How to Haggle on Xianyu: A Guide to Bargaining in China’s Secondhand Market

1.What is Xianyu?

Xianyu is a professional second – hand item trading platform carefully operated by Alibaba. It is like a huge online flea market, gathering all kinds of second – hand items from all over the world.

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2.Why Bargaining is Expected on Xianyu

On Xianyu, price negotiation is not only allowed — it’s expected. Unlike new items sold on platforms like Taobao or Amazon with fixed prices, second-hand items have no standard pricing. For example, two listings of the same used smartphone may have very different values depending on their actual condition — scratches on the screen, battery health, or whether all buttons function properly.

Because of these variances, buyers and sellers often “haggle” over price. The buyer may feel the seller is asking too much; the seller may feel the buyer wants something for nothing. Bargaining becomes a natural way to reach a mutually acceptable price. In fact, Xianyu even includes a built-in feature called “Cut a Price” (砍一刀) to help sellers attract attention and encourage buyers to negotiate.

xianyu app shopping tips Bargaining

3. How to Bargain (“Cut a Price”) on Xianyu ? 

Bargaining is a key feature of shopping on Xianyu. You can either negotiate directly with the seller via chat, or use the platform’s built-in feature called “Cut a Price” (砍一刀), which allows you to request a discount with one click. 

“Cut a Price” is a promotional tool sellers can activate on their listings. It lets buyers click a special button to reduce the price by a small preset amount (e.g., ¥5–¥20). If you see a label like “砍一刀立减¥X” on a product page, it means the seller has enabled this feature and is open to price negotiations. 

✅ Sample messages in English:

  • “Hi, I saw there’s a ¥10 discount — can I use it?”
  • “Are you open to offers? Would you accept ¥XX?”

🧠 Secret Code Terms: How to Know If Bargaining Is Welcome

Chinese TermMeaningSuggested EnglishExplanation
可小刀 (kě xiǎo dāo)Small cuts welcome“Can you lower it a bit?”Seller is open to minor discounts (¥5–¥20)
可大刀 (kě dà dāo)Big cuts welcome“Would you take a lower offer?”Seller is willing to negotiate a much lower price
不议价 (bù yì jià)No bargaining“Is the price firm?”Seller prefers fixed pricing
已最低 (yǐ zuì dī)Final price“Is this your best price?”Seller claims they’ve already set the lowest possible price

4. When You Should NOT Bargain on Xianyu 

While price negotiation is common on Xianyu, there are certain situations where bargaining is not recommended. Trying to haggle in these cases may offend the seller or even get you blocked.

SituationExplanation
“One-price only” (一口价)This means the seller has set a fixed, non-negotiable price. Trying to bargain here can be seen as disrespectful.
Very low-priced items (e.g., under ¥10)Haggling over such small amounts may come across as stingy or impolite.
Seller clearly states “No bargaining” (不议价)If the seller has written “no bargaining” in the product description, it’s best to respect their rule and avoid asking for discounts.

💡 Tip:

Before you try to bargain, always check the item description and seller’s notes. If they mention “firm price” or “no offers,” don’t push it — it’s better to be respectful than to risk getting blocked.

Bargaining works best when both sides are open to it. Use common sense and be polite.