As an ardent NFL fan living outside the United States, getting my hands on official team merchandise has always been challenging. Specifically, I've been searching for the Detroit Lions Rugby Jersey—a unique piece that blends sport and style. After several failed attempts with international shipping restrictions and exorbitant costs, I discovered Sugargoo, a Chinese reverse purchasing platform. In this detailed account, I'll walk through my entire experience of using Sugargoo to buy the jersey from Taobao/Tmall.
Sugargoo acts as an intermediary—a reverse and forward purchasing agent—that allows international buyers to shop from Chinese e-commerce sites like Taobao, Tmall, and 1688. Many of these platforms don’t ship directly overseas or have language barriers. Sugargoo bridges that gap. They provide you with a personal warehouse address in China, purchase items on your behalf, consolidate multiple orders, and ship them internationally.
Their key features include:
I began my hunt for the Detroit Lions Rugby Jersey on Tmall. I used detailed search terms like “Detroit Lions NFL rugby style jersey” and filtered by seller ratings and sales volume to ensure authenticity. After shortlisting a few stores, I cross-referenced them with a helpful resource I found: the cheap finds spreadsheet. This spreadsheet, curated by seasoned shoppers, lists trusted sellers, product codes, and price comparisons for various items, including sports jerseys. It was invaluable in confirming I was choosing a reputable seller with a high-quality product.
The jersey I selected was from an official Tmall store specializing in NFL-licensed apparel, priced at approximately ¥280 (around $39 USD). It featured the Lions’ classic blue and silver colors, rugby-style collar, and embroidered team logo.
Signing up on Sugargoo was straightforward. I created an account, verified my email, and immediately gained access to my personal Chinese warehouse address. This address is crucial—it’s where Sugargoo receives your purchases.
Next, I navigated to the “Buy for Me” section. Here, I pasted the Tmall product URL of the Detroit Lions Jersey. I filled in details like size (I chose Large), color, quantity, and price. Sugargoo calculated the total cost, including their service fee. I then funded my Sugargoo wallet via PayPal, and they placed the order.
Within three days, the jersey arrived at the Sugargoo warehouse. They uploaded detailed photos showing the jersey from all angles, close-ups of logos and stitching, and even the tags. This Quality Control (QC) step is fantastic—it lets you verify the item before it’s shipped internationally. Happy with the QC pics, I approved the item for shipping.
Since I also bought some Lions-themed socks, I used Sugargoo’s “Apply for Shipment” feature to combine both items into one package. I selected DHL for shipping—it was slightly more expensive but faster (estimated 7-10 days to Europe). Sugargoo re-packed the items efficiently to reduce volumetric weight, and I paid the international shipping fee, which was about ¥180 ($25).
The package arrived in 8 days. It was well-sealed, and the jersey was in perfect condition—authentic, true to size, and exactly as shown online. The entire process, from ordering on Tmall to unboxing at my doorstep, took about 2.5 weeks, which is impressive for international shipping from China.
Using Sugargooproduct discovery spreadsheet, you can shop confidently from Chinese markets. I highly recommend Sugargoo to any international fan looking to expand their merchandise collection without breaking the bank.
Whether you're a Detroit Lions superfan or just love shopping from China, Sugargoo makes it accessible. Give it a try—you might just find your next favorite jersey!