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Aliexpress?? |
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Earplug 
Old Croc 
Joined: 03 January 2012 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 7752 |
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 Topic: Aliexpress??Posted: 23 February 2026 at 9:12am |
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Ok, here's one. I've recently found myself buying more "stuff" off Aliexpress. I was thus just wondering what people's experience was with the platform - good, bad, or indifferent? So far, my experience has been good. Some very fast delivery & pretty reliable. They do send a lot of mail, but I imagine that there is some way of stopping that. As yet not bothered, but may look into that if I carry on shopping there. EDIT:-- Oh yes - what I've bought there. Some connectors, stocked up on fuses, LED modules I needed to repair some lighting, some toggle switches & a couple of SMPS and a couple of 25 way flat interconnect cable I couldn't find anywhere else.
 Edited by Earplug - 23 February 2026 at 9:18am |
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Earplugs Are For Wimps!
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Bams
Young Croc 
Joined: 08 April 2009 Status: Offline Points: 679 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 9:31am |
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You get what you pay for is my experience. Bought some xlrs and speakons for incidental use. The 4p speakons are ok, but the 8p are too weak so the clip snaps. But what can a person expect for 4 euro's. Also bought a few 1200w HMI Bulbs for cheapo projects and nice colour temperature and such for 15 euro's.. still not exploded.
All in all; wouldn't use them for anything other than my own barbecuerig. but quite happy with it for that use.
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Earplug
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Joined: 03 January 2012 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 7752 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 12:31pm |
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Yeah, so far just a few small purchases. For the moment, I definitely won't be buying dozens of Class D's from them!  But TBH, I couldn't find the LED modules/chips nor the cable anywhere else, so not too much choice with those. |
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Elliot Thompson
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Joined: 02 April 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5365 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 1:51pm |
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Aliexpress is good for those who do not want to take the risk on buying direct from China. Aliexpress prices are too high. For Large items, I just buy from Alibaba. For Small items, I buy from eBay. Alibaba & eBay prices are better based on what I am looking for.
Best Regards,
Edited by Elliot Thompson - 23 February 2026 at 1:54pm |
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Elliot Thompson
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Bams
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Joined: 08 April 2009 Status: Offline Points: 679 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 2:59pm |
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I second this. needed some bespoke led/neons for the business of my wife and was fedup with the prices of dropshippers claiming to be artisans :) Alibaba was great to use.
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Earplug
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 3:26pm |
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Ok, interesting. What guarantees do you have buying direct on Alibaba? From what I understand, there is some sort of buyer protection on Aliexpress. A bit like ebay. |
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kedwardsleisure
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Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 5157 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 5:18pm |
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I only buy things that aren't safety critical. Nothing mains powered. Nothing that might contain unexpected nasty chemicals. Nothing that could catch fire and burn or pop and explode.
So no mains cable, no power supplies, no solder or flux or cleaning fluids. No paints or lacquers, high power connectors, lampholders or high power lamps. No fuses, transformers or filter capacitors. I'm ok with washers and spacers, obsolete chips (if they're cheap enough to risk), LED torch bulbs, storage boxes, pot knobs and fader caps, etc No huge issues, a few things were the wrong item received, the wrong size or didn't work. I got refunded for all those from AE themselves, didnt have to resort to Paypal. |
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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Elliot Thompson
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Joined: 02 April 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5365 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 5:52pm |
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My Bank gives me protection for fraud. I only use reliable couriers that are the standard in the states. I don't believe in buyer's protection. The first purchase from Alibaba was the K 30. It was shipped by UPS Global. The amplifier arrived in less than 10 days. I have never had issues with Alibaba. It is usually the shipping the buyer chooses creates a problem. Spend a little more on shipping the item will arrive safely. Being cheap with the shipping cost, it may never arrive. Best Regards,
Edited by Elliot Thompson - 23 February 2026 at 5:53pm |
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Elliot Thompson
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Earplug
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Joined: 03 January 2012 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 7752 |
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 6:00pm |
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"
I only buy things that aren't safety critical. Nothing mains powered.
Nothing that might contain unexpected nasty chemicals. Nothing that
could catch fire and burn or pop and explode." Ok, makes sense. Saying that, the SMPS I bought went into a valve amp to power the heater elements. The original unit was burned out, "obsolete" & impossible to find. So far, no fires!! I do like the idea of a buyer protection. I have heard that it is (almost) "no quibble. Let's see. |
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Earplug
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Posted: 23 February 2026 at 6:05pm |
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Ok, thanks. Like I say, I doubt that I'll ever buy anything that expensive off one of those sites, but I'll keep that in mind. Also, from what I've seen, Alibaba is more for large buys, like 50 or more units for the smaller bits and pieces. And I'd rather have the guarantee of some sort of buyer protection. It can be a PITA proving fraud/defective product & dealing with the paperwork.  |
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jbl_man
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Joined: 12 January 2005 Location: London. Status: Offline Points: 11308 |
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Posted: 24 February 2026 at 12:43pm |
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" I only buy things that aren't safety critical. Nothing mains powered. Nothing that might contain unexpected nasty chemicals. Nothing that could catch fire and burn or pop and explode."
You can say that again, i made the mistake of buying a couple of spare soldering irons, both had those illegal non-fused small 13 plugs, despite be advertised as suitable for UK mains, one had the earth prong snap right off when i tried to plug it in, the other iron went 'pop' quite loudly, and tripped the RCD breaker. Both went in the bin.  Beware!!!
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Be seeing you.
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kedwardsleisure
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Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 5157 |
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Posted: 24 February 2026 at 1:34pm |
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Lucky you had an RCD!
A quick check on recalls/things stopped at the border (not necessarily ali but could be) this week includes a kiddie's earthworm kit. You get a clear box full of sand and you can watch earthworms burrowing through it. Doesn't sound particularly risky except the sand was full of asbestos.... A little girl's nail gel polish kit. Nothing lethal there, surely. But the kit contains 4-Vinylcyclohexene...which is a carcinogen. You just ever know! |
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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Elliot Thompson wrote: