Hi All,

I have joined the forum recently and intend to start building my first quadrotor helicopter soon.
While researching for essentials parts, how-to's etc, I have come across members suggesting buying product parts from chinese websites, for example-

@bhaveshsangani (I am very helpful for a recent post reply from you regarding parts)
http://www.banggood.com/H250-ZMR250-250mm-Carbon-Fiber-Mini-Quadcopter-Multicopter-Frame-Kit-p-933185.html

I have following queries -
1. Which Chinese websites are considered reliable by the community, in terms of product quality, shipping times etc?
2. How do we transact on the Chinese websites? I am not comfortable using my Credit card directly on those websites. What are my alternatives and approx charges?
3. Typically, how much customs duty get collected and what are the shipping times from the china to india (specifically mumbai, if anyone is aware)

Thanks a lot folks...

These are the Chinese stores I usually buy from:

• Banggood
• GoodLuckBuy
• FPV Model
• Surveilzone
• MyRCMart
• Gear Best (BTW, admins really need to update this blacklist).
• HobbyKing
• eBay.com and Aliexpress, though this depends more on the specific seller as these two are only platforms

2. My preferred payment method is PayPal. It is accepted by all these sellers (except Aliexpress) and is linked to your credit card. It also gives you good buyer protection, though fortunately I've never had to use it.

3. Customs isn't usually charged on packages shipped by registered airmail (which is usually the cheapest option/free shipping option these stores offer) unless the boxes are very big or declared at higher values. However, I have been charged duty on a pretty small box with motors and a LiPo dicharger and I did not get charged at all on a big box with an RTF heli in it so I think it is kind of arbitrary. Shipping takes 2-6 weeks depending on what carrier it is shipped by and whether customs detain it.

Before looking at Chinese sites, take a look at LHS. I was joyed to find many sites sell products at almost the same price (or even cheaper) than Chinese sites.

I have used:

Aliexpress, Banggood, eBay, and sp4mm3r. All of them are legit. Don't ever confirm you got your product until you have verified functionality and if the buyer protection is running out, open a dispute or ask the seller to extend it.

Quote from: SK1701 on September 05, 2016, 08:28:42 PM
These are the Chinese stores I usually buy from:

• Banggood
• GoodLuckBuy
• FPV Model
• Surveilzone
• MyRCMart
• Gear Best (BTW, admins really need to update this blacklist).
• HobbyKing
• eBay.com and Aliexpress, though this depends more on the specific seller as these two are only platforms

2. My preferred payment method is PayPal. It is accepted by all these sellers (except Aliexpress) and is linked to your credit card. It also gives you good buyer protection, though fortunately I've never had to use it.

3. Customs isn't usually charged on packages shipped by registered airmail (which is usually the cheapest option/free shipping option these stores offer) unless the boxes are very big or declared at higher values. However, I have been charged duty on a pretty small box with motors and a LiPo dicharger and I did not get charged at all on a big box with an RTF heli in it so I think it is kind of arbitrary. Shipping takes 2-6 weeks depending on what carrier it is shipped by and whether customs detain it.

Thank you very much... appreciate your inputs. So looks like banggood is the oft recommended site and paypal is the way to go...

How do people pay at Aliexpress without exposing their credit card details directly?

Quote from: Cycloned on September 05, 2016, 08:53:11 PM
Before looking at Chinese sites, take a look at LHS. I was joyed to find many sites sell products at almost the same price (or even cheaper) than Chinese sites.

I have used:

Aliexpress, Banggood, eBay, and sp4mm3r. All of them are legit. Don't ever confirm you got your product until you have verified functionality and if the buyer protection is running out, open a dispute or ask the seller to extend it.

@Cycloned
Thank you for the tip about confirming receipt of the product.
By LHS, do you mean LHS electronics (similar to this product - http://www.hobbypeople.net/index.php/lhs-electronics-7-4v-5000mah-50c-hard-case-lipo-battery-t-conn.html) or did you mean something else? Where do you buy that in India (online or offline)?

