How Dropast Collects Product Data: API vs. Scraping Methods

When importing products from Taobao, Tmall, or 1688 into your Dropast List, Dropast uses two methods to collect data: API and Scraping. Each method plays a vital role in ensuring accurate and uninterrupted product imports. This guide explains how each method works and when it’s used.

🔌 API (Application Programming Interface)

The Default Method for Taobao and Tmall

• Dropast’s Chrome Extension uses the marketplace’s official API to retrieve product information.
• This method allows for a faster and more stable connection, pulling structured data such as titles, variants, prices, and images.

Automatic Fallback to Scraping

• If the API becomes temporarily unavailable or returns errors, Dropast automatically switches to scraping to continue the import without disruption.
• This ensures you can still capture product data without manual intervention.

✅ Best used for: Efficient and reliable imports from Taobao and Tmall

🧲 Scraping Method

Always Used for 1688

• Since 1688 doesn’t offer a public API for product data, Dropast uses scraping by default.
• Scraping involves programmatically reading the product page’s HTML content to extract relevant details.

Also Used for Videos and Reviews

• Regardless of the marketplace, videos and customer reviews are always imported using the scraping method, as this content is not accessible via API.

✅ Best used for:

• 1688 product imports
• Importing videos and reviews from any marketplace

🧠 Why Use Both Methods?

By supporting both API and scraping, Dropast ensures:

• Continuous availability — even if one method fails
• Comprehensive product data — including text, images, variants, videos, and reviews
• Reliable importing — with minimal disruption to your workflow

📝 Summary

Have questions about how product data is pulled into Dropast or noticing missing info? Contact our support team — we’re here to help.