Ali Express... Is the stuff on there legit?

Pompeyexile

I know I am probably well behind, like 17th century behind, but I have just discovered AliExpress. I was looking at tampers and one website gave some options and had both the link to Amazon and AliExpress for prices. So, naturally I had a look and was gobsmacked at the difference in price for what looked like the genuine thing.

My question is, if as an example on Amazon I am looking at the MHW-3Bomber tamper and even on Freaky Friday it is reduced from £45.99 to £37.14 but on AliExpress it is bing sold for £23.86 both free delivery and one saying it will only be delivered a week later is the cheaper one cheaper because it is a copy or is it the real deal?

Anyone had dealings with AliExpress and if so, how did it go?

Doram

Pompeyexile I know I am probably well behind, like 17th century behind, but I have just discovered AliExpress. I was looking at tampers and one website gave some options and had both the link to Amazon and AliExpress for prices. So, naturally I had a look and was gobsmacked at the difference in price for what looked like the genuine thing.

My question is, if as an example on Amazon I am looking at the MHW-3Bomber tamper and even on Freaky Friday it is reduced from £45.99 to £37.14 but on AliExpress it is bing sold for £23.86 both free delivery and one saying it will only be delivered a week later is the cheaper one cheaper because it is a copy or is it the real deal?

Anyone had dealings with AliExpress and if so, how did it go?

You have to understand the principal: many of the things sold in the UK (on Amazon, eBay and elsewhere) are products purchased from AliExpress (or similar) and resold locally for a mark up - it’s a business model for many individuals. When you buy directly, you save this mark up in exchange for a little more wait and some inconvenience if you have a problem or want to return something.

Often you will see that the sellers on Amazon even re-use the original images from AliExpress. After you gain some experience, you will recognize those pictures from their style and you will know what products originated in AE. If you download AliExpress app on your phone, you can search for products using the camera. You can point the camera on the image of a product on Amazon, and if it came from AliExpress - the app will find it and take you to the product page.

The wait time for AE items used to be 30-45 days and sometimes longer, so things that were already in the UK would arrive much sooner, to compensate for the higher price. However, AliExpress has significantly upped their shipping game and now if you buy anything that qualifies for their “Choice” service (free for combined orders above £8) - shipping speeds can be as low as 8 days and from my experience it’s reliable.

One thing to bare in mind is that AliExpress now adds UK tax at checkout, so you will pay slightly more than the price listed on the product page.

chlorox

Pompeyexile

Just a word of support for mhw3-bomber gear. They make good stuff.

Dusk

It’s fine, so much stuff is made in china that it often just cuts out a middle man and hence cheaper prices. They also have very good customer service if something isn’t as expected.

DavecUK

It’s OK, I only had one small problem…wrong item, they say they will refund me…so I’m still waiting,

I just got delivered a few days ago now a clone of the Hario switch, identical in every way for £8.17 (inc delivery. Big saving against the £35 for the same thing on Amazon. I already had one, but purchased this as a Christmas present for a friend, because I really liked the one I received.

I have had a few nice little things.

Coffee filter papers (unbleached)
small key chain penknife
roll out large desk mouse mat (covers a lot of the desk)
Various networking tools testers and reusable RJ45 plugs
Phone Stand folding
Really nice fold out Nail clipper set
Lithium rechargeable AA batteries
Small screwdriver tools

All sorts of stuff, all extremely good value and gets deliver in just over a week. So far (if you select carefully) the quality is fine. I tend to use it for thos small cheaper handy gadget type things/tools

MediumRoastSteam

Had to buy a replacement cooling system / fan for a Lenovo laptop (for my son - I have Apple) which is now a few years old. Nowhere to be seen. After some research and identifying exact part numbers and everywhere being out of stock, I resorted to Ali express and bingo…

A week or so waiting and the item was delivered. Fits like a glove. Can’t complain. Excellent service.

Uncletits

Why not just buy the Normcore V4 £36.79 from Amazon Black Friday deal?

dfk41

Doram Personally I use Temu. Not the app but the website. Free delivery over £15 and it comes by air usually a week or so

DavecUK

I should add to my post about Ali Express….it’s not always cheaper!

I recently wanted a couple of foaming soap dispensers, one of mine failed and I thought I would keep a spare…these have a rechargeable lithium battery in them. On Aliexpress, it would have been about £1 more expensive for each one after the VAT had been added. I got them from Amazon for £6.14 each (inc delivery).

Plus It’s via prime, so I have a cast iron warranty.

dfk41

DavecUK ALiExpress add vat? Temu do not

DavecUK

dfk41 ALiExpress add vat? Temu do not

Well they probably do as it’s a legal requirement, It’s just done in a way you don’t notice

Pompeyexile

As always, my font of knowledge that is Coffeetime has come up trumps. Thanks guys for your advice as always. I will also give Temu a shufti too, dfk41.

So many bargains! Now where do I begin?

dfk41

DavecUK I mean the displayed price is what you pay. China have no legal obligation to charge us vat then pass it on. I only buy small items of low worth that probably are below the vat threshold

MediumRoastSteam

dfk41 - I think there’s a threshold of £15. After that, and up to £135, is the seller’s or marketplace obligation to collect VAT for HMRC. Not you. This topic has been talked to exhaustion in this forum :-)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-and-overseas-goods-sold-directly-to-customers-in-the-uk#goods-that-are-outside-the-uk-at-the-point-of-sale

Jason1wood

Bought a lovely wooden tamper stand that was selling in a few shops for about £60/£70 and cost me £18 on Temu. Bargain central

Pompeyexile

chlorox

Well, after a lot of umming and ahhing seeing they were offering one at a measly £23 I pulled the trigger, so I will let you know what I think.

Yes for another £15 or so quid I could have bought a Normcor off Amazon on freaky Friday but but the reviews I have seen have all been favourable on build quality and performance and in the end I will admit it came down to looks.