Is it even possible to not get ripped off on Aliexpress?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Is it even possible to not get ripped off on Aliexpress?

Hwale

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#310655 9-Nov-2023 21:07

I bought a bunch of "Wemos D1 Minis", or so they are called - from SAMIORE store and 80% of them are faulty. Trying to get a refund on anything from Aliexpress is a blood out of a stone scenario so my question is, does anyone have a particular vendor on Ali that they always have a good experience with? Any tips on avoiding an 80% faulty product rate?

On that note, if anyone knows how to resolve the issue with esp8266 chips not waking up from esp.deepSleep then I'm all ears. I've seen it discussed in some detail here albeit on a different board, but I haven't found a solution yet.

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#3157832 10-Nov-2023 02:35

I buy a fair bit off AliExpress and rarely have any problems. I’m careful where I buy and read reviews carefully. I’ve bought GPUs and just bought a CPU as well as lots of relatively expensive car stuff.

I’ve bought some cheap junk that was cheap junk but I can live with that for cost savings.

YMMV but I wouldn’t really expect a warranty with $2 components. If I wanted a warranty I’d buy locally.

Rust

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#3157834 10-Nov-2023 06:23

I always look at how many of an item that store has sold, and how many followers on their shop page. I purchase from whoever seems to be the most popular for the thing I am looking at and I am yet to have a problem.

rp1790

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#3157838 10-Nov-2023 07:23

Handle9: I buy a fair bit off AliExpress and rarely have any problems. I’m careful where I buy and read reviews carefully. I’ve bought GPUs and just bought a CPU as well as lots of relatively expensive car stuff.

I’ve bought some cheap junk that was cheap junk but I can live with that for cost savings.

YMMV but I wouldn’t really expect a warranty with $2 components. If I wanted a warranty I’d buy locally.

same here, I've bought several hundred things on ALi and only ever not gotten what I wanted and had any real issue twice I think. OP might be being overly dramatic I think :-)

Qazzy03

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#3157845 10-Nov-2023 07:45

I have bought a couple of things from Ali and nearly all of them have been fine.

1TB WD SSD for Steam Deck,
Steam Deck case
USB C to HDMI Steam Deck Dock
Some personal hygiene products such as electric toothbrush replacement heads

I did buy some BlueTooth Ear Buds, they did fail within 24 hours but the store had sold 1000's and had a lot of reviews and ratings.
I contacted them, they asked for a short video of them not charging in dock and a couple of snaps and then agreed to refund me.
Ended up buying some galaxy buds from a GZ member that got them as a gift with their purchase.

Been pretty happy with Ali experince but I only buy from stores that have had lots of purchases and feedback including photo reviews from their customers.
I usually leave a review too with a couple of photos to help any future buyers.

Behodar

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#3157853 10-Nov-2023 08:17

I bought an item from a seller and it was fine. I then bought another item from the same seller and they sent the wrong thing. They then said they'd send the correct one, but then didn't send it after I didn't give a 5-star review!

frankv

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#3157854 10-Nov-2023 08:18

My advice would be as above, but also only buy from vendors who specialise in whatever it is you are buying. Vendors who sell everything from cameras to clothing to electronics to toys are usually problematic.

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richms

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#3157941 10-Nov-2023 10:19

How are the d1 mini's faulty?

I had some that I got which had a different flash chip on them and needed a different option in the arduino IDE to get them to actually run. Seems the clone D1's just put whatever they can find on the board, I have had some with a different USB to serioal chip as well.

Richard rich.ms

gehenna

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#3157943 10-Nov-2023 10:23

Never had a problem but I'm only using stores that seem to have good feedback

ech3lon

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#3157945 10-Nov-2023 10:40

Buying electronic components, especially chips can be problematic as even well known stores sometimes also receive counterfeit/ rebadged stuff. It's not an Aliexpress only problem.

Relevant video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_hIVtcx6CA&t=335s

Hwale

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#3157949 10-Nov-2023 10:48

richms:
How are the d1 mini's faulty?

I had some that I got which had a different flash chip on them and needed a different option in the arduino IDE to get them to actually run. Seems the clone D1's just put whatever they can find on the board, I have had some with a different USB to serioal chip as well.

They won't wake up from deep sleep as per the discussion in the link. It could well be a software issue, but no workaround mentioned in that discussion works for me. What options did you need?

richms

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#3157952 10-Nov-2023 11:00

It was the flash mode that I had to change from the default to even get them to boot. Otherwise they just hung in a loop.

I have basically abandoned the 8266 now so may still have some around that I could give you (unused or else just had tasmota flashed onto them to check they worked)

Richard rich.ms

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MikeAqua

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#3157991 10-Nov-2023 12:25

I've bought off Ali Express and Banggood dozens of times. I've only had one issue and it was refunded, without any bother.

I've had more trouble with Amazon. My last three orders out of Amazon US have had delivery issues. All refunded but still a PITA when you wait weeks for something only for the delivery to be cancelled, the day it was scheduled to arrive.

Mike

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3158004 10-Nov-2023 13:08

MikeAqua:

I've had more trouble with Amazon. My last three orders out of Amazon US have had delivery issues. All refunded but still a PITA when you wait weeks for something only for the delivery to be cancelled, the day it was scheduled to arrive.

I've ditched Amazon. While they generally (up until a recent bad experience) have put things right, I've found them having to put things right to be a far too common occurrence.

AliExpress has its rough edges, but it's not too bad. Usually the issues come down to logistics and sellers taking too long to get orders out the door after claiming they have shipped. They turn up, just not as quickly as you'd like.

In terms of faulty things... quality varies, but I only recall one thing not working, which was a butane soldering iron that leaked. A few things haven't been as described, but I've got refunds for those. Only one dispute was declined (including on appeal), but after complaining to customer service, I received a full refund.

Talkiet

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#3158070 10-Nov-2023 15:05

I've had over 1000 orders from Aliexpress since October 2010. I think I have had to get refunds on 5 or 6 of them... 2 of these never arrived and the remainder were significantly not as described... So yes, it's entirely possible to not get ripped off if you are careful.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Talkiet

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#3158072 10-Nov-2023 15:09

On a percentage basis, I have had a MUCH worse experience buying online from Briscoes. Once the 'smart' electric blanket just didn't work as advertised, PLUS their courier left it outside my fenced property instead of delivering it properly. Once the courier just lost the item and most recently, I received an air fryer promptly and it works well. So 66% failure mode from Briscoes - Although much of that can be attributed to the alleged courier company, Aramex.

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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