Robert M.

I have bought many items from this site. Model rc tank parts mostly but also some shirts and a purse for my wife. I have had about 98% success rate, most of the vendors are quite good, will even ship fast, and are honest. The easy way to tell if they are likely to be reliable is to see how long in business, and how many different items they sell. There are a lot of large chinese companies on AE and for the most part these are reliable. Otherwise they wouldn't be big companies after all. A vendor selling a whole bunch of products is probably going to get your product to you in under a month. Also check, if they show it, how many transactions they have done. Some also have reviews although who knows how reliable those are?! I have mostly used Mato mart and Heng long store. These companies are big, so I suppose, they are not going to do disreputable practices and they haven't-everything i bought from them has been delivered as described and within 3 weeks. Other places/vendors NOT linked to a large store-it's a real throw of the dice alright! I've been taken once or twice. One thing I never do, unless i've done lots of business with them before - I never order more then TWO things at one time! Some of them will fail to deliver one or more of the more expensive items, perhaps, hoping you won't notice-"save much money"!. The price of many items on AE are extremely tempting as they are meant to be. Just dont expect quality goods of any kind, they dont sell quality in anything, just utilitarian value. I avoid buying most types of shoes or clothing -that goes for any net company not just AE - also Chinese sizes seem to be different. If you want to buy from a store, buy something under $10 and see if they deliver it. If they pass that test, then and only then order something a bit more expensive. Third times the charm if you want to be cautious.

There is much talk in the "media" about "Ali Express" overtaking Amazon as a retailing internet giant. Fat chance, i say. Fat chance (no thats NOT the name of an AE Vendor)