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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: bananabox on Sat, 31 January 2015, 18:05:40

Title: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: bananabox on Sat, 31 January 2015, 18:05:40
Hey all been looking for a mech and I really liked the keycool 84 layout and look. I was on their site but couldn't buy from it, I saw lots for sale on Taobao and was wondering on your experience buying from China either directly through Taobao or an agent like Bhiner? On Keycools own site the keycool 84 was around $85 USD and on Taobao its around $60ish USD this wasn't big enough of a discrepancy to trigger my fake alarm but maybe I am wrong.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: Data on Sat, 31 January 2015, 18:08:35
Qtan has a vendor forum here.  He might be willing to do a proxy for you.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?board=81.0
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 31 January 2015, 19:15:55
Stuff on Taobao is just cheaper usually because it doesn't factor in the shipping the secondary seller paid for, and the markup. I used Taobao Focus who were quick and reasonably priced
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: Dee1 on Sat, 31 January 2015, 19:36:39
I have used Bhiner. It works well enough.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 31 January 2015, 19:45:22
Qtan has a vendor forum here.  He might be willing to do a proxy for you.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?board=81.0


qtan does in fact proxy, though he's a little slower than most

Stuff on Taobao is just cheaper usually because it doesn't factor in the shipping the secondary seller paid for, and the markup. I used Taobao Focus who were quick and reasonably priced

taobao focus is good
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 31 January 2015, 19:47:40
I have used Bhiner. It works well enough.
I also use bhiner
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: exitfire401 on Sat, 31 January 2015, 19:49:47

taobao focus is good

This...I had an order in with engtaobao for the last 5 days...they waited until the switches I wanted were out of stock before attempting to put in my order. Ordered through Taobao focus yesterday, and everything is already on order.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: bananabox on Sun, 01 February 2015, 20:39:20
Thanks for all the helpful answers everyone just need to find a good seller on Taobao but I guess the top choice would be my best bet.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: angelic_sedition on Sun, 01 February 2015, 20:59:31
If it's a keycool ii 84, just note that they don't have cherry switches any longer (kailh) or a detachable cable.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: bananabox on Mon, 02 February 2015, 05:24:55
If it's a keycool ii 84, just note that they don't have cherry switches any longer (kailh) or a detachable cable.
Oh wow that's really depressing, I bet the 87 went kailh too.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: xuanwumen on Mon, 02 February 2015, 08:02:34
The ordering button on Keycool webpage does not work actually even in China...

Also now there is no keycool 84 cherry mx switches on taobao, only some with kailh mx .
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: 3Love on Mon, 02 February 2015, 13:56:19
If you living in China, Taobao will be your first choose. But if you living in USA, the shipping fee should be high.
Otherwise. Taobao's after sale should be a problem.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: RavenII on Wed, 04 March 2015, 09:25:33
I have used Bhiner. It works well enough.

I have used Bhiner. It works well enough.
I also use bhiner

For you guys who have used Bhiner...let's say the total quote is 66.50 USD...is that it? Literally? or am I waiting for another surprise charge afterwards? There're like 6 different shipment methods, but it would seem too good to be true for that to include the shipping on a plate, stabilizers, springs, and PCB....I'm missing something aren't I...
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 04 March 2015, 09:27:57
I have used Bhiner. It works well enough.

I have used Bhiner. It works well enough.
I also use bhiner

For you guys who have used Bhiner...let's say the total quote is 66.50 USD...is that it? Literally? or am I waiting for another surprise charge afterwards? There're like 6 different shipment methods, but it would seem too good to be true for that to include the shipping on a plate, stabilizers, springs, and PCB....I'm missing something aren't I...

There will be a first payment which is for the item price, local shipping and bhiner fee, BUT there is also a second fee which is just the international shipping charge, it will be based on weight and shipping method. They used to have a shipping estimator but there website recently went down hard and they are still trying to fix it I think.

Every taobao buyer I have used works this way because they don't know the item weight for shipping until they have it and package it up.
Title: Re: Ordering from Taobao
Post by: RavenII on Wed, 04 March 2015, 09:34:25
There will be a first payment which is for the item price, local shipping and bhiner fee, BUT there is also a second fee which is just the international shipping charge, it will be based on weight and shipping method. They used to have a shipping estimator but there website recently went down hard and they are still trying to fix it I think.

Every taobao buyer I have used works this way because they don't know the item weight for shipping until they have it and package it up.

So...ultimately, you're rolling the dice...if you pay the first $66 and they tell you that it's going to be another $90 for shipping (Let's just say)...you either lose the $66 or pay the $90 more?...hmmmm....that's a dilly of a pickle.