I Tried the Viral superbuy spreadsheet for 30 Days: Here’s Exactly What Happened (and What I’m Keeping)

Okay, besties, let’s get one thing straight: I am a sucker for a good deal. Like, I will happily spend three hours scrolling through Taobao just to find that one perfect cashmere sweater that everyone thinks cost me $300 but actually set me back twenty bucks. My boyfriend calls it a problem. I call it a superpower.

So when I started seeing this “superbuy spreadsheet” getting passed around on Discord and TikTok like contraband at a summer camp, my curiosity was piqued. But let’s be real, I was skeptical. Another spreadsheet? Another “hack” that promises to save you 50% but actually just leads you down a rabbit hole of mediocre dupes? I’ve been burned before. But the thrift gods were calling, and I answered.

This is my unfiltered, no-BS diary of using the superbuy spreadsheet for a full 30 days. Spoiler: my wallet is both crying and thanking me.

Wait, WTF is the superbuy spreadsheet?

Okay, so let me break it down before we get into the tea. The superbuy spreadsheet is essentially a collaborative Google Doc that a bunch of shopping obsessives (my people) have built. It’s a massive list of links, reviews, size charts, pricing breakdowns, and shipping cost estimates for items you can buy through Superbuy, the proxy service. Think of it as a cheat code for navigating the wild west of Chinese e-commerce sites like Taobao, 1688, and Weidian.

It’s organized by category – clothes, shoes, accessories, home decor, even weird tech gadgets. Each row has a link, a price in yuan, estimated weight, and a little blurb from whoever added it. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. It’s beautiful.

Week 1: The Honeymoon Phase (and a few facepalms)

Day one, I dove in headfirst. I sorted by “most popular” and immediately added like 15 things to my cart. The spreadsheet is addictive because it pre-validates stuff. You’re not just scrolling blind; hundreds of other shoppers have already flagged the good items and culled the trash.

My first purchase was a pair of chunky platform loafers that looked exactly like the Prada ones that have been haunting my dreams. On the spreadsheet, someone wrote: “TTS! (True to size) Leather is soft, but order a half size up if you have wide feet.” I followed the advice and ordered my usual size. Three days later, the shoes were in the Superbuy warehouse. I paid for the inspection photos… and immediately felt a wave of regret.

The photos showed a pair of black loafers that looked… fine. But the leather had a weird plastic-y sheen that did NOT scream “high quality.” My heart sank. But since I’d only spent about $28 including shipping, I told myself to chill out. I shipped them with a few other items (using the “consolidated shipping” hack from the spreadsheet – it saved me like $12) and waited.

When the box arrived, I ripped it open like a kid on Christmas. And you know what? The loafers actually looked better in person. The sheen was less offensive once I held them. They fit perfectly. I’ve worn them four times in two weeks. That’s a win.

Week 2: Getting Cocky (the spreadsheet strikes back)

Emboldened by my loafers, I went on a spree. I was clicking links like a madwoman. “Ooh, a vintage-style silk blouse for $15? Add to cart. A hoodie with a cool graphic? Yes, please. A fancy lamp that looks like it belongs in an architect’s living room? Why the hell not.”

This is where the spreadsheet reveals its dark side: it’s a trap. Because everything is so cheap, you lose your sense of judgment. I ordered a trench coat that the spreadsheet described as “amazing quality, very thick cotton.” It arrived looking like something you’d find in a Halloween costume shop – thin, flimsy, and about as waterproof as a paper towel. Plus, it smelled like a chemical lab. The arms were comically short.

Lesson learned: always check the review photos in the spreadsheet’s “Photo Review” section, not just the comments. Some people have forgiving eyes.

I also ordered a pair of white jeans from a Weidian link that didn’t have any reviews. They were $9. They were also completely see-through. I wore them to the grocery store once, and the cashier gave me a look that said, “Girl, we can see your underwear.” Mortifying. Into the donation pile.

Week 3: The Goldmine (finding real gems)

By week three, I had figured out the spreadsheet’s rhythm. You gotta be strategic. The real treasures are buried in the subcategories. I discovered a tab for “Home Office Aesthetic” and found the most gorgeous ceramic coffee mug set for $12. It looks exactly like the ones from that trendy LA coffee shop that costs $28 per cup. The quality is insane.

I also found a seller on the spreadsheet who makes custom pet portraits based on your dog’s photo. For $18, I got an embroidered patch of my golden retriever wearing a tiny crown. It shipped in 10 days. I’m getting it framed.

The spreadsheet also has a “Budget Friendly Brands” section that compares prices across different sellers. This saved me from paying $40 for a dress that was actually available from another seller for $6. The $6 version took 3 weeks longer to ship, but for that difference? I’ll wait.

Week 4: The Verdict (and the spreadsheet’s bottom line)

After 30 days, I spent a total of $347. I placed 4 separate orders (bad consolidation on my part, but I was overly excited). Of those 4 orders:

• Keepers: 8 items (loafers, mug set, pet patch, three cotton T-shirts base layers, a silk midi skirt, and a vintage-style phone case)
• Donate/Gift: 4 items (the see-through jeans, a weirdly cropped sweater that was not as oversized as I hoped, a pair of earrings that tarnished instantly, and a book-shaped lamp that was just a cheap plastic box)
• Returns: 1 item (the Halloween trench coat – Superbuy actually helped facilitate a partial refund since the description was misleading. The spreadsheet users taught me to always report bad items to help the community.)

So about 60% success rate. That’s respectable for a blind shopping spree through a proxy.

Is the superbuy spreadsheet worth it? My honest take.

Yes, but only if you go in with a plan. Don’t just browse. Use the search function within the spreadsheet to find specific brands or styles. Always read the detailed reviews that have photos. And watch out for the shipping costs – they can sneak up on you, especially if you buy heavy shoes or bags.

The best part of the spreadsheet is the community. People update it constantly. There are even tabs for “Luxury Dupes” that are eerily good. Like, to the point where I would not recommend wearing them into the actual store, but for a concert or brunch? Perfection.

My biggest tip: set a limit. Tell yourself, “I will buy no more than 5 items from this spreadsheet today.” Otherwise, you will become one of those people with three boxes arriving every week, and your mailman will start giving you side-eye.

Also, be patient. Some stuff takes a month to arrive. But when that package finally shows up and you open it to find a winsome, high-quality treasure that cost you a fraction of the retail price… there is no better feeling.

Would I recommend the superbuy spreadsheet? Hell to the yes. But come prepared. It’s a rabbit hole, but a beautiful, budget-friendly one.

Happy hunting, savers. Go forth and spreadsheet.