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Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

nytimes.com

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Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#171

Post by coldtea »

Scoundreller wrote: post #137
geomark wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably depends a lot on what you are buying. I've been buying electronic components, Arduino compatible boards and sensors, that kind of stuff for a while. Quality has been pretty solid with all of it, about 100 orders so far across a bunch of different merchants. I've heard that clothing can be really hit and miss.

Yes, clothing is problematic. Quality isn't great, and you need to order at least 2-3 sizes up. Even then, the sleeves might still be short: XXXL just means you're getting the overweight size, not the long-limbed size.

It just means its made for asian heights and bodies.

Same is true in the US though: American L translates to XL on shirts and XXL on boxers and the like in my country.

Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#172

Post by dragonwriter »

Scoundreller wrote: post #137
geomark wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably depends a lot on what you are buying. I've been buying electronic components, Arduino compatible boards and sensors, that kind of stuff for a while. Quality has been pretty solid with all of it, about 100 orders so far across a bunch of different merchants. I've heard that clothing can be really hit and miss.

Yes, clothing is problematic. Quality isn't great, and you need to order at least 2-3 sizes up. Even then, the sleeves might still be short: XXXL just means you're getting the overweight size, not the long-limbed size.

XL, XXL, etc. are overweight but not particularly long-limbed sizes in the US, too, the long-limbed (and long-torsoed) versions are XLT, XXLT, etc.

Put, yes, different countries have different sizing standards and you can't blindly assume US sizing when buying from elsewhere.

Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#173

Post by seanmcdirmid »

taobility wrote: post #165
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Online shopping works pretty well in the USA. My wife (Chinese) doesn’t see too much difference since we moved to the USA from Beijing last year. We no longer buy things like bottled water (well, we don’t need to!) or other groceries/soft goods online like we did in BJ, but we have semi daily packages of everything else. China has great same day logistics using poorly paid guys on electric bikes (so food and soft goo…

Are you joking? I lived in Seattle and so desperate about my Amazon experience. For your logistics statement, isn't that one of China's advantage? And also, for those delivery workers, most of them are from small villages or suburb, so they are happy doing logistic in the metropolis as they can make far more than as being the farmers.

My point was that it couldn’t last. And damn it, I don’t miss the backup sounds of the electric trikes beneath my apartment (we lived 13 floors above a small depot in taiyahggong).

Sorry your amazon experience has been so horrible. We live in Bellevue and it has worked out well for us. Sometimes we have to use the amazon delivery lockers at the 7-11 across the street, though.

Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#174

Post by oh_sigh »

imron wrote: post #121
odiroot wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the parent wanted to say baijiu is an acquired taste.

Alternatively, if you consumed a gallon of baijiu in one sitting, it would likely be the end of your life.

You got what I was going for :)

Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#175

Post by duckwheat »

geomark wrote: post #160
duckwheat wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man, can you share some more of your shopping list for those of us with similar interests?

Other items from my 11.11 shopping list: KY-008 laser transmitter module $0.32 5V stepper motor with driver board $1.82 LCD1602 I2C board $1.68 4X3 membrane switch keypad $0.52 STM32F103C8T6 dev board $1.58 K975 Micro 130 Vibration Motor (2 pcs) $1.48 Tilt sensor module $0.37 KY-013 temp sensor module $0.29 GY-521 gyro/accel module $0.99 WS2812 RGB LED 12 bit ring $1.40 RF receiver & transmitter module pair $0.82 IR…

Thanks!

Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#176

Post by voltagex_ »

kimjongman wrote: post #91
PakG1 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's worth shopping from China unless you're in China or reselling stuff made in China and have deals directly with the suppliers. A lot of products are cheaper buying from retailers outside of China if you're also outside of China. The cost isn't worth it to ship to individuals outside of China unless you're willing to pay the shipping fee, and that erases the cost benefit that most people would hope t…

If you know how to shop with taobao/tmall with alipay and tao consolidate shipping. It's way cheaper to buy there.

Is it possible to do that in English and with a US/EU/Australian credit card?

Re: Alibaba hits nearly $18B in ‘Singles Day’ orders in 12 hours

#177

Post by thriftwy »

neves wrote: post #89
djaychela wrote: post #19

I've only bought a few things from Alibaba over the years, but most of them have turned out to be either faulty or a typical case of 'chinese manufacturer disappointment' which has led me to being reluctant to buy anything larger/more expensive. When I was in Marrakech a couple of years ago, the guy who owned the riad we stayed in referred to many things in the souks as being "China quality", and I guess that's the p…

Nowadays everything is made in China. A lot of things we buy are just repackaged stuff that sells for 3x the original price. I've bought decent stuff like a manual coffe grinder, or glass bottles, usb cables, or cheap gopro accessories. You are just cutting the middle man.

When renovating my apartment, it surprised how few of what I had to buy was actually made in China.

Once you want anything custom-looking, it quickly stops being mandatory. In the end, I have one ceiling light and one bathroom shelf from China.

Of course this would vary by locale, I guess.

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