LHS is Local Hobby Shop.
The term used to indicate the shops within your locality or state or country.
Check this site for information about shops in India
http://www.rcduniya.com/

Thanks vibranthobbies... my bad... well, i am learning

Would it be best to order using 'Air Parcel Register' or 'EMS Air Mail Service', say for RC electronics parts?

Typically how many days does it take when ordered via 'Air Parcel Register'? (Based on actual orders by forum members here...)

Lastly, customs duty if applicable on a product needs to be paid by visiting the local post office? How do I know if the parcel is with customs or has been applied with customs duty?

Quote from: msafiri on September 06, 2016, 10:25:24 AM
Thanks vibranthobbies... my bad... well, i am learning

Would it be best to order using 'Air Parcel Register' or 'EMS Air Mail Service', say for RC electronics parts?

Typically how many days does it take when ordered via 'Air Parcel Register'? (Based on actual orders by forum members here...)

Lastly, customs duty if applicable on a product needs to be paid by visiting the local post office? How do I know if the parcel is with customs or has been applied with customs duty?

hi,

My personal experience with Chinese purchase is "Registered Air parcel". Thought it takes few weeks to few months to reach us, generally it will skip from the customs duty. I ordered several products from aliexpress and only once I was been charged customs duty. Since you are buying difference products from difference sellers and the package will be individual and quite small. If you buy from hobbyking, they will send you in single package and hence the bigger. This will be surely scrutinized by customs officer and hence more chance for customs duty. From hobbyking, I bought 6 six times and only once I received my product without duty. While buying from Chinese website, try to choose sweden post/ NZ post/ signapore post/ hongkong post than china post. They deliver comparatively faster than china post in many occasions to me. If you choose EMS/ DHL/ UPS etc, you will get the order quickly and there are 90% chance for customs duty. In addition to the extra shipping cost you have to pay customs duty that will make your budget more than twice.

Hope this helps.

And regarding customs duty, it depends on the officer. Generally duty will vary from 10 to 30% of total value (order value + shipping). I dono why the hell they are including shipping cost into the duty calculation 

Another incident is I bought a dozen of plastic geared motor from aliexpress. It cost about $20 (nearly 1350 Rs) including shipping. It came in a sealed box. It was opened by customs officer and charged 100% duty. I was forced to pay another 1350 Rs  . That was my bad day.

Duty will be collected by post man who is delivering. He will come with a duty charge slip stating the amount to paid + postal charges. It will be informed by post man to you through phone if the amount is big.

I usually buy from the LHSs. In exceptional cases I purchase from Chinese sites namely Banggood, Hobbyking and AliExpress. Only ordered small packages (and keep the price within $100 or so) and no duty was charged by customs.

Quote from: samayaraj on September 06, 2016, 11:24:37 AM
And regarding customs duty, it depends on the officer. Generally duty will vary from 10 to 30% of total value (order value + shipping). I dono why the hell they are including shipping cost into the duty calculation 

Another incident is I bought a dozen of plastic geared motor from aliexpress. It cost about $20 (nearly 1350 Rs) including shipping. It came in a sealed box. It was opened by customs officer and charged 100% duty. I was forced to pay another 1350 Rs  . That was my bad day.

Duty will be collected by post man who is delivering. He will come with a duty charge slip stating the amount to paid + postal charges. It will be informed by post man to you through phone if the amount is big.

why was 100% charged any reason?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Usually 100% charge is a fine or penalty. Since the package had a number of the same item, the officer must've considered it as 'commercial/for resale' import. This mostly happens when the package is not accompanied by an IEC code or any other relevant document. But one catch is such a penalty should be over and above applicable duties & any other fines(undervaluing) which should make charges >1350INR, not sure what exactly happened in this case.

This is one issue while importing, so keep the quantity low enough to pass for personal use.

Quote from: msafiri on September 06, 2016, 10:25:24 AM
Thanks vibranthobbies... my bad... well, i am learning

Would it be best to order using 'Air Parcel Register' or 'EMