Thread: Buying machinery from Alibaba

The bricks and mortar store gives you a warranty and, with the quality you often see with Chinese stuff, I reckon you'll want it

In this case the middle man provides a lot a value. If you cut him out then be prepared to pay the price. That is know all the risks.


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I am interested in people’s experiences in purchasing direct from the factories.


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This is a thread on importing machines. While it is really about problems with a particular company, paragraphs 7 and 8 mention additional costs regarding importing and shipment.
An interesting read.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f170/importing-chinese-machine-roger-webb-pacific-tooling-cnc-router-220322

Originally Posted by Lappa

This is a thread on importing machines. While it is really about problems with a particular company, paragraphs 7 and 8 mention additional costs regarding importing and shipment.
An interesting read.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f170/importing-chinese-machine-roger-webb-pacific-tooling-cnc-router-220322

Cheers great info


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Here's another one - importing machines

As mentioned above you will have no support but that is obvious so is most probably in a way irrelevant. I have seen one person import a slider into the US and while a different country his experience was good enough that he said he would do it again. It was on the Sawmill Creek forum so if you did a search or joined and asked the information will be found. Apart from the possibility of shipping damage I don't see many problems with the deal but the support might be another matter. I would think that during the process it will become evident what sort of company you are dealing with and how willing they would be to help worth after sales service. Using a customs agent and forwarding agent will minimise the problems in that area and won't cost all that much.

I’ve bought a fair amount from Chinese sweatshops. Everything from little electronic bits to carbon fibre bicycle wheels and a baby milling machine. Success = variable. I’m becoming more wary of buying more expensive stuff as it’s very difficult (but not impossible) to get much joy if you need a return/refund/warranty repair or replacement.

Main issues:
- It’s difficult to know exactly what you’re getting. There are dozens of companies, all working off the same plans, but using different manufacturing processes, materials, and quality control. (It’s not true that all machines that look the same are produced in the same factory). Specs are often massaged - you don’t really know if that 2Hp motor is actually 2Hp, or that power supply is 500W. If you can find other internet users that have bought the same thing from the same company, then you get a better idea of what’s coming, and what you might need to do to it to make it ‘good’.

-‘Warranties’ are short. Typically 3 months. And they’ll expect you to pay return postage for ‘inspection’ (which I think means receive and throw in the bin and say it’s not repairable - it’s just an obstacle to discourage returns).

- If something goes wrong, things may be difficult. Banggood has been really good at sorting out issues I’ve had with stuff supplied by them. Limited inventory, and you pay a bit more than the Aliexpress equivalent. Gearbest were very poor until I left a bad online review. 6 months to get around $250 back. Aliexpress/Alibaba are really just a connection between you and the seller. If you have problems, you’re ‘encouraged’ to work directly with the seller initially. I’ve never had success with this (“Oh! my grandmother will starve and my kids’ arses are hanging out - how can I refund you for that DOA thing I sent?”). However, once Ali gets involved and you have a good case, things have been sorted very quickly. Companies do seem increasingly afraid of upsetting Boss Ali. Know that the review system isn’t particularly useful as you can only leave feedback very early on in the transaction. If something goes bang 3 months down the line, there’s no way to let other users know.

So increasingly, I’m wary of making big $ purchases direct. Losing out on $50-100 is one thing, but when it runs into the $1000’s, I’m only prepared to play if I can find a significant online community using the product/buying from the same bunch.

Originally Posted by Bernmc

I’ve bought a fair amount from Chinese sweatshops. Everything from little electronic bits to carbon fibre bicycle wheels and a baby milling machine. Success = variable.

how do you 'mill babies?'

Originally Posted by Tonto

how do you 'mill babies?'

Lol glad I'm not the only one who thought that

Me too... Lol

Originally Posted by Tonto

how do you 'mill babies?'

you have to clamp their toes in a vice

Originally Posted by Bernmc

. . . Specs are often massaged - you don’t really know if that 2Hp motor is actually 2Hp, or that power supply is 500W. . . . ..

I've tested, modified and repaired a number of chinese motors and am one of the few DIY people around that have a small dyno capable of measuring the HP ratings of these motors and have yet to find a recent (<10 years old) chinese motor that does not meet its HP spec. Most European and Australian motors are able to perform above their rating while most chinese motors are just able to meet their specs although some have been right up there with the others. In the end you will usually get what you pay for. A more likely difference between Chinese and European motors is in the quality of the switches, bearings, capacitors, insulation and the extent of balancing. These aspects are more likely to have implications for longevity but less so in the way of meeting power specs.

I also do some other minor electrical testing. Typically I test insulation and power draw. Recently I bought a chinese $10 AC speed controller rated at a max short burst of 4800W and a constant load of 2400W. I thought this has to be a joke but sure enough it was able to sustain a 4800W load before the 20A circuit breaker tripped and it did not damage the controller. I tested it two more times to be sure and it still works. On most 10A (usually with 16A breaker) circuits 4800W would trip the breaker before the max load was reached. I am constantly surprise at how most stuff I test

Sometimes it's easier if you can deal direct with the manufacturer. A number of us are importing Powtran VFDs direct from the factory in China with considerable success. These VFD are high quality items but are not expensive. Powtran are very easy to deal with and will answer tech questions very quickly. OK, not quite the same as a $2-5k machine but it shows what could be possible

Know that the review system isn’t particularly useful as you can only leave feedback very early on in the transaction. If something goes bang 3 months down the line, there’s no way to let other users know.

This is an important point - its perhaps something these forums could help out with - maybe we need a sub forum for this?

What pisses me off is when clearly the wrong item is sent - after several variably successful attempts at getting the right item sent I now immediately ask for a refund and purchase the item from someone else.
Even when they are clearly in the wrong I hate the bargaining process they try to establish so they get something AND retain their feed back rating

Rcently I ordered 3 Arduino LCD screens ($5 each, $15 total) and the wrong ones turn up so I asked for a refund.
Their reply was Thet would refund me $3 provided I gave them 5/5 ratings - I said no
Then they offered me $6 - again I said no.
So they agreed provided I smashed up the screens into tiny pieces and send them a photo. I could have smashed any old electronics junk up and they would not have known.
Instead I quartered them like this
QLCDscreens.jpg

had a quick read through so might have missed it. But from my experience alot of these companies have minimum order quantities so unless you're prepared to buy a container load they may not even sell to you. The ones that don't have minimum order quantities typically charge quite outrageous shipping rates.

Also returns are quite complicated and time consuming if anything goes wrong, some manufacturers will deliberately slow ball the process and their customs process is a logistical nightmare.

Then there are those who will just jerk you around, eg the rate they advertise online isn't the rate you'll get when you contact them.

And as others have said you don't get any real support unless you are fluent in Chinese/have a relationship with the manufacturer.

At the end of the day they are there to make money manufacturing equipment so they are primarily interested in large transactions not the occasional sale.

If it were that easy the likes of Carbatec/timbecon won't exist