Singles' Day (Double 11) started in 2009 as a Tmall promotion and has grown into the largest online shopping event on Earth — single-day sales regularly pass $100 billion.
How it works: pre-sale deposits open in late October; two main waves on November 1 and November 11. Merchant discounts + platform subsidies + livestream red envelopes make this the year's deepest discount window.
Joining from abroad: Tmall Global and JD Global ship internationally and accept Alipay/WeChat Pay with foreign cards; many items ship direct with shipping and duties shown at checkout.
Best buys: electronics, beauty, fashion, home goods and Chinese brands (Xiaomi, Huawei, Li-Ning) — domestic brands discount hardest on Double 11.
Watch-outs: "raise then discount" happens — check price history with comparison tools; livestream "lowest price ever" claims aren't gospel; read the deposit-refund rules before paying.
