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China / Hong Kong and eBay

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  • C chriselst

    The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

    Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

    C Offline
    C Offline
    Corporal Agarn
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    There is a site (in China) the guys who smoke e-cigs use that does this. Even if the item is $1 US they ship free. Very strange.

    Mongo: Mongo only pawn... in game of life.

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • C chriselst

      The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

      Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

      J Offline
      J Offline
      Johnny J
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      I bought a watch from China for something resembling 7 or 8 pounds. Got it, everything in perfect order. The clock itself might not be quite as good a quality as the ones you buy here in Europe, but it was ok. And I figured "Well, what the fluck - At that price, it can hold as long as it holds, and then I can buy a new one." It's just about a year ago, and the clock is still ok. Bought a necklace pendant for the missus on ebay as well for 25 Canadian dollars. Said it shipped from Canada. In reality, when it arrived, it came from China. It was supposed to be silver. I don't know if it really is, but it looks good...

      Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
      Anonymous
      -----
      The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
      Winston Churchill, 1944
      -----
      I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
      Me, all the time

      OriginalGriffO R 2 Replies Last reply
      0
      • C chriselst

        The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

        Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriff
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        It appears, nothing. In 2010 I posted about the same thing: http://www.codeproject.com/Messages/3471232/How-can-we-compete-with-this.aspx[^] (but for some reason the link doens't work) But: "Just bought (via Flea-Bay) a 2.5mm to 3.5mm headphone jack converter. From Hong Kong. The price? £0.10 Yep. 10 pence. About 1/20th (or 1/30th in London, or 1/50th in a club) of the price of a pint of beer. And that includes free postage. From Hong Kong" And that was 5 years ago...

        Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

        B 1 Reply Last reply
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        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

          It appears, nothing. In 2010 I posted about the same thing: http://www.codeproject.com/Messages/3471232/How-can-we-compete-with-this.aspx[^] (but for some reason the link doens't work) But: "Just bought (via Flea-Bay) a 2.5mm to 3.5mm headphone jack converter. From Hong Kong. The price? £0.10 Yep. 10 pence. About 1/20th (or 1/30th in London, or 1/50th in a club) of the price of a pint of beer. And that includes free postage. From Hong Kong" And that was 5 years ago...

          Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

          B Offline
          B Offline
          Bergholt Stuttley Johnson
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          Has it arrived yet?

          You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

          OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • J Johnny J

            I bought a watch from China for something resembling 7 or 8 pounds. Got it, everything in perfect order. The clock itself might not be quite as good a quality as the ones you buy here in Europe, but it was ok. And I figured "Well, what the fluck - At that price, it can hold as long as it holds, and then I can buy a new one." It's just about a year ago, and the clock is still ok. Bought a necklace pendant for the missus on ebay as well for 25 Canadian dollars. Said it shipped from Canada. In reality, when it arrived, it came from China. It was supposed to be silver. I don't know if it really is, but it looks good...

            Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
            Anonymous
            -----
            The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
            Winston Churchill, 1944
            -----
            I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
            Me, all the time

            OriginalGriffO Offline
            OriginalGriffO Offline
            OriginalGriff
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Yep - Herself works in an old folks home, so they aren't allowed jewellery or wristwatches. So I buy Chinese "nurse" watches (the ones that hang down from a clasp) for her for about 70p including delivery, and when the battery fails I often chuck it and get another as it's cheaper than buying a battery...sad state of affairs, but it explains why there is so little manufacturing done in Europe these days.

            Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
            "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

            N 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • C chriselst

              The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

              Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

              R Offline
              R Offline
              Ranjan D
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              Quote:

              really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China

              I wouldn't be surprised, as the majority of the non software things are manufactured and distributed world wide from China, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. When it comes to bulk production, the cost per item always come down. Thanks,

              Ranjan.D

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              • B Bergholt Stuttley Johnson

                Has it arrived yet?

                You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

                OriginalGriffO Offline
                OriginalGriffO Offline
                OriginalGriff
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                Yep. Two days after I ordered it. Which beats the heck out of the UK postal service, most of the time - which is even weirder since it was delivered by the UK postal service...

                Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                P 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • C chriselst

                  The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                  Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  You're missing the tiny production costs in China, and the huge quantities shipped. I've bought a load of little things - lens cap for the spare camera lens was about a dollar c/w $9 in my local store (on special!) I bought an entire 'iPhone care kit' with screen covers, cloth, external speaker thingy, etc. etc. for (from memory) $1.50 - exactly the same thing is on sale at my local 'cheapo-doller-store' for $25 I think sometimes they have local distributors, so they ship thousands out of China then post them on locally - but most of mine have come direct from China!

                  PooperPig - Coming Soon

                  C 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • L Lost User

                    You're missing the tiny production costs in China, and the huge quantities shipped. I've bought a load of little things - lens cap for the spare camera lens was about a dollar c/w $9 in my local store (on special!) I bought an entire 'iPhone care kit' with screen covers, cloth, external speaker thingy, etc. etc. for (from memory) $1.50 - exactly the same thing is on sale at my local 'cheapo-doller-store' for $25 I think sometimes they have local distributors, so they ship thousands out of China then post them on locally - but most of mine have come direct from China!

