Share your experience with these online stores

[onemilimeter]

Does anyone deal with the following online stores before?

http://www.dealextreme.com
http://www.utsource.net/index.aspx

Cheers

[tecman]

I've used Dealextreme many times.  Very good service and no problems to report.  I have never had a problem where I needed to return something, but so far I would highly recommend.

paul

[IanB]

dealextreme is well known. Your goods will arrive, though delivery may take a little while. Expect to be patient.

The items you purchase are going to be worth what you pay for them. If you want German engineering, look elsewhere.

[saturation]

I've only bought from them 2x, no problems.  But like anything you buy direct from China, don't expect to return it without some problem so consider what you buy as a final sale and all will be well.

[onemilimeter]

I've only bought from them 2x, no problems.  But like anything you buy direct from China, don't expect to return it without some problem so consider what you buy as a final sale and all will be well.

Thanks. Which online store did you buy from? The dealextreme or utsource? Cheers.

[saturation]

Oops, sorry!  dealextreme.  Took about 3-4 weeks to receive package to USA.

I've only bought from them 2x, no problems.  But like anything you buy direct from China, don't expect to return it without some problem so consider what you buy as a final sale and all will be well.

Thanks. Which online store did you buy from? The dealextreme or utsource? Cheers.

[nzo]

So far I've had a totally good experience with Deal Extreme. Their prices, in most cases, are excellent and their free shipping is something I wish more online vendors would wise up to. Sure, it takes a little longer to ship during Chinese holidays but when the parcels arrive it's like Christmas all over again

I've not bought anything big from DX. Just LiPO batteries, torches, vernier calipers, LED drivers,  LED emitters, LEDs, LED strips and a bunch of other smaller items. Highly recommended.

[Psi]

Yeah, i've used deal extreme a few times.

There's a good mix of items, some are excellent value for money and exactly the same as in your local shop for 3 times the price.
Others are a load of crap and total junk 

Figuring out which is which is just a matter of reading all the comments other people have left about the products.
And also common sense about the complexity of the product verses what they are asking for it.

Most of the time your items ship in less than 2-3 weeks and take 1-2weeks more to arrive but this can vary greatly, especially if you have lots of items in one order since the order waits until all items are in stock. A few times i've ordered stuff that has shipped in a few days and arrived in 1 week. Other times its taken 2 months to ship and another 2 weeks to arrive. So yeah, its very unpredictable, but the stuff does arrive eventually (unless they email you to say the product is no longer available).

When items are shown as "Typically ships in X to X days"  Treat that as meaning "We believe we can get this product soonish"
When items are shown as "Item is temporarily sold out." Treat that as meaning "This item won't ship for many months if at all"

I know a few people who have returned stuff and got replacements without any problem.
But i've never had to do that myself.