Do you know who sells on Aliexpress, and to a large extent on eBay? The very same shady Chinese/Indian sellers peddling counterfiet products you are seeking to avoid by not shopping on Amazon.
Aliexpress was literally set up as a direct-to-US-market Chinese factory marketplace, which results in 99% counterfeit and knock-off products being pushed directly to consumers.
Sure, but it's obvious, unlike Amazon where you get duped. So if you want a real name brand product you shop at none of the above, and if you want cheap junk you go to AliExpress. There's not a large reason to roll the dice on something in between (Amazon) unless you want junk with much faster shipping and streamlined returns (at double the price of AE).
It's just super ironic the parent post said they avoid counterfeits and knock-offs by shopping on Aliexpress. Aliexpress is basically counterfeit and knock-off central...
On Amazon, look at who the seller is. If it's Amazon or the actual manufacturer, you'll be fine. For the rest, you need to do some additional research on the seller's business - but it's understandable to not want to do that effort.
With that said, you can't actually lose on Amazon. Just return the item for a full refund and select "not as advertised" as the return reason. You'll get a free pre-paid return label, or drop off at a local store. I've bought plenty of expensive electronics on Amazon without reasonable fear.
> It's just super ironic the parent post said they avoid counterfeits and knock-offs by shopping on Aliexpress. Aliexpress is basically counterfeit and knock-off central...
You said "the parent post said they avoid counterfeits and knock-offs by shopping on Aliexpress" which I'm afraid is incorrect given that the post in question said "Amazon [is] no longer my first source [for] generic gizmos, [...] I'll go Aliexpress, eBay, and Walmart first" (if I may rearrange for clarity without changing the meaning).
"Generic gizmos" roughly equates to "counterfeits and knock-offs" in my book, and that commenter isn't trying to avoid them when shopping at AliExpress and formerly Amazon. That's separate from the situations where they do want to avoid knock-offs, listed separately from all of this.
Read the full paragraph yet again, carefully and closely:
Most of what I will buy on Amazon are generic gizmos, like kids toys, cables, generic keyboards, battery chargers, basic tools, and basic clothing (kids pyjamas and that sort of thing). However, it's no longer my first source. I'll go Aliexpress, eBay, and Walmart first.
Reading comprehension questions:
* Amazon is a source for the author for what type of products?
* Author prefers Aliexpress and eBay over Amazon. Therefore, what types of products does the author buy there?
* Does preferring those vendors over Amazon mean or imply that the author will buy things he does not buy on Amazon there instead?
I apologize, in advance, by the didactic approach. Some people, especially from some high-context American communication styles, will believe it implies that I'm being patronizing. However, it is not intended to be; I'm from a different culture with different communication styles. I am using it since it is effective for identifying miscommunications and / or explaining misconceptions. Given that this is my third shot now, I thought it made sense to give it a shot, at the risk of offending people across cultural backgrounds.
Do you know who sells on Aliexpress, and to a large extent on eBay? The very same shady Chinese/Indian sellers peddling counterfiet products you are seeking to avoid by not shopping on Amazon.
Aliexpress was literally set up as a direct-to-US-market Chinese factory marketplace, which results in 99% counterfeit and knock-off products being pushed directly to consumers.