A store on Alibaba

Hi everyone. I have found a great store on Alibaba. I was looking for a specific flashlight on the other China site that starts with an A. Having found the light at a store, I was told that the light was on sale. But the sale price of the light was $10 more than the price listed on the site page. So, after going around and around with the store representative about the price being $10 cheaper than the stated sale price, I finally gave up. Then, I started looking on the Alibaba website. I started looking for a store that sold the light I was looking for. I found the store Shenzhen City Jinba Technology. I will refer to store as Jinba. The store is managed by Hardy Liu. I messaged Hardy about the flashlight I was looking for. Hardy looked in his inventory. He messaged me back and informed me that they had the light I was looking for but apparently they were sold out and the light was no longer in production. I thanked him for his time and asked if he ever hears where I can purchase the light to please let me know. Well, two days later I got a message from Hardy. He had went through the warehouse and found one of the lights I wanted. Hardy gave me a price that was almost 50 percent less than the other site that starts with an A in China. I purchased the light using PayPal. The shipping took a little longer than I am used to. It took 19 days for my light to arrive. The packaging was in perfect condition. The light was flawless and worked perfectly. Hardy is very respectful, courteous and knowledgeable. He also cares about his customers. It seems to me that he is a very nice person. His store Jinba sell Sofirn and Wurkkos flashlights and is also an official supplier to Astrolux. Jinba sells in bulk, but will sell single samples, as well.
As I have stated before in other reviews, stores are only as good as the people who run them. Hardy went above and beyond to find the light I wanted and sold it for a great price. So, if you are tired of the games some stores on the other site play (which starts with an A in China) and are looking for a Sofirn or Wurkkos flashlight, contact Hardy Liu at Shenzhen City Jinba Technology on Alibaba. Tell him Jim sent you. I recommend this store.
When you talk to as many people as I do and find someone like Hardy Liu, I feel the need to share that with everyone. Thanks Jimo

You bought directly from the manufacturer. Jinba Technology is the owner of several brands like Sofirn and YAKORSEI. They are also OEM for other companies like Wurkkos.

I like the fact that Hardy didn’t forget about me and weand found what I wanted

Opps I’m sorry the message should have said, Hardy went to the warehouse and found the light
I was looking for.

Thanks Jimo for sharing your interesting story.

Last night I went on Alibaba and found a wholesaler selling Trustfire T90R at only US$89 for one “sample” unit. Shipping fee is US$18, and there is another US$3 for some administration fee, bringing altogether US$ 110 for this powerful flashlight.

Trustfire New T90r Hunting Flashlight Self Defense Led Flashlight 1600m Long Distance Torch Light - Buy Hunting Flashlight,Self Defense Led Flashlight,Long Distance Torch Light Product on Alibaba.com

The price is amazing, especially when compared with US$199.99 on one Ali Express web page, and US$169.99 on Trustfire’s eBay page.

This makes me wonder whether we, “outsiders”, have been overpaying for flashlights made in China all along. Our Chinese friends must be laughing at us for being “conditioned” to accept and to pay high prices for the same flashlights they can easily buy at a much lower price from Chinese wholesalers and manufacturers direct. :rage:

Nice, Does their store have a link?

That's pretty awesome, great deal and great interaction! Alibaba is mostly for high quantity B2B sales and I've heard a lot of stories covered in shady surprises...but it's a major platform and many companies across the globe use it. It's just like the consumer Aliexpress, though, in that you need to choose vendors carefully as best you can. A few years back I tried to order some "samples" from a couple places and it turns out that while they were willing (and advertised it) there were indeed additional fees and a shipping charge that was way over the top. That may have been because they figured out I wasn't a business that could buy large amounts after confirming an acceptable sample. I don't even look on Alibaba anymore other than some interesting browsing once in awhile.

You stumbled upon the proverbial horse's mouth with this one...nice work. :)

Mr. Liu is a fine fellow for what he did, but an influx of end consumers looking for similar help, or “deals” in the B2B channel is likely to change his outlook very quickly.

Some wholesale business are willing to sell to the public on the side, but that’s not what they’re set up to do, and secret perks will cease quickly once they become more trouble than they’re worth.

Yes, there are added margins in the retail prices we consumers pay, but they support things like operating the store, warranties, and customer service, which are expected, but not free.

Thanks The Intruder for your views.

Similar points raised when I asked Nitecore why their flashlights are so expensive. One of their reasons is that we pay for “peace of mind” knowing that every Nitecore flashlight comes with a 5-year warranty. But I doubt that I will need any repair service or want to pay shipping fee just to send in my faulty flashlight for any repair after two or three years.

Will find out whether the Trustfire T90R I have ordered will come with any warranty.

Yes I have found a some good deals on Alibaba.I am curious to see how the shipping holds up.I waited 20 days from Alibaba. I average around 14 days from Aliexpress. And when I ordered directly from Ben at Mateminco the average was around 11 days. But you can get very good sample pricing at Alibaba. So its worth the longer wait, in my opinion, Jimo.

Thank you for your feedback and concern, this is the problem of our colleagues in the price setting, have informed them to modify.

Annnnnd.....loose lips sink ships.

Air doesn’t make them float.

It's water under the bridge now.

Because Alibaba is primarily meant for wholesale/business buyers the minimum quantities are usually too way high for consumers (100pcs +)
But it’s great for small business owners when the minimum quantity is only 1or 2 pieces…
Especially on an expensive item like this where it could cost over $1000.00 for just 10 units.

Yesterday, I found another good discount on Alibaba.com: a Convoy 3X21A with 90.2 LED. Couldn’t find it anywhere else, neither at Convoy flashlight Store nor in Banggood.

This seller in Alibaba sets the price at only US$63. But shipping and processing fees adds another US$15. Altogether just US$78 for this powerful Convoy. Not bad at all when compared with US$63.11 of the same model with SFT40 LED on sale in Banggood.

You just need some time to explore the vast variety of shops in Alibaba. Some of them do sell one “sample” piece. That was how I got my TrustFire T90R. Actually during the September sale, the T90R came down to only US$83!