I know Alibaba is just a tool to get purchasers and sellers together. And I've purchased breadboards, wires, ESD mat from there.
But what I'm leary about is buying electronic parts (Caps, Transistors, and the like). I see all kinds of brand names, but I'm paranoid of getting fakes.
Has anyone bought stuff like that from a seller?
But what I'm leary about is buying electronic parts (Caps, Transistors, and the like). I see all kinds of brand names, but I'm paranoid of getting fakes.
Has anyone bought stuff like that from a seller?
This should be an interesting thread. I too have wondered these same things. But you have more experience than I so a few basic questions:
1. It appears you ask for a quote(s), not a "shopping cart" experience?
2. It seemed to me that only huge quantity purchases apply?
3. Has the shipping and delivery times been "reasonable"?
1. It appears you ask for a quote(s), not a "shopping cart" experience?
2. It seemed to me that only huge quantity purchases apply?
3. Has the shipping and delivery times been "reasonable"?
There's two areas, I've used them both:
1. Alibaba. This is more for the bulk orders, more of a B2B setup.
2. Aliexpress. This is more of the 'ebay' style, B2P setup.
You can filter out min and maximum quantities, but if you're looking for single item purchases use Aliexpress. If it's not on Aliexpress, them send the seller a message about what you want, quantity, and shipping costs.
Shipping speed for me has been excellent. I get stuff faster from the pacific rim than I do from the U.S.
I needed 1m x 3m mat. The closest thing I could find at digikey was 0.6m x 1.2m and cost $94 (dunno how much shipping would be). I got .6m x 40m (yes, 40 meters) for $40! but shipping was $120 via DHL. That roll was HEAVY! After that I mainly focused on aliexpress and the free shipping. 🙂
Also I've only used this a couple times, but the sellers are on top of their game. The ESD mat person seemed to be watching the DHL status. When I missed the first delivery, they sent me an email AND text message to let me know that the first delivery was missed.
But that has been stuff that doesn't really matter about being fake..it works or it doesn't.
I'm interested too...
I saw some really terrific looking copies of classic american guitars shown on there. But how the heck are you to know if the actual item is not pure kludge or not?
Of course bogus electronic parts could be a bummer.
Curious to see what people have found.
_-_-bear
I saw some really terrific looking copies of classic american guitars shown on there. But how the heck are you to know if the actual item is not pure kludge or not?
Of course bogus electronic parts could be a bummer.
Curious to see what people have found.
_-_-bear
I hear people buying parts on ebay all the time, and apparently many of them are happy. Maybe most are, I surely don't know. As someone who owns and operates a commercial pro audio service facility, I myself would never buy any parts from anyone but a trusted supplier. How many fake transistors blowing up in one of my repairs does it take to wipe out any savings I might have had on price? Probably one. Wasted timne, effort, and other parts, plus an angry customer I might lose. Not worth it.
SO I stick to suppliers like Mouser, Allied, Digikey, and similar. And a few commercial sellers in the pro audio community for more specialized parts like tubes, transformer, and high voltage electrolytics.
Now that is about electronic components I use in repairs. If you are talking things like static mats, then I agree, "fake" loses its meaning.
SO I stick to suppliers like Mouser, Allied, Digikey, and similar. And a few commercial sellers in the pro audio community for more specialized parts like tubes, transformer, and high voltage electrolytics.
Now that is about electronic components I use in repairs. If you are talking things like static mats, then I agree, "fake" loses its meaning.
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