Buying Oopbuy Shoes, Step by Step

Step 1: measure both feet

Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall. Mark the tip of your longest toe. Measure from the wall to the mark. Do this for both feet, in the evening, wearing the socks you will wear with the shoes. Most people have one foot slightly larger; use the larger number.

Write it down in centimetres to one decimal place. This number is your reference for every pair of Oopbuy shoes you ever buy, from any seller, on any marketplace. It is more useful than knowing your size in three different brands.

Step 2: understand what you are buying

Shopping agents buy from Chinese marketplaces on your behalf. Sellers range from large established shops to small operations that change stock weekly. Some listings are original designs, some are unbranded basics, some imitate well-known silhouettes. The agent's role is to purchase, receive, photograph and ship — not to certify what a seller claims.

That means your judgement matters. Read the listing carefully, look at the seller's history and treat marketing language as marketing. The official Oopbuy homepage lists 1:1 quality inspection, which means the pair is photographed at the warehouse; it does not mean the pair is identical to any particular brand's product.

Step 3: read the size chart properly

Chinese shoe charts usually list EU sizes alongside a foot-length column in millimetres. Some list US or UK sizes too, but those conversions are the least reliable part of the table. Match your foot length to the chart's foot-length column, then check which EU size that corresponds to on that specific listing.

This table is an orientation aid, not a conversion authority. Sellers differ, and some charts add a "recommended foot length" band rather than an exact figure. Our full Oopbuy size chart guide explains how to read both formats.

Step 4: choose the option, not the default

A shoe listing may hold a dozen colourways under one address. The first one is preselected. Click through the options, confirm the colour and the size, and check that the price updates. If the price does not change between sizes, the listing probably uses a single price, which is worth verifying in the text.

Screenshot the selected option. It is your evidence if the warehouse photographs a different colour later.

Step 5: order and wait for the warehouse

Pay through the agent, not the seller. The agent places the order, the seller ships domestically and the pair arrives at the warehouse. This usually takes days rather than weeks, though some sellers are slower. If a listing turns out to be out of stock, the item price is normally refunded to your balance.

Step 6: inspect the QC photos

This is the step that separates a good purchase from an expensive lesson. Look at both shoes side by side, the soles, the heel counters, the stitching, the tongue label and the size. Compare against the listing photos. If something is wrong, contact support with a specific description before approving.

Our dedicated shoe QC checklist lists the shots to request and the defects worth rejecting.

Step 7: plan the parcel

Decide about the box, check the pair's weight, and consider what else is in the parcel. Shoes are usually the anchor: a pair at around 1 kg sets the shape, and lighter clothing fills the rest. Two pairs in one parcel is a heavy, expensive shipment and rarely a good first choice.

If you are shipping shoes alone, compare lines carefully. A single pair is a small parcel, and the base cost of shipping can be a large share of the total.

The first-pair checklist

1. Foot length measured, both feet, evening, with socks.
2. Listing opened, options and price checked.
3. Size chosen from the foot-length column.
4. Option screenshotted.
5. QC photos inspected before approval.
6. Box decision made and weight estimated.
7. Parcel combined with lighter items where possible.

Seven lines, one pair of shoes, and a much higher chance that the second pair is easy.

Frequently asked questions