Stuff on Ebay from Hong Kong

[marvelguy]

Has anyone bought stuff on Ebay that ships from Hong Kong? I'm asking this because I'm looking for a wireless adapter (in this case, refurbished). It's cheaper, I mean way cheaper than retail. Also it has free shipping. It sounds good, it has thousands of feedback that's almost 100%. I'm talking about a $8-$10 adapter that Wal-mart or other retailers sells for about $55-$59.

[kenmacny]

Has anyone bought stuff on Ebay that ships from Hong Kong? I'm asking this because I'm looking for a wireless adapter (in this case, refurbished). It's cheaper, I mean way cheaper than retail. Also it has free shipping. It sounds good, it has thousands of feedback that's almost 100%. I'm talking about a $8-$10 adapter that Wal-mart or other retailers sells for about $55-$59.

Probably going to be a bootleg knockoff. For that price it may be worth it as they usually work. Maybe not as well as the original or for as long but depending on situation that may be ok.

[nocutename]

Don't do it. 99% of the time it will be a cheap knock-off. I have held back on Hello Kitty collectibles and clothing because it isn't worth the hassle.

[marvelguy]

OK. I can sense that it being a knockoff. I remember something a while back that JDB bought a laptop power converter or whatever that was from HK. It was smoking or heating up.

One other tech question, is it possible for any brand Wireless N adapter to work with a Wireless N router?

[dc kev]

I ordered some Harry Potter figures and loved them. but I don't know that I'd spend more than $10 on an overseas transaction.

[Duffman_Comics]

I've bought a few things from HK. Last things were a couple of webcams, built in microphones and LED's for about $6 each shipped. WAY cheaper than I could have got them retail around here.

As for knock-offs, is that really a problem with electronics? For "fashion" stuff and DVD's I can see the point, but routers and similar gear? Not so much.

And to the OP's query, yes - any brand "N" router should work with any brand "N" adapter. I bought a USB wireless network adapter, again from HK and very cheap and it worked straight out of the box. That was two years ago and it is still going well. I think the price then was $16 shipped.

[kenmacny]

I've bought a few things from HK. Last things were a couple of webcams, built in microphones and LED's for about $6 each shipped. WAY cheaper than I could have got them retail around here.

As for knock-offs, is that really a problem with electronics? For "fashion" stuff and DVD's I can see the point, but routers and similar gear? Not so much.

And to the OP's query, yes - any brand "N" router should work with any brand "N" adapter. I bought a USB wireless network adapter, again from HK and very cheap and it worked straight out of the box. That was two years ago and it is still going well. I think the price then was $16 shipped.

Anything that makes money will be knocked off. We got a WII controller that was a knock off. Knew it before we bought it but the price was right so we rolled the dice. It looks about 97% exact and so far not much of a performance issue. Your mileage may vary of course.

[yarmak]

I did once.I bought a swarovski peice for Maria.I did as much research into the buyer as I could past transactions history how well others thought of the seller so took the plunge.I will let you know that I sweated for about a week but it arrived in one peice and it was an original and the buyer kept in contact with me
So all in all it was a great transaction and I saved alot of $$ too
Dave

[grininbarrett]

I bought a cheap universal infra-red remote for my camera. Works great.
Most electronics are almost surely knockoffs and often might not have the range of the name brand.
Almost always will not have the quality control. So more likely to get a dud.

[Drakesfuture]

I bought an X-files DVD and a WII remote. They both work fine and I saved a ton of dough.

[Evil Parsnip]

Actually in Hong Kong you tend to get a lot more in terms of real stuff as HK is the electronics capitol of that part of the world (outside of Japan). There are plenty of cheap knockoffs available everywhere - but realize that most locals buy the cheap stuff, so they have to at least decent quality. I wouldn't buy high end stuff, but for an adaptor you should be fine. I brought plenty of this kind of stuff in SE Asia and it rarely let me down.

[kenmacny]

I forgot to mention my younger self would say the asia workers are top notch but there are always surprises in that field as well...

[pasnat54]

The common wisdom seems to be that most electronics stuff from Hong Kong will be a knock-off, but it will work. You just won't have any recourse if it doesn't.

And there could be eccentricities. For example, I've purchased a couple of DVDs from Hong Kong sellers. I can't turn off the Chinese subtitles on "Laura", (at least Gene Tierney isn't speaking Chinese) and Enchanted April is trimmed off on the sides, so when the title appears on screen, it reads "nchanted Apri".