Best Items on Ali Express to Purchase
This post forms the second of our article series. In the first one we look at technology for the classroom. In this one we we would look at Aliexpress which has become one of our favourite online shopping stores to use. Having recently introduced some of our friends to this phenomenon, we wanted to take a look at some of the often asked questions about it, as well as some of the items that we think are best about it.
What is Aliexpress?
It is a platform to buy items on, much like Amazon but based in China. It is not to be confused with Alibaba which is within the same group of companies but deals more with wholesale buyers.
Can anyone buy from Aliexpress?
Pretty much yes. To be able to buy you will need to create an account and then if you wish add a payment card to make checkout easier each time (although you do not have to do this and can just pay each time).
Is it safe to buy from?
This maybe the most asked question in relation to this topic. To answer this I will only say that I have bought from it many times and never had a problem with payment or the item. On the one occasion where I had purchased an item (a phone case) that had got lost in the post, the company not only contacted me to let me know if had got lost (rather than the other way round) but offered me an immediate refund (which was put back on my PayPal the same day) and also gave me a discount for the next time I shopped at their store. Obviously as with any shopping site there will be people who have the occasional issue, however Aliexpress has a buyer protection scheme allowing you to put in a claim if your item does not arrive within the specified time periods.
What is the quality of the items like?
Again, I will answer this based on my own experiences. The vast majority of the items that I have bought (at least 95%) have been at the quality expected or often even better. This being said, you should also have realistic expectations based on the price that you are paying and the item that you purchasing.
Will the goods be fake?
This is a very good question and the answer is some of the time depending upon what you are buying. Generally speaking I would veer away from branded goods, however there are some exclusions to this. I recently purchased the Pocophone F1 (global version) on Aliexpress and am now happily using it even as I type.
How long will the item take to deliver?
This is another good question and the answer is it depends on what you order, who you order it from and where you live. When you make an order Aliexpress will always provide a number of days that it will be delivered between. Unfortunately this can be very wide, for example between 20 and 50 days. In general, many of the deliveries that I have ordered have taken between 20 and 30 days to arrive, however with very small items it has been as quick as a week or 10 days to the United Kingdom. The good news is that shipping is often free and items can often be delivered to most countries in the world.
So if you have read this and have now decided that you would like to open account and to start buying items, the next question is what should you buy? This really is down to you as there are a vast amount of categories to choose from and items to choose from. Obviously with the purchase of clothes you will need to makre sure of the sizes, but you can always email the seller and ask for extra information about an item if you want to know more.
Below we have put together a list of some of our favourite items to buy from Aliexpress although there are many many others to choose from.
1. Pocophone F1
It would be remiss of me not to have the Pocophone F1 as our first recommendation as this has now become my favourite mobile phone that I have owned to date. If you are a new user, you should be able to make use of the $100 off, but even if you can’t, this is still an extremely affordable phone. With 6GB of ram and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with liquid cool technology processor (a processor that you would only really expect to find on much pricier models), this is one of the best performing phones on the market. The 6.18 full HD+ screen provides for a great viewing experience, whilst you can also get up to 256GB of internal storage as well as a micro SD card. In addition the headphone jack is still in the phone. The phone does not have NFC which is a potential drawback. We highly recommend this model if you are looking for a new phone and Aliexpress is the cheapest place to purchase it from, as well as delivering all of the world.
2. Silk Ties
Our second recommendation from Aliexpress is their range of ties. These are inexpensive items, from only $3.29 each. We have found these ties to be stylish and suitable for everyday working attire, and being offered in a range of colours and patterns, there is bound to be something that can match your style.
3. Colm V11 Smart Watch
The Colmi V11 smartwatch is a stylish smartwatch offered for a price of just under $30. For this, you gain a watch that is able to monitor a range of fitness options and alerts you to messages and incoming calls when paired with your smartphone. The round face looks good as does the minimalist display. The watch will monitor your heart rate throughout the day, and the watch will provide up to 5 days of usage time in between charging. By pairing with the app on your smartphone, you are able to see information about your fitness regimes in detail as well as adapt items such as the watch face. We believe this is a great watch for the money, so get yours now by clicking on the button below.
4. Bluedio T2+ Wireless Headphones
The Bluedio T2+ wireless headphones are stylish and available in different colours if blue isn’t your thing. At around $22 per pair (depending upon the option you choose), these headphones are comfortable to use, pair easily with your electronic device and offer a great sound quality. With a built in microphone, they allow for phone conversation or office work. The active noise cancellation help to keep you immersed in your music, game play or work, whilst the look of the device is stylish and sleek. Overhead earphones certainly won’t be for everyone, however we do recommend this pair.
