You also have to watch out for the "Dollar Express" section because when an item is in that section it doesn't always have the proper price and picture, they use normal listings and convert them to "dollar express" listings. I ordered a 1200 piece but after the purchase the order page said it was a 500 piece, basically a bait and switch. If it was a normal listing it lists 2 items properly, its just the "dollar express" portion where they can legit trick you.
The nice thing about Aliexpress is if you don't get it in 30 days you get it for straight up free, "delivery guarantee" at least that is true here in the states.
As long as you expect slightly sub-standard stuff AliEx is fine, especially if you’re doing alternate builds or MOCs, I’ve got 2 defender 90s on the way to build a 4-door, 6 wheel version to sit next my original Lego build. Both sets together cost half the original Lego one. Do watch out for ‘paper’ models too.
My advice is if it is a knockoff and it only has digital instructions then it is best to find the original Lego set number and get official instructions from them. Only KO I have is the big Delorean build from Back to the Future, the build of the car itself is good but the minifigs, the print and quality of the plastic on those leave a lot to be desired
Great video with disclaimers. I buy mainly minifigures and some modular buildings, one thing I’ve noticed is that some minifigures have different molds for the legs and torso. The torso can swivel around, and the legs have one connection instead of the two that normal leg pieces have that are inserted into the torso. Only the heads and hair pieces (and hands too) are compatible with LEGO minifigures. They are usually listed as a pack of 12 for around 4-6 USD. Also, if you like in the USA, sometimes there are items that ship from a warehouse in the USA, so delivery is much faster. Minifigures that aren’t choice items can also sometimes be bought in bulk for free shipping. It will say in red text under shipping in the information part of the item. And yeah, mini blocks are usually cheaper and I’ve been deceived by sets that look identical to regular sets but are mini. Great breakdown! Edit: When clicking on an image on AliExpress, you can press “Find Similar” to find the same item under other sellers, which I use to get the best deals.
Bought some, with aliexp choice its around ten days to europe / Germany. Quality is changing, sometimes good sometimes bad. But comparing prices its still a no brainer i think.
You also have to watch out for the "Dollar Express" section because when an item is in that section it doesn't always have the proper price and picture, they use normal listings and convert them to "dollar express" listings. I ordered a 1200 piece but after the purchase the order page said it was a 500 piece, basically a bait and switch. If it was a normal listing it lists 2 items properly, its just the "dollar express" portion where they can legit trick you.
The nice thing about Aliexpress is if you don't get it in 30 days you get it for straight up free, "delivery guarantee" at least that is true here in the states.
As long as you expect slightly sub-standard stuff AliEx is fine, especially if you’re doing alternate builds or MOCs, I’ve got 2 defender 90s on the way to build a 4-door, 6 wheel version to sit next my original Lego build. Both sets together cost half the original Lego one. Do watch out for ‘paper’ models too.
My advice is if it is a knockoff and it only has digital instructions then it is best to find the original Lego set number and get official instructions from them.
Only KO I have is the big Delorean build from Back to the Future, the build of the car itself is good but the minifigs, the print and quality of the plastic on those leave a lot to be desired
Yeah, they don’t concentrate on minifigs…. The legs never look right and they are never good quality
I bought a emerald night train for 40€ and the quality of the bricks was better than from modern sets.
Better color consistency and smaler gate points
Great video with disclaimers. I buy mainly minifigures and some modular buildings, one thing I’ve noticed is that some minifigures have different molds for the legs and torso. The torso can swivel around, and the legs have one connection instead of the two that normal leg pieces have that are inserted into the torso. Only the heads and hair pieces (and hands too) are compatible with LEGO minifigures. They are usually listed as a pack of 12 for around 4-6 USD.
Also, if you like in the USA, sometimes there are items that ship from a warehouse in the USA, so delivery is much faster.
Minifigures that aren’t choice items can also sometimes be bought in bulk for free shipping. It will say in red text under shipping in the information part of the item. And yeah, mini blocks are usually cheaper and I’ve been deceived by sets that look identical to regular sets but are mini.
Great breakdown!
Edit: When clicking on an image on AliExpress, you can press “Find Similar” to find the same item under other sellers, which I use to get the best deals.
Some good things there :) maybe make it into part 2….
Bought some, with aliexp choice its around ten days to europe / Germany. Quality is changing, sometimes good sometimes bad. But comparing prices its still a no brainer i think.