Quickest and most reliable Gearbest shipping method right now: America Line / IB

Gearbest started this year with horrible reputation, there’s no doubt. Countless of threads complaining about missing orders or bad customer service. But as with everything there is also a good side of it but often overshadowed by negatives.

Personally I’ve had a generally good experience with GB, last year I spent over in more than $1,500 in about 20 orders and not a single item was lost.

I always add tracking option, and since the last couple months I have used America line / America Direct / IB (International Bridge) and delivery times have been pretty consistent, sometimes even surprisingly quick.

This option drops down when you chose “Priority Direct Mail”. Doesn’t require paying extra for tracking number.

Here are some examples, these are my last 3 orders.

For this shipping method you MUST use this website for tracking: http://www.myib.com/ , clicking the tracking # on GB website does not work. Pasting the # on google directly won’t work. Using 17track.net often won’t work.

If you have had good or bad experience with this shipping method please chime in, and if you really want to buy from GB and don’t know which shipping method to use, try this one out.

And before you mark this as spam or assume that I have anything to do with GB, please know that I submitted this not for GB, but for you. I’m tired of seeing GB complaints in the main page every time I visit the forum.

I take it this is different than the “Direct Link” I have used?

GB uses different names for it, but if the tracking number starts with IB### then the provider is International Brigde. I remember in the early times they named it “America Direct”.

IB takes about 2 weeks to get to me here in Florida USA.

From now on, IB is what I will use with Gearbest. - It costs a little more upfront, but then you get Free Tracking, and so the cost is actually less than STD shipping with tracking. - So, a no brainer, for me.

Thanks,
-Chuck

What I recently received as an example: - Not my first order by IB from GB; more like my third.

Package# IB14500736785140
Tracking# 9200190100075315585700
Zipcode 33543-5143
Shipdate 2015/12/16
Status Delivered
Question? Contact Customer Service
Date Status Location
2015-12-30 14:51:00 Delivered WESLEY CHAPEL FL 33543
2015-12-30 09:10:00 Out for Delivery WESLEY CHAPEL FL 33543
2015-12-30 09:00:00 Scanned at: WESLEY CHAPEL FL 33543
2015-12-29 23:37:00 Scanned at: TAMPA FL 33605
2015-12-28 21:28:00 Scanned at: CINCINNATI OH 45235
2015-12-28 18:43:00 Scanned at: CINCINNATI OH 45235
2015-12-28 11:09:15 Departed warehouse HEBRON KY 41048
2015-12-28 11:00:10 Received at warehouse HEBRON KY 41048
2015-12-16 23:32:55 Departed warehouse SHENZHEN GUANGDONG 518048
2015-12-14 17:03:30 Received data SHENZHEN GUANGDONG 518057
2015-12-14 17:03:30 Order Information Received SHENZHEN GUANGDONG 518057

Hmm I’ve been choosing something called “Priority Direct Mail: America Direct Express.” It ships through “America Line (SF)” and gives a tracking number that starts with UF. I haven’t been impressed with it.

PD,

Yes - That’s the same service that I’m talking about - IB. .

I guess that as always, YMMV?

:~

Thanks,
-Chuck

I’ve never gotten a tracking number that starts with “IB”, always “UF”. Out of 4 shipments the tracking has worked on 2 of them. The two that were delivered took 3-5 weeks from order date, the other two are still in the mail.

Hhmm - I got my BLF SE D80 on selecting the same way and got an IB... # - worked great! Best time ever from GearBest - now as good as regular shipping time from BangGood .

I'll be using this shipping service from now on with GearBest, definitely - cheaper than a tracking # too...

Maybe difference is east coast vs. central US?

Banggood has something similar to this, like “Priority Direct something or the other”, but it comes VIA a economy FedEx service.

Could that be what you are thinking about, Pilot?

They seem to be take about the same time to me, but I think that I actually prefer the IB tracking over the cheap FedEx, once you get used to it.

