Using Alibaba if UK based.

[rotrax]

As heading. I have some major purchases to make when First Mate and I complete our planned boat downsize. Checking prices online, Alibaba wins hands down. I have not gone to the 'Shipping calculated at checkout' bit yet.

Has anyone used them for major purchases? If so, are you happy?

Supporting local business is great, but the pre shipping and import duty prices appear to be so favourable it might be worth a punt. Most items I am thinking about are of Chinese origin and some are not available at chandlers.

 

[Clash]

I've used Alibaba for smaller purchases without any issues. Use PayPal to pay, gives you more protection.

 

[Sandy]

I have attempted to set up an account but got trapped in a strange verification cycle and abandoned it.

 

[fredrussell]

It’s good for me. No problems in the few years I’ve been using it. I’ve never had to send anything back though, and I’m guessing it’s a fairly challenging thing to do, as you’re sending something back across the globe rather than popping it in the post to Milton Keynes.

 

[Aquanaught]

I’ve used them for purchases up to around £80 and found to be good with regular updates on tracking. Used PayPal. I don’t know how it might work out for larger priced items when Customs might take an interest and the charges, VAT , collection etc get lumped on.

 

[V1701]

Used for up to about £130 for a tablet off AliExpress, never had an issue or had to pay import duty. Also worth comparing with banggood.com (not what it sounds like!), gearbest.com. I've used them all, no issues as yet, sometimes takes a few weeks to arrive sometimes gets here surprisingly quickly...

 

[Laysula]

Use it regularly. Tax ( VAT) is added at the checkout and delivery is slow about two weeks but quite happy.

 

[Neeves]

Before you commit - try Temu.

Aliexpress is a bit more focussed at the consumer. Alibaba is focussed to commercial sales - bigger volumes. Both operate out of China. Temu is also Chinese but has a UK, or European, base. If you need to return commonly they say 'don't bother' and have refunded your monies immediately. Temu tends to ship locally, in your case from the UK, so they are a bit quicker.

We have used all 3 outlets and have never had a problem with any of them.

There is another company Tao Bao - there is an English language version. They source from Chinese retail outlets and ship your goods to a central warehouse ('your' central warehouse). The items are then boxed up and shipped usually by sea (which is cheaper, obviously, but slower than air.). You need your own agent, there are lots google 'Tao Bao agents for UK'. The agent takes a percentage of your purchase value to collate and pack your purchases. It works very, very well - if you are patient. Good for clothing and domestic items. Easier if you speak and read Chinese. If you have any Hong Kong neighbours they will know all about Tao Bao and will use it regularly.

Lots of options.

In terms of supporting your local retailer. They have the same opportunity as we do to use these wholesalers and as they will buy in bulk, whereas you will buy one item, they will enjoy lower prices and better freight. But .... in general they don't bother, their prices are thus much higher .... and they cannot compete. The solution is in their hands and they don't take it.

A chandler could buy chain direct but they buy from a middleman.

The world has changed and they have not reacted.

This is an example

Brompton profits plunge more than 99% amid bike industry turmoil

Don't feel guilty.

I've bought a chain hoist, coating thickness meter, micrometer, cable swage, climbing rope to use as part of a bridle, hand sized juice extractor, induction hob, motor vehicle jump start, ladder for the back of out 4x4, tow bar tongue, and folding bikes etc etc.

I'd use Tao Bao to buy electronics (a lithium house bank) from Epever if I had need, so I'd pay local Chinese prices. I don't currently have need.

Jonathan

 

[westernman]

I have used Temu, Alibaba and Aliexpress.
I have also sent stuff back because it was not as well made as it should have been.
I have had stuff get lost in customs in France, and also get delivered to some one else 1000 kms away.

I have had no issues at all in getting my money back. - but takes a little but more time and is a little more complicated than Amazon.
They want to see photos and a description of why you are not happy and often want you send the stuff back (particularly for furniture or bigger stuff).
Sending stuff back is easy. Print the label, attach it to the box and take to a relay place. Nothing to pay.

I have sent mosquito nets and furniture back,

Generally very happy with quality. Delivery is usually as predicted or earlier, but can be long for stuff which comes from China which is not stocked somewhere in the EU. Temu and Aliexpress often stock stuff in the EU.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I use AliExpress constantly for small things, kitchen storage and heatshrink cable and so on, and have very little faith in them. Things turn up 9 times out of 10 and you don't really mind of their customer service is a nightmare because it's all cheap rubbish - I'm very hesitant about buying anything more valuable there.

I have the impression that Alibaba may be better because you're dealing directly with the manufacturer. People on Reddit's /r/FoldingBikes have recently been buying £800 Brompton clones via this route.

Thanks to @Neeves for this information about Temu. I've always detested them because of their prolific ads, and whenever I think, "what is that?" and click on it, it tries to force me to download the app. But if they have good customer service then I might have to give them a chance.