Choosing online retailers

ButterCheese

My "go to" was always Amazon, as I'm a Prime member anyway and the delivery is free and quick.  I thought they were always the cheapest for everything.  However, my partner has now introduced me to Temu.  I am amazed at how low the prices are compared to Amazon and Ebay.  I know you have to be careful about some things not being entirely as described, but so far everything has been fine.

e.g. I bought a wall hanger for motorbike helmets for £3.49.  The exact same item on Amazon is £14.99.  It's just a bit of cheap metal and/or plastic but as long as it does its job then I'm happy to pay a quarter of the price for it, plus a few quid p&p.

The only downside is that some sellers require a minimum spend, like £15.  But there are always more things to add to your list that you might need.  

So, Temu.  I would not buy a TV from there, or expensive clothes, or indeed anything expensive until I build up trust.  But so far you seem to get what you pay for, and the returns process also works

Hoenir

Shows the mark up people put on items made in China. 

GrahamLM52

I use Amazon and Ebay, but with recent disappointments (Ebay especially) I'm tempted to try AliExpress for DIY items like handtools, fasteners etc.

The prices are amazingly low, so I do not expect perfection just that the items are good enough given the price.

I'm interested in hearing AliExpress users experiences. Both good and bad.

DullGreyGuy

Hoenir said:

Shows the mark up people put on items made in China. 

Also remember that those importing goods under £135 dont pay duty and in principle UK VAT should be added by Temu but do you think they are?

Amazon cannot order its supplies in parcels valued under £135 per consignment and so will be paying import duty and they do charge you 20% VAT. Whilst we arent at US levels China can attract fairly high duty here. Add to that there are various safety requirements for goods sold in the UK and then you have consumer rights which all cost money. 

It why retailers are petitioning MPs to level the playing field and remove the £135 exemption rule as offshore firms sending micro packages are avoiding taxes that sellers here can't. When you add duty, VAT and the couriers clearing fees the gap in pricing will be much smaller. 

If the mount breaks because its cheap plastic then there would be a reasonable argument with a UK retailer that they have to replace the crash helmet as they should not be used again after sustaining an impact. Doubt you'd get anything at all from Temu. 

Mark_d

I also tend to go to Amazon for a lot of things.  I am aware that there are cheap Chinese retailers.  Why are they so cheap?  Some good are poorer quality despite their appearance.  Some haven't gone through safety/quality testing.  Sometimes good are cheap because they're manufactured using 'slave labour' where the workers have no health & safety protection.
If you don't know why something is cheap then don't buy it.  If Temu really was outstanding value then everyone would shop there instead of Amazon.

ButterCheese

Hoenir said:

Shows the mark up people put on items made in China. 

Exactly.  Sellers like Amazon are obviously paying the same price, maybe even cheaper in bulk, and then adding 50 or 60% on.  I know you are getting a mosre trusted customer service with Amazon, but also I am paying £7.99/month for the delivery

sheramber

Temu are selling items made in sweat shops.

Think how much a person was paid for making that item you bought cheap.

DullGreyGuy

ButterCheese said:

Hoenir said:

Shows the mark up people put on items made in China. 

Exactly.  Sellers like Amazon are obviously paying the same price, maybe even cheaper in bulk, and then adding 50 or 60% on.  I know you are getting a mosre trusted customer service with Amazon, but also I am paying £7.99/month for the delivery

No they're not, they have to pay import duty and have to charge you VAT. Temu avoid import duty by sending packages under £135 and are most likely not collecting the VAT they should be.  VAT has to be paid on Duty too so its a doubly whammy

Stock price is only one consideration, you have a problem with your rack in 5 months time and it will be your problem. Buying from a UK retailer its the retailers problem and that costs money.

Goods sold by UK companies have to meet UK legislation which often requires testing etc which costs money. Overseas sellers can sell any old tat into the UK market just as long as it's not full of narcotics etc. 

A friend bought a helmet from a site like Temu because it was so much cheaper and "its probably where X get theirs made anyway", thankfully he dropped whilst getting it out the box and the thing shattered from a 3' fall. Thing wasnt solid just an empty brittle shell so clearly would have given no protection. The website in question refused any refund saying it was customer damage. 

ButterCheese

Mark_d said:

Some haven't gone through safety/quality testing...... they're manufactured using 'slave labour'......
If you don't know why something is cheap then don't buy it.  If Temu really was outstanding value then everyone would shop there instead of Amazon.

Don't be fooled into thinking that stuff from Amazon comes from a magical mystical world where quality is perfect and workers are paid properly.  It's the same stuff from the same factories.  Amazon just buy in bulk, mark it up and sell it for loads more.  I have had to return quite a few things to Amazon in the past, which is fine.  but they do not care about quality control.  I've taken pictures of e.g. a mobile phone charger which states 5w fast charge on the ad, and it has "output 1.5w" on the item.  They refunded me no problem, but the item still remains on sale on their site for the same price, even though it is not as described.

molerat

sheramber said:

Temu are selling items made in sweat shops.

Think how much a person was paid for making that item you bought cheap.

And the identical cheap Chinese carp sold by other retailers - especially by the marketplace sellers on the likes of Amazon and Ebay - is made where ?

Murphybear

GrahamLM52 said:

I use Amazon and Ebay, but with recent disappointments (Ebay especially) I'm tempted to try AliExpress for DIY items like handtools, fasteners i
I'm interested in hearing AliExpress users experiences. Both good and bad.

I bought some earrings for Christmas, in the shape of Christmas trees with sparkly lights.  I ordered them 6 weeks before Christmas.  I had an email from Ali Express saying my packet  had been lost in transit and they said they would give me my money back.  I got the refund in a few days.

The earrings arrived half way through January .  Ali express said I could keep it, all  80p of it including postage/