Here are the reasons to use an agent instead of direct shipping:
- Scam Protection. Yes, you have to trust the agent, but as long as the agent is legit you basically can't be scammed
- QC Pics. Receiving pictures of your items while they're still in China and you still have the option to return can save you lots of headaches
- Shipping expertise. Agents know what shipping services work to which country. They have every reason to give you a pleasant experience.
- Customs expertise / IOSS. Similarly to 3. It's in the agents best interest to get you through customs smoothly and they have a few tricks up their sleeve. They are also IOSS registered.
- Payment Methods. Agents allow more payment methods than your typical seller and they even have customer protection.
added: 6/26/2023