Has anyone used alibaba.com for buying bikes/parts from Asia?

Does anyone have any experience buying from Alibaba.com (or any direct sourcing from China)? (i.e. are the mfgrs legitimate, are the branded products "third shift" or bootlegs, has anyone been screwed altogether)??

thanks

steve

The thing to remember is that alibaba is just the online exchange for bringing international buyers and sellers together. You find your supplier, you do your due diligence and make your deal, and work out your shipping to port and to your door, and you pay duty, and you can leave feedback about how it all went through the forum. But alibaba is not like ebay. Also, these sellers want to deal in large lots. They'll build you a bike but you'd better order at least 20.

And the word is avoid all Indonesian firms claiming to sell cycling equipment. It seems that everyone who has tried to buy gear through Indonesia has been burned.

old bobcat - re: "doing due diligence on suppliers", is there somewhere on alibaba where suppliers are given feedback? thanks

No, just forums where you can discuss business. As a member I've only scanned the forums and, from what I could tell, there is very little dissing of individual members.

Alibaba certifies members, which means they are have a legitimate business that passes a credit check, but that's the extent of it. You do your own homework.