3 ms·

I often see the same or similar item on aliexpress for about 2-3 eurobucks, while the local shop will happily sell it to me for 20. It isn't even 2 bucks for ch

I often see the same or similar item on aliexpress for about 2-3 eurobucks, while the local shop will happily sell it to me for 20. It isn't even 2 bucks for chinese product versus the one manufactured locally, it's literally the same thing.

mschuster91 2y ago
> It isn't even 2 bucks for chinese product versus the one manufactured locally, it's literally the same thing. Well, at least if the thing is broken during 2 years post purchase, I can send it back to the seller and either get a repair or my money back, I don't have to pick up the parcel from customs in person (this one is a common annoyance for Germans, made more difficult by the ridiculous opening hours and the Zollämter only being present in the major cities), shipment is faster than 4 weeks aka "economy" and if it burns down my house I can at least drag some poor sod in front of a court and hope they got a corporate liability insurance. All of that costs money, hence the thing being re-sold for what appears to be a ridiculous markup.
- Dylan16807 2y ago
  > Well, at least if the thing is broken during 2 years post purchase, I can send it back to the seller and either get a repair or my money back > if it burns down my house I can at least drag some poor sod in front of a court and hope they got a corporate liability insurance. Valid but I doubt a more thorough warranty is worth more than 5-20%. > I don't have to pick up the parcel from customs in person Does that actually make the shipping from china cheaper, though? Probably not. Paying to avoid an artificial barrier is a pretty bad justification for price. > shipment is faster than 4 weeks aka "economy" If that's a big factor, wouldn't I be able to get similar super cheap prices with slow shipping from an in-country warehouse? Because I don't see that, I see prices that are similar to going to the store.

mschuster91 2y ago

> It isn't even 2 bucks for chinese product versus the one manufactured locally, it's literally the same thing. Well, at least if the thing is broken during 2 years post purchase, I can send it back to the seller and either get a repair or my money back, I don't have to pick up the parcel from customs in person (this one is a common annoyance for Germans, made more difficult by the ridiculous opening hours and the Zollämter only being present in the major cities), shipment is faster than 4 weeks aka "economy" and if it burns down my house I can at least drag some poor sod in front of a court and hope they got a corporate liability insurance. All of that costs money, hence the thing being re-sold for what appears to be a ridiculous markup.

Dylan16807 2y ago
> Well, at least if the thing is broken during 2 years post purchase, I can send it back to the seller and either get a repair or my money back > if it burns down my house I can at least drag some poor sod in front of a court and hope they got a corporate liability insurance. Valid but I doubt a more thorough warranty is worth more than 5-20%. > I don't have to pick up the parcel from customs in person Does that actually make the shipping from china cheaper, though? Probably not. Paying to avoid an artificial barrier is a pretty bad justification for price. > shipment is faster than 4 weeks aka "economy" If that's a big factor, wouldn't I be able to get similar super cheap prices with slow shipping from an in-country warehouse? Because I don't see that, I see prices that are similar to going to the store.