Author Topic: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?  (Read 5009 times)

SwordGuy

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Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« on: July 20, 2017, 04:41:03 PM »

I've been looking for a 4 person, 4 wheeled bicycle - a quadricycle.

They aren't cheap.

I noticed that Alibaba has a good variety of bikes for sale at much better prices.

Anyone ever try one?

Here are some samples that interest me:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Pedal-Quadricycle-Surrey-Sightseeing-bike-Beach_1751385760.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.31.9PuAEQ

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Luxurious-4-Person-Tandem-Quadricycle-Surrey_60584767199.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.71.9PuAEQ


AccidentialMustache

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2017, 05:36:23 PM »
I can't imagine any place where 'you get what you pay for ...' and its friend '... if you're lucky' are going to be more true than alibaba.

MMM advocates learning metalworking... https://sites.google.com/site/recycledrecumbents/home or similar? You'd have to run your own plans to join two frames together with laterals and then double up the seats, but it doesn't seem un-doable.

GuitarStv

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2017, 06:26:23 PM »
Ask a lot of questions and do your research before hand.

Concerns with buying stuff from China like that:
- It might not work (in which case, you're probably SOL)
- It might appear to work and then fail in a way that's dangerous (what if the steering or brakes go while you're rolling down a hill?)
- Corners might have been cut that radically reduce the lifespan of the product (bad solder joints, bad paint, crappy spokes, poorly build wheels, bad hubs, crappy chain, etc.)
- Corners might have been cut that make it hard to maintain the product (non-standard parts and sizes)

(I assume that you've already figured out the wait time and import duties issues.)

FWIW - I've used Aliexpress to buy cheap cycling clothing and had OK success . . . but there is a money back guarantee (unlike with Alibaba), and the prices were low enough that I was willing to take a gamble and potentially lose everything.  I'd be very leery about anything that you might depend on for safety.

KungfuRabbit

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2017, 04:15:06 PM »
I feel like having luxurious in the name is s red flag...

SwordGuy

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2017, 04:43:45 PM »
I feel like having luxurious in the name is s red flag...
Kinda appropriate given where it's made... :)


SwordGuy

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2017, 04:46:42 PM »
Ask a lot of questions and do your research before hand.

Concerns with buying stuff from China like that:
- It might not work (in which case, you're probably SOL)
- It might appear to work and then fail in a way that's dangerous (what if the steering or brakes go while you're rolling down a hill?)
- Corners might have been cut that radically reduce the lifespan of the product (bad solder joints, bad paint, crappy spokes, poorly build wheels, bad hubs, crappy chain, etc.)
- Corners might have been cut that make it hard to maintain the product (non-standard parts and sizes)

(I assume that you've already figured out the wait time and import duties issues.)

FWIW - I've used Aliexpress to buy cheap cycling clothing and had OK success . . . but there is a money back guarantee (unlike with Alibaba), and the prices were low enough that I was willing to take a gamble and potentially lose everything.  I'd be very leery about anything that you might depend on for safety.

I'm pretty aware of the issues - that's why I didn't just order right away with glee shouting "A bargain!  A bargain!" :)

Some of the Alibaba vendors participate in a program where Alibaba refunds if the product doesn't measure up to what it claims.  I would definitely want to use that to minimize the downside.

But, basically, I'm looking for someone who has already ordered such a bike and been very happy with it.  That solves a bunch of issues. :)


dandarc

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2017, 04:47:20 PM »
Quote
front baby/luggage basket

undercover

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2017, 05:55:09 PM »
If the next reputable option was double the price...I'd definitely take my chances.

Even if the German's wouldn't claim it as a red-headed step child, I doubt you're going to use it enough to break it over the course of however long you keep it.

GuitarStv

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2017, 06:20:15 PM »
I doubt you're going to use it enough to break it over the course of however long you keep it.

See, that right there is a giant red flag.  If you were going to buy one of these regardless of the price because it will bring you joy every day then by all means . . . bargain shop and find the best deal.  Then use the hell out of it.  If you're just buying it on a lark because you can get it for not a huge amount of money, maybe carefully re-think if it's really something you want.

SwordGuy

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2017, 03:02:57 PM »
So far, the answer to my question is :"No, we haven't."

I **really** want to hear from someone who can say, "Yes, I have, and this is what I found out..."

Now that I've (hopefully) clarified things a bit, I have every intention to use it a whole lot after we retire next spring.    4 person quadricycles that are made in the US are not inexpensive.  The 4 adult model at the bottom of this url link starts at $2800.

http://www.internationalsurreyco.com/four-wheel-bikes/surrey-cycles/

If I can find a workable cycle for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost, that's the MMM way to do it.


My wife has osteo-arthritis.  The last time she fell down she broke both wrists, part of one wrist was pulverized.   A fall from a bicycle wouldn't be a nuisance, it might be a life-changing event for the worse.
My daughter has Downs Syndrome.   Her life expectancy operating a bicycle on a city street is less than 3 cars passing by.   

So, if we're going to get the health and fun benefits of bicycling as a family, we've got to do it a bit differently from most folks.   A 4 person quadricycle seems like a good fit for our problem.

I'm interested in getting a bike I can set up with electric assist so as we get older we can still use it.  I'll be sixty this fall and my wife is already 70.   We aren't spring chickens!

AccidentialMustache

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2017, 08:32:14 PM »
You're in NC. I assume somewhere around a beach/island type spot you can probably find and rent those. If you haven't tried one, try one first?

Personally I'd still be strongly inclined to buy it from someone I expect to actually support the purchase. Alibaba isn't that place. I just got a RadWagon, and while it did not arrive in perfect shape, they've shipped me some fix-it parts and we'll see where we are after that. If I'd bought something like it on Alibaba you can bet I'd be stuck with whatever got bent in shipping (front crank, front disc brake).

wkumtrider

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Re: Anyone bought a bike off AliBaba.com?
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2017, 09:58:13 AM »
A buddy of mine bought a carbon hardtail frame and built the bike up with his own parts.  The frame was pretty good quality and held up well.  He never had any issues with it.