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I think that describing Alibaba/AliExpress and the Shenzhen electronics markets as two different things rather hides reality .... Many of those little online st

I think that describing Alibaba/AliExpress and the Shenzhen electronics markets as two different things rather hides reality .... Many of those little online stores on AliExpress and the stalls in the Shenzhen markets are just two views of the same thing ... Come 5pm in Shenzhen, all you can hear is the ripping of the beige packing tape as all the stalls pack up their online sales of the day ....

seanmcdirmid 7y ago
That’s how the E-markets in Beijing’s Zhongguangcun evolved, but eventually the physical stores are becoming redundant and the number of stalls have shrunk dramatically in the last few years. Honestly, I think you have to go back to Akihabara these days to get the authentic electronic potpourri part experience.
- Taniwha 7y ago
  I visited Akihabara a year or so ago and (compared with Shenzhen) was quite disappointed - mostly it's Manga glitz, not a lot of electronics at all, you had to hunt to find it. Huaqiangbei is changing, gentrifying a bit (especially SEG) starting to sell consumer drones rather than cables - partly it's because now that all the subway work in the street outside is done the on-street stores are all consumer electronics stuff which is creeping inwards. But a block over really nothing much has changed.
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    The one thing you can find in Japan that you can’t really find in China is used stuff, old stuff, and somethingS that aren’t meant for mass production. Akhibara still has that advantage, plus they mix the electronic work stuff with the computer hardware (in China, these things usually exist in separate buildings, if not districts).
    - jdc 7y ago
      Interesting.. whereabouts in Japan?
      - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
        Akihabara is in Tokyo, and pretty well known.
- kurthr 7y ago
  I second this. There used to be readily available parts for almost every mobile device out there (some "real" some knockoff), but it's much more limited now. Many buildings that were full or had full service repair/upgrade services are half empty on some floors, and now send things out. Of course, if you're willing to send your phone out you can get things done quickly and cheaply as well, but it's not the same as seeing it in front of you. It's been very noticeable over the last 3-4 years.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago

That’s how the E-markets in Beijing’s Zhongguangcun evolved, but eventually the physical stores are becoming redundant and the number of stalls have shrunk dramatically in the last few years. Honestly, I think you have to go back to Akihabara these days to get the authentic electronic potpourri part experience.

Taniwha 7y ago
I visited Akihabara a year or so ago and (compared with Shenzhen) was quite disappointed - mostly it's Manga glitz, not a lot of electronics at all, you had to hunt to find it. Huaqiangbei is changing, gentrifying a bit (especially SEG) starting to sell consumer drones rather than cables - partly it's because now that all the subway work in the street outside is done the on-street stores are all consumer electronics stuff which is creeping inwards. But a block over really nothing much has changed.
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  The one thing you can find in Japan that you can’t really find in China is used stuff, old stuff, and somethingS that aren’t meant for mass production. Akhibara still has that advantage, plus they mix the electronic work stuff with the computer hardware (in China, these things usually exist in separate buildings, if not districts).
  - jdc 7y ago
    Interesting.. whereabouts in Japan?
    - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
      Akihabara is in Tokyo, and pretty well known.
kurthr 7y ago
I second this. There used to be readily available parts for almost every mobile device out there (some "real" some knockoff), but it's much more limited now. Many buildings that were full or had full service repair/upgrade services are half empty on some floors, and now send things out. Of course, if you're willing to send your phone out you can get things done quickly and cheaply as well, but it's not the same as seeing it in front of you. It's been very noticeable over the last 3-4 years.