-Chuck

[/quote]
I’ve never gotten a tracking number that starts with “IB”, always “UF”.
[/quote]

My only UF order was 8pcs Samsung 30Q and it took almost 2 months to deliver. It forced me to chose “Sweden direct link” and I had no way to track it when it left China. Gearbest tried to blame it on me because according to them I did not paid tracking, but luckily my order arrived just when I was about to open a paypal dispute.

Maybe my shipping location matters? I actually just went to gearbest and acted like I was placing an order the way I always do, and copied the exact verbiage it uses for that shipping option. Then looked back at my past orders and the tracking has always started with UF with that shipping option.

My B158 came quickly, my Panasonic BD’s did not.

Agree with this. Usually get my order in 1-2 weeks.

My (2) x 4pcs (at different times) of Gearbest’s Samsung 26F ‘Protected’ arrived Clean… Looking like New, though not very well packed.

I don’t use protect cells as a matter of course, but some lights will require that extra length to work correctly - My Olight SR52-UT is one of them, or all three cells will not be in contact, and so, you will run two of the cells down and one of them is still fully charged - They are all in parallel. - 1s/3p. - As such, it will run even if you only put one cell in it. - I have since changed the cells in this light to 3x LG/MH1 3200mAh, Protected EVVA from RMM. - Really a shame to have to run protected cells in a 1s/3p light, but they will not all make contact without the extra length. :frowning:

But I digress…

After seeing all of the ugly pics of the Gearbest 30Q’s on here, I lost my desire to order any :frowning:

But I do understand that they actually ‘work’ just fine, once you get them cleaned up. :wink:

‘Most’ of my cutting edge, high-end cells I will order from Mtn. Electronics, AKA RMM - Richard. - I know that I can Always Trust him to deliver proper goods!

However, I have been known to at times go ‘slumming about and whoring around’, and have dealt with the likes of FT and eBay for some LG’s. - Good results according to my Lil 500 ‘discharger’, so I still have a clean bill of health… But, Please don’t tell Richard - Ok?

Perhaps I just got lucky?

:slight_smile:

Thank you,
-Chuck

.

Understood,

Li-Ion cells are a different matter altogether, and is something that Gearbest needs to work on.

They can only be shipped by certain methods.

If you want your stuff Fast, NEVER EVER include a battery in your order - Use a separate order for them, or there will likely be a delay.

In fact, as crazy as it may sound, I only order ONE thing at a time. - I think there is better odds to actually get what you want that way. - Yeah it costs a bit more that way, but I have so far received everything that I have ordered.

In other words, if I want “this” and “this” and “that” - I place 3 orders for those three things.

They don’t speak my language and I don’r speak theirs, so I choose to just keep it as simple as possible.

Works for me!

Thanks,
-Chuck

The priority direct option is still misleading and still considered standard shipping even though it has listed estimated delivery time of 3-7 business days. I would say that the majority of buyers would say that the time frame is considered “expedited” just as the dhl option. I have used this option and within 2 weeks I got what I ordered but it’s misleading & tracking is hassle with smart post labels/#’s.

For me, the American IB is mostly delivered within 2 weeks, but gearbest takes so long to actually hand the package over to the shipping entity that it ends up not being much faster than the free shipping methods offered elsewhere.

This American “IB” sounds great, I just wish I could get it :slight_smile:

.

Uhmm,

Ya think? - I’m talking about how long it takes from the time that they say it has been ‘shipped’, to the time to when the ‘Shipper’ actually has it.

It is curious how that Banggood says that something is shipped in 24hrs, and they most of the time they do, but Gearbest quotes 3-5 days.

It might be true that GB does not ever really have all this stuff in stock, and are shipping (drop shipping) from many locations that are not actually their own?

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have NEVER received a package that actually said Banggood or Gearbest on it for a return address. - Anyone?

I dunno, but I will continue, because I’m a sucker for the good deals…

:slight_smile:

-Chuck

I'd think GearBest saves $$$ by going with cheaper shipping services and handlers - there's middle guys involved, you get what you pay for, and looks like GearBest passes on the savings to us - good and bad, all depends how lucky/patient you are.

Just recently ordered the BLF D80 by "Priority Direct" mail and tracking number issued today starts with "IB". Here's to hoping for a much speedier delivery than in the past... :quest: