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The average cost of buying something online, especially from China directly, is: - At least 1 hour of searching, market research, vetting the vendor (insofar t

by tap10 5y ago

The average cost of buying something online, especially from China directly, is: - At least 1 hour of searching, market research, vetting the vendor (insofar that is possible at all). - Staying at home for multiple days when the delivery is expected, while frantically checking incorrect package trackers. - Alternatively, having the package delivered to the post office. Going there and waiting with 50 other people takes 2 hours. - If the vendor is dishonest or the package delivery fails, add another 4 hours at least. So the answer to your question is: Everyone who does not want to jump through these hoops or values their time.

TeMPOraL 5y ago
I talked about local vendors reselling things from China. Pretty much their entire value is in shielding the buyer from the inconveniences you listed. The real experience of a typical person I know is: - Go to your local eBay equivalent, look for LED lightbulbs, sort by price. - Pick the cheapest offer that doesn't look super-sketchy, place an order for half a dozen and pay for it, all with a few clicks. - Wait 2-5 days, depending on seasons and phase of the moon. - Depending on the delivery method you picked in step 2, a courier comes and brings you a package, or you visit the parcel locker 2-5 minutes from your home at a time that's convenient for you. - Repeat the process when the cheapass bulbs invariably all burn out within a year. At least in Europe, shopping on-line is a solved problem.
- Aerroon 5y ago
  Maybe this works in the US or some of the large European countries, but that has not been my experience. Local online stores are such a poor experience and unreliable that I'll usually get a product faster from Amazon.de than my own country, despite the former taking almost a week to get to me. It took me over a month to buy a harddrive that was shown as in stock, but it really wasn't. When it did become available 2 weeks later, they wanted more money than what I had already paid them. Online shopping is a joke here.

by tap10 5y ago

TeMPOraL 5y ago

I talked about local vendors reselling things from China. Pretty much their entire value is in shielding the buyer from the inconveniences you listed. The real experience of a typical person I know is: - Go to your local eBay equivalent, look for LED lightbulbs, sort by price. - Pick the cheapest offer that doesn't look super-sketchy, place an order for half a dozen and pay for it, all with a few clicks. - Wait 2-5 days, depending on seasons and phase of the moon. - Depending on the delivery method you picked in step 2, a courier comes and brings you a package, or you visit the parcel locker 2-5 minutes from your home at a time that's convenient for you. - Repeat the process when the cheapass bulbs invariably all burn out within a year. At least in Europe, shopping on-line is a solved problem.

Aerroon 5y ago
Maybe this works in the US or some of the large European countries, but that has not been my experience. Local online stores are such a poor experience and unreliable that I'll usually get a product faster from Amazon.de than my own country, despite the former taking almost a week to get to me. It took me over a month to buy a harddrive that was shown as in stock, but it really wasn't. When it did become available 2 weeks later, they wanted more money than what I had already paid them. Online shopping is a joke here.