Often used for image-led catalogs. Look for a usable original link, variant details and current contact or ordering instructions on the source itself.
Main guide · 10 minute read
How to Use a Fatobuy Spreadsheet Without Losing the Decision
A spreadsheet should make the choice smaller, not make it for you. Start with one real need, compare a short batch, and keep only the rows you can explain.
FIELD NOTE№ 01
Before saving a row, finish this sentence:
“This one stays because…”
CHECK
THE ROW
Quick answer
The short version
Write down the product job and the detail that would make you reject it. Then read across each row before clicking and check whether its category, photos, measurements, price context, source and likely shipping weight tell one consistent story.
Definition
What people mean by “Fatobuy spreadsheet”
It is a compact list of product references: usually a title, category, image, price note and one or more links. It can help you move through a large catalog without losing track of the items you want to compare.
The neat layout is useful, but it is not proof that every detail is current. A tidy row can still have stale information, a vague size field or a source link that no longer matches.
Before you browse
Decide what a useful result would look like
Start with the job the product needs to do. A daily shoe, a warm jacket and a compact work bag each lead to different measurements, photos and shipping questions. Write down one must-have and one reason you would reject an item before opening the catalog.
Dates, reviews and popularity labels can add context, but they should not decide the shortlist. A useful result is one that helps you compare the same details across several similar items and makes the remaining uncertainty easy to name.
Keep two lists
Separate browsing notes from real order records
Your shortlist only needs the facts that help you compare: the item, source, measurements, useful photos, likely weight and one unresolved question. It should not contain account credentials, payment information or private messages.
Once you place an order, keep the confirmation, payment status and delivery details in the official service that handles the transaction. Fatobuy.org is a browsing guide; it does not operate a shop, maintain orders or access account data.
Starting point, not proof
Why the spreadsheet only begins the research
A sheet is good at compressing choices. It is poor at showing everything that can change: current availability, the exact variant, seller policy, packing method, support terms and the final shipping calculation.
Use it to create a shortlist. Then recheck the external page and any current information through the appropriate platform or official support channel.
Before the first tab
Turn “I want something good” into a decision brief
Four short notes prevent the list from deciding what matters after you start scrolling.
01
Product job
Name the use: daily sneaker, warm outer layer, compact work bag or another concrete need.
02
Must-have
Choose one requirement that cannot be traded away, such as a measurement, material clue or compatibility detail.
03
Flexible point
Decide what can vary—color, minor styling, packaging or another detail that does not define the purchase.
04
Stop condition
Write what ends the search: unclear sizing, missing critical angles, excessive bulk or conflicting product information.
Read left to right
How to read a row before opening the link
Look for agreement between fields. One impressive cell should not carry the rest of the row.
01
Label
Is the item described plainly enough to place it in a useful category?
02
Photo clue
Does the preview show the actual area you would need to inspect later?
03
Size detail
Are measurements present, or only a generic S–XL menu with no context?
04
Price context
How does the number compare with similar rows, and what might be omitted?
05
Weight clue
Could material, packaging or volume change the apparent value?
06
Source clue
Does the source term help you understand the destination and what to verify?
Open with a purpose
Give every link one question to answer
You might be browsing for ideas or trying to compare one specific item type. In both cases, open a link because you need a measurement, another angle, the original source or current variant information—not simply because the thumbnail is attractive.
If the destination cannot answer the question you wrote down, move the row back to “compare” or remove it. This keeps a large catalog from turning into dozens of tabs with no clear next step.
Small-batch routine
Compare a handful, remove one, then open more
- 1Open four to six items from the same category and intended use.
- 2Compare the same evidence across every candidate.
- 3Remove the row with the clearest weakness before adding another.
- 4Stop when two or three candidates answer the important questions well enough.
Source vocabulary
When Yupoo, Taobao, Weidian or 1688 matter
These names describe different source environments. They are context, not quality grades.
A marketplace source. Confirm that the product, option and seller page still match the spreadsheet description.
A store or product link may expose useful item details. Check the exact destination rather than relying on a copied title.
Often associated with wholesale-oriented listings. Minimum quantities, variants and seller terms can matter more than the headline price.
Category first
Give every comparison a shared frame
Category-first browsing makes the important evidence predictable. For shoes, look at toe shape, heel, sole and sizing. For hoodies, measurements and fabric weight matter more. For bags, dimensions, strap construction and empty weight move to the front.
If you already know a brand or model, still compare it with products from the same category and intended use. That gives price, construction and measurements a fair frame instead of letting a familiar name carry the decision.
Choose a category and see what to checkWorked comparison
A strong row and a weak row
The point is not to crown a winner. It is to see which row gives you a responsible next question.
“Zip hoodie · measured photos available”
- Category is clear.
- Chest and length measurements are visible.
- Photos include zip, cuffs, hood and seams.
- Weight is noted as an estimate.
- The source link matches the described item.
“Best hoodie · must buy”
- No measurements or fabric detail.
- One compressed front photo.
- Price is presented without comparison.
- No weight or packing clue.
- The label relies on hype instead of evidence.
Decision log
Give every saved row a status and a reason
Use three statuses: keep when the visible evidence supports the decision brief; compare when one named question remains; and remove when a must-have is missing or the details conflict.
A useful note is specific: “compare — good measured photos, but packed weight is unknown.” “Looks nice” records a reaction, not a decision. Dating the note also helps you remember which details may need a current recheck later.
When details disagree
Do not average conflicting evidence
Pause the row until one current source resolves the conflict.
- The title names one version while the selected option or photos show another.
- Two size charts give different measurements without explaining why.
- A copied price, product page and current variant no longer match.
- The spreadsheet category disagrees with the destination page.
- Estimated weight appears precise but has no stated source or packing basis.
- A missing critical detail is replaced by popularity or promotional language.
When to continue
Open Findsindex after the row earns the click
Continue when the row fits your category, the evidence is relevant and you know what you still need to verify. Findsindex can then help you browse the matching hub or category in a wider context.
Browse Fatobuy finds on FindsindexExternal product details and current platform information remain your responsibility to check.