aliexpress

[gavztheouch]

Hi, I am thinking about placing an order for some laser cutting parts on aliexpress the order comes to a total of roughly £600. Is the aliexpress guarantee that you will get your parts actually worth anything. Do they vet they're sellers? I am buying from someone with very little feedback, is this wise?

Cheers

[gavztheouch]

I forgot to add a link to the seller. I am buying a kit to build a laser cutter. The laser working area will be 600mm by 900mm and the cost of the kit is £600ish including delivery to the UK

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Linea...542960565.html

[Jonathan]

The lack of any feedback is concerning. Their system works such that the seller only gets your money once you have clicked the button to say you have received the goods and they are satisfactory. If not then you can try to resolve it with the seller. I've placed 22 orders with Aliexpress in the past year and can only find fault with part of one of them. The first item I purchased from aliexpress was two 2200mm long, 20mm TBI linear rails with four bearings for $415 including shipping - I used aliexpress because it was over two years ago, so before they started appearing on eBay and (still) a lot cheaper than elsewhere.

I think it's a pretty safe system, but it's up to you in the end.

Also, don't forget about the customs charges - they will be quite a lot on something of that value.

[gavztheouch]

The lack of any feedback is concerning. Their system works such that the seller only gets your money once you have clicked the button to say you have received the goods and they are satisfactory. If not then you can try to resolve it with the seller. I've placed 22 orders with Aliexpress in the past year and can only find fault with part of one of them. The first item I purchased from aliexpress was two 2200mm long, 20mm TBI linear rails with four bearings for $415 including shipping - I used aliexpress because it was over two years ago, so before they started appearing on eBay and (still) a lot cheaper than elsewhere.

I think it's a pretty safe system, but it's up to you in the end.

Also, don't forget about the customs charges - they will be quite a lot on something of that value.

Thanks Jonathan,

So does the escrow type system always apply, even when paying with a credit card? I watch a youtube video, where this guy was talking about how to not get ripped of on aliexpress and he said alway try and choose a seller who uses the escrow system but it now looks like that is not an option and was wondering if that is just the standard way of doing it now.

I was counting on customs charges about £15 plus 20-25% :(

[Jonathan]

I've never seen it not apply - it should be clear upon checkout?

Your estimate for the customs charges seems reasonable, if a little pessimistic.

[gavztheouch]

Yep it seems hit or miss as to whether you get hit with customs or not, but the parts seem cheap enough not to worry too much. I couldn't build a flying optics system like this for the same money in parts never mind the time it would take me so I would be happy to pay the extra. Assuming it works ok.

Looks well enough made but I wouldn't like to use it for anything other than a laser or 3d printer.

[Popp Ann]

I have been using AliExpress for quite some time now and never had any problem with any order unlike ebay which i have had plenty of problems with different items i have ordered.
on AliExpress as someone else stated the seller does not receive the money until you give feedback stating you have received the item and are happy with it also i have been told if a seller has more than a couple of problems then AliExpress closes their account and will not let them sell on it again until they have sorted out there problem with the buyer.

also under UK law you get a guarantee from your credit card as you are buying the items from the credit card company and not from the seller so that is another layer of protection for you.

regards Poppy Ann.

[Tomnewry]

Hi Gavz did you get the complete kit for that price or just the rails?

[gavztheouch]

Hi Tomnewry,

£750 included delivery, the rails, mirror mounts, laser lens holder, laser tube mounts and both 3:1 reducers plus the 10 mm shafts to join the Y axis rails together.

You can then add anything between 1500 to 2500 to the total to complete. This would be for stuff like the mirrors, lens, DSP, laser, stepper/servo, frame, z axis table.