Prices for items found on CNfans spreadsheets typically drop during major Chinese e-commerce festivals, with the most significant discounts occurring during the 618 Shopping Festival (in June) and Singles' Day (on November 11th). Additional savings can be found during smaller events like the Double 12 (12.12) sale and through seller-specific promotions. Planning your purchases around these key dates is the most effective strategy for maximizing savings.
Table of Contents
- What Exactly Determines the Price on a CNfans Spreadsheet?
- When Are the Major Shopping Festivals That Impact Prices?
- How Do Smaller Holidays and Seller-Specific Sales Affect Costs?
- Is It Just About the Item Price? What About Other Costs?
- Why Is Chinese New Year a Special Case for Shoppers?
- How Can You Strategically Plan Your Hauls Around These Dates?
- What Role Does a CNfans Spreadsheet Play in Finding Deals?
What Exactly Determines the Price on a CNfans Spreadsheet?
Before diving into sales calendars, it's essential to understand the pricing structure. A CNfans spreadsheet doesn't sell products directly. Instead, it serves as a highly curated catalog of items from various sellers on Chinese platforms like Taobao and Weidian. The price you see listed is the seller's retail price at that moment. We act as expert curators, finding and organizing the best items so you don't have to spend countless hours searching.
Therefore, the "price drop" isn't controlled by CNfans; it's determined by the individual sellers and the platform-wide promotions they participate in. Our spreadsheets simply reflect these real-time price changes. Understanding this distinction is key to using sales events to your advantage. You are leveraging our curated selections to make quick, informed purchasing decisions when the sellers offer their best discounts.
When Are the Major Shopping Festivals That Impact Prices?
The Chinese e-commerce market is driven by several massive shopping festivals. These are the prime times when sellers across platforms offer substantial discounts, and they are the best opportunities to build your haul for less. The price reductions can come in several forms: direct percentage-off discounts, store coupons, or platform-wide vouchers that can be stacked.
The 618 Shopping Festival: Mid-Year Mega Sale
The 618 Festival is a massive mid-year sales event, originally started by JD.com but now adopted by all major platforms, including Taobao and Weidian. It's not a single-day event. The "618" refers to June 18th, but the promotional period often starts as early as late May and runs through June 20th.
During this time, you can expect pre-sale periods where you can place a deposit to lock in a low price, followed by the main event with sitewide discounts and coupons. Sellers are highly motivated to move inventory, making it one of the top two best times of the year to buy. This is an ideal time to purchase items you've saved from a CNfans spreadsheet, as you can see a direct comparison of the original price versus the sale price.
Singles' Day (11.11): The World's Biggest Shopping Event
Singles' Day, or Double 11 (November 11th), is the largest 24-hour shopping event in the world. The discounts offered on this day are often the steepest of the entire year. Like 618, the event has grown beyond a single day. Pre-sales can begin in late October, allowing you to identify deals and add items to your shopping agent's cart well in advance.
For spreadsheet users, this is a critical date. Competition is fierce, and popular items can sell out quickly. The key is preparation. By using a well-organized spreadsheet, you have all your desired product links ready to go. When the sale starts, you can swiftly place orders with your agent before stock runs out. Many sellers offer their absolute best prices during this 24-hour window.
The 12.12 (Double 12) Sale: The Year-End Encore
The Double 12 sale on December 12th is considered a follow-up to Singles' Day. While not always as massive as 11.11, it presents another significant opportunity for savings. It's often seen as a chance for shoppers to grab deals they may have missed and for smaller sellers to get more visibility.
This event is perfect for last-minute holiday shopping or for picking up items that weren't discounted during the November frenzy. The discounts are still substantial, and it serves as the final major sale before the slowdown leading into Chinese New Year. It's a great time to check your favorite spreadsheet items for any final price drops of the year.
| Shopping Event | Typical Timing | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 618 Festival | Late May to Mid-June | Deep discounts, pre-sale deposits, platform-wide coupons. Excellent for summer/fall hauls. |
| Singles' Day (11.11) | Late October (pre-sale) to November 11th | The deepest discounts of the year. High competition for popular items. Requires fast action. |
| Double 12 (12.12) | December 12th | Strong year-end deals. Good for items missed on 11.11 and for smaller sellers' promotions. |
How Do Smaller Holidays and Seller-Specific Sales Affect Costs?
Beyond the "big three" festivals, keep an eye out for smaller events and seller-specific promotions. Holidays like the Dragon Boat Festival (typically June) or Mid-Autumn Festival (typically September/October) can sometimes trigger minor sales. However, the more common source of intermittent discounts comes directly from the sellers themselves.
Many sellers will run their own promotions to clear out old stock or celebrate a store anniversary. These are not tied to a specific date and can happen at any time. The best way to catch these is by saving favorite items or sellers within your shopping agent's platform. When you check your saved items from a CNfans spreadsheet, you might be pleasantly surprised to find a random, unannounced price drop.
Is It Just About the Item Price? What About Other Costs?
A savvy shopper knows that the item's price is only one part of the total cost. Your final "landed cost" includes the item price, domestic shipping (from the seller to your agent's warehouse), and international shipping (from the warehouse to you). During major sales festivals, you need to consider all these factors.
While item prices drop, the sheer volume of orders can sometimes lead to slight delays in domestic shipping. More importantly, your shopping agent may offer their own promotions on international shipping to coincide with the sales. A 10% discount on a 5kg haul's shipping fee can be just as valuable as a 10% discount on a single T-shirt. Always check your agent's announcements for shipping coupons during the 618 and 11.11 periods to stack your savings.
Why Is Chinese New Year a Special Case for Shoppers?
Chinese New Year (CNY) is one period when you should avoid placing new orders. It is not a shopping festival. This major national holiday, typically falling in late January or February, involves a near-complete shutdown of business operations. Factories close, sellers go on vacation, and logistics services halt for several weeks.
Orders placed right before CNY will likely experience significant delays. Most sellers and agents will stop accepting orders about one to two weeks before the official holiday begins to ensure they can process everything in their queue. It is a time for patience, not for bargain hunting. Shopping typically returns to normal a few weeks after the holiday ends.
How Can You Strategically Plan Your Hauls Around These Dates?
Effective planning is what separates a good deal from a great one. Don't wait until the sale starts to begin your search. Use the weeks leading up to a major festival like 618 or 11.11 to your advantage. Browse through CNfans spreadsheets and identify all the items you are interested in.
Use your shopping agent's cart as a "wishlist." Add all the items you want, but don't purchase them yet. This allows you to monitor their prices in one convenient location. When the pre-sale or main sale event begins, you can quickly see which items have dropped in price and complete your purchase efficiently. This strategy ensures you are prepared to act fast and secure the best deals on high-demand products.
What Role Does a CNfans Spreadsheet Play in Finding Deals?
In the fast-paced environment of a major sale, time is money. Sifting through thousands of listings to find quality products is inefficient. This is where the value of a meticulously organized CNfans spreadsheet becomes undeniable. Our spreadsheets do the hard work for you by pre-vetting sellers and curating items based on quality, popularity, and value.
By relying on our curated lists, you can enter a sale period with confidence. You already have a collection of high-quality items at your fingertips. Your task is simplified: monitor the prices of these pre-selected goods and purchase them when the discounts hit their peak. You save time on searching and minimize the risk of buying a low-quality item in a rush. This transforms your shopping from a frantic search into a strategic strike, ensuring you get the best quality for the best possible price.