Aliexpress - never used it, any tips or warnings?

[EmGee]

I am thinking about getting some fancy dress for Christmas stockings - Disney princess or the like.

It all looks good in the photos and seems incredibly reasonable price wise.

Anything I should look out for particularly? I am assuming if I order this month, I should have no problems getting the items before Christmas?

Thanks in advance for any advice re using this site!

tbh you are better off looking on amazon at their add ons

I've used it a few times for various different things without any issue. I wouldn't buy anything electrical or cosmetics etc, but what you're speaking about should be perfectly fine. I've always allowed a month for postage but everything has come inside 3 weeks

It's cheap because it all comes from China and it won't be licensed or made from brilliant materials. You'll probably find a difference in quality across items.

It is brilliant, for the right things, but set your expectations.

I've ordered loads Adventure Time leggings for myself and they've all been brilliant, although I ordered a size M (I'm an 8-10).
Also got a Frozen Anna coronation dress for DD last year and although similar to the picture you could tell it was a copy. She still loved it though and wears it a lot. Quality itself was fine, just not the actual dress that was advertised.

Sizes - tend to be all over the place, I used them last year they just like eBay. I found some stuff turn up pretty quickly.

But it's true you get what you pay for quality wise.

Mmmm

I think I may just keep an eye out for flash sales and nay promotions on the bargain thread. I managed to get the new Cinderella dresses from Sainsbury's when there was 25% off and they are really beautiful.

Thanks all

Used it once to buy Disney pants! The quality was shit and they fell apart after 1 wash

Avoid, avoid, avoid! I bought two things last year - one was awful quality and the other never turned up and they never refunded.

These are one pair of my leggings, ordered last year. Worn and washed loads and still look good

I've used them before with no issues. items were as described and good quality.

Anyone got any of the building blocks? It does say it's lego compatible but what's it really like?

Can I just be a spoil sport for a moment and just warn you to be super extra careful with fancy dress, especially from China - they can catch fire very easily.

I made my first order a month or two ago - fir an 'elf on the shelf'. Very happy with the service.

My reasons would be the same as GloGirls with buying the cheap fancy dress. This goes for anywhere though

I've ordered plenty of times from there. Some clothing, some accessories. I always read the reviews others have left first, I check to see if anyone has added pictures to their reviews too as that usually makes my mind up. I've had no problems ordering from there, everything usually comes after 2 weeks so no problems for Christmas

I ordered a knock off skirt a few weeks ago (knowing full well that it was a knock off!). It arrived after eight days. The quality is reasonable, considering I only paid about £5. The photos alongside the listing had been taken directly from the original designers website, so obviously the skirt I received was quite different from the photos!
I'll certainly use Ali Express again, but I'd be wary buying a child's costume, because of the dodgy fire regulations!

I think you just have to assume that anything you buy from Ali Express will probably be slightly dodgy, and ask yourself if that's OK. Most of the time it probably will be!

Yes to the fire risk, especially for Hallowe'en, I am going to be a lot stricter this year about where I buy any dressing up clothes. Last year DD had a beautiful red devil dressing up dress with ankle length traily bits from a charity shop, we went to a party and they had tealights in shallow dishes all round the garden paths, it could have been disastrous and I spent all evening keeping her away from them, then of course came the news about Claudia Winkelman's daughter.