Aliexpress

[MarchSurprise]

Hope this hasn't already been done, sorry if so! I know some people have had some success on Aliexpress, and I also know that there is also a lot of rubbish...

Just wondering if anybody would like to share anything they've had success with in time to order for Christmas? I was thinking of ordering a few stocking fillers, decorations etc and seeing what turned up - hopefully some good ones!

Not strictly the same but early last month I ordered Supermario t-shirts on Amazon; I didn't realise at the point of ordering that they were being shipped from China.

However, they arrived on Friday and actually the print on them is pretty good and there's no poor stitching. I think it's probably a bit of a lottery, you might get something half decent or you might get a load of rubbish.

No harm in ordering a few bits if it's only cheap and you don't mind effectively losing the money if the items are useless.

Read the reviews very carefully. And look for ones with photographs as they are generally far more realistic than the seller’s photos.

Sizing for clothes can be funny. You have to scroll through their info to find the size guide and measure. A Chinese L can be a UK S, etc

I’d be very, very cautious about buying children’s toys, particularly anything that could go in a child’s mouth. And if you do, consider how you will eventually dispose of it and whether another child will be playing with it someday. The EU safety CE mark and the Chinese Export CE mark are virtually indistinguishable

But in saying that, once you’ve looked on AliExpress you start to recognise the same stuff on more familiar websites with a profit margin added.

I’ve ordered magnetic wristbands as stocking fillers for the diy enthusiasts in my family and one for me for sewing. The hammer picture is a bit of an exaggeration I think but it can certainly pick up my sewing scissors (no idea why I’d want to). Very lightweight, adjustable to any wrist size and well made.

I order bits and bobs. Decorations, things for wrapping, cheap as chips stocking fillers, bookmarks etc. Korean face masks for dd's stocking fillers. Look for well known names, Holy Moly etc.

Have you tried Vova OP.

I've bought some stuff off here. Mostly good. Sizes run about two sizes smaller though.

I ordered some fake Harry potter lego and brickheadz ones from aliexpress. the instructions were good and minifigures you can't tell the difference next to the real thing. I've ordered another couple of the brickheadz for Christmas think they worked out about £4 inc postage.

I order bits from wish too - stickers for £1 postage (Pokemon, pusheen and simpsons) keyrings, pusheen plush toys. I ordered a pusheen shoulder bag which was lovely and only about £6. just check postage sometimes it's ridiculous but there's normally more than one seller selling the same thing. people often review the product and store and they keep you updated on delivery etc. and if you put things in basket and come away it often gives you a 5% off code to check out.