Conservative Political Forum

General Category => Financial => Topic started by: Hoofer on October 25, 2015, 05:51:26 AM

Title: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on October 25, 2015, 05:51:26 AM
Has anyone used these China websites for parts or products?

Lightinthebox.com
alibaba.com


I'd like to hear about your experience, good, bad, indifferent, or if you've already decided to buy from an importer instead.
Some of the parts I need are only made in China, buying through an importer has been rather expensive.

For instance, a piece is <$.75 cents direct from china, the exact same part, purchased thru an importer ranges from $1.97 to $5.75. 
Another part is <$12 direct from the manufacturer, thru the importer, $59.

NOTE:  Don't reply if you're going to say something stupid like "buy American".

We just put in a "test purchase" with Lightinthebox.com, if it goes well, we'll try Alibaba.com next... unless there's some red flags not to.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on October 25, 2015, 06:53:49 AM
Not I, but I looked into buying in lots of ten thousand or more for resale.
The horror stories went on for days. Not so much theft, but lack of translation, where ordering mistakes take place, wrong parts, amounts, colors. quality.
But the biggest complaint was a solid lack of quality and no recourse once the order is fulfilled.

I was considering ordering allot of solar panels, but a couple of respondents said that more than 30% of the panels either simply didn't work, or had worthless output.
That would completely negate any reason for ordering abroad killing off the gained profit that would have occurred.

I guess, research, research, and then do some more research to see if the company has any recurring complaints in any given area, like return issues, time to resolve complaints, and quality.
Caveatemptor.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on October 26, 2015, 05:05:37 AM
Yes, I'm hearing similar stories about quality...
Maybe that's why they sell a part for $18-23 ea, and the importer here sells it for $60...?   They're planning on throwing away 30% and doubling the price on what's left?  At that price, it would reduce my selling price to 1/2, and I'd still be profitable, probably selling many more units.

One item I'm looking at, minimum order is 1000, but, I'd rather buy in lots of 100 at a time.   I hate getting stuck with something that won't sell, or won't sell without major modifications.  Like a board I saw at a nut-n-bolt reseller, it was filled with all the mistakes, nuts with no threads, tapered bolts, etc.

We'll see what comes from my first order, and since there is such a language gap, a sample on the other stuff makes sense.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on October 26, 2015, 06:45:01 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on October 26, 2015, 05:05:37 AM
Yes, I'm hearing similar stories about quality...
Maybe that's why they sell a part for $18-23 ea, and the importer here sells it for $60...?   They're planning on throwing away 30% and doubling the price on what's left?  At that price, it would reduce my selling price to 1/2, and I'd still be profitable, probably selling many more units.

One item I'm looking at, minimum order is 1000, but, I'd rather buy in lots of 100 at a time.   I hate getting stuck with something that won't sell, or won't sell without major modifications.  Like a board I saw at a nut-n-bolt reseller, it was filled with all the mistakes, nuts with no threads, tapered bolts, etc.

We'll see what comes from my first order, and since there is such a language gap, a sample on the other stuff makes sense.
A colleague of mine buys only from proven suppliers, like those that manufacture for Ikea, or Dewalt, Kubota.
I'm sure with a little research you could find out who supplies them, though I never inquired, it sounded like solid advice.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on October 29, 2015, 08:29:36 PM
It's going on a week, and customer service actually CALLED me about my order.
I think the "lightinthebox" must have blown a fuse.   about ready to cancel.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: kroz on October 30, 2015, 08:14:45 AM
These complaints are reminiscent of Oscar Shindler's deliberate sabotaging the ammo for the Nazis.  Do you think China reserves it's "seconds" and "culls" for delivery to America?   :sneaky:

I can't imagine that they could stay in business if they deliver poor quality to ALL of their customers.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on October 30, 2015, 08:49:18 AM
Quote from: kroz on October 30, 2015, 08:14:45 AM
These complaints are reminiscent of Oscar Shindler's deliberate sabotaging the ammo for the Nazis.  Do you think China reserves it's "seconds" and "culls" for delivery to America?   :sneaky:

I can't imagine that they could stay in business if they deliver poor quality to ALL of their customers.
Nah, it's part of the over all package that you accept 30% failure, it's marked into the price of doing business.
It's really not as bad as you think, for example, I used to sell a made in America Surflo 9300 series pump for just under $500.0, with a 30% profit, then the Chinese mkt opened up, they copied the same pump and Northern tool sells it for nearly half that price, exact same pump only crap, china was selling them in bulk orders of ten thousand or more for $30.0 bucks a pop.
So you see, even though 30% are failed product on arrival, the buyer still comes out way, way ahead, especially when one considers all the spare parts he'll have to cannibalize later. :laugh:

That same 9300 pump I used to sell, now goes for $650.0 my cost, retails for $795.0, I just bought one this week.
I refuse to buy that Chinese crap, simply because they do not have any quality control, because they don't have to.
Yes, China is killing us with crap.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on November 03, 2015, 06:35:18 AM
I got a ship date, Nov 8th.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on November 28, 2015, 05:28:10 AM
OK, so LightIntheBox delivered, and I've had some time to test the stuff.

The cameras are excellent quality, metal instead of plastic, and the price is about 1/5th of similar cameras.
The work really good, 1080P, with zoom lenses, $35 ea., shipping included.  They came with CMS & VMS software, not for the person that can't take the time and figure things out, the documentation is scarce.  Once I programmed in the IP address I wanted, everything started poppin' as it should.   Also works fine with other IP camera software.  Got 3 of those (3 x $35), and 90 degree with IR LEDs ($125 ea).   The real downside, IR is just about useless unless your practically on top of the subject.  also bought 3 IR illimunators, to stragetically place away fromt the cameras...   These cameras are SMALL, resolutions of DI, 720p & 1080P, with mics.  That part of the order is fine.  Since the survellience software is free, and works, I'm using it.

With the order, was 3 5000mha LI batteries... about $5 ea., a bargain, if they showed up.  Nope, I got some kind of 2 & 3 prong power adapter plug, that doesn't fit anything made in the USA or EU.

$15 completely lost in the ordering from LightIntheBox, the rest of the order, easily covers the loss - I am satisfied!
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Traninit on December 21, 2015, 11:45:23 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on October 25, 2015, 05:51:26 AM
Has anyone used these China websites for parts or products?

Lightinthebox.com
alibaba.com


I'd like to hear about your experience, good, bad, indifferent, or if you've already decided to buy from an importer instead.
Some of the parts I need are only made in China, buying through an importer has been rather expensive.

For instance, a piece is <$.75 cents direct from china, the exact same part, purchased thru an importer ranges from $1.97 to $5.75. 
Another part is <$12 direct from the manufacturer, thru the importer, $59.

NOTE:  Don't reply if you're going to say something stupid like "buy American".

We just put in a "test purchase" with Lightinthebox.com, if it goes well, we'll try Alibaba.com next... unless there's some red flags not to.

I just said something stupid to myself...didn't want to break your rule.  :smile:
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on February 27, 2016, 08:27:09 AM
Well, here's another buy direct outfit.
http://www.dhgate.com

They've got good prices on some of the parts I need, just never heard of them before.
Interesting... exact same stuff, same manufacturer, but smaller quantities, and a bit cheaper...?

American made component $189.00 (wrong size) or China made $53 component (right size), to build something selling for $90 ea.  All the rest of the components are 100% American made.

Sorry, I can't be more descriptive on the product.  See the problem a small business faces?  In order to be competitive, the parts I need are not manufactured in the USA, and haven't been for 2 decades.  If Donald Trump puts Tariffs & Taxes on any of the parts I need to build, I'm DONE - just as we're beginning to see profitability.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Dori on February 27, 2016, 09:13:19 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on February 27, 2016, 08:27:09 AM.  See the problem a small business faces?  In order to be competitive, the parts I need are not manufactured in the USA, and haven't been for 2 decades.  If Donald Trump puts Tariffs & Taxes on any of the parts I need to build, I'm DONE - just as we're beginning to see profitability.

Your certainly not alone in that boat.  It's like putting the toothpaste back in the tube to reverse what's happened. 

Also the trade imbalances.  How can you shore that up?  Like with China.  Who gets hurt if we only import as much as we export to them?

Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on February 27, 2016, 11:47:09 AM
Quote from: Dori on February 27, 2016, 09:13:19 AM
Your certainly not alone in that boat.  It's like putting the toothpaste back in the tube to reverse what's happened. 

Also the trade imbalances.  How can you shore that up?  Like with China.  Who gets hurt if we only import as much as we export to them?

It took time to get this way, it'll take time to reverse it.  Gonna sound like Donald for a sec...

Unlike China, America is a free and open country, where ideas spark innovation and inventions, making this country the world's leader in technology, a super-power and a land of opportunity.  The best these communist & corrupt countries can do is steal from us, enslave their people and try to out-produce us. 

Before we slap Tariffs on China, we need to look at what's been happening since we started trading with them.  Their economy has boomed, the people have gotten better educated, wealthier, and you can bet, everytime they see an Iphone they're making for the USA market... they're thinking, "I want one of those!" 

We don't need to punish their people for producing goods for less, or Mexico, we need to unleash the American Dream again, here and restart the engines of small businesses - which sounds simplistic, but actually alot easier than politicians want to admit.  Government needs to do NOTHING, just get out-of-the-way.  We can grow in technology, productivity, wages, innovation - everything that made us one of the best countries in the world for manufacturing, if the Federal Government would allow it.  Remove the regulations, the economy will rebound.

Take Fracking for instance.  The USA is now the energy powerhouse of the world, because American ingenuity coupled with know-how changed the whole landscape of how gas & oil is released from the ground.  We're leveraging our resources, ahead of, and far beyond the other nation's technical know-how, we can control that market.  Saudi Arabia is scared to death, the world's biggest consumer of oil, their customer, just walked away.  So, we're worried about China, Saudi is worried about the USA...  somebody is always worried about someone.

During the Reagan administration, we scared the Russians with the "threat" of SDI, or "star wars".  They went 'broke' trying to spend their way to innovation.  Pretty stupid, the communist system doesn't allow for freedom of thought, innovative thinking, they just demand it out of a few elite "family members".

In a conference in Chicago, mid 1980s, the presenter showed and demonstrated a single-board, mini-computer for us.  It was going in the Space Shuttles.  Innovation not locked up by the communist party bosses, but right there, where every kid could pick it up, see surface mount technology being developed, offer ideas, learn & have his/her mind stimulated for greater things.  In Russia or China, that kid might have been carrying water, digging potatoes, lending his/her back as manual labor, instead of expanding their minds to become the next generation of inventors.

America has the "right environment" for world leadership - we need to change out the leaders more often... it will take time to regain the world crown, with the help of visionary leadership.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: TXborn on March 18, 2016, 03:11:23 PM
Being a kid of the late 40s 'n 1950s, all the really crappy products were made in Japan --- hence JAP CRAP. Now, it's made in China --- hence CHINESE JUNK. To this date, while I'm sometimes forced to buy items made in Japan (like electronics) or kitchen appliances made in China, I REFUSE to buy Japanese automobiles & CHINK-made items like industrial tools, food products, clothing 'n footwear, rubberized waders, or home building products..!!
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on March 18, 2016, 05:30:54 PM
Quote from: TXborn on March 18, 2016, 03:11:23 PM
Being a kid of the late 40s 'n 1950s, all the really crappy products were made in Japan --- hence JAP CRAP. Now, it's made in China --- hence CHINESE JUNK. To this date, while I'm sometimes forced to buy items made in Japan (like electronics) or kitchen appliances made in China, I REFUSE to buy Japanese automobiles & CHINK-made items like industrial tools, food products, clothing 'n footwear, rubberized waders, or home building products..!!

I walked through a outdoors specialty store Wednesday - hard not to notice all the "made in china" stickers...
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: SalemCat on March 18, 2016, 06:21:52 PM
This was a decade ago.

I needed a product: It was a small stuffed Doll for the Retail Gift Trade.

So I visited a company in Boston famous for selling inexpensive, very similar items to Carnivals. All made in Asia. I trusted their expertise, and figured paying more for their experience was well worth it.

The samples were wonderful; the final product delivered: NOT.

The dolls were very ill-made; many broken in the package; and visibly DIRTY as well !

I rejected the entire order of 1000 pieces.

The GOOD NEWS: as a reputable US Based Company, they refunded me every dime.

The BAD NEWS: with nothing to sell, my company folded.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on March 19, 2016, 07:09:54 AM
Quote from: SalemCat on March 18, 2016, 06:21:52 PM
This was a decade ago.

I needed a product: It was a small stuffed Doll for the Retail Gift Trade.

So I visited a company in Boston famous for selling inexpensive, very similar items to Carnivals. All made in Asia. I trusted their expertise, and figured paying more for their experience was well worth it.

The samples were wonderful; the final product delivered: NOT.

The dolls were very ill-made; many broken in the package; and visibly DIRTY as well !

I rejected the entire order of 1000 pieces.

The GOOD NEWS: as a reputable US Based Company, they refunded me every dime.

The BAD NEWS: with nothing to sell, my company folded.

As a business habit, any complaint, I offer an immediate refund & the support line is always open.
To one location, were we introduce new products, we always offer to upgrade free, if they bring the old product back.  Business is growing.

What would a 35% or 45% tariff on imports do to us?  Our product cost might be unaffordable for our customer base in this niche market.  Retired people on fixed incomes are not very receptive to a 35-45% price hike for a non-necessity item.

What would a 100% buy American made be like?  If and a big -IF- we could talk someone into building the main component, our retail price for one item $30 would be over $200.  A second item would rise from $90 to $400, and our most expensive item $450 (main component from Germany), we'd shelve.

What is going to happen to Wally World?
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on May 19, 2016, 07:16:42 PM
Found another China manufacturer of a component I need, $25 per unit, min 100 piece order.
Now I'm just waiting for a sample to show up, if it looks good, I'll order.
There might be a few modifications, if there are, who knows how much it'll effect the price.

The nearly same component, just a little smaller - which is a headache - can be gotten for $70 +shipping, 5hrs from here.  I've been trying to bypass these guys and go direct for some time, I might have found the right place this time.

My finished "target price" is still $90, which has a component cost of $40 and assembly of $20-30, all hand-work by me.  Timing seems good, I had just developed, tested an improved "system" on a smaller unit, which despite rising costs, my assembly time & other component cost dropped considerably, and another vendor just asked to pick up my line of goods (unexpected, but timing was great). 

So far, so good - anticipating a 'break thru' with this product.  Best part, as one version finally matured from laboriously hand-building every little piece, we finally got a system in place to rapidly assemble the whole unit fast - in larger numbers, and the quality is significantly improved too!   Being that some of the same components are used in the larger version, we should have similar production results.

the larger version has been "out of stock" while we've been trying to get the components - quite frankly, I'd really given up.   Last couple of months, we've had a bunch of inquiries, so we took one last look, and now we got the fingers crossed...
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on May 25, 2016, 05:30:47 AM
Thanks to the language barrier, that 100 piece order was misunderstood, and fell through.  They came back with a quote 3x higher, a deal killer.  Back to Alibaba...  just learning how this works has been quite an education - I see why people don't bother with international trade, it is a real time waster if you can't speak the language.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on May 25, 2016, 06:52:50 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on May 25, 2016, 05:30:47 AM
Thanks to the language barrier, that 100 piece order was misunderstood, and fell through.  They came back with a quote 3x higher, a deal killer.  Back to Alibaba...  just learning how this works has been quite an education - I see why people don't bother with international trade, it is a real time waster if you can't speak the language.
:biggrin:

Quote from: Solar on October 25, 2015, 06:53:49 AM
Not I, but I looked into buying in lots of ten thousand or more for resale.
The horror stories went on for days. Not so much theft, but lack of translation, where ordering mistakes take place, wrong parts, amounts, colors. quality.
But the biggest complaint was a solid lack of quality and no recourse once the order is fulfilled.

I was considering ordering allot of solar panels, but a couple of respondents said that more than 30% of the panels either simply didn't work, or had worthless output.
That would completely negate any reason for ordering abroad killing off the gained profit that would have occurred.

I guess, research, research, and then do some more research to see if the company has any recurring complaints in any given area, like return issues, time to resolve complaints, and quality.
Caveatemptor.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: SalemCat on May 25, 2016, 09:11:58 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on May 25, 2016, 05:30:47 AM
Thanks to the language barrier, that 100 piece order was misunderstood, and fell through.  They came back with a quote 3x higher, a deal killer.  Back to Alibaba...  just learning how this works has been quite an education - I see why people don't bother with international trade, it is a real time waster if you can't speak the language.

Sorry to hear that.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on June 02, 2016, 05:23:28 PM
Quote from: SalemCat on May 25, 2016, 09:11:58 AM
Sorry to hear that.

The next attempt with another manufacturer ended after just ONE email.   People trying to sell me the wrong part, and insisting it's the "right" part - I make you very happy!   No... you make me very pissed & broke!
Title: Buying from China - more experience?
Post by: Hoofer on May 12, 2017, 05:42:08 AM
An Update - Well... the hit or miss buying experience from China has started missing.

Ordered 3 sets of lights, got 2.  They're cheap, so I opened a dispute, who knows if I'll get my $12.49 back.

Then I got 50 units of foot switches, they look like CRAP and do not actually contain a real switch - opened a dispute, that's a $250 purchase of worthless junk.  We'll see how that dispute goes...

Of the hits, I got better than I expected on several preterminated cables, was expecting chrome contacts, got gold plated!
A plastic foot switch, looks pretty cheap, has turned out to be a real gem, very light weight and portable, perfect for a grab-n-go radio.

LED strip lights have been a REAL hit or miss thing.  Order "daylight" and get yellow or blue or cool white.  Order cool white (they even list the color temp) and get a mixture of different colors - and, watch out for light output...   Some are 600 lumens, which slowly dimmed, the most recent are 900 lumens, color is perfect and they are excellent.

Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on May 20, 2017, 03:02:04 PM
It's a crap shoot, dealing with China directly.

The 50 foot switches are junk, the seller doesn't want them back, and offered to refund me $98 to cover shipping - must be figuring, "this stuff is JUNK!!!  Why do I want to see it again?!?"

Silence on the missing light.  They're really nice tail lights for a trailer, even have a backup light built into them!
Don't know how the heck I'll wire those in, but they're nice LED lights, even without the backup light wired.

Still waiting on a few more parts, ordered weeks ago.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on May 24, 2017, 05:24:53 PM
Today, good parts arrived, 50 of the good foot switches, I have to put cords on them, but they are good quality, with real micro-switches in them, and look good as well.  Why didn't I order these instead, when I KNEW they were good...?   Because another vendor had a similar looking one, similar description, with the cord already installed, at the same price.

A total "crap shoot" buying from China.   If you get STUCK like I did with junk, that's when you find out what "free shipping" was all about.
They build it into the price, of course, and when you want to return it for your money back, suddenly, Surprise!!! 

Just about 1/2 of the cost of those 50 bad foot switches was... you probably guessed, SHIPPING at a *highly discounted* rate.
If you really *want* to return ship, you'll easily lose over 1/2 your purchase (and built in shipping cost) to get back anything.

Seriously...   I spent $240 to buy these switches, shipping included in the purchase price - so it was "hidden".
After filing a "dispute" over the function and quality of the switches, the options I have are:

1.  Get back $98 and basically throw the crap away (rather than risk the fledgling company reputation selling trash at any price, or giving away junk)
2.  Return ship at MY expense for almost $200, due to the size & weight of the box, to get back the entire $240 (my shipping cost is not refundable).
3.  Say nothing, and say, "Oh well, it's a gamble and I just lost $240".

I'll take the $98 settlement, and be out $142... that is, if they will actually follow through with the agreed settlement, and not pull one of these "gift certificate" or "credit" deals.

The lesson in this, if you're buying direct from China, be sure you can afford to throw that money away.   These are not Americans, and have absolutely no "reputation" to worry about, it's like the worst of the worst from Craigslist or Ebay - and you have no recourse... you're gonna get excited about.   When you manage a good deal, be THANKFUL... they come and go like the wind, here today and gone the next.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on May 24, 2017, 05:54:47 PM
OOPS!,, Sorry, I forgot to pass this little nugget along. I was warned about products that require manual labor, they told me to avoid the little stuff that only takes a second to assemble at home.
He used to buy wire harnesses, opted for them to tin the ends at only a nickel per unit, something he hated doing, so he paid.
What he got was not what anyone in the industry considered up to par, wound up snipping everyone and skinning and tinning all over again, cost more time and money in the long run.
Like you, he too thought "What a bargain", but at least he always got his order, not always what he wanted, but something always showed up. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on June 09, 2017, 05:08:27 AM
Quote from: Solar on May 24, 2017, 05:54:47 PM
OOPS!,, Sorry, I forgot to pass this little nugget along. I was warned about products that require manual labor, they told me to avoid the little stuff that only takes a second to assemble at home.
He used to buy wire harnesses, opted for them to tin the ends at only a nickel per unit, something he hated doing, so he paid.
What he got was not what anyone in the industry considered up to par, wound up snipping everyone and skinning and tinning all over again, cost more time and money in the long run.
Like you, he too thought "What a bargain", but at least he always got his order, not always what he wanted, but something always showed up. :biggrin:

Yeah, they don't "tin" leads like we'd expect, they're dipped in lead.   I noticed all the soldier joints weren't firming up like normal soldier... I'd have to blow on them to cool them down, seemed like a long time..?   Until I used a little bit of 60/40 soldier over them, and watching the two mix under the magnifying glass was interesting.  Their soldier seemed to stay "soft" and had a course, dull look, my soldier was shiney and firmed up quickly... to a nice reflective sheen.  What they did would work, I suppose...  wonder if a good "yank" on the wires could pull them right out of the "china-soldier-joint"?

Now it makes more sense why I've heard, "if you need a specialty item, provide specifications, including the materials & process".

As I've said, buying anything from China is a total crap shoot, a real hit-or-miss.   Sort of reminds me of the American cars of the 1970's, cost engineering to last only 100k miles... then the engine fails, wheel bearings, brakes & collapses in a heap of rust.  I still remember Bill Cosby's "Aluminized Wax" undercoating commercials for Ford.  (how many car washes would it take to wash off that undercoating?)
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on June 09, 2017, 05:42:59 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on June 09, 2017, 05:08:27 AM
Yeah, they don't "tin" leads like we'd expect, they're dipped in lead.   I noticed all the soldier joints weren't firming up like normal soldier... I'd have to blow on them to cool them down, seemed like a long time..?   Until I used a little bit of 60/40 soldier over them, and watching the two mix under the magnifying glass was interesting.  Their soldier seemed to stay "soft" and had a course, dull look, my soldier was shiney and firmed up quickly... to a nice reflective sheen.  What they did would work, I suppose...  wonder if a good "yank" on the wires could pull them right out of the "china-soldier-joint"?

Now it makes more sense why I've heard, "if you need a specialty item, provide specifications, including the materials & process".

As I've said, buying anything from China is a total crap shoot, a real hit-or-miss.   Sort of reminds me of the American cars of the 1970's, cost engineering to last only 100k miles... then the engine fails, wheel bearings, brakes & collapses in a heap of rust.  I still remember Bill Cosby's "Aluminized Wax" undercoating commercials for Ford.  (how many car washes would it take to wash off that undercoating?)
Yep, people think China is like the US when filling orders for specialty orders, it is not.
One province may make great woven hats but if you want it with a beaded band, you're asking for a whole other specialty service.

China only in the last few decades learned what we've taught them, and only have the capabilities because business here built and trained them in these new industries, from cars to phones, but not every province has these technologies, what speciality work you want done may be 1000 miles away from the supplier you're working with, so they do what they can to accommodate.
Yeah, here in the US things are very different, it's not that the Chinese are trying to screw the customer over, he's just trying his best to fill the order, just not up to the standard we're used to.

When I was in Korea I was walking through the village, saw an artist painting beautiful landscapes, asked if he would do my portrait, he said "give me picture, come back 3 days", I did, I still have the painting hanging on the wall, in part as a joke, but mostly as a reminder to always ask for detailed questions and make clear what you expect. Yeah, the painting looks like the work of a 6 year old.
He wasn't trying to screw me, he truly tried his best, it just wasn't something he could do, so the lesson I learned, was the Asain culture assumes you did your homework and made the choice to work within their range of expertise.
That took some getting used to, because here in the US, we usually send the customer to someone qualified to do the work.

Yes, if you went to a jeweler with a toothache, he would gladly extract your tooth, but you'd never do that here, but in Asia, things are very different, kind of like the Old West, where the barber did tooth extractions.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on June 11, 2017, 06:31:07 AM
I just got in a pile of LED light bulbs.   In light output, they would be 30w, 60w, 120w.   We have rather dirty power, for a real scare, plug in a VOM and watch the voltage bouncing up and down. ...yeah, those sensitive electronics are absorbing all that crap.

The last batch lasted less than one year, they say the power limiter(s) were poorly made, and frequently failed.
This batch is suppose to be better.   Cold temperatures have killed several we had on the porch & outdoor ceiling fan.

My cost per bulb is 20% of the cost from a local big box store. 

One of my concerns was RF interference - nope, there is none, unlike the florescent twisters I got from a local store.
... we'll see how they do...
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: walkstall on June 11, 2017, 07:07:41 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on June 11, 2017, 06:31:07 AM
I just got in a pile of LED light bulbs.   In light output, they would be 30w, 60w, 120w.   We have rather dirty power, for a real scare, plug in a VOM and watch the voltage bouncing up and down. ...yeah, those sensitive electronics are absorbing all that crap.

The last batch lasted less than one year, they say the power limiter(s) were poorly made, and frequently failed.
This batch is suppose to be better.   Cold temperatures have killed several we had on the porch & outdoor ceiling fan.

My cost per bulb is 20% of the cost from a local big box store. 

One of my concerns was RF interference - nope, there is none, unlike the florescent twisters I got from a local store.
... we'll see how they do...


All I know is Solar and my son told me about the LED lights.  As I had a lot of lights I did not get any.   My son about a year a go got me a 4 pack of LED Daylight 60W.  As we are old we used 100W so we can see at our age.  My son replace all my wife reading 100 w bulbs, with the LED Daylight 60W and she loves it. 

No way would she go back to the 100W.  So I replaced every light in the house with LED Daylight 60W, we have no dark areas in the house now.  Also I was replacing a light in the house about ever two or three months.  The LED's have been in for over a year now and I have not replaced a one.  In my computer room I was replacing 2 light about every two months.  I have yet to replace the LED lights.  I also no longer need a desk lamp.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on June 11, 2017, 09:53:41 AM
Quote from: walkstall on June 11, 2017, 07:07:41 AM

All I know is Solar and my son told me about the LED lights.  As I had a lot of lights I did not get any.   My son about a year a go got me a 4 pack of LED Daylight 60W.  As we are old we used 100W so we can see at our age.  My son replace all my wife reading 100 w bulbs, with the LED Daylight 60W and she loves it. 

No way would she go back to the 100W.  So I replaced every light in the house with LED Daylight 60W, we have no dark areas in the house now.  Also I was replacing a light in the house about ever two or three months.  The LED's have been in for over a year now and I have not replaced a one.  In my computer room I was replacing 2 light about every two months.  I have yet to replace the LED lights.  I also no longer need a desk lamp.
Yep, in just a few years the color rendition of the new LED lights has taken leaps and bounds over old style LED. Just a few years ago you couldn't beat the 80 light wave spectrum of a small halogen, while today LED outputs are hitting 100, and still improving on the red and green wave lengths end of the output spectrum.
Phillips, Cree, and many other leading manufacturers are upgrading light output monthly, but there is even hope of bringing back the old incandescent bulb with a leading light wave output that could make all bulbs obsolete overnight.

https://www.sott.net/article/319204-Return-of-incandescent-light-bulbs-as-MIT-makes-them-more-efficient-than-LEDs
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on June 11, 2017, 12:57:44 PM
Well, this batch of LEDs - yes, I ran around the farmhouse, replacing everything...  LOL - well, they are as I've said before, not the color temperature I expected.  Even though they all use the same LEDs type "5730", they range from cool white to daylight.

The box(s) say "cool daylight" .... meh... maybe.  Rated for 60k hours, we'll see about that too.  Like I said, it's a crap shoot, sometimes you get a winner, sometimes a loser.  Manufacturer name is Foxanon.

The big ones, with 136 LEDs are -very- bright.  ...as in, the cure for SADD.   They're going in the living areas.  Wifey loves the bright white light for reading in the dining room.
Medium size is 64 LEDs, pretty much the same is a 60watt light bulb, just more on the cool white side.
Small ones are 30 LEDs, I'll use those in appliances.

I am NOT throwing away the old florescent twister bulbs, they'll get used if these things fail.   Voltage rating is 100-140vac, pretty much in line with what we get... LOLOLOL

I do have a handful of 30 LED lamps which have lasted a long time - as long as they aren't subjected to COLD.  Sorry, no brand name.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on June 11, 2017, 02:09:28 PM
Quote from: Hoofer on June 11, 2017, 06:31:07 AM
I just got in a pile of LED light bulbs.   In light output, they would be 30w, 60w, 120w.   We have rather dirty power, for a real scare, plug in a VOM and watch the voltage bouncing up and down. ...yeah, those sensitive electronics are absorbing all that crap.

The last batch lasted less than one year, they say the power limiter(s) were poorly made, and frequently failed.
This batch is suppose to be better.   Cold temperatures have killed several we had on the porch & outdoor ceiling fan.

My cost per bulb is 20% of the cost from a local big box store. 

One of my concerns was RF interference - nope, there is none, unlike the florescent twisters I got from a local store.
... we'll see how they do...
Just curious, is that a true sinewave meter you're using? If your voltage is fluctuating that much using a true sinewave meter, you may want to have the utility check your transformer, it could be failing.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on June 12, 2017, 04:51:37 PM
Quote from: Solar on June 11, 2017, 02:09:28 PM
Just curious, is that a true sinewave meter you're using? If your voltage is fluctuating that much using a true sinewave meter, you may want to have the utility check your transformer, it could be failing.
It is a true sinewave VOM, I can put it on a scope, and take a picture of it - anything other than "clean power".   I have several Fluke VOMs, and a very nice quad-trace oscilloscope (yes, I'm an electronic porn junkie, if it consumes, measures, converts or generates power - I'm a fan of it.)

We the 2nd to last on a dozen mile long leg, powering several farms... which means old motors that inject all kinds of crap back into the line.
Without putting a scope on it, for proof, meh, it's still bad enough the VOM just bounces up and down like a ping pong ball, summer or winter - we have FEW purely resistive loads, all kinds of electrically noisy crap.... too bad I can't harness those capacitive induced voltage spikes.

the other  day, as I was driving to work, I was noticing all the pole hung transformers with burn & rust blotches from exceeding the limits, or low voltage & overheating.   Meh, it adds to the fall colors, they blend right in with the trees - those orange & red... probably glow a burnt-umber color on a cold, cloudy winter night.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Solar on June 12, 2017, 07:12:01 PM
Quote from: Hoofer on June 12, 2017, 04:51:37 PM
It is a true sinewave VOM, I can put it on a scope, and take a picture of it - anything other than "clean power".   I have several Fluke VOMs, and a very nice quad-trace oscilloscope (yes, I'm an electronic porn junkie, if it consumes, measures, converts or generates power - I'm a fan of it.)

We the 2nd to last on a dozen mile long leg, powering several farms... which means old motors that inject all kinds of crap back into the line.
Without putting a scope on it, for proof, meh, it's still bad enough the VOM just bounces up and down like a ping pong ball, summer or winter - we have FEW purely resistive loads, all kinds of electrically noisy crap.... too bad I can't harness those capacitive induced voltage spikes.

the other  day, as I was driving to work, I was noticing all the pole hung transformers with burn & rust blotches from exceeding the limits, or low voltage & overheating.   Meh, it adds to the fall colors, they blend right in with the trees - those orange & red... probably glow a burnt-umber color on a cold, cloudy winter night.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
It just dawned on me, the last time I ran a check on a utility was before the solar BS, which is another issue with peaks, surges, and dropouts, but you're right, 12 miles with heavy equipment in between makes for a Hell of a ride.
Title: Re: Buying from China?
Post by: Hoofer on June 14, 2017, 05:35:34 AM
As a fair warning for anyone trying ALIEXPRESS, or ALIBABA - if you spend money, expect it to be GONE FOREVER.

the "buyer protection" pages, "open a dispute" and fair treatment, get a refund...   fat chance.  I've been waiting 2 months for refunds, 2 of them, and absolutely nothing is happening.  They're not even claiming I've been refunded, Oh, it's settled, the amount to be refunded is agreed upon.  No check, no reversal on the credit card, no account credit - nada, nothing. 

Completely empty promises.

One item I was shorted, ordered 3, got 2.  They agreed, but haven't credited me, nor shipped the missing piece.  $12 is gone like vaporware.
The other item, 50 foot switches, which cost almost $100 to return ship, and repayment would be questionable...  we settled on a $98 repayment to my credit card - got nothing.  Went through the entire dispute process, followed all their steps, agreed, got nothing.

Forget the Credit card Companies - these processes take so long, you're put well outside their ability to stop payment.

The Chinese will take your money and run - AliExpress is no different, it's a total crap shoot.... but I've said that, haven't I.