2 ms·

I've noticed that a lot of the feedback on AliExpress comes from Russia, Eastern European countries, and the assorted former Soviet Union satellite states. Do y

I've noticed that a lot of the feedback on AliExpress comes from Russia, Eastern European countries, and the assorted former Soviet Union satellite states. Do you know why it is so popular there? Is it a lack of local web shops? From what I can tell AliExpress is mostly popular as a cheap source of (low voltage) electrical components here in The Netherlands. People buy clothing from local web shops (or traditional brick and mortar shops) due to speed, quality, and friendly returns policies though.

paganel 10y ago
> Do you know why it is so popular there? Is it a lack of local web shops? I don't think it's because of the lack of local web shop, at least not in Romania's case. I think it's only a question of costs, it seems that for certain items whatever comes from China is that much less expensive compared to what's available locally, even accounting for the long-ish waiting times and the customs duty.
baybal2 10y ago
>I've noticed that a lot of the feedback on AliExpress comes from Russia, Eastern European countries, and the assorted former Soviet Union satellite states. Do you know why it is so popular there? Is it a lack of local web shops? 1. All those ex-commie nations have high double digit VAT and import tarifs. 2. Western brands do not contest for that market 3. Those guys had no other choice other than buying Chinese goods since the fall of the Soviet bloc. What has changed now is that they can buy from China without middlemen
niftich 10y ago
There are local web shops, but most I've seen are specialized around electronics vs. generic home goods. There are also online portals for brick-and-mortar stores, but the experience is clearly not the same. AliExpress offers a smattering of stuff you didn't know you needed until you see it, and it melds several businesses into one: the Newegg-knockoff website you've used before, the phone case stall at the mall, the Chinese clothing market that sets up at the fairgrounds, the random home goods from that downtown department store you haven't been to in five years.

paganel 10y ago

> Do you know why it is so popular there? Is it a lack of local web shops? I don't think it's because of the lack of local web shop, at least not in Romania's case. I think it's only a question of costs, it seems that for certain items whatever comes from China is that much less expensive compared to what's available locally, even accounting for the long-ish waiting times and the customs duty.

baybal2 10y ago

>I've noticed that a lot of the feedback on AliExpress comes from Russia, Eastern European countries, and the assorted former Soviet Union satellite states. Do you know why it is so popular there? Is it a lack of local web shops? 1. All those ex-commie nations have high double digit VAT and import tarifs. 2. Western brands do not contest for that market 3. Those guys had no other choice other than buying Chinese goods since the fall of the Soviet bloc. What has changed now is that they can buy from China without middlemen

niftich 10y ago

There are local web shops, but most I've seen are specialized around electronics vs. generic home goods. There are also online portals for brick-and-mortar stores, but the experience is clearly not the same. AliExpress offers a smattering of stuff you didn't know you needed until you see it, and it melds several businesses into one: the Newegg-knockoff website you've used before, the phone case stall at the mall, the Chinese clothing market that sets up at the fairgrounds, the random home goods from that downtown department store you haven't been to in five years.