinctive neutral description only if the row is worth the extra work. Do not replace it with a random similar result and keep the old notes.
If the original identity cannot be recovered, remove the row for now. A shortlist should contain things you can still inspect, not memories of pages that once existed.
Use the source to ask better questions
The practical value of a source term is that it tells you what to inspect next. On a marketplace listing, check the current option and listing details. On a catalog page, look for a product code or source path. On a wholesale-oriented page, confirm quantity and variation context. The platform name changes the reading task; it does not settle the decision.
