I bought a frame from AliExpress. It didn’t go very well.
A haven for bargain hunters or a disaster waiting to happen? I was bored and wanted a pink bike. It was also a chance to explore the giant Chinese sales platform, AliExpress. I saw an ad for a nice pink frameset, and my boredom sealed the deal.
I had almost enough parts in the garage for a full build. Well, not quite, but I could always tinker with another bike, especially after selling one to balance out the costs.
The total cost was AU$419.61 (US$275 / €237) for the frameset, headset, and thru-axles, including shipping. A few extra parts brought the total to around AU$650. I carefully checked the geometry and specifications before making the purchase. Then I waited to see what would arrive and how it would perform.
About AliExpress
AliExpress, for those unfamiliar, is a huge online retailer owned by the Alibaba Group, a company ranked among the top 10 global brands. Alibaba Group also runs the world's largest B2B marketplace (Alibaba.com), the Chinese-language consumer site Taobao, the brand-focused Tmall, the payment platform AliPay, and the logistics company Cainiao.
AliExpress is part of Alibaba Group, which includes Alibaba.com (B2B marketplace), Taobao, Tmall, AliPay, and Cainiao logistics.
[translate: Алиэкспресс] represents an immense online shopping ecosystem backed by one of the world's largest and most influential e-commerce companies.
Despite careful research and excitement, the experience of buying from AliExpress can be unpredictable.
Summary: Buying a bike frame from AliExpress can be tempting but carries risks; thorough research and patience are essential for navigating this vast e-commerce platform.
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