How to Get Help in China from Abroad? (Without Flying There)

Let’s be honest: trying to get anything done in China when you are sitting in New York, London, or Sydney can be a nightmare.

Maybe you left your laptop in a Shanghai hotel. Maybe you need to check if a factory in Guangzhou actually exists before you wire them $50,000. or perhaps you just need someone to pick up a document and mail it to you.

The problem isn’t that the task is hard. The problem is the barriers: the language gap, the payment systems (WeChat Pay/Alipay are hard for foreigners to activate), and the simple lack of “boots on the ground.”

So, how do you handle these cross-border headaches without buying a plane ticket?

The “Favor” vs. The Professional

Your first instinct might be to ask a friend. But asking a friend to travel across the city (or country) to visit a factory or pick up a parcel is a huge favor.

This is where a professional errand service (often called a “runner” service) changes the game. But finding a trustworthy one is tricky. You don’t want a random freelancer; you want a team that acts as your professional proxy.

At Zerrand, we’ve turned these random requests into a structured service. We are your eyes and legs in China.

Real Scenarios: What We Actually Do

To give you an idea of how to solve your specific problem, here are three real-life examples of how we help clients abroad:

1. The “I Left It Behind” Panic

Did you leave a phone, wallet, or important contract in a hotel room or a DiDi car? Coordinating with hotel staff who don’t speak English is frustrating. Most international couriers won’t pick up loose items from a front desk.

We physically go there. We verify the item is yours, pack it securely, and ship it to your doorstep.

Need this now? check out our Lost Property Recovery Service.

2. The “Is This Supplier Real?” Worry

Alibaba looks great, but scammers are real. We recently had a client who was about to transfer money to a “manufacturer.” They hired us to do a quick site visit.

The result? The address was an empty warehouse. We saved them thousands of dollars just by showing up.

Don’t get scammed. Use our Supplier Verification & Factory Audit before you pay.

3. The Paperwork Nightmare

Sometimes you need a hard copy of a document, a university transcript, or a government apostille, but they require someone to apply in person. You don’t need a lawyer; you just need a reliable proxy to stand in line and handle the logistics.

Let us handle the red tape. See our Document Proxy Service.

Why Not Just Use an App?

You might be searching for a “TaskRabbit for China.” It doesn’t really exist for foreigners due to the Great Firewall and payment restrictions. Chinese local apps require Chinese ID cards and fluent Mandarin.

Zerrand bridges that gap. * We speak English.

• We accept international payments (so you don’t need WeChat Pay).
• We provide photo/video evidence of every task.

Ready to Get Things Done?

Stop stressing about the distance. Whether it’s consolidating samples or a complex custom request, we are ready to assist.

Click here to start your Cross-Border Service request. Tell us what you need, and we’ll be your legs on the ground in China.