Alibaba

[sailaboutvic]

OK input please
I'm looking on alibaba to make a order for lithium, this is a site I not used before ,
Any dos and don't or what I need to look out for ?

 

[sarabande]

Charges when your goods hit the UK postal system. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

 

[Lightwave395]

No idea how duties work but I didn't get charged on 2 paddleboards

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I bought an ONWA chartplotter via Alibaba; the initial price is attractive but the final costs due to additional charges can be high.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I'm being quoted DDP which include all charges so extra cost shouldn't be a problem .
My concern is how good is the site if things go wrong with the order or delivery

 

[idomeneus5]

I have sourced the majority of parts for my water maker via Alibaba, even inspite of the expensive shipping costs, i have still spent only $1500 Australian, I'm copying the sea water pro system using a cheap pressure washer, (A$50) at that price I can always carry a spare, fresh water flushing SHOULD ensure a season's use. Main problems was English/ Chinese language differences., and knowing how to word the searches. Also confirm whether the price is in your currency or their standard which is US$, i got caught once. I always use PayPal if possible. I have also had a 2metre Hypalon inflatable made and shipped via a manufacturer on Alibaba, extremely happy.

 

[Kelpie]

Here's a guide:

How to order Chinese Batteries

By the way Vic where are you finding a seller offering DDP? I could only find DAP.
Are you getting yours delivered to the UK, or EU? That might be the difference.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Here's a guide:

How to order Chinese Batteries

By the way Vic where are you finding a seller offering DDP? I could only find DAP.
Are you getting yours delivered to the UK, or EU? That might be the difference.

Mine will be going to Europe, I been in contact with quite a few sellers but the prices,given can be quite confusing . Although the question ask if the quote given include cells and shipping and answer given yes I cant see it being correct as some are over 800 USD difficult which make me think that itsnonly for the shipping .

 

[sailaboutvic]

This is one QUOTE I got and what they said they can do them for including ddp .

another company who said they couldn't send them to me as we on a island when I give her a copy of the quote and ask her option as she wasn't selling me any thing she said her company couldn't do the cells for that price let alone the shipping .
Hard to know whats going on

 

[dk]

There's a lot of guys' bought LiPo cells from China only to discover they're not new. They've been recovered from somewhere and refurbed. As the saying goes, if they look cheap there's usually a good reason. Good luck with returning the goods!

 

[Poey50]

Vic .. do follow the link to Ghostwriter's guide in Kelpie's post #7. She has imported more of these cells from several Chinese sources than anyone I know. Do particularly keep in mind this point ...

"Purchase is only protected really by two ways – PAYPAL and CREDIT card. Alibaba Assurance usually sides with the SELLER. PAYPAL and CREDIT CARD sides with you 100%."

You will pay more for this protection but, in my view, it's not worth the risk to do without.

 

[Poey50]

There's a lot of guys' bought LiPo cells from China only to discover they're not new. They've been recovered from somewhere and refurbed. As the saying goes, if they look cheap there's usually a good reason. Good luck with returning the goods!

As I said in my LFP build thread - 270ah DIY LiFePO4 build - Chinese grey import seller ethics leave something to be desired. I never believed my cells were new or that the factory is real or that certificates displayed are genuine. My cells were advertised at 271ah which seems an unlikely figure and more likely based on a new cell of 280ah. Nevertheless many buyers know this and are satisfied with their purchase. How come? The crucial issue is whether the advertised capacity of a batch of cells is the the capacity you receive. So a sensible buyer, after balancing the pack, does a capacity test on the assembled pack (not on individual cells). If the pack delivers the advertised number of amp hours then whether new or second hand is secondary. I chose a seller with a known track record of honouring the warranty - even changing cells where there has been clear user-error. The reason that LFP can still be good value second-hand is that, compared to lead acid, the reduction of capacity with age and number of cycles tails off gradually. A lead acid battery falling to 80% original capacity is considered to be at the end of useful life - not so LFP.

