~~NOTOC~~ 
=====List of Cheap Chinese Online Buying sites=====
====Disclaimer====
**This list is not in any way a recommendation, sanction or endorsement by ChoiceCheapies, its members or its affiliates. This list is provided for information purposes only.** 
Sites on this list have not gone through verification. Also the quality of products bought from these sites is often hit-and-miss: **You get what you pay for**.

====List Description====
Here is a list of various Online sites for buying direct from Hong Kong/China. 

====The List====
Marketplaces:
  * www.aliexpress.com
  * www.dhgate.com
  * www.temu.com (sometimes cheaper than Aliexpress, but beware of the app that you install on your phone. https://grizzlyreports.com/we-believe-pdd-is-a-dying-fraudulent-company-and-its-shopping-app-temu-is-cleverly-hidden-spyware-that-poses-an-urgent-security-threat-to-u-s-national-interests/)
  * [[http://en.jd.com|en.jd.com]]

Larger/Well-Known/Older Stores (//**NO ENDORSEMENT IMPLIED!**//):
  * www.banggood.com (customer service is terrible here. Very difficult to get a refund)
  * www.buyincoins.com
  * www.dealsmachine.com
  * www.dx.com 
  * www.everbuying.net
  * www.focalprice.com
  * www.gearbest.com
  * www.geekbuying.com
  * www.lightinthebox.com
  * www.pandawill.com (mainly mobile phones/tablets)
  * www.tinydeal.com
  * www.tmart.com
  * www.tomtop.com
  * www.tvc-mall.com (mainly mobile phones parts)

Alphabetical order of the rest:
  * www.beautifultech.com
  * www.chinabuye.com
  * www.chinavasion.com
  * www.cndirect.com
  * www.coolicool.com
  * www.dresslink.com
  * www.merimobiles.com
  * www.tradetang.com
  * www.ussw.com


==== Tips and Advice ====

  * As stated above, ChoiceCheapies, its members or its affiliates cannot be held responsible by for any shops listed here. If you do decide to use these sites, they are **not** sanctioned or recommended by ChoiceCheapies.
  * Products bought from here are often much cheaper than a similar product at a retail store, but this often comes at the cost of quality. 
  * The products are mostly advertised in USD and often include free shipping
  * Shipping varies widely between stores, but generally expect anything from 15-60 days. 
  * Large numbers of products in a single order may cause your order to be delayed, as sellers tend to wait till all items are instock before shipping.
  * DHL/EMS are usually good options for faster postage at higher cost.
  * Try searching for coupons for a site before checking out; often you can save around 5% with a simple google search.
  * Most of the stores listed above have been used by choicecheapies members – try searching the forums before trying a store.
  * Some of the above listings are marketplaces for sellers (like eBay), so you need to verify the quality of the seller as well as the quality of the marketplace.
  * Some sites may appear to be missing from this list – some have been banned on choicecheapies for spam, sockpuppeting or other major issues, if you notice one missing, try searching the forum first or ask a mod.
  * Many sites have Affiliate Programs, where you can get a commission on sales. Do not abuse this on choicecheapies, you will be banned. See [[help:posting_referral_links|]] for more info.

==== Prudent Warnings ====
  * **Use your judgement – if its too good to be true, it probably is.** 
  * **NEVER pay via credit card** to avoid credit card fraud.
  * Pay with PayPal where possible to benefit from PayPal buyer protection.
  * **It is YOUR responsibility to avoid importing illegal and dangerous products**. Stay away from imitation weapons, lasers, fireworks, telecom/radio equipment that operates in illegal frequencies. Customs will pick it up and you will be fined $$$. Don't trust the sellers specs on lasers – if Customs tests it and it is mislabelled, YOU will be held responsible.
  * Consider your safety: **cheap make-up products from china may contain very dangerous/toxic chemicals**!!
  * You will get what you paid for – if its cheap, don't expect high quality or precise manufacturing, build quality or reliability.
  * It is common for popular products to be 'cloned' by a different manufacturer at a lower price, often at a cost of lower quality. It is even common for clone products to be cloned! (e.g. SJ4000 action camera) Often these stores can be a good way to buy high-quality products designed for the China market, but cloning is rampant so be careful.
  * Do not be fooled by the photos, do your own research.
  * Some are well-known stores others are not. Do your own research on google and search the choicecheapies forums.
  * These are international stores. Don't expect them to honour price errors or New Zealand consumer laws.
  * If a product seems substantially cheaper than elsewhere ask – how yourself: could they have cut corners manufacturing this product? Will it perform to the same standard and am I happy to accept this if not?


==== Warranty and Faulty Products ====
  * Being polite and patient in communication is the best way to get help and support from these businesses.
  * Never threaten, or get abusive or rude – the person you are dealing for support with has nothing to do with the quality of the product.
  * Send a photo of the issue to the seller.
  * For lower value items, typically the seller will issue a refund or ship a replacement to you.
  * For higher-value items, you will be responsible for return postage costs – this can be costly so **consider warranty costs before purchasing**.
  * Generally warranty service can be difficult to obtain beyond 6 months after purchase, the policies vary from seller to seller.


====Discussing these sites====
If you would like to share your experience on any of the sites feel free to head to the forums. Some threads already exist on cheap chinese buying sites.