What is the most interesting/unusual item you have bought from China?

[mart]

In my case, all via flea bay- I’ve had numerous neck ties, LED bulbs, a PCB that would enable a cctv to be powered and run from the PC (allegedly) .

The most interesting item was a powerful mini rat trap that could have almost chopped my fingers off. It was designed just like one of them illegal man traps, but was only about 3 or 4 inches in dia.

I’ve just seen this item on flea bay (from China) and wondered if the Chinese just invent things first, before actually knowing if there is a market for the item(s)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-B...eauty_Dieting_Slimming_ET&hash=item462133d519

There’s got to be stuff in them Chinese factories that we don’t even know exists yet.

 

[mike 109444]

Makes you wonder how they test that in the factory....

 

[Robotstar5]

I don't know how the do it for the price, I bought a digital voltmeter that plugs into the cigar lighter socket, £1.69 including delivery!

 

[optima21]

ohh reminds me of this old kellogs advert

yeah for 99p (inc. delivery) its amazing what you can get posted from china, and it would cost you more to be posted by 2nd class post in this country. I can remember buying a couple of drain screws for my compressor for £0.99 delivered, yet if I bought them in this country for £3.57 each.

 

[brightspark]

ohh reminds me of this old kellogs advert

yeah for 99p (inc. delivery) its amazing what you can get posted from china, and it would cost you more to be posted by 2nd class post in this country. I can remember buying a couple of drain screws for my compressor for £0.99 delivered, yet if I bought them in this country for £3.57 each.

we get ripped off for tax and vat on everything

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I buy loads of things from China that are 99p. Not worth going into town to get the same from £1 shop when it gets delivered to the door ! A couple of times I've had faulty / broken items and Chinese sort it out without a problem very promptly.

 

[brightspark]

I buy loads of things from China that are 99p. Not worth going into town to get the same from £1 shop when it gets delivered to the door ! A couple of times I've had faulty / broken items and Chinese sort it out without a problem very promptly.

u greedy git sending stuff back that cost less than a quid

 

[optima21]

I've had a couple of things go wrong but for less that £2 its not worth the hassle of trying to sort it,but they are very persistant. this is a conversation between me and the seller for a whole saw that was in the wrong packaging. I only reponded with them as they wanted to know why I hadnt left feedback.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111349432419

their first message to me

"Thanks you very much for your purchase at our store. I am writing to ask if you have received the item from us.
If you have not received your item, or you have but are not satisfied with it, please feel free to contact me and I will offer you best solution within 24 hours during my working days.
Please kindly do not leave us low ratings, or open either eBay or PayPal cases against us since negative feedback and any opened case will hurt us very badly regardless of whether the problem (if any) is solved or not.
Thank you very much for your understanding and have a nice day.
Best Regards from Shanghai,
industryland-de"

my reply

"Hi,
I did receive the hole saw,but it was the wrong size, the box was marked as being 14mm but the hole saw inside was 19.2mm. rather than leave bad feed back, I just didnt leave any feedback. Im not after another one or even a refund.
thanks
Dominic"

their reply

"hi,friend!
thanks for your email!
sorry for the problems!
but,in order to give you best solutions,would mind take a picture of what you received included the reference box number?
you can send the picture here:danzixing
163
com,if you do not know how to send pictures with ebay messages,also,pls write the ebay ID,when sent the pictures,thanks
looking forward to your soon reply"

my reply

"hi,
for the amount it cost me, I'll take it as a loss, if you didnt send the email about feedback I'd never have mentioned it. I threw the box away, just kept the drill. I wont leave any feedback and don't expect a replacement or refund, as far as Im concerned its just one of those things that happen, and I'm happy leaving it that way.
thanks
Dominic"

 

[marlinspike]

I think they commonly used a manual version of those fat tongs, for want of a better word, until the body mass index thing became the standard way of telling us we are too lardy.

A few months ago I was thinking of buying a manual metal gauge, to measure metal thickness. I wonder if the digital fat tongs would be accurate enough...

Edit: just looked, there are some on eBay for £4, but I wonder if they are any good.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

u greedy git sending stuff back that cost less than a quid

I have never had to send items back - they simply send another. It hasn't been 99p items though and things quite a bit more.
I should add my "ethinc" background is Jewish from Jerusalem (pre 1948 formation of the State of Israel) - seriously. That might go someway to explaining my actions

 

[brightspark]

I have never had to send items back - they simply send another. It hasn't been 99p items though and things quite a bit more.
I should add my "ethinc" background is Jewish from Jerusalem (pre 1948 formation of the State of Israel) - seriously. That might go someway to explaining my actions

dont live in yorkshire just to top it off as well do u

 

[roofman]

dont live in yorkshire just to top it off as well do u

 

[mart]

USB outlets inside a 2 gang socket-is that safe/legal? Only in China eh?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Double...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item43d367d8f4

Which regs does this come under Bspark?

 

[rtbcomp]

USB outlets inside a 2 gang socket-is that safe/legal? Only in China eh?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Double...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item43d367d8f4

Which regs does this come under Bspark?

I'd be suspicious of that - there's more to USB chargers than just sticking 5v across the power lines.

 

[lshigham]

I doubt those are to regs but MK do them too

 

[Wendelspanswick]

USB outlets inside a 2 gang socket-is that safe/legal? Only in China eh?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Double...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item43d367d8f4

Which regs does this come under Bspark?

Been around for a while now, first saw them in the Screwfix catalogue.
http://m.screwfix.com/p/lap-13a-2-gang-switched-socket-usb-charger-port-brushed-steel/18294

 

[mart]

Been around for a while now, first saw them in the Screwfix catalogue.
http://m.screwfix.com/p/lap-13a-2-gang-switched-socket-usb-charger-port-brushed-steel/18294

I need to get out more

 

[Gwil]

I bought a novelty electric drill- made (I assume) from noodles......

 

[brightspark]

USB outlets inside a 2 gang socket-is that safe/legal? Only in China eh?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Double...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item43d367d8f4

Which regs does this come under Bspark?

put it this way .i wouldnt be fitting it in customers houses or my own ive never had a claim of public liability in 25 yrs and dont intend to start now

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I bought a 12v to 5v USB circuit board to hardwire into the van for a couple of quid, got fed up with the cigarette lighter USB adaptors.
This one has 4 USB outputs and is rated for 5 amps long-term, 8 amps short-term.

One output powers the DAB radio adaptor, another does the Bluetooth hands free adaptor (£4), another charges my phone leaving one port spare.
Really pleased with it, its hidden in the dash along with all the USB leads so no more trailing wires around the dash.