So, buyer very much beware and if possible get new and get plastic cased from a safe European importer such as GWL. If I had x 4 the money to spend on Winstons I would have done that!

 

[sailaboutvic]

Vic .. do follow the link to Ghostwriter's guide in Kelpie's post #7. She has imported more of these cells from several Chinese sources than anyone I know. Do particularly keep in mind this point ...

"Purchase is only protected really by two ways – PAYPAL and CREDIT card. Alibaba Assurance usually sides with the SELLER. PAYPAL and CREDIT CARD sides with you 100%."

You will pay more for this protection but, in my view, it's not worth the risk to do without.

Well I did do my enquiry before I sew Kelpie posting ,
question ask where short and to the point one of the most I ask was about shipping and it customs duties and made a point in asking if there was an y other cost involved with NO being the reply ,
so how comes there such a big different in cost , I can understand 40/50 or even 100usd but one had nearly 1000usd different to the lowest price .
Also all said their cells are new and grade A

 

[Poey50]

Well I did do my enquiry before I sew Kelpie posting ,
question ask where short and to the point one of the most I ask was about shipping and it customs duties and made a point in asking if there was an y other cost involved with NO being the reply ,
so how comes there such a big different in cost , I can understand 40/50 or even 100usd but one had nearly 1000usd different to the lowest price .
Also all said their cells are new and grade A

I can't really comment on why one would be 1000 USD more expensive. I suspect it might be a communication problem. This is one of the reasons that I used Carl Wu at RJ Energy - his english is excellent.

 

[Neeves]

We buy lots introduced by Alibaba.

Coating thickness meter, 2t load cell, 2t chain winch, Low Friction Rings, shackles, Go-Pro clone, underwater camera (for stills), clothing,, canvas shoes BUT we search out the manufacturer, usually easily found as they always give a company name and then use Google. We then communicate direct - but my wife is fluent - (so we, or I, cheat). But note Poey's comment post No 14. I have also had items custom made, bridle plate (fancy snubber chain hook but for a cat), boomerang (self rights an anchor) - but its now cheaper to buy some custom made from other locations. I have had communication problems with things custom made - so double check, and the check again. There are, or can be, communication problems. We are never in a hurry so insist on shipping by sea (I don't see the point of saving money and then re-distributing to a courier company). We buy a mixed collection of items, have them delivered to a central location, then packed all together - but we ran a business selling to China and have contacts who consolidate for us. We have been burnt with minor items, clothing wrong size etc. In general very satisfied

Except we are finding many Chinese items are starting to get expensive. We are being forced to cherry pick and are moving our source points.

For something like chain, they have excellent quality, but you need to move in bulk to keep shipping costs and Oz port costs down and I have found a reliable importer in Australia of stuff like chain. if it was a big ticket item we would look, as you are doing, for some track history - BUT we would always want to work direct with the manufacturer. Forget about the idea of sending something like a large house battery back if you are not happy.

Jonathan

 

[sailaboutvic]

If anyone interested these are the prices for 8x200ah grade A Calb cells
All in usd , DDP allshipping and taxes i was given
Of course there nothing to say these are grade A or they won't turn up damage,
936
1033
1624
1760 and a few more inbetween. The top two which may be more realistic and I will get what I'm looking for .

 

[Poey50]

If anyone interested these are the prices for 8x200ah grade A Calb cells
All in usd , DDP allshipping and taxes i was given
Of course there nothing to say these are grade A or they won't turn up damage,
936
1033
1624
1760 and a few more inbetween. The top two which may be more realistic and I will get what I'm looking for .

Just for interest, do you have a link to the cheaper ones, Vic?

 

[sailaboutvic]

Just for interest, do you have a link to the cheaper ones, Vic?

This was the conversation,

 

[Poey50]

Thanks Vic. Do you have a link to the original advert?

 

[sailaboutvic]

The ćompany .
Luoyang tianhuan energy technology co.ltd