Anyone bought from Alibaba?

Soldato
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Need to import some small electronics, around 2k delivered worth.

Any tips, seller will only accept PayPal. Is there any protection for international purchases using PayPal.

What kind of customs am I looking to get hit with?

Seems escrow is safest option but many traders don't use it.
 
I've bought a few things but not massive orders. It's in their interest to not screw you over, though, and I'm pretty sure PayPal's policies are the same regardless of where the order is coming from/to but worth double checking.
 
Have you requested a sample first?

How much discussion have you had with the supplier? Where are they based?

Are they wanting full payment up front or deposit with balance before dispatch? Or are the goods already manufactured?

Edit: Customs duties depends what it is. What kind of goods? You can find trade tariffs here https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff
 
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As long as the order is done correctly via paypal, invoices and shiz then you will be protected (make sure sellers paypal is verified)

I have done a few £500 orders from the site in the past, customs never charged me though as it seems the norm for them sellers to buy very low values on the parcels.

I did a few small £50 orders first though, You need to find a decent seller who is reliable and low return rate.
 
Have you requested a sample first?

How much discussion have you had with the supplier? Where are they based?

Are they wanting full payment up front or deposit with balance before dispatch? Or are the goods already manufactured?

No sample requested, product is the same as others already in UK. Gold member on site for 2 years and has had a On Site Check done by Alibaba.

Product is in stock for delivery by Feb 26th and payment in full via PayPal.

As long as the order is done correctly via paypal, invoices and shiz then you will be protected (make sure sellers paypal is verified)

Seller will be invoicing my PayPal, guess I need to make sure its for goods.
 
No sample requested, product is the same as others already in UK. Gold member on site for 2 years and has had a On Site Check done by Alibaba.

Product is in stock for delivery by Feb 26th and payment in full via PayPal.



Seller will be invoicing my PayPal, guess I need to make sure its for goods.

If you feel you can trust them then go ahead.
may I ask what it is you are importing?
 
No sample requested, product is the same as others already in UK. Gold member on site for 2 years and has had a On Site Check done by Alibaba.

Product is in stock for delivery by Feb 26th and payment in full via PayPal.

How do you know it's the same as others already in the UK? I wouldn't order without seeing a sample.

What do you mean in stock by Feb 26th? Are they not a manufacturer? Where are they based?
 
I have, nothing that big, and it was a huge pain. I found the website crap and hard to navigate (randomly wouldn't let me log in, keeps sending reminder emails about contents of basket). Cheap postage is extremely slow and you'll get hit with import tax/duty (typically same rate as VAT, but varies). Also the customer service people I dealt with wrote very poor English.
 
How do you know it's the same as others already in the UK? I wouldn't order without seeing a sample.

What do you mean in stock by Feb 26th? Are they not a manufacturer? Where are they based?

Delivered on 26th by DHL

Same ones for sale on ebay which I've bought and used myself.

Shenzhen China
 
Oh so it's a pcie riser with usb connecting the two pcbs?
That's very cool.
I want one.
infact I might order 100 ;)

The thing is, they sell for £50 on ebay.

(I hope I'm right in thinking I'm okay to mention that name as OcUK don't sell the product in talks)
 
The thing is, they sell for £50 on ebay.

(I hope I'm right in thinking I'm okay to mention that name as OcUK don't sell the product in talks)

£20 from a Chinese seller or £52 from a UK seller.
You would need to sell them at around £30 max to fit in. Still a £18 odd profit from each after fee's

do it!

stop.
look at the sake history.
He was selling them at 22.99 each.
The n raised to 32.99

none sold at 52.99

seems the best price is around the 25 mark.

is there enough profit tgere to bother?
 
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£20 from a Chinese seller or £52 from a UK seller.
You would need to sell them at around £30 max to fit in. Still a £18 odd profit from each after fee's

do it!

With Chinese sellers you'll be hit by fees and delayed shipping, which miners can't really put up with as they need to get in before the bubble bursts. So whack them in for £52 (go to low and you'll kill the market) and over time you'll get more and more orders. Plus OP has pretty much guaranteed custom from OcUK miners.
 
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