I am a small-scale purchasing agent who started this business while studying in Japan. Many people think our job is highly profitable and offers flexible hours, but only we know the bitterness and sweetness behind the scenes.

The "Joy" lies in the sense of achievement and connection. The fulfillment of being trusted and thanked is priceless when I help a mother buy the out-of-stock formula her baby loves or find a limited-edition lipstick a girl has been longing for. I feel like a small bridge, delivering not just products, but also joy and anticipation.

The "Pains," however, are present in every step of the process.

The Fatigue of Procurement: Getting up early to queue for popular items is routine. Comparing prices across various drugstores and counters is physically exhausting.

The Tedium of Communication: It requires immense patience to answer all kinds of customer inquiries, address concerns about colors and sizes, and handle last-minute changes.

The Risk of Logistics: International packages can get lost, taxed, or held by customs for inspection. Every link in the chain is nerve-wracking, and any problem falls on us to resolve.

The Fierce Competition: The market is becoming more transparent, large capital is flowing in, and platform direct shipping services are improving, constantly squeezing the survival space for small agents like us.

Despite this, I still love this venture. It has allowed me to be financially independent and has honed my skills in communication and handling complex matters. In the future, I plan to shift from "personal carrying" to a more professional "direct shipping model" and build my own community around niche brands, finding my blue ocean in this competitive red ocean. This is the survival story of one small purchasing agent.