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As a sibling comment pointed out, cheapest doesn't trump everything -- otherwise we'd be ordering from Aliexpress. I've spend _way_ too much money on climbing

As a sibling comment pointed out, cheapest doesn't trump everything -- otherwise we'd be ordering from Aliexpress. I've spend _way_ too much money on climbing gear in the past three years, very little of which was on Amazon. I simply can't risk getting counterfeit safety-critical goods. And while I'm not worried about counterfeit mops, I have noticed that the Amazon first habit is now broken in general.

chabes 8y ago
> I simply can't risk getting counterfeit safety-critical goods. That’s a good call. I usually buy direct from someone like Black Diamond when it comes to things like that. Also, like with most industries , it helps to have a friend with a pro deal, if you’re trying to save money on important stuff. I’ve found that AliExpress is good for cheap electronics that I don’t mind waiting for, but not much beyond that. I haven’t used the site in months (though, I haven’t used Amazon during the same time either)
- ryanisnan 8y ago
  A word to the wise, the first rule about pro deals is that you don't talk about pro deals.
  - kryogen1c 8y ago
    Like Groucho Marx said, "I don't want to belong to any club that will have people like me as a member."
- nkurz 8y ago
  I usually buy direct from someone like Black Diamond when it comes to things like that. Interesting example. Did you see the recent story about Black Diamond sending a cease-and-desist to Walmart demanding that they stop advertising their products: https://www.retaildive.com/news/black-diamond-demands-walmart-remove-gear-from-website/531298/ https://www.retaildive.com/news/black-diamond-demands-walmar...
- linuxlizard 8y ago
  On my second order, AliExpress asked for a picture of my passport (or other id). Was a bit disconcerting. Did you encounter that? I found what I needed on newegg and ebay instead.
  - 83 8y ago
    My first order from Ali (couple weeks ago) asked for a photo id, picture of credit card, and picture of credit card statement. I declined to provide them and the order was cancelled by their system after a week or so.
kaitai 8y ago
Small but significant: I don't buy diapers from Amazon anymore, after so many reports of counterfeits. Target has my dollars. (Certainly a different kind of safety-critical!) The supply chain problems are very worrisome for Amazon.
malandrew 8y ago
This is my situation as well. I buy all my outdoor gear from Backcountry these days because I know I'm getting real products and their gearheads are super useful as well.

chabes 8y ago

> I simply can't risk getting counterfeit safety-critical goods. That’s a good call. I usually buy direct from someone like Black Diamond when it comes to things like that. Also, like with most industries , it helps to have a friend with a pro deal, if you’re trying to save money on important stuff. I’ve found that AliExpress is good for cheap electronics that I don’t mind waiting for, but not much beyond that. I haven’t used the site in months (though, I haven’t used Amazon during the same time either)

ryanisnan 8y ago
A word to the wise, the first rule about pro deals is that you don't talk about pro deals.
- kryogen1c 8y ago
  Like Groucho Marx said, "I don't want to belong to any club that will have people like me as a member."
nkurz 8y ago
I usually buy direct from someone like Black Diamond when it comes to things like that. Interesting example. Did you see the recent story about Black Diamond sending a cease-and-desist to Walmart demanding that they stop advertising their products: https://www.retaildive.com/news/black-diamond-demands-walmart-remove-gear-from-website/531298/ https://www.retaildive.com/news/black-diamond-demands-walmar...
linuxlizard 8y ago
On my second order, AliExpress asked for a picture of my passport (or other id). Was a bit disconcerting. Did you encounter that? I found what I needed on newegg and ebay instead.
- 83 8y ago
  My first order from Ali (couple weeks ago) asked for a photo id, picture of credit card, and picture of credit card statement. I declined to provide them and the order was cancelled by their system after a week or so.

kaitai 8y ago

Small but significant: I don't buy diapers from Amazon anymore, after so many reports of counterfeits. Target has my dollars. (Certainly a different kind of safety-critical!) The supply chain problems are very worrisome for Amazon.

malandrew 8y ago

This is my situation as well. I buy all my outdoor gear from Backcountry these days because I know I'm getting real products and their gearheads are super useful as well.