AliExpress !

[bjlabuk]

I have also attributed something very similar to John Ruskin, only to later be informed that it may in fact be a misquote, albeit a popular one. Regardless of whether it comes from the pantheon of things that John Ruskin actually said or the sightly lesser one of things people wished he'd said, I more or less agree with the sentiment expressed.

Indeed you might be right according to Quote Investigator.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2020/05/21/cheap/?amp=1

[RickH]

There is some great kit on AliExpress, there's also some utter s***.

I normally watch video reviews and follow the links from them.

I've got some great kit like StVZO style lights from Ravemen, TPU inner tubes and a device for refitting super tight tyres from RideWow and a tiny battery powered air pump that will inflate tyres accurately to any pressure up to 120psi.

Not sure I'd buy anything safety critical without a lot more research though.

I hadn't realised Ravemen lights were Chinese until I looked into it after reading your post (but it doesn't surprise me).

I got a TR20 rechargeable rear light from my LBS a few years back & like it enough that I supplemented with another earlier this year (for only £12 in a sale) when I was getting some other bits from Merlin.

I generally only buy from UK suppliers & my favourite German supplier (Bike24) doesn't ship to the UK at the moment. I occasionally get my friend, who dabbles with eBay, to get me the odd, less than a tenner, item (an iwanson guage & a phone holder that fits on a Garmin quarter turn mount are 2 things that she got for me that spring to mind).

[mattsccm]

Many things that pop up on Aliexpress later become acceptable products. As well as the lights above Magicshine started in the same way. Ekoi clothing, now used at pro level as another example.
Yeah, you take your chances but payment methods do make things safer.
I can remember be so worried about posting a cheque to Don Farrell cycles in the very early 80's. They were in the east of the UK and thus could have been on Mars. Whatever I ordered did turn up but worries were confirmed. Just checked and shop has gone! Fly by nights!

[simonineaston]

I hadn't realised Ravemen lights were Chinese until I looked into it after reading your post (but it doesn't surprise me).

Everything is Chinese... Volvo, Apple, Quad, Barr & Stroud, ect ect... everything.

[Cadence]

I hadn't realised Ravemen lights were Chinese until I looked into it after reading your post (but it doesn't surprise me).

Everything is Chinese... Volvo, Apple, Quad, Barr & Stroud, ect ect... everything.

This^^^^^
Try buying a spare part for a BMW for instance. If it's a small item the plastic wrapper has a label on it, which more often than not says "Made in China". That doesn't automatically mean it is of low quality.
We are all being hoodwinked by brand names. Carefully check out items by the recognised "manufacturers" (Clarks, Tektro, Shimano etc. etc.) and you will find a large proportion are of Chinese origin with some from Malaysia or Tiawan. This is the result of a deliberate policy of shifting production away from Europe and the US due to much lower manufacturing costs, while bathing in the the falsehood of reducing Co2 emissions.
The problem comes with the Chinese ignoring intellectual property rights, resulting in fake knock-offs. I've bought some hydraulic disc brakes, rotors, pads, bleeding kit, and some cheap tools recently from Aliexpress. All of these were Chinese branded so not pretending to be something else. All arrived on time and I have no complaints. Would I buy an expensive "Shimano" drive train from Aliexpress though? Probably not!

[RickH]

I hadn't realised Ravemen lights were Chinese until I looked into it after reading your post (but it doesn't surprise me).

Everything is Chinese... Volvo, Apple, Quad, Barr & Stroud, ect ect... everything.

Although there is a difference between made in China (or Taiwan, or Vietnam, etc) for a western (or other region based) company & made by a Chinese company. Then there are the Chinese-owned brands that aren't necessarily made in China, plus joint ventures...