Check the link the buyer already found
The original 1688 listing did not show the required 40 × 20 mm channel. We reviewed it instead of treating the link as a finished product choice.
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Spain1688 purchasingOutdoor installationTransparent pricing
Real sourcing case
How we sourced an outdoor LED strip and silicone channel for a Spanish buyer.
We checked the buyer's link, found another option when the required size was missing, translated the installation into a usable specification, contacted suppliers, showed the original prices, and compared two shipping routes to the Canary Islands.
Awaiting the buyer's end-client approvalProject activity: July–August 2026
Silicone channel
40 × 20 mm
Black surface, outdoor installation
LED requirement
24 V / red
IP65+ and at least 240 LEDs per metre
Original freight
RMB 3,065
45 kg air estimate with surcharges
Alternative rate
RMB 33/kg
Lower price, but slower and less predictable
From link to workable brief
The buyer knew the installation. The supplier listings did not yet match it.
A marketplace link can identify a product family without proving that the listed size, material, voltage, protection level, or accessories fit the actual job.
Find another option and give the buyer the link
We found another listing that appeared closer to the requested dimensions and sent it directly to the buyer. The buyer could inspect the page and replied that it looked suitable.
Confirm how the product would actually be installed
We asked about exterior dimensions, empty channel versus a complete light, LED width, outdoor exposure, material, colour, bending direction, continuous lengths, fixing clips, end caps, and connectors.
Search again when the first options did not meet the brief
Listings were compared across voltage, waterproofing, width, height, and LED density. Several options met only part of the requirement. The buyer also sent another reference link, and we continued the search from there.
Requirement record
The specification was built around the façade, not around a marketplace title.
The total length was later clarified as 67 metres across six sections. The longest section was 12 metres, which also raised a voltage-drop question for a 24 V strip powered from one end.
| Component | Empty black silicone channel plus a separately installed LED strip |
|---|---|
| Channel size | 40 mm wide; 20 or 25 mm depth acceptable |
| Use | Vertical outdoor installation on a building façade; no bending required |
| Surface concern | Black finish should resist UV exposure and should not peel or lose colour easily |
| LED | Fixed red, 24 V, regulated power supply, IP65 or above, at least 240 LEDs per metre |
| Lengths | 12, 12, 10, 12, 9, and 12 metres |
| Accessories | 12 end caps, 70 omega fixing clips, and 12 power connections |
Supplier communication
When the listing and the seller did not agree, the uncertainty stayed visible.
Contradictory waterproof information
One product page indicated that the item was not waterproof, while the seller described it as suitable for outdoor rain. We told the buyer that the actual protection level remained unclear instead of turning the seller's reply into a confirmed fact.
Not every high-density strip fit
A 280-LED-per-metre COB option looked stronger on density, but the buyer rejected it because the strip shape was too narrow and too tall for the intended installation.
No adhesive backing
The available red three-row channel did not include rear adhesive. For a long installation, we explained that mechanical fixing could be more durable than relying on adhesive alone.
Accessories and sealing
The accessory list was confirmed with end caps, omega clips, and power connections. The supplier was also asked to seal both ends for outdoor use.
Logistics comparison
We kept looking after the first workable freight quote.
The first estimate used an available air route. A silicone-channel supplier later offered a special route to the Canary Islands at a much lower rate. The cheaper route was slower and had a less predictable departure, so both the saving and the limitation were shown.
| Comparison | First available estimate | Alternative route found later |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | Canary Islands | Canary Islands |
| Quoted basis | 45 kg, 60 × 60 × 30 cm | 35 kg estimated silicone channel weight |
| Price | 55 RMB/kg + RMB 260 overweight + RMB 330 remote-area surcharge | 25 RMB/kg + 8 RMB/kg island surcharge |
| Estimated total | RMB 3,065 | RMB 1,155 for the 35 kg channel estimate |
| Effective rate | About RMB 68.1/kg | RMB 33/kg |
| Timing | Air estimate | About 25–30 days after actual departure; consolidation can add waiting time |
These were not identical services or identical chargeable weights. The rate comparison shows why the second route was materially cheaper, while the page also records its slower and less predictable timing. Once both products were considered together at an estimated 47 kg, the special-route estimate became RMB 1,551.
Visible pricing
Supplier prices, third-party costs, and our service fee were kept separate.
The client received the original supplier prices, product links, and supplier screenshots. Our RMB 300 service fee was disclosed separately. The product prices did not include a hidden China Partner Hub margin.
| Silicone channel quotation | RMB 16.5 per metre; RMB 1,155 calculated on 70 metres |
|---|---|
| Product links | Provided so the buyer could check the supplier pages and specifications directly |
| Supplier evidence | Supplier quotation screenshots sent to support the figures shown in the PDF |
| China Partner Hub fee | RMB 300, approximately EUR 39, stated separately |
| Product markup | None added by China Partner Hub |
| Third-party freight | Calculated from the carrier or supplier route and confirmed again against packed weight and volume |
Redacted communication excerpts
The claims above map back to the project record.
Spanish excerpts are retained to show the original communication. Names, addresses, and supplier identities are excluded.
Product search
Supplier claim not treated as proof
Lower freight route found later
No product markup
Current status
The buyer is waiting for the end client to confirm.
No purchase, production, or delivery outcome is claimed on this page. If the order proceeds, the packed weight, final freight charge, product confirmation, and delivery result will be added as a dated update.
Have a product link already?
Send the link and the real use case.
We can first check what the listing does not answer, what needs supplier confirmation, and whether the sourcing path is worth continuing.