Neil W.

Despite minor grammatical errors (Chinese company, understandable), the site flowed well from start to finish for my first time importing. I liked that communication with the supplier was done through the website to keep everyone honest. They have a "messenger" built into the site which helped me do everything from the free government phone I'm writing this review with. Perfect for my vows of Simplicity.
It all seemed great... until I made the seemingly harmless comment "at least we have the freedom to talk about our lack of freedom... for now." Alibaba Messenger replied: "Your message was not sent. It is a possible security threat." (Chinese company, understandable)
I was feeling pride in American free speech as Google's Gmail didn't censor my explanation of the incident to the supplier (though I know we prefer surveillance to censorship). Then the product was held at U.S. customs by the Anti Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team costing me about $460 instead of the original $200 in port charges. It was almost $900, all told, to get a $700 item to my door.
Only $130 covered trucking from deep inside China and shipping all the way across the Pacific. Most of the rest incurred sitting for half a month at the port terminal while bungling idiots rudely tore open the crate (ignoring the screws) trying to put a feather in their intensive examination caps.
I'm not anti-government, just anti-waste, and it's too bad they wasted so much time and money to see a silly rickshaw! That's when I saw first hand just how communist America's capitalism is (and how capitalist China's communism is).
Some would say this is just the cost of importing. I just thought anyone should know that for a small, one-time, personal shipment from Alibaba, shipping to your door could far exceed cost of item.
My item was large and heavy, but I eliminated the usual customs broker fees and tried to find cheap or free ways to file documents (again, online with the free phone I'm using now), clear customs, even driving to Long Beach myself and tying the crate to a modified-pallet-as-roofrack with rope on the top of an old station wagon National Lampoon's style!
Ultimately, this experience makes me wish I could have found a rickshaw in America, but they are decidedly unAmerican. Jane Goodall pointed out the importance of feeding ourselves with local produce. To "think globally, but act locally." I see how I'm still suckling at the China factory teat like most Americans.
In the spirit of DIY, I could have found the plans and built one, though not as fast or cheap as them. I've heard that, though Danish shortbread cookies are popular here around the holidays, American shortbread cookies are popular in Denmark! Why don't we just trade recipes instead.
Only Love, Neil :)