A bonded direct purchase store recently opened in the comprehensive bonded zone of Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province. It features bonded imported items and offers offline trials, online orders, and direct delivery from nearby bonded warehouses.

At the store, customers can buy genuine bonded goods at tax-free prices. For example, one shopper was surprised to find a branded skincare product priced at 588 yuan, much cheaper than online, according to a report by Hebei Daily on Tuesday.

The affordability is driven by the 1210 model, which exempts tariffs and provides a 30 percent discount on value-added and consumption taxes, according to the Hebei Provincial Department of Commerce.

The cross-border e-commerce 1210 model, also called the bonded warehouse model, enables e-commerce companies to ship international products in bulk to comprehensive bonded zones for bonded storage.

The store allows shoppers to sample items like cosmetics and snacks from Japan, Europe, and South Korea before buying online, helping to avoid the risks of blind cross-border shopping.

This model highlights the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce in Xiong'an, which has achieved full operational modes and attracted major projects, enhancing the consumer experience, local authorities said.