                    PooperPig - Coming Soon

                    C Offline
                    C Offline
                    chriselst
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    I understand that it would cost almost nothing to produce, and when they have a container load to send over very little to get to the UK per item. But then to get it to my door from wherever it comes ashore would cost more than the cost of the thing.

                    Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • C chriselst

                      The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                      Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                      Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
                      Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
                      Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      I'm too wondering - I bought a wireless mouse for $1.5 including shipping some two years ago...To replace battery cost me more... Also bought new batter (9 cells) and new keyboard (she drinks coffee while working) and 8 GB memory for my wife's laptop (HP) for only $70 - the same would cost me at the local dealer some $450! And no shipping... That's what makes China a world leader...

                      Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.

                      "It never ceases to amaze me that a spacecraft launched in 1977 can be fixed remotely from Earth." ― Brian Cox

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                      • C chriselst

                        I understand that it would cost almost nothing to produce, and when they have a container load to send over very little to get to the UK per item. But then to get it to my door from wherever it comes ashore would cost more than the cost of the thing.

                        Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                        L Offline
                        L Offline
                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        International postal agencies have agreements whereby they post one another's packages internally for a fraction of the cost it would normally charge per item (it used to be for free, back in the day!)

                        PooperPig - Coming Soon

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • C chriselst

                          The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                          Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                          OriginalGriffO Offline
                          OriginalGriffO Offline
                          OriginalGriff
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          If you recall[^], you won the right to set it today! :laugh:

                          Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                          "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                          C 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                            If you recall[^], you won the right to set it today! :laugh:

                            Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                            C Offline
                            C Offline
                            chriselst
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            No, I'd forgotten. I'll see what I can rustle up now.

                            Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                            1 Reply Last reply
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                            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                              Yep - Herself works in an old folks home, so they aren't allowed jewellery or wristwatches. So I buy Chinese "nurse" watches (the ones that hang down from a clasp) for her for about 70p including delivery, and when the battery fails I often chuck it and get another as it's cheaper than buying a battery...sad state of affairs, but it explains why there is so little manufacturing done in Europe these days.

                              Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                              N Offline
                              N Offline
                              newton saber
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              OriginalGriff wrote:

                              when the battery fails I often chuck it and get another as it's cheaper than buying a battery

                              As I read that, I had a "great quote" leap to mind: It's all garbage, we just wait a bit to throw it away. :D

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                              • C chriselst

                                The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                                Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                                Z Offline
                                Z Offline
                                ZurdoDev
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                I always check the "US only" box on eBay. I see from the comments some people have had success but other comments online indicate they have terrible service when buying from China. I have no desire to deal with buying something from China.

                                There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                                D 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • C chriselst

                                  The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                                  Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  It is not just eBay. Over the past two years I bought from Amazon some cheap (< $3) items with free delivery, on three occasions. (I have a prime account). When the goods arrived, I was surprised to see it was shipped from Hong Kong. I live on the East Coast of the USA. That's free shipping halfway around the world! I don't know how they do it. Maybe exporters from China/Hong Kong have subsidized shipping?

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                                  • Z ZurdoDev

                                    I always check the "US only" box on eBay. I see from the comments some people have had success but other comments online indicate they have terrible service when buying from China. I have no desire to deal with buying something from China.

                                    There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                                    D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    den2k88
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    That's why I usually check the "EU only" box on eBay :D terrible service from China and exoteric prices from US (6000 km from the East Coast are quite a lot...).

                                    Geek code v 3.12 GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- r++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X I use 1TBS

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                                    • C chriselst

                                      The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                                      Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                                      Mike Hankey
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      You got to be willing to wait for it though, I've had it take as long as 5 weeks to arrive.

                                      New version: WinHeist Version 2.1.0 When you are dead you don't know it, it's only difficult for others. It's the same when you're stupid.

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                                      • C chriselst

                                        The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                                        Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                                        L Offline
                                        L Offline
                                        Lost User
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        I sometimes buy parts for my model helicopters from Ebay, like five pairs of rotor blades for the price of one pair (of the same sort) here locally. The whole stuff is manufactured there and then exported anyway. I guess the sellers there buy that stuff for mere cents and still make a few cents despite having to calculate shipment into their price.

                                        The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
                                        This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a fucking golf cart.
                                        "I don't know, extraterrestrial?" "You mean like from space?" "No, from Canada." If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.

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                                        • C chriselst

                                          The last couple of times I have looked for things on eBay I have noticed loads of really cheap options with free delivery from Hong Kong or China. Like under a pound. How does that work then? It cannot be a con, hundreds sold and excellent feedback. Even if complete tat surely you cannot manufacture / buy anything and ship it around the world for under a pound. What am I missing?

                                          Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                                          RaviBeeR Offline
                                          RaviBeeR Offline
                                          RaviBee
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          I just received a couple of 6' HDMI cables that I bought on EBay from China.  The price was great and they work fine.  The only down side was it took 2 weeks to receive them.  Not that I'm complaining. /ravi

                                          My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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