Ali-Express - pleasantly surprised!

[Al Krow]

A fair few of us have been buying kit via AliExpress eg as an alternative to Amazon. It can sometimes be significantly cheaper!

 

What I've really appreciated about Amazon is the secure knowlege of getting a full refund if the item is not suitable, never gets delivered etc.

 

I recently ordered a camera lens off AliXP - wrong model sent by retailer. I was half expecting to have to take a hit, but return, postage paid, was to a UK warehouse, even though the original product was from China, where they are made for global export.

 

Full refund received today.

[tauzero]

I ordered an A-B switch on July 16th, and it arrived on the 23rd in time to use that evening. Which was nice.

 

I've had to return a couple of items, it's great being able to return them to a UK address - the most recent one, I got the refund before the returned item could have got to the return address which was excellent.

[martin8708]

I have been looking at their Chibson SJ200 copies for around the £250 mark .

I struggle with dreadnought size guitars and the narrower waist of the SJ200 may make it easier to manage .

Far easier to buy a copy ( then sell on ) than dropping £4000 on the real thing . 

[bass_dinger]

I do like a Gibson J200 - I was a big fan of the Reverend Gary Davis who used them for his fingerpicked blues.  However, I could never afford the real thing.

 

So, off to Ali Express I go.  Strictly browsing....

 

[prowla]

On 24/07/2025 at 20:06, martin8708 said:

I have been looking at their Chibson SJ200 copies for around the £250 mark .

I struggle with dreadnought size guitars and the narrower waist of the SJ200 may make it easier to manage .

Far easier to buy a copy ( then sell on ) than dropping £4000 on the real thing . 

I think AliExpress is fine for getting things which are the exact same as what you'd get from Amazon/etc. but much cheaper.

However, based on comments in an FB group, that's not precisely the case for copy guitars and the quality and accuracy can be quite variable.

There are some sellers who use pics of real ones in their ads, which is not what you're going to get.

Also (of course) the £250 Chibson is not a £4000 real one, so it's not like-for-like.

Plus, you may find it difficult to sell one on, depending on where you want to offer it.

So, a £250 Chibson is ok for a bit of fun, but it then becomes a £150 plank.

There are people who put money into upgrades, but it might be better just getting something better (Epi, Vintage, etc.) to start with.

[tegs07]

I honestly don’t see the point of buying knock off chinese instruments for £200+ plus. There are loads of used instruments on Basschat marketplace that will be loads better for the same price and will still be worth what you pay for them 10 years later. The Ali express knock offs will most likely be firewood.

[bass_dinger]

1 hour ago, tegs07 said:

I honestly don’t see the point of buying knock off chinese instruments for £200+ plus. There are loads of used instruments on Basschat marketplace that will be loads better for the same price and will still be worth what you pay for them 10 years later. The Ali express knock offs will most likely be firewood.

 

Good point, well made.

 

No Ali Express for me, especially when the real thing is available - and I can try before I buy.  

[prowla]

6 hours ago, tegs07 said:

I honestly don’t see the point of buying knock off chinese instruments for £200+ plus. There are loads of used instruments on Basschat marketplace that will be loads better for the same price and will still be worth what you pay for them 10 years later. The Ali express knock offs will most likely be firewood.

I see people who've bought one and spent money on upgrades and then trying to sell them on for what "it owes them".