Has anyone purchased from Ali Express?
Was it delivered?
Was it as expected?
I am pondering buying a branded product that is more than 50% cheaper via Ali Express including postage.
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I have probably a delivery a week or more from them. Mostly low cost electronics stuff but I've bought a few larger things.
They have a returns policy, you can return one item from each order within 30 days usually. I have used that quite a bit.
I was probably one of the earlier adopters for using them (earliest I can easily find was Jan 2018, when it was AliBaba) and without doubt their offering has improved. Used to be 60 day delivery, now it's 8. But then again I never used to pay VAT, and prices were much cheaper.
I would be a little cautious of anything branded which is too cheap to be true, as I feel there are sometimes knock-offs on sale there, just like on our very own (!) eBay and Amazon. What item is it you're looking at? But compared to UK prices I have saved loads of money on like-for-like and identical things.
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>>Too cheap to be true...
Yes, I think this is, it's about 1/3 of the price it should be.
www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008741209570.html
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Don't you mean it's about 1/3 of the price here, which doesn't mean that's what it should be, or what it's worth! :-) Lots of stuff has vastly different prices in different countries, according to all kinds of things but one would be relative affluence and ability to pay.
If I were in the market for something like that I'd go for that one. It does have the 90 day returns.
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>> Yes, I think this is, it's about 1/3 of the price it should be.
>> >> www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008741209570.html
A couple of these were used (briefly) on a lawned area in front of some alms houses. They were nicked!
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Yes I have, and bang good. All has been as expected and shiping faster than advertised.
Temu, on the other hand you have to be very careful with, you rarely get what you expect.
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Thanks, just placed an order, fingers crossed.
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I’ve just googled Ali express trust pilot
I recommend having a look.
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How does VAT and excise duty work?
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All the stuff I buy now has VAT included in the price. Not sure about excise, does that only apply over a certain value? If so you may well be charged it on delivery.
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I've ordered from Ali about half a dozen times - electronic gubbins less than £100 in value, small and light so I've never been charged import duty. A cordless mower is going to attract attention because of it's size and weight so they're going to look at it's value as well.
It appears that the import duty for common or garden electric mowers is 0% (Commodity Code 843311) but there might be exceptions for cordless stuff so probably worth contacting them to ask.
www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/subheadings/8433110000-10?day=10&month=5&year=2025
If there is import duty to pay the shipping agent's UK representative will usually contact you and ask for payment before they can get it released from customs and deliver. They may even charge you an admin fee.
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Yes that's reminded me of a bottle of half decent brandy I wanted for a friends 70th. It was something like £130 here but I found it on a French site for £70ish. But the import etc duties soaked up a lot of the saving!
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Maltrap - you trust Trustpilot?
Just look at the other reviews posted on other products/sites by the top few with multiple reviews. They are at best professional complainers. and some are quite possibly scammers trying to get product for nothing by saying it's not delivered or good quality.
I would imagine that people who are satisfied rarely bother to leave reviews. I know I don't usually, unless I am unhappy about something.
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I suggested looking at Trustpilot, then make your own mind up.
I agree that professional complaints may use it.
I also believe if something is too good to be true,it probably is.
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When I use eBay I prefer sellers with 100% feedback
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I ventured into the robot mower market 2 years ago. At a lower price point. I currently have an Einhell 500BT which has given me hours of intellectual stimulus making it work for me and also hours of zen time just watching it!
Minor comments - be prepared to spend time laying the boundary cable and respect the guide lines. The simplified user interface on the mower takes time to understand, probably easier if you read the instructions.
Major shortcomings - the latest Bluetooth app on Android is now much better than originally but still has some unspecified problems and range is limited to 30m. The range issue does not prevent it working, just setting up and remotely controlling when running. Running App on iphone 6E was better with the old version, not explored on newer phone/software.
Whilst the mower will cope with surprising bumps, drain cover etc and gradients the major failing in my case is it does not like down gradients on the boundary wire. it has a tendency to run out and an stop at one particular area when returning home to charge. I have overcome this using proprietary spiked wheels, but possibly not for the faint hearted in terms of required modifications, probably invalidating any warranty.
Good points - cuts the grass well - well built - software updates for the mower appear annually. Good support from UK help line.
The newer more expensive versions have much improved functionality, but if you have poorly defined edges to the cutting area I would still suggest a wired boundary.
Overall verdict- it has paid for itself if f you were to factor in the cost of a gardener to cut the lawn weekly over just one summer. Would I buy one again of this make - at the price I paid, definitely a YES.
If you are expecting to set up and leave for a 6 week holiday without any manual intervention, think again. I remotely monitor using a video camera and call in favors as required. The best so far is 2 weeks without manual intervention, cutting daily.
If you are a stripe junky you will need to go up market.
I have also abused mine and the setup - and use it to cut seperate areas at the front, with the necessary (visual) security supervision
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Ali Express - smokie
