I've been eyeing a particular baitcast reel from Aliexpress. Seems they don't have the one I want in left hand that often. At this time they do.

 

Before I pull the trigger and order from Aliexpress, what has been your experience ordering from them? I don't mind waiting for a few weeks for my order, also I'm not ordering anything real expensive.

To my understanding aliexpress is usually fine, just make sure you pay with paypal. Type your actual card in there and it'll be stolen.

I didn't know they took PayPal payments. Ok, cool.

I've been ordering from China with no problems other than even slower delivery times. My last delivery was like a surprise gift to myself it had been so long since I ordered that I forgot I'd ordered it. Just don't buy unless they take Paypal. 

I've only ordered parts from Ali, including reel trim and piecemeal titanium fasteners.  

They are very reliable - like Amazon of China.  

They handle all their own shipping in cargo containers to US distribution.  

Guess I'll have to flesh this out for below. 

Vendors send product to Ali Express by China post.  Ali collects them in a warehouse, fills their own cargo containers and ships to their US customs brokers.  They're mailed USPS by the US broker.  

 

One time a vendor didn't ship to their warehouse on time, and Ali gave the instant paypal refund.  

 

  

Edited June 18, 20214 yr by bulldog1935
explain Ali shipping

No problems from AliExpress. 

Like most said, the delivery time can be quite extensive.

Yes Ali Express is legit. The sellers are even good guys that stand by their products. They do returns and exchanges. Everything. The only downside is the slow post office in China. 
 

Disclaimer: I am a BABA shareholder.

I have a recent example of Ali Express shipping organization and logistics to share.  

I purchased six different reel modification parts from different vendors.  One example is a handle shaft from one vendor and bearings from another that will let me swap the wood tee-knob on the 70-mm surf reel handle for a Studio Ocean Mark EVA knob I already have around (and not have to use the stupid 90-mm-pitch handle that came on the reel)  

When the different orders reached the US Customs broker - yesterday - they were all combined into one USPS package, which is now in the US Mail system.  

 

 

I have ordered numerous times particularly from 2 vendors without an issue. You just have to be patient with shipping. I have always used my CC without any issue maybe I am just lucky. Some vendor take a lot longer to ship. 

I had to laugh a little when I read this. If it is not OK to order from China we have a huge problem since about 90% of everything we can buy in the US is ordered from China...

Bait and switch is China's game.  You may not get what you ordered.  

On 6/17/2021 at 10:09 PM, ghost said:

I don't mind waiting for a few weeks for my order

A few weeks x a few months + a few more weeks + 35.7% of 2 weeks - .09 weeks^10 = when you’ll get it. 
 

Seriously. Prices good, but as stated I had no memory of why I got this fantastic reel in the mail. For 2 days I thought it was a mistake and I committed a crime…while I fished with it. 

57 minutes ago, MickD said:

Bait and switch is China's game.  You may not get what you ordered.  

I've never seen that. Have you?

13 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

I've never seen that. Have you?

Yes, just recently on a fishing reel.  A few years ago on a tennis racquet.  Lots of ads on Facebook that are phony, look good, but are Chinese, and many will not deliver what is advertised.  Either different stuff or nothing at all.  Had the latter happen too.  I'm too trusting at times.

Why knowingly do direct business with China, we do enough indirectly.

Tom

 

Merica 

5 hours ago, WRB said:

Why knowingly do direct business with China, we do enough indirectly.

Tom

 

Because no one else makes much of anything anymore except for them?

9 hours ago, MickD said:

Yes, just recently on a fishing reel.  A few years ago on a tennis racquet.  Lots of ads on Facebook that are phony, look good, but are Chinese, and many will not deliver what is advertised.  Either different stuff or nothing at all.  Had the latter happen too.  I'm too trusting at times.

Hmmm...I've heard stories about stuff like that. As for myself I have ordered a few bling parts from Allie  and have never had an issue but that is about the whole of my experience. I don't believe that I would buy direct from some bag of doughnuts guy in China if I knew it.

Aliexpress is just like eBay, which provides a selling platform for businesses. There bound to be trustworthy sellers and liars cheaters on it, so I think it would hard to say whether Aliexpress itself is safe or not. You just need to read the feedback and review scores. 

 

 

Another thing is check with your credit card issuer.  Some offer 1 time use credit card numbers that are linked to your main number so it can not be reused and no threat of stolen number.  If they offer it as a free service it's all I would use for online use.

 

Frankly there is no reason for the last 20yrs for CC access info to be so easily compromised.  Certainly not today.

On 6/17/2021 at 11:09 PM, ghost said:

I've been eyeing a particular baitcast reel from Aliexpress. Seems they don't have the one I want in left hand that often. At this time they do.

 

Before I pull the trigger and order from Aliexpress, what has been your experience ordering from them? I don't mind waiting for a few weeks for my order, also I'm not ordering anything real expensive.

 

Just curious...... What reel?  And is it readily available from other sources?   

 

If it is one of the knock off brands on Ali Express, I would pass. 

Personally, I generally avoid ordering from China, too many fakes and crappy generic items and items that I never receive, but many people have had good luck with it. Like previously mentioned, make sure you pay with Paypal.

 

I would be wary of knock off brands though.

If the moderators allow it, it'd be nice for us to share the gems and trustworthy sellers we encounter on Aliexpress, or the traps we should avoid.  Just saying, because I did found some very nice stuff with great prices, among other disappointing results. 

On 6/17/2021 at 11:09 PM, ghost said:

I've been eyeing a particular baitcast reel from Aliexpress. Seems they don't have the one I want in left hand that often. At this time they do.

 

Before I pull the trigger and order from Aliexpress, what has been your experience ordering from them? I don't mind waiting for a few weeks for my order, also I'm not ordering anything real expensive.

I ordered a reel from Sportsman's Outfitters 1:40 p.m. July 10 and one from Asian Portal at 3:09 p.m. July 10.  The one from Asian Portal arrived earlier today (July 15).  I got a tracking number from Sportsman's Outfitters July 11, but as of a few seconds ago UPS couldn't locate the package.  The original email to me says delivery by July 19.