Ordering from Asia to U.S.

[PlacidWaters]

I was looking for a Helinox Table One knockoff and found one in this forum that ships from Thailand. It was about $35 compared to $100 for the Helinox. I was afraid to order from Thailand so in the end I got the Helinox for $89 from LL Bean.

Folks here were also satisfied with their Helinox Chair One knockoffs from China. Am I behind the times thinking it's too risky to order from Asia?

In some cases the Asians seem to have a greater variety of outdoor products than are available in the U.S. Bicycles, for example.

 

[Honu]

the fact REI chair is not as good as the helinox would make me think the knock off would be worse than the REI

yes camping wise there are some cool things over in Japan and Korea we dont have here and wish I could get one day if I vacation there going to have to ship or bring back a ton of stuff ahhahahahah

http://www.uniflame.co.jp/product/665923


this seems like a cool idea I do something kinda like it with shade cloth
http://www.uniflame.co.jp/product/681374

this seems kinda cool
http://www.uniflame.co.jp/product/660416

been wanting one of these and debating about getting one imported here
http://www.uniflame.co.jp/product/682104

 

[digdug18]

I order from aliexpress on a near weekly basis, from small $5 items to $1k items, only had a problem on a bad shipper one time, I ordered tint for a super low price of 1 meter by 30 inches for $2 shipped, came folded...Otherwise have always had top quality merch.

 

[MarcFJ60]

I have ordered a couple things off Banggood and have been happy with the results. That includes two of the Helinox chairs and the quality is impressive. I think there is always risk, but I also think many of the items are not knockoffs at all, but simply unbranded items coming out of the same factory. My next set of LED lights will likely come direct from China as I am fairly certain they are identical to the ones third parties sell here after a substantial markup.