AliExpress / Alibaba
Discussion
Yes, I've used it several times.
Don't buy a car on it, but if you're buying tat, then it's fine.
Your money sits with site until you've confirmed receipt of the item. If it doesn't turn up then you always get your money back.
Some sellers are excellent and you'll receive your item within a week. Others it can take a month or two.
So overall, your money's safe, stuff usually turns up and you need to take a relaxed attitude to delivery times - sometimes it's nice to be surprised by a random package containing that £1.76 widget you bought before Christmas!
Don't buy a car on it, but if you're buying tat, then it's fine.
Your money sits with site until you've confirmed receipt of the item. If it doesn't turn up then you always get your money back.
Some sellers are excellent and you'll receive your item within a week. Others it can take a month or two.
So overall, your money's safe, stuff usually turns up and you need to take a relaxed attitude to delivery times - sometimes it's nice to be surprised by a random package containing that £1.76 widget you bought before Christmas!
I use AliExpress. Generally good for cheap tat.
Only a couple of problems over the years.
Once I did not receive an item but tracking said delivered so I did not get a refund and another time the phone case I received was not the correct one and I never managed to get a refund on that either.
As said before, some items come airmail and are very quick but others take months to arrive.
Only a couple of problems over the years.
Once I did not receive an item but tracking said delivered so I did not get a refund and another time the phone case I received was not the correct one and I never managed to get a refund on that either.
As said before, some items come airmail and are very quick but others take months to arrive.
Aliexpress is excellent for certain things.
It helps that items below 200 pounds come into New Zealand without any tax or VAT.
Having a couple of Chinese people working for me helps, sometimes I have bought samples off aliexpress - then deal direct with a supplier though alibaba.
Would you believe there are Chinese companies remaking replica British pre decimal coinage. Just ordered some pennies dated the 1860s, photos look superb.
We've also found a way of importing heavy stuff at reasonable cost - had a couple of battery operated polystyrene cutters (melts rather than leave bits everywhere). Only a 150 pounds each I think.
It helps that items below 200 pounds come into New Zealand without any tax or VAT.
Having a couple of Chinese people working for me helps, sometimes I have bought samples off aliexpress - then deal direct with a supplier though alibaba.
Would you believe there are Chinese companies remaking replica British pre decimal coinage. Just ordered some pennies dated the 1860s, photos look superb.
We've also found a way of importing heavy stuff at reasonable cost - had a couple of battery operated polystyrene cutters (melts rather than leave bits everywhere). Only a 150 pounds each I think.
Barchettaman said:
They’re great fun.
I strongly recommend having a few drinks and going online shopping for random tat.
The next morning you won’t remember what you bought, and when stuff starts to arrive it’s just like a weird Chinese Christmas.
I strongly recommend having a few drinks and going online shopping for random tat.
The next morning you won’t remember what you bought, and when stuff starts to arrive it’s just like a weird Chinese Christmas.
I like it for knock-off Lego (settle down, we buy loads of the real stuff too). I've also bought a couple of mobile phones from the site. One took a while to turn up, the other was very efficient.
louiebaby said:
I like it for knock-off Lego (settle down, we buy loads of the real stuff too). I've also bought a couple of mobile phones from the site. One took a while to turn up, the other was very efficient.
I've bought loads of other bits and bobs from Ali and never had any issues.
The reviews are often helpful as well.
I believe AliExpress is almost as big as Amazon?
caziques said:
Would you believe there are Chinese companies remaking replica British pre decimal coinage. Just ordered some pennies dated the 1860s, photos look superb.
I've seen "replica" Krugerrand, sovereigns and miniature ingots too. I assume these are either intended as bling for Instagrammers, for attempting to defraud naive jewelers, or for running street scams (selling them cheaply to gullible people). I assume it's technically not legal to import "replica" UK coinage, not sure about Krugerrand and ingots?SlimJim16v said:
I have my doubts over the authenticity of some of the branded stuff, but have bought lots of small items without any problems.
I have however had one issue with something not turning up and didn't get a refund, so I'm down £14.
Almost nothing branded is genuine on these sites. Anything genuine will be priced the same as you can buy it here. Some of the fake stuff (which I think you can only get on DHGate these days) is I think the "night shift" production - I bought some famous brand cycling sunglasses recently and they are almost identical to the real thing, including the case. Possibly the plastics are slightly cheaper feeling, but for 1/10th the price I can live with that...I have however had one issue with something not turning up and didn't get a refund, so I'm down £14.
Gareth79 said:
SlimJim16v said:
I have my doubts over the authenticity of some of the branded stuff, but have bought lots of small items without any problems.
I have however had one issue with something not turning up and didn't get a refund, so I'm down £14.
Almost nothing branded is genuine on these sites. Anything genuine will be priced the same as you can buy it here. Some of the fake stuff (which I think you can only get on DHGate these days) is I think the "night shift" production - I bought some famous brand cycling sunglasses recently and they are almost identical to the real thing, including the case. Possibly the plastics are slightly cheaper feeling, but for 1/10th the price I can live with that...I have however had one issue with something not turning up and didn't get a refund, so I'm down £14.
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