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Just wondering what everyone's best must need or useful aliexpress buys?
Best Must Need or Useful AliExpress Buys?
Fat Horny Ghost on 19/05/2020 - 19:10
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Aliexpress is only slow if you chose a slow shipping method. I use it to order very niche things when I need them in bulk. $20 or so for DHL becomes worth it when you're buying 50 items. DHL takes about 3 days to arrive.
ePacket is pretty good if you don't need things urgently either. It's usually only like $1-2, before Corona things would arrive consistently in 2 weeks.
You can use chrome plugins to filter items by what shipping options are available. I use Oberlo.
Happy to be challenged and change my mind.
You've based your response on the assumption it's all low quality junk, when it's just mostly junk.
And there's nothing you can't wait a month for?I generally like it for non-essential but useful accessories.
A good example would be phone glass screens. They are essentially consumables regardless of quality, but for a buck or two each it becomes viable to have a couple of spares around in case you ever crack the current one.That said, ebay often has much of the same crap locally without too much markup.
Well, what isn't junk sold on there? What's worth waiting a month for to arrive?
Tempered glass screen protectors are available 2 pack for $4 delivered in couple days on eBay rather than 'Estimated Delivery: 30-50 days'.
Brands like Xiaomi, Lenovo, oneplus, Kingston, qcy, fiio and Anker are on Aliexpress. Are they all "junk" to you?
@MagicMushroom: With the exception of Anker, which is available everywhere, yes, pretty much so. Wouldn't ever buy grey market electronics off Aliexpress. Unknown QC, no warranty, no idea if you'll get them, unsure if fake or not. Not worth it.
@Hybroid: I buy heaps of machined alloy motorcycle parts. Quite often they are the exact same items as made in bulk for “named” parts suppliers, but without their logos on it.
I can buy a *REDACTED* clutch housing for a Ducati for $900 + freight in Australia, or go to AliExpress and get the identical part without *REDACTED* laser etched into it for about $400 delivered…
And 40~50 days postage is a rookie mistake. Most of the time there is an option to pay like $1.28 and get upgraded to express 3~7day shipping…
The downside of Ali is they don’t add GST until you are about to click the pay button… everything is advertised ex-GST, so that can be a rookie mistake as well.
I use to purchase phone accessories (ie, cables, case, screen protector, etc).
But ever since 10% GST was introduced to overseas order, it usually cheaper/same price to purchase them locally.
Only if you've made too few purchases. They generally only be more helpful if your higher than the 1st level of membership.
Yeah, I use it often and it's great for me. Recently some packages didnt arrive in like 6 weeks, I asked for a refund and got it in a day or two. Packages actually arrived a bit later, corona must've delayed things extremely. Feel bad for the sellers.
Feel bad for the sellers.
Then contact them, and at least repay the original amount minus any fees.
I've had luck with refunds for items that never arrived.
I have also but during this covid period they initially refunded one item after 3 months but now are just telling me "it's coming " . Even after 3 months
I like it for niche things, usually electronic components. For example when I need 10 stepper motors, or 20 arduino knockoffs. Recently I've been considering buying some upgrade parts for my K40 laser cutter which I bought on eBay.
I use it to search for items which do not have a brand, or gadgets or small accessories which are really niche or just odd.
Sometimes I search for things I wish someone would make. ie. For the longest time, I was looking for a heated keyboard (blows hot air from the bottom), heated mouse or a heated mouse pad. Just something to keep my hands from freezing if I don't have the heater on.
Someone decided to finally make one and there was no chance I'd see that available anywhere in Australia.
Just type in “EDC” and go nuts… :D
The thing I'd recommend the most that isn't the usual screen protectors and electronics would be this toothpaste squeezer. It's definitely useful when I'm running low on toothpaste and want to salvage whatever I can.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_dZ5Lxk7
Nothing. I have never needed to buy anything that I'm willing to wait a month or more in the hopes it may or may not arrive. There's nothing on there that's a need, it's all unnecessary junk so will pay little extra for better quality, customer service or quicker delivery elsewhere.
Happy to be challenged and change my mind.