Buying/Shipping from AliExpress

[Easy-X]

I thought I'd add a USB socket to the bike for emergency phone charging and the like. Not desperate so saving a few quid buying from AliExpress seemed like a good idea. But a word of warning...

If you buy a bunch of small, low value items at the same time, even if they're from separate sellers, AliExpress will consolidate the order into one package. Sounds like a good idea, save the planet and all that, but two things happened with my order: 1) the sorting both at the China end and at Heathrow takes an absolute age, add at least another week and 2) the ppl doing the sorting are muppets My USB socket changed into 4 microwave-a-spud bags after a labelling mix-up; apparently destined for Brazil.

While I hassled AliExpress for a refund I ordered another USB socket from the original seller and it turned up around the same time as the refund! (BTW I had to submit a photo of my label and carefully peal it away to reveal the original label, pre-consolidation.)

Quite happy though as the connector for this USB socket is exactly the same as my trickle charger lead so I just need to double-check the polarity and it should be an easy fit
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

The thing that does my head in with aliexpress is the time it takes to get stuff. It depends on the vendor but some can literally take a week before they despatch it.

Then you’re looking at 2 - 5 weeks shipping depending on what province it’s comping from and which carrier is being used.

If it arrives in London you can stick another week on to clear customs. It goes through in a couple days if it lands in East Midlands Airport.

I’ve bought loads of stuff through aliexpress and I find that as long as you get someone who’s got a load of good reviews with pictures and reviews in multiple languages you will be fine.

There’s been a couple times I had to open disputes and they get resolved pretty quickly. Well, I say that but in all the cases with me the seller tried to extend the dispute by saying it’s still in transit and just not being tracked, then they say they’ll send a replacement item to close the dispute, etc. What they’re doing is trying to run down the clock/ window on disputes. Just don’t give in and escalate it to aliexpress themselves. Doing this I’ve had quick refunds on every occasion.
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PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U.