Ordering from china

[Simmy12]

Hi, sorry if someone already asked this, this is my first time posting here and I'm not an expert on buying things on ebay.

I saw these amazing (but fake) nikes on ebay for an incredibly low price. And also a MJ bag that I have been dying to get for the last couple of months, but also obviously fake.

My question is, if I do order them on ebay (they arrive straight from china) what kind of trouble am I possibly getting myself into? What are the odds of having my package opened on customs and getting a fine?

I do know that it's probably not a good idea to buy fake stuff anyway, but money is tight and this is something that I would really like to treat myself to.

Thanks for all of your help in advance

[jendot2]

Personally I wouldn't bother! They could take WEEKS to arrive, if they sow up at all, will most probably be very poor quality or badly sized.
If customs don't open them you will have to pay a customs charge + vat+ handling fee. If customs DO open them then they will be confiscated as fakes.

[SavoyCabbage]

I wouldn't as you have no idea what the quality will be like. They could be awful.

They can take a photo of anything.

[Simmy12]

Forgot to mention, I have a friend in Canada who ordered the shirs and she said the shoes look really good.

[IsabellaofFrance]

I buy quite a bit from China - mainly soft Mario toys for my DS's and I have never had a problem with customs. I dont know if it makes a difference if they are fake stuff.

It normally takes about 3 weeks for stuff to arrive though.

[SistersOfPercy]

I've bought stuff from Aliexpress in the past and to be fair none of it has been poor quality.
DH bought a Belstaff jacket for kicking about it (didn't want to ruin his genuine one) and side by side with the original you'd certainly struggle to know it wasn't genuine.

If you buy from Ali you can message the seller and ask for photos of the exact item you are getting rather than stock photos.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

i've never ever had customs problems buying from Asia. I've always….100% of time..had to pay customs fees buying from USA unless they mark it as gift, which most refuse to

[alltoomuchrightnow]

re purchases from China….. clothes and shoes have ALWAYS come up to small for me despite what size is on their listing. If you want to go ahead, I would ask for exact measurements e.g. length of sole etc. All the clothes and shoes I've purchased, I've had to re list. e.g. maxi dress not maxi, shoes two sizes too small (yet still listed as my size - UK 8 - but more like 6) etc. So i'd never buy clothes again. They don't understand UK sizing and how our frames tend to be larger /taller here
I've bought some fantastic gemstone (not valuable gems, but semi precious i guess) jewellery and would again,
As for costume jewellery…it's been very hit and miss…. some has been awful some great and v cheap. Only once was I sold fake gems. I've had some lovely stuff that would go for hundreds in UK shops and I've bought for mere £'s but it is a market I do know about
Cosmetics have been fine but I know it's very risky on that score although I seem to have been lucky. I did once get (unknowingly) a fake MAC eyeliner (liquid) which was amazing. Went to replace it in a UK store and they told me they'd never made it!
Biggest problem I've always had is communicating with the sellers. Most do not speak much english and in my case most don't reply to q's or problems. some have been rude and unhelpful in replies and some just don't respond

[alltoomuchrightnow]

if you want the 'Nike' s, get specific measurements e.g. length and width of sole and compare to trainers you own already

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I would never buy amber again either from China…it's always been plastic, even with real dead insects inside where they try and pass it off for authentic! ewww
Very easy to detect fake amber…just burn a tiny end of a bead..the real thing has such a distinctive smell