Buying Convoy on Aliexpree Question

Looking at Convoy flashlights on Aliexpress, I see them available from several sellers. I thought

convoy only sold direct. Should I only purchase from the convoy store selle? What is strange is

that other stores, non china, sell a little cheaper??? What is going on? Thanks for any replies in advance.

The only store to purchase from, IMO.
Simon’s Store

1) best service
2) he listens to us on BLF, understands our needs
3) goods will be shipped quickly, most if not all in registered shipments
4) peace of mind that you will get the quality you deserve. no fakes at this store

All true but if you want to save a few bucks , check BG with coupon.

THIS!

You can save some bucks in other stores but in case anything happens, support is zero!
From Convoy flashlight store (https://convoy.aliexpress.com/store/330416) you’ll get more and better options (leds, drivers, colours, …) and in case anything happens, Simon will reply and do things good! :+1:

When comparing prices you need to realize that on Banggood they charge extra for shipping. Whereas with sellers on Aliexpress, including Simon's Convoy store shipping is often included Free.

Thanks for the responses.

From Convoy flashlight store (https://convoy.aliexpress.com/store/330416(link is external)) you’ll get more and better options (leds, drivers, colours, …)

Wow. Lots of options….

What brand of battery (21700) does he ship with??
I have been batteries alone so I get Samsung, Panasonic….

Support Simon, he’s the original. I really cannot recommend BG, unless you are a masochist. You’re already paying peanuts for such amazing lights, but if you want to save a few bucks, use code: 41RN47QH785B at checkout for 15% off.

I like giving Simon my business directly. He offers excellent customer service and recently installed a forward-clicky switch in a C8+ for me at no extra charge.

The listings for his lights that include a 21700 cell show a photo of the LiitoKala Lii-50E. I don’t know anything about them, but I found some folks discussing them in this thread.

I suppose this depends on the country…

AliExpress sellers tend to ship via registered mail (postal office), or untracked for very cheap price items. Our country’s post office will always collect a fee (around US$2-4) from recipient upon delivery of item, even if the item is just a $1 item).

The post office system (to our country) can be fairly fast (around 2 weeks is the fastest I’ve experienced, but on average 4-8 weeks, and in rare occasions, several months. The longest was around 9 months, this happened only once, when pandemic occured last year, I suppose this was caused in part by various countries’ postal system getting closed though and the postal routing was messed up, anyway it was a low value item, less than $10, and I actually already made a dispute to AliExpress when around 5 months had passed… not expecting the package to arrive on the 9th month.)

For Banggood, usually there is a third party courier which delivers door to door, and is almost as fast as expedited shipping (nearly as fast as DHL / Fedex), around 9 days is the fastest I’ve experienced. There is no fee to collect when using this courier (for Southeast Asian countries). Although Banggood will require a minimum amount (used to be around $30 to have “free shipping” using this 3rd-party “Southeast Asia” courier system). If below the $30 spending on BG, then this shipping method will incur a shipping fee of less than $2, which is still reasonable, considering it’s fast.

So, when I compare the two options, BG items generally arrive much much faster as long as they ship immediately. Whereas AliExpress will take a long time to arrive (due to using the slow postal system)….

But anyway, back to the main topic.

Ordering directly from Simon’s Convoy store may sometimes be a bit more expensive than BG (with discount code), but as mentioned by others, there are more choices (and sometimes, if the choice is not there, can sometimes request Simon to make a customized option, eg. LED not listed in a certain flashlight, but is usable, then Simon can make that available for the buyer). And if there are any issues, Simon will try to make things right.

Guys, guys, guys,

You are supporting Simon when you buy a Convoy light from BG. He will support the product when you buy it from BG.

Where do you think BG got it from?

When you buy a Sony TV from Best Buy, both Best Buy and Sony make a sale and both Best Buy and Sony support it.

Appreciate your comments d_t_a about receiving items in Manila (lived there for one year long ago), however I looked at where the OP lived and tailored my comments to his/her location in the western US.

Zoulas, yes you are absolutely correct... Simon will support his products and customers no matter the selling source.

Thanks for all the info. MoreLumens, Is that similar to or in addition to using the discount code
that darosk posted (see below) ??

*41RN47QH785B *at checkout for 15% off.

Thanks, Stan

True
And Convoy flashlight store offer also customization.
You can use also Aliexpress coupon’s

This is a reasonable question ....Gearbest /Fastech and Bangood have always beaten Simons prices on his own lights .

I understand the concept and appreciate his willingness at this point to slightly customize or modify a light for you .

That said.... I own about 25 Convoy lights, none of which have been purchased from his store .

I have not seen this to be the case. I have compared quite a few S2+ and C8 and others and Simons AliX store is always less. Please give me one example of this if you have one.

The S2+s are all less expensive on BG. Check it.

I have checked and when you include the shipping and mandatory insurance on Banggood it ends up being more than on Simon's AliX store. However, that is including the 10 or 15% discount that Simon offers to BLF users. If you compare the cost straight across without the BLF discount then Banggood is less. But I always ask, and receive, the discount as all member here on BLF should do.

There is a working Simon AliX 15% discount code listed above in the comments to this thread.

With the aliex code, the prices work out to always be cheaper on aliex, at least to my calculation, excusing any fat fingerings of calculators.

You can refuse the insurance on Banggood. I never get it.

Exactly, I never get it either. Never had a problem.
Their “insurance’ is just a money grab as far as I am concerned.
It is BG’s responsibility the customer receive the package. :white_check_mark: