GearBest sponsored my BFight 210 en LS-800D for a review, and asked if I would be interested in reviewing more. That got me reading about on their site, looking for the small print. I also came across their regular terms and conditions. And I must say, they look better than I am used to from other Chinese webshops. So I wanted to put down a couple of words on some specifics of buying at GearBest.
For those new to, or hesitant about, shopping at Chinese online stores, here's what a typical order process looks like.
Shopping
Browsing the webshop is dangerous! There's just too many wannahaves in there 😃
All kidding aside, a simple search will get you far more direct to your desired product, without the distraction of all those others.
There it becomes interesting. Read well what the description mentions, and what options are selected. As GearBest ships all over the world, all things that plug into a wall outlet will have a variant for the various plug shapes and voltages. Also, if the description says it is a kit (and the package content list at the bottom of the page is really long), you are buying something you need to assemble yourself. It does not come pre-assebled, then. Often there's also an assembled version, but that will probably cost a few Euros more.
After selecting your product and options, you press the button "add to cart", like all other web stores. Once done shopping, on the cart page you can choose to check out with PayPal, or continue with the regular checkout. With PayPal, your address is already known, for a regular checkout you'll need to provide those details (or create a GearBest account; easier for future checkouts). Furthermore, PayPal offers some other insurances. Read all about it onwww.paypal.com, if you are interested.
Payment
As mentioned, PayPal is one way to pay, but also iDeal, and Credit Cards are valid Payment methods. These are all safe payment processes, and PayPal has the added security that no third party will ever see your account numbers or Credit Card numbers, so you don't have to worrie about that.
GearBest has the policy to process the order entirely, as soon as payment is complete. Most other Chinese webshops prepare a shipment, but wait to offer it to a transport company until a container is filled. That could easily take anything between two days and two weeks. And that brings us to...
Shipment
With GearBest, you have a couple of options to choose from for the way your parcel is shipped. The difference between those options are mainly price, and traceability.
1) Unregistered Air Mail. This is always free shipping. If free shipping is not available for your product, this shipment option is not available. This is a shipment method without any tracking. Typical shipping time to the EU is 3 to 6 weeks.
2) Registered Air Mail. This is often free of charge, or at least inexpensive. This form of shipment offers tracking, at least until the Chinese border, so you know when your goods left the country on a plane.
3) Priority Line. For a few Euros, you not only get tracking, but also faster shipping times, and the lowest possible chance of your package being sampled by customs (see later). Typically, Priority Line shipments take less than three weeks to arrive in the EU.
4) Expedited Shipping. Fastest shipping choice, with shipping times to the EU typically less than three weeks, often less than two. Down side is that DHL tends to charge money for their services, which will have to be paid upon delivery. See also the customs section below.
Detailed shipment info can be obtained from the GearBest site:
Customs
Most people don't realise it , but when you buy from China, you are effectively importing goods. That means that import duties and taxes are due, if applicable.
For the Netherlands, for instance, anything worth over € 22.=, VAT (21%) is due, and anything over €150,= is charged with (4.2%) import duties. In order to avoid these extra costs, GearBest usually declares a low value on the customs papers. That, in combination with Priority Line shipment, the chance of incurring extra costs is very small. But as customs will take samples, there is no absolute guarantee that there will be no extra costs. Priority Line is your best bet, when shipping from China.
Expedited shipping with DHL is almost sure to be charged with VAT and import duties, especially if the package is physically large in size. DHL also usually charges handling costs on top of that all, plus the "Expedited Shipping" option is in itself the most expensive one (all depending on size and weight of the package)
A sure option to avoid those extra costs is to select an EU warehouse, if available for your product. The product price will be higher, but as you will not be importing goods anymore, you can be sure that no extra charges will be imposed.
Guarantee
Once your shipment has arrived, check to see if it is complete and undamaged. If possible, test to see if it works correctly too.
You have 7 days from receiving your package to make a claim for a non-working product (DoA, or Dead on Arrival). You'll get a full repair or replacement.
Also, you have a 30 day return right, if you decide you don't want the product - if it is still in it's original, unopened packaging.
If your product fails within one year, under normal use conditions, you have the right to a repair.
Return shipment back to China will be paid for by the customer (you).
Also, you have a 30 day return right, if you decide you don't want the product - if it is still in it's original, unopened packaging.
If your product fails within one year, under normal use conditions, you have the right to a repair.
Return shipment back to China will be paid for by the customer (you).
After Sales service
Especially in the Netherlands, there is a very active facebook group that acts as an intermediary between the customer and GearBest: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GearBestNederland/. People can ask questions there, and even file complaints, in their own language, without the hassle of the time difference. GearBest contracted people will answer as best they can, and they will forward your messages to GearBest HQ for you.
Another facebook page to keep a sharp lookout on is NoHurries Facebook. It's in Dutch, but not hard to understand if you don't speak Dutch. It is packed with discounts, and cooupons, and such, on gadgets of every kind. Not only RC related, but any tech will do. Take another cut off those already low prices! Most offers are limited in number or date, though. So keep checking back in to get the latest!
If you don't live in the Netherlands like I do, it doesn't hurt to see if there is a country-specific facebook group for your country as well ;)
So, having read all of the above, why dont you head on over to https://www.gearbest.com?
Another facebook page to keep a sharp lookout on is NoHurries Facebook. It's in Dutch, but not hard to understand if you don't speak Dutch. It is packed with discounts, and cooupons, and such, on gadgets of every kind. Not only RC related, but any tech will do. Take another cut off those already low prices! Most offers are limited in number or date, though. So keep checking back in to get the latest!
If you don't live in the Netherlands like I do, it doesn't hurt to see if there is a country-specific facebook group for your country as well ;)
So, having read all of the above, why dont you head on over to https://www.gearbest.com?
Comments
Post a Comment