AliExpress: Navigating the Global Marketplace as an Open Source Enthusiast
As an open source enthusiast and indie entrepreneur, I’m always on the lookout for unique tech parts and components. Recently, I’ve been exploring AliExpress as a source for hard-to-find items, particularly laptop batteries for older models. While the ordering process has been smooth, the shipping experience has revealed some interesting challenges. Let me share my adventures with three different sellers on this global marketplace. The Good, The Bad, and The Confusing Seller #1: The Mysterious Gift Sender The first seller was incredibly responsive, which is always a plus. However, they decided to send the item as a “gift” - an interesting choice that raised some eyebrows. They provided a tracking link to 17track.net, which, unfortunately, wasn’t the most user-friendly experience for non-Chinese speakers. ...