What Does “Arrived at Warehouse” Mean for a 1688 Order?
Learn the difference between a courier delivery to a China warehouse, a recorded arrival and goods ready to ship, and what to check at each 1688 stage.
The short answer
It means the domestic courier delivered the parcel to the warehouse address. It does not yet mean the parcel has been matched to you, checked, measured or released for shipping. Look for three later records: an arrival recorded under your reference, any photos or checks you requested, and packed measurements ready for a quote.
In this article
| Record | What it confirms | What it does not confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Courier 已签收 | Delivered to the warehouse address | That the parcel is matched to you |
| Arrival recorded | Matched to your reference and counted | That the contents are correct |
| Photo check | Visible condition and labels | Product quality or authenticity |
| Packed measurements | Weight and size for the onward quote | That a route accepts the goods |
Courier delivered is not the same as warehouse recorded
The courier’s tracking ends when someone at the address signs for the parcel, shown as 已签收. At a receiving warehouse, the parcel then goes through intake: it is matched to a reference, counted against what was expected and its outside condition is noted. Only after that does it appear as an arrival on your record.
The gap between the two is normal. If it lasts longer than the warehouse’s usual processing time, send the tracking number and seller name so the warehouse can check for an unmatched parcel.
A tracking line about a “domestic warehouse” may not be your warehouse
Some tracking lines say a parcel is stored in or has left a warehouse before it ever reaches you. That warehouse can belong to the seller or to the courier’s own network. Read the place named in the line: if it is not the city and district of your receiving warehouse, the parcel has not arrived yet.
When in doubt, compare the line with the courier’s final signed-for scan. Your receiving warehouse only has the parcel after a delivery to its own address.
What happens between arrival and release
Once recorded, the parcel may wait for other sellers’ parcels in the same batch, receive the photo check you asked for, be repacked under your instructions and be measured for the onward quote. Each of those steps is a separate record you can ask to see.
A photo check shows what is visible: labels, outer condition and the items you asked to see. It is not a product inspection. If you need quality, function or quantity testing to a standard, that is a separate service with its own scope.
When storage time starts
Storage allowances and charges are set by the warehouse’s charge sheet. This site’s charge sheet lists 7 free days and USD 0.10 per kg per day for small parcels after that period. Confirm when the clock starts and whether it runs per carton or for the whole batch.
If you are waiting for a late seller, compare the earliest storage deadline with that seller’s latest delivery estimate before deciding to hold everything.
What to approve next
When the arrival records match your list, decide whether to release the matched cartons now or hold them for the rest of the batch. Approve any repacking in writing and ask for the packed weights and dimensions that the onward quote will use.
Keep a pending row for every carton that has not arrived. A partial release closes only the cartons named in it, so the late ones still need an owner and a new review date.
Read three records for one parcel
Suppose tracking shows a parcel signed for at the warehouse on Monday. On Tuesday it appears on your record as arrived, 1 carton, outer box dented. You had asked for photos of the item labels.
- Treat Monday as the courier delivery and Tuesday as the warehouse arrival. Ask which date the storage allowance counts from.
- Ask for the label photos and a close-up of the dent, then decide whether the visible condition needs a separate inspection before release.
- Hold the carton or approve it for packing, and ask for its packed weight and dimensions once any repacking is done.
You can see which stage the parcel has reached and what is still open. The example assumes no processing times or charges beyond the published charge sheet.
Put this into your request
Plan warehouse receiving using your actual goods, destination and known shipment details. Our team can review the missing information and the next step.
Common questions
Tracking says delivered but I see no arrival record. What now?
Send the warehouse the tracking number, courier name and seller shop name and ask it to check unmatched parcels for that delivery date.
Does arrival start the free storage period?
Ask the warehouse. This site’s charge sheet lists 7 free days, but when the clock starts and whether it is per carton or per batch must be confirmed on your record.
References
Sources checked for this edition on 12 November 2026. Service offers and carrier rules can change; confirm the terms for the shipment you intend to send.
