Re: What have you just bought?
 

AliExpress is decent if you know how to use it. I get all my phone cases from there. An original Google logo black case for my pixel 9 pro xl £2.65. OnePlus 9 Pro cases £2.60, a leather wallet case £7.82. Xiaomi Mix 3 5G case £2.74. Xiaomi Mi4C case £2.24.

I like how they have somewhat subsidised the no tax aspect now offering choice bundles that qualify for free delivery. It's kind of mind boggling how postal services in China manage to group all the items together in one big parcel.

Other things I've ordered are bracelets 29p to £1.59. Stud earrings 84p. USB c 3meter and 2 meter 100w, 150w cables £3.23 and £3.59. Some yupoo traders use the platform for payment which makes the transaction soo much secure. Nicely designed toothpicks £2.15. A cat patterned fan dustproof cover £1.55. OnePlus Watch straps £1.55 and £1.01. Nohon replacement battery for my Xiaomi Mi4C £8.95. Headphone ear pad replacements £1.75. 100 Disposable shoe covers £1.35.

I do wonder how they make money especially during the days of no tax.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

mass production and poorly paid labour that is how they do it

---------- Post added at 17:50 ---------- Previous post was at 17:23 ----------

Not just bought it but been offered it and will be buying it haha Nice second user Ultra Light Road bike with stupid thin wheels for me to carefully choose a fast route with good roads haha

Re: What have you just bought?
 

Soft paper bedding for my hamster, he can now enjoy digging if he wishes.


He's roughly 22 months old.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

Two pairs of glasses and two pairs of prescription sunglasses

Nearly burst into tears at the bill

Re: What have you just bought?
 

All Amazon in spring sale, some good savings.

Slow close loo seat
Duvet cover
2 belts
Cargo shorts
2 half moon wall basket liners(left it too late last year and everywhere sold out)
XL Drying towel for car
Hose pipe spray gun

Re: What have you just bought?
 

I try to get frames re-glazed. Some frames aren't worth it at some opticians but my Flexons and Silhouette Pur-titaniums certainly are. The latter frames I got in 1996 for sailing, tough and salt-water proof and polarised lenses. The brand still can make the lenses for older frames.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

Two pairs of Navy football socks, boots scrubbing brush and miniature toiletries for my trip to Oxford for the Euros from Wednesday.

So excited now.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

£20.17 worth of stuff from Lidl. I needed £20.03 to get 10% off most stuff off next Monday.

---------- Post added at 19:08 ---------- Previous post was at 17:43 ----------

The days of bargains from the likes of AliExpress and Temu are apparently numbered.

The EU (and UK) have been under a lot of pressure by people like High St shops to "level the playing field" and apply excise duties (Tariffs for Trump) and VAT to imports from places like China via those sites.

Temu announced that a warehouse will open in the UK first, with all goods taxed at the local rate before they go on sale here, and dispatched direct from that warehouse after Customs approval.

That will, of course, mean an end to the magical free post and packing.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

David Beckham being the gift he is isn't as powerful as he may think. By marketing for AliExpress he sought to end counterfeit goods of his own name at the very least but going after the act as a whole. I can tell you AliExpress sellers don't care. They still mark down items. I don't believe the trade is gone. There is and always will be a market for no branded goods.

Israel don't pay AliExpress taxes.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

They would have to levy a 100% tax on a lot of the stuff to level any playing field. 20% VAT will make pretty much no difference

For example I bought a bike seat from Ali express bought multiple items to get free delivery ( you have to reach thresholds for free even on ali) cost me £4 pretty much the exact same seat down to flash logo but with a brand name on it (not a big name or anything) £11.24 even with VAT they would have to charge what the seat costs again plus some to get to amazons price

My friend who fixes up bikes has started using them for parts and the quality is great and price a fraction and I mean a fraction of what it costs here

---------- Post added at 19:41 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

Ultimately the Chinese aint stupid either they will just ship to another country and then repack which is what often happens anyway already and there is VAT and duties on items over a certain cost and always has been anyway

Re: What have you just bought?
 

Amazon has got me again.

Lightweight Summer bomber Jacket, £26.99 but just realised I can get the same item from AliExpress for £18.19 but I'm sticking with Amazon this time in case it doesn't fit.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

There're a few places online that say they'll replace the lenses in you existing frames.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

5 x Adult & 1 x child tickets to the 2nd Floor and top of the Eiffel Tower (both by lift) for Monday 14th April.

I tried before, and they were all sold out, but I read on one of the online forums that they release another batch of tickets a week before, so tried again, and was fortunate in getting some.

Re: What have you just bought?
 

Have you seen Paris from the Montparnasse Tower? Might be worth a peek

Re: What have you just bought?
 

I went to the top back in 1989. I was on a school trip but I was the only one who wanted to go up. The teacher let me go alone, because 1980s. I got a ticket when I walked up, maybe because it was just me.