ALIExpress ... BS?
08-29-23 | 10:10 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 2,288
Yes, I have also read plenty on Chinese business dealings and it's pathological pragmatism. Western (i.e. high trust) societies certainly differ from China. In China, loyalty is applied only to the point that it pays to be loyal and not an iota beyond. Beyond that, anything goes. In China, trust exists only in the immediate familial realm or by the very closest of friendship ties.
I'm going to pass on the seatpost, or anything else, via Ali. A few posters of virtuous signal in here convinced me of that. Thanks to them.
I'm going to pass on the seatpost, or anything else, via Ali. A few posters of virtuous signal in here convinced me of that. Thanks to them.
08-29-23 | 10:23 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,299
Likes: 3,723
I'd say, it depends. I haven't heard of any chinese made electric bikes bursting into flame, but their TOTL electric automobiles seem to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOA7qKMcjcE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOA7qKMcjcE
08-30-23 | 05:07 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 856
Likes: 208
From: South Korea
Bikes: Merida Speeder
Aliexpress is fine for certain things. But that pricing thing is silly, it's just to spoof the algorithm (it's awful anyway) and to generate clicks. There will be an UNO seatpost for $17 or something like that, and some will have it as $16.72 with free shipping, others will go for $11.89 with $5.23 shipping, and then there will be guys who will advertise the seatpost for $3.56. When you click on it, you will see it's $3.56 for two Ti saddle bolts and $17.67 for the seatpost. It's a mild annoyance and I always go to one of the guys selling for $16.72 with free shipping, because they haven't wasted my time, however mildly.
08-30-23 | 08:32 AM
#30
The Wheezing Geezer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,858
Likes: 1,971
From: Española, NM
Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr., Libertas mixte, Raleigh Super Record mixte
In general, I think ragging on China about cheap crap is prejudiced and un-helpful.
And ragging on buying from China for political reasons is pointless and silly, IMO. Looking down on people for saving money is a position of great privilege, in modern terminology.
__________________
Beneath the valley of the underbikers.
Beneath the valley of the underbikers.
08-30-23 | 09:34 AM
#31
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 2
I've spent hundreds of dollars on AE including a groupset, a carbon wheelset, chains, saddles and stems. I've only gotten maybe two items that didn't perform up to expectations and that was for the very cheap stuff that I clearly should've spent more on. One of those was a $15 soldering iron that didn't solder and the other was a $2 multitool that bent upon first use.
Some stuff can be counterfeit but it should be obvious if one reads the listing. Just read and look carefully.
Some stuff can be counterfeit but it should be obvious if one reads the listing. Just read and look carefully.
08-30-23 | 09:45 AM
#32
Randomhead
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Closing for moderator review.
We don't allow political comments in the main forum. Most of you knew this already and some of you went ahead and made political comments anyway. Disappointing.
We don't allow political comments in the main forum. Most of you knew this already and some of you went ahead and made political comments anyway. Disappointing.
