The June 2026 rumour and where LitBuy stands now
In June 2026 a story spread that LitBuy was closing. It proved false, and the site loaded on 12 October 2026, so the label on our agents hub is Open. That label records a working website and no credible closure report; it does not vouch for service quality.
A rumour matters for spreadsheet users because a sheet built around one agent can look dead overnight. Check the agent's homepage before you abandon a whole sheet, and use a second agent only for the rows that actually failed.
LitBuy is reachable, and the closure story had no support.
Is LitBuy the right fallback for this row?
- Suits: buyers who prefer paying by card or PayPal and want cheaper custom photos.
- Suits: rows from Taobao, Weidian or 1688 where you can supply the original address.
- Does not suit: anything already paid at KakoBuy, and buyers who want a Trustpilot score to lean on.
A card-friendly spare, not a reason to split a paid haul.
Terms side by side
| Term | LitBuy | KakoBuy |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | Described as free | None; item, shipping, customs |
| Free storage | 90 days, max 120 | 100 days, then ¥10 per order per 30 days |
| Free QC photos | 3 to 6 | Count not published |
| Custom photos | ¥1 | ¥2 each |
| Payment named | Visa, Mastercard, Discover, PayPal | PayPal, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Wise |
| Apps | iOS and Android | iOS and Android APK |
| Link template | None verified | kakobuy.com/item/details?url= |
Close on service terms; LitBuy is cheaper on photos and names more card brands.
Photo maths for a four-photo shoe check
Suppose a pair of shoes needs four extra photos beyond the free set. Both agents' prices are published, so the sum is easy.
LitBuy: 4 × ¥1 = ¥4, about $0.56
KakoBuy: 4 × ¥2 = ¥8, about $1.12
Difference: ¥4, about $0.56
A half-dollar gap will not justify switching agents. If a row is otherwise equal, though, the photo price breaks the tie. Our QC photos page explains what KakoBuy's free inspection does and does not cover.
Photo prices are a tie-breaker, never the main reason to move a row.
Moving the row and shipping to your country
We found no verified LitBuy link template. Take the Taobao, Weidian or 1688 address out of the KakoBuy link with the link converter, paste it into LitBuy's search box and match the variants. Customs rules are the same whichever agent you use: the EU charges a flat €3 duty per tariff category on parcels up to €150, and the US removed its $800 duty-free level in 2025. KakoBuy's estimator quoted $16.29 for 1,000 g to the UK on 12 October 2026; we have no LitBuy line prices, so ask its estimator and see our UK page. A related spare is HipoBuy. Or scan the QR on our contact page and pay per order.
Compare both estimators for the same weight before you move a row.
Questions buyers ask
Did LitBuy shut down in June 2026?
No. A shutdown rumour circulated in June 2026 and our notes record it as false. LitBuy's homepage returned a normal response on 12 October 2026, so we label it Open, which means reachable and without a credible closure report. That is not an endorsement, so pay per order and keep nothing idle in storage.
How much cheaper are LitBuy's extra photos than KakoBuy's?
LitBuy's own pages list custom photos at ¥1, and KakoBuy's help centre lists personalised photos at ¥2 each. Four extra shots cost ¥4 at LitBuy and ¥8 at KakoBuy, about $0.56 against $1.12 at ¥1 ≈ $0.14. Both are small sums, so base the choice on shipping quotes, not photo price.
Can I pay LitBuy with PayPal?
LitBuy's pages, read on 6 October 2026, list Visa, Mastercard, Discover and PayPal. KakoBuy also accepts PayPal but its help articles disagree on the fee, 3.5% plus $0.30 in one and 2.9% plus $0.30 in another. We could not find LitBuy's PayPal fee, so look at the checkout total before confirming payment.
How long does LitBuy keep my items?
LitBuy's pages give 90 days free with a maximum of 120 days. KakoBuy gives 100 days free and a 30-day cooling-off period where an item can be shipped after a ¥10 per order fee. If you split a haul, put the earlier LitBuy date in your tracker, because that window closes ten days sooner.
Is LitBuy's missing Trustpilot score a concern?
It is a reason for care. On 5 October 2026 Trustpilot had withdrawn the score for LitBuy but still listed 585 reviews. KakoBuy showed 4.2 from 321 reviews on 12 October. Without a score, read recent reviews yourself, check the company details on the site, and treat the first order as a small test.
Where is LitBuy based?
Its site footer names UK and Paris companies, with a Coventry address on the UK entry, while an agent directory we use lists a Hong Kong address. We have not verified which entity contracts with customers. KakoBuy shows three names of its own across its pages, so check the terms page of whichever agent you use.