AliExpress Good Buys and Recommendations

LDONMAI on 29/05/2024 - 22:26
Last edited 30/05/2024 - 11:24 by 1 other user

For sharing AliExpress good buys - ideas for filling up your cart to max out the savings.

Some general tips and notes for buying on AliExpress.

  • It's always cheaper to pay in USD (than setting AliExpress to AUD) and using a card with free international currency conversion. Some cards that offer this.
  • "AliExpress offer zero effective warranty or guarantees. Buy with caution." -richard1912.
  • On the other hand, customer disputes are typically settled fairly quickly within the allowable window for refunds, partial refunds, returns or resolution with the seller. Your mile may vary depending on the issue and seller.
  • When sharing good buys or ideas, please also share the product's recommended/lowest prices if known.
  • Also, if sharing links, crop url to just before the '?', e.g. https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005990189733.html?spm=a2g0o.ho…; referral links are prohibited on ozB.

Post as requested by shiggaz.
Shoutout to the legendary @Clear and the upcoming deal.

General Discussion

Related Stores

AliExpress
AliExpress
Marketplace

Comments

  • ldd-mn on 29/05/2024 - 22:48
    +6

    Always use PayPal.

    • WasBargain on 30/05/2024 - 01:06

      Or Afterpay.. 😅 You can delay your next payment by up to 2 weeks if it doesn't arrive while you also let them know (as per your tracking info that it is indeed lost or not been sent) and will sort it out pretty quickly.

  • DONMAI on 29/05/2024 - 23:21
    +2

    Some bicycle recommendations

    • DUKA Ratchet screw bit tools - ~AU$24 - I love using this set. Such a good buy.
    • RideNow TPU tubes - AU$7-8 per tube. Great success with 36g ridenow tpu tubes. Barely any flats in three years of using them. Also have tried 'Offbondage' brand (purple) without issue. Used to use these as cart stuff and have bought cheaper and lighter variants but luckily never needed to use them. Use with disc brakes recommended and the lighter variants are not recommended for rim brakes because of potential melting due to high heat when frequently braking during long descents.
    • Zeray ZP-108S SPD pedals - ~AU$35. Have two pairs and both are still going great, one >5yr old.
    • Bluetooth heartrate sensor arm band - ~AU$35.
    • Variety of brake pads, brake rotors (~<$20pair), fixie cogs, handlebar grips, grip tape, cheap bottom brackets (<$10), bearings, mudguards/fenders, bike chains
    • TraceVelo youtube channel does excellent reviews on many aliexpress bicycle products, like this one, and this one
  • Parentheses on 29/05/2024 - 23:27
    +4

    Only ever buy aliexpress products where you are capable of verifying them before relying on them. The idea of buying bike tubes on aliexpress makes my skin crawl, let along brake pads, are you nuts?

    It's fine if it's something where you either don't care if it breaks, or if you can see the quality of something by looking at it. Branding means literally nothing, because they will be spoofed more than they are legit, in both directions - a brand will be slapping their name on things out of random end producers and will swap producers without saying anything at all, and other sellers will feel free to just… say they are so-and-so brand and use that name on their stuff.

    • No on 30/05/2024 - 11:33

      I buy all my electric scooter parts from AliExpress.

      It's all made in China anyway, just make sure you get a high rated item from a store with good feedback.

      • Cheaplikethebird on 30/05/2024 - 14:45
        +1

        Doubt many people are coming back to leave a review when their tire pops 6 months later. In my mind reviews only show if an items looks legit on arrival.

    • DONMAI on 30/05/2024 - 17:49
      +1

      Legitimate concerns and skepticism. People should should do their own research and only take risk that's acceptable to them. Seller/shop reviews are important and more reliable than amazon but no there's no guarantee. reddit for broader spread of users, particularly bad experiences.

      I would rate brake pads less of a potential hazard than TPU tubes given brake pads have redundancy more probable to suffer poor performance than catastrophic failure. TPU tube failure can lead to quick loss of control and damaged rims. Brake pads are just cheap to manufacture with practically no quality issues impacting safety - I've been using cheap pads for many many years. TPU also cheap to make since it's just plastic - QC process out of these factories? No idea.

      At first, I was surprised with TPU tubes given how thin and light they were and how they were so much cheaper than the 'branded' ones that are $40-60 each. After quite a bit of casual use before using it on other bikes I've grown pretty comfortable with them. I've seen plenty of people who won't even touch the expensive branded ones (they actually probably have similarly good and bad reviews, more good than bad).

      Any product that people may be uncomfortable with using when it comes to safety probably won't be a good purchase for them, especially if that thought is lingering every time they use the product.

  • The Value on 29/05/2024 - 23:45
    +2

    Retro gaming handhelds are cheapest on AliExpress.
    2230 NVME's are also very cheap.

  • 87percent on 30/05/2024 - 07:25
    +3

    I recently bought some underwear from them. Bamboo cotton ones. Sizing was a bit off (larger than they said), but I’m sure they will shrink a bit. Was happy with the 3 pairs for $9 I paid

    • CyberMurning on 30/05/2024 - 08:29

      Yep same. I got the air cool ones similar like uniqlo.
      4 for $9 or so. 5 months after many washes, still like brand new.

  • BOGOF on 30/05/2024 - 08:11
    +2

    SD 1970

  • BigBirdy on 30/05/2024 - 09:07
    +1

    Magnetic USB cables. I use the circular, high current versions of USLION brand, but there's lots of options. May not suit some Apple devices (my old iPad was fine)

    • CyberMurning on 31/05/2024 - 18:05

      Found problem is rhey usually always sell the plug with the cable, we obviously need more cables than the plug. Cable in the car, bedrooms, office, toilet, etc

  • Ryanek on 30/05/2024 - 11:04
    +2

    Merlin +2.0 remote controls. These sell for $30+ locally!

    • BigBirdy on 30/05/2024 - 12:08

      I got one of those 3 years ago, I carry it on my motorcycle. It works well, but be careful the button doesn't get stuck down or the battery will die.

  • shiggaz on 30/05/2024 - 15:26
    +2

    Contributing:
    * Fishing line/braid
    * Coffee Tamper and naked portafilter
    * DAREVIE Cycling Shorts
    * ESP32
    * Anycubic 3D printers

    Been happy with all of these

    • DONMAI on 30/05/2024 - 21:05

      Good suggestions. For coffee, I recommend checking out Timemore products, two examples:

      • freedomofspeech on 31/05/2024 - 17:31

        What do you use the scale for exactly?

        • shiggaz on 31/05/2024 - 17:47
          +1

          It's for weighing the grams of coffee in vs grams of coffee extracted. This is called the brew ratio. Getting it right leads to delicious coffee.

          • freedomofspeech on 31/05/2024 - 17:49

            @shiggaz: Instead of the one you posted there is a no-name option for $12.. I might give this a try
            https://www.aliexpress.com/gcp/300000512/nnmixupdatev3?spm=a…

            • shiggaz on 31/05/2024 - 17:54
              +1

              @freedomofspeech: I didn't post it but yeah you can go cheaper. Be careful though because some of them are really unreliable.
              The cheaper ones I have bought show a different number every time I weigh with them.

              I have had pretty good luck with AMIR branded scales ($30 from memory for 0.01g and like $15 for 0.1g) but these also have measurement reliability issues, especially if you use the Tare function (which I do a lot after I put my coffee cup on the scale). I tolerate this begrudgingly.

              • freedomofspeech on 31/05/2024 - 18:07

                @shiggaz: I'll see how the 12$ one performs. I mainly would use it to tune new coffee beans in my Batista Express until I got it nicely

        • DONMAI on 01/06/2024 - 19:09

          General kitchen scale use. For coffee as shiggaz mentioned as well as pour over recipes. It has coffee timer setting (starts timer when coffee hits the cup) and slim enough to sit underneath portafilter+cup. I use it for anything <2kg.. like bike parts and camping gear.

          The model I have is the old one without physical switch. Physical switch is good for not accidentally turning it on and doesn't auto-off, which happens a lot. Battery doesn't last as long as I'd like but usb-c makes it easier and quick to charge.

          For coffee only use, there are smaller, slimmer ones but I wanted something for me than just coffee.

          I've got no experience with other models for scales like this.

  • johnnygolden on 30/05/2024 - 19:47

    All manner of cables and adapters

    Phone cases and screen protectors

    IEMs and TWS earphones

    Espresso making accessories

    LED strip lights and accessories

  • snappibaby on 08/06/2024 - 20:34

    hello everyone!!
    newbie here..
    has the promo codes for Australia expired already??
    seems not working for me,
    i get "This coupon code is for single use only and can't be used here"

    • BigBirdy on 08/06/2024 - 21:26

      The recent June sale codes expired at 5pm today AEST

    • DONMAI on 10/06/2024 - 20:54

      Expired but there will be another sale. Just keep your cart full and hit next sale when it comes (if you can wait)

  • DONMAI on 12/07/2024 - 12:04
    +1

    Camping gear. I can provide some recommendations, starting with Lanshan tent..

    Lanshan tents are good. They have 1-person and 2-person tents. 1p requires single trekking pole to pitch, and 2p needs two. Both 1 or 2 person tents have two variants, Standard/non-pro and PRO. There are different year models with also seem to have slight improvements but I'm not across these details.

    Pro version bit more expensive and is single wall tent (no inner mesh) which means lighter (~<100g) and bit more spacious inside (~20cm extra) which is important for taller people. Even with the extra length, you'll likely need to pull head and foot space out using rope (tied onto extra trekking poles, branches or trees) so that the wall isn't pressing against head or foot/sleeping bag. This is important as condensation build-up inside the walls will touch your head, pillow or sleeping bag. The pro version is also slightly heavier duty silicon-nylon (silnylon/silpoly) with 20d (pro) instead of 15d (non-pro) but this isn't really a deciding factor for most. The non-pro version comes with an inner tent but is removable which means it can be used like a pro anyway. Note that different colours also have slightly different weights and there are other brands that have same style (almost exactly) but are actually slightly different (particularly in weight!).

    I have both 1p and 2p non-pro versions from 2020 can recommend.

  • Edsanwong on 07/10/2024 - 22:17

    Daicamping is good for multitool

    • DONMAI on 07/10/2024 - 22:33

      Looks good. Model you recommend? The dl15 looks pretty good.

      I've got a similar nextools with the large pliers but find it bit too heavy. The nextools mini flagship is very good however I've had one break at the spring liner lock due to thin metal (they sent me replacement parts)

      • Edsanwong on 08/10/2024 - 08:11

        DL30 or DL15
        SOG Powerpint is also decent if u like smaller multi.
        I bought three of them in the past and 1 swistech from Bunnings. Never bought Nextool or Bibury

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