Banggood/AliExpress

[bigegg]

I can't be the only person on here who does this:

Spend hours just browsing the sites looking at all the esoteric stuff they supply?

Every time I have an idea for a small project, I seem to be able to find either a complete system, or enough bits to make it easy.

Today's find:
Wi-Fi controlled roller blind and/or curtain motors.
£15 each off bang-good.
It'll be 4 or 6 weeks delivery, but it's a project that's been on the back burner for a couple of years, so no issue with that.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Spend hours just browsing the sites looking at all the esoteric stuff they supply?

Aye, it's all @doubleboost's fault.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Every time I have an idea for a small project, I seem to be able to find either a complete system, or enough bits to make it easy.

The general problem with all the little simple bits they sell is the complete lack of any proper technical specification or documentation.
Tacking the key fob and relay modules an example, they all sell. Used a few but never found an additional keyfob that will pair with the device, despite all the instructions saying its a simple process.

 

[Maker]

I've never looked and wouldn't dream of buying anything from them but their adverts (Particularly Wish.com) really make me laugh.

 

[bigegg]

I've never looked and wouldn't dream of buying anything from them but their adverts (Particularly Wish.com) really make me laugh.

I've spent the best part of a grand on stuff from BG and AE over the summer - about 60 or 80 orders.

I've not had ONE bad transaction: unlike the bay.


I won't use wish:
Bait + switch, then huge postage costs on top put me off - plus you have to register (thus give them an email address) before you can browse

 

[morssdn]

A favoured technique on Aliexpress is to advertise a device as posted from an eu country then when you buy they message you: “ item not ship now send from China, ok?” After saying no thanks cancel NOW, suddenly item available in eg Poland again

 

[bigegg]

A favoured technique on Aliexpress is to advertise a device as posted from an eu country then when you buy they message you: “ item not ship now send from China, ok?” After saying no thanks cancel NOW, suddenly item available in eg Poland again

I always order from cheapest location (cos Yorkshire ) - expecting a six week lead time.

 

[stuvy]

I’m fed up with the inferior quality of chinese tat

I’m going to try and not order anything I will regret when it turns up

 

[WorkshopChris]

I’m fed up with the inferior quality of chinese tat

I’m going to try and not order anything I will regret when it turns up

Its one of my resolutions as well as trying as hard as possible to support smaller local or online family type suppliers than Screwfix/Toolstation.

 

[mtt.tr]

Would like to find a uk made linear rails and ballscrews that are cheap enough to use for diy prototyping.

Bot everything is rubbish, and most things we dont make or sell

 

[fizzy]

Wish have a lot of dodgy fake computer gear on there - keep well away.
8tb hard drives that turn out to only have 1tb capacity.
Memory that claims to be 16gb but is actually 4gb - stuff like that. A lot of people dont notice as the bios info has been swapped so your system sees it fine. Its only when you try to fill the hard drive you realise its far smaller than what you paid for!

 

[My Old Landy]

I’m fed up with the inferior quality of chinese tat

I’m going to try and not order anything I will regret when it turns up

I too made this decision. Then like most others, as I am a hobbiest, I really could not justify the cost of a set of ER32 collets that are probably made in China anyway but sold as DIN spec.
I just pick and choose. Most of my tools are old British/German/USA stuff but I still find I have to buy Chinese if I require modern things

 

[Kayos]

I buy loads from Ali express. Handheld radios are often the very latest version and cheaper than UK stock

I struggled to get a 60% uk layout mechanical keyboard despite being listed as such, us layout has a smaller enter key as well as the other differences. I made it difficult because I didn't want an rgb one

 

[stuvy]

Wish have a lot of dodgy fake computer gear on there - keep well away.
8tb hard drives that turn out to only have 1tb capacity.
Memory that claims to be 16gb but is actually 4gb - stuff like that. A lot of people dont notice as the bios info has been swapped so your system sees it fine. Its only when you try to fill the hard drive you realise its far smaller than what you paid for!

it’s things like this that keep me from buying chinese stuff

I was looking for a new cycle light and the lumens they quote compared to say hope or lenzye is quite funny

 

[Maker]

I was looking for a new cycle light and the lumens they quote compared to say hope or lenzye is quite funny

My 800 lumen Cateye is about as bright as my old "7000" lumen Chinese light. Battery life is pretty close too, but the chinese one had an external pack with six 18650 cells and the Cateye has one internal LiPoly slightly smaller than a single 18650. The chinese battery had no electronic or mechanical protection either, and eventually one of the nickel bonding strips acted as a fuse. I replacements don't seem to be available (But I didn't look very hard).


There's a good reason the Cateye retails for nearly three times the chinese one, and I'm happy to pay it.

 

[Migmac]

I've never looked and wouldn't dream of buying anything from them but their adverts (Particularly Wish.com) really make me laugh.

I’m not the only one who laughs at the Wish stuff then , that’s good

 

[stuvy]

My 800 lumen Cateye is about as bright as my old "7000" lumen Chinese light. Battery life is pretty close too, but the chinese one had an external pack with six 18650 cells and the Cateye has one internal LiPoly slightly smaller than a single 18650. The chinese battery had no electronic or mechanical protection either, and eventually one of the nickel bonding strips acted as a fuse. I replacements don't seem to be available (But I didn't look very hard).


There's a good reason the Cateye retails for nearly three times the chinese one, and I'm happy to pay it.

I was looking for an hope r8 or similar

I’m tempted to get a motorbike battery and an led spot lamp and have that as my main ride light and just keep my helmet torch to pick out the ruts etc

 

[Maker]

I was looking for an hope r8 or similar

If you're spending that kind of money, have a look at Exposure. I wanted one but couldn't justify spending nearly what I spent on the bike on a torch.

 

[Ashley Burton]

If you're spending that kind of money, have a look at Exposure. I wanted one but couldn't justify spending nearly what I spent on the bike on a torch.

I've seen the price of them & I still wouldn't

 

[skotl]

I got some great metal holecutters from banggood 2 or 3 years back, but needed a whole bunch of additional sizes so I ordered about 15 more earlier this year.

Every single one of them is made from plasticine, despite being labelled as "titanium coated"