Do you buy things from Alibaba

I have the app, but it seems to me it’s a site for buying things in bulk, like a wholesaler. I briefly looked into buying a Onwa chart plotter but was baffled by the whole process. I’ll be interested to here from those who use it too.
 
My suspicion is that items that does not pass the quailty control at the factory miraculously find their way through the back door and are sold by Chinese net shops.

Together with some friends we bought some LED torches of a well known brand. They were very cheap. The ad claimed a ridicules number of lumen, the box it came in claimed far less, but it was bright enough, even if the box exaggerated. The batteries we bought have an unacceptable self discharge. I have not tested the torch with other batteries, as I'm reluctant to spent money on new batteries as it a fare chance that also the torch is pure crap.

This is just my experience from one purchase. I cannot claim that this is a general trend.
 
Aliexpress is the retail division of Alibaba,bought a few things from aliexpress including a diesel heater,but mainly items under £5,many things are cheaper than ebay for the same items and if the item doesnt arrive within 60days you get your money back,which I got and the goods arrived a week later.
 
Alibaba is incredibly successful.

It is largely designed round offering a source of product for industrial buyers, a bit like Compass (the directory) used to do (maybe still does). It is upto the buyer to research the supplier - if you don't do your research and buy lemons - blame yourself - don't blame Alibaba nor 'China'.

Just remember that virtually all anchor chain sold in Europe now - comes from China. Lewmar anchors and CMP anchors and their Titan chain - come from China. Mantus anchors, chain hooks, shackles - come from China. Most shackles in hardware stores come from China (and may well be untested) - possibly excellent for your dog - but if you want one for the boat - buy a branded product. If there are quality issues blame Lewmar, CMP, Mantus - its is the 'brand name' that should have their QC in place (and I've seen appalling issues).

The company that makes Ronstan's LFRs is listed on Alibaba. They will make for you with your own brand name - if you buy in bulk. If you want samples, they charge, and when they arrive they have the Ronstan logo on them (or ours did :) ). I used the same company to make some components for me - very well made, excellent work - cheap. They specialise in aluminium and for a similar product I used Alibaba to find someone working in duplex stainless. Brilliant work, cheap as. I've bought trial lengths of kermantle rope for testing as snubbers - the rope maker made some extra large ropes specially for me. Excellent quality.

I cannot be bothered working through Alibaba and I use them simply as a directory and then work with the manufacturer direct (there is always someone who speaks english). This does mean you lose the security that Alibaba offer. But our business previously was in China, we think we know our way around - and my wife is fluent in both Mandarin, Cantonese, Scots and we are both slowly learning Australian :) .

If you want to buy 2 x LFRs - they are really not much use to you - most Chinese manufacturers are geared for bulk. If its a big ticket item they will sell 'one off'. My load cell I bought through Aiibaba, my coating (galvanising) thickness gauge came through Alibaba, my chain block and tackle came through Alibaba. (Does a chain block and tackle have a special name?). My thickness gauge is sold in Oz, through an Oz importer, at 4 times the price we bought at direct - exact same product. Don't blame China for the price differential - consider the importer.

There is a retail operation called, I think, TaoBao - which does have an english website - my wife uses the Chinese version (which is hugely successful and used by most Chinese families in Oz).

Do your homework and Alibaba is excellent for what it is focussed at.

The Xenophobia over China as source is misplaced - the problems usually lie much closer to home. If you are worried about China becoming the 'Midlands' of the world (as Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield was) - it will only get worse (or better).

Jonathan
 
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So had anyone bought just one of something advertised on alibaba? Or am I right in saying it’s about buying in bulk for retailers?
 
I use banggood, aliexpress and alibaba. All efficient. Not much different from chinesse ebay sellers.

Mostly electronics or tools. Quality ranges from poor to outstanding. Usually good.

Prices good, deliver usually efficient for small things. Recently lead times have extended.

i know of lots of people use them too.
 
I get adverts on my phone for Wish.com. Given the prices - a Citizen watch for a tenner, for example, I suspect I'd be wishing it was a real Citizen.

BigClive on YouTube reviews quite a lot of stuff from Banggood and other Chinese sources. The quality is often surprising. Sometimes in a good way, more often not.
 
I've used banggood.com and gearbest.com numerous times and paid way less than the exact same items on ebay or Amazon - recent examples include smartphone bought for £75 (£120 Amazon), Compressor coolbox £165 (£310 Amazon) as well as lots of smaller stuff. Never had a problem with delivery, sometimes takes a few weeks, sometimes surprisingly quick. Never paid any import tax...
 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC said:
Do you buy electronics and other boat staff from Alibaba? Things are much cheaper there and I was wondering what the catch is?
Click to expand...
I’ve used AliExpress for photography items. One was overdue and they refunded. One didn’t work in my camera as advertised and they refunded (and didn’t want it sent back). Another was just right. All came within three weeks.
 
I have bought from them in the past and all was ok; good even.

There was one company that proved dodgy and the item described was not the item to be shipped, but they showed me the item before posting and I cancelled order and money was returned easily.
 
How I use Alibaba,

I had my anchor chain galvanised by a different process, commercially called Armorgalv, it produces a predictable thickness of a hard (harder than hot dipped) galvanised coating. The processor uses a coatings thickness meter, from China. I obtained the model number. He bought his from a distributor and told me how much he paid.

Alibaba had a number of companies selling coating thickness meters (common in the surface coating industries) and I simply looked till I found an example of the right model. If you go into the detail of the companies listed in Alibaba there is sometimes a website or sometimes a company name (the name is often on a picture of the office or factory building). Its a simple matter of then googling the name and it comes up with their website and a 'contact' email. Simple. Most companies have employees who speak and write decent english (better than I see on some forum posts) and the contacts usually provide a telephone number, mobile phone number, Skype contact, etc etc - which you simply don't find for a 'western' company in say, the UK or Germany.

Its slightly more time consuming if you simply search Alibaba as you don't know from, maybe, upto 10 (or 100) suppliers which might be good or bad. I ask for samples - many don't want to send sample - so they are not hungry. When you get the samples - test them. I would then order small lots and test them.

I've bought items for the rode as well as the load cell , coating thickness meter and chain hoist (still working after 10 years) shackles, omega links, hooks, claws, chain and most recently rope. I have the hardware and rope professionally tested - I have no complaints.

As I mentioned in my earlier post - I have had custom items made, rope to a specific diameter (larger than standard) - imagine what Marlow would say :) - and metal components for the rode - to my design (imagine having 2 units made from 2205 Duplex or 7075 aluminium of anything in the UK). But you do need to work at finding the machinists and then spend time ensuring they fully understand. I could not buy the duplex plate in Oz for the cost I'm charged for the finished article from China.

China remains a dependable and cheap source of good, or excellent, product - IF you do your homework - it is not for the causal buyer. How long it will remain cheap is an, interesting, unknown - but we have noticed some prices are rising (in the retail sector).

Alibaba is business to business, its not geared up for selling you one shackle. I get away with buying small lots as I buy 'samples' (once I've tested a small length of chain or one shackle) which are enough for me. Taobao is geared up for retail and in fact is a retail outlet to retail customer platform - they sell everything from clothing to crampons and suitcases to hair dryers (and shackles). There is an english website for Taobao - but we use the Chinese version - with success.

As long as we can save between 2/3rds or 75% of the cost in Oz by buying from China its good enough for us.

Its all about doing your homework, be patient (if you need it tomorrow - buy locally (and not being xenophobic).

Jonathan

And a bit of gossip for you

Jack Ma - Wikipedia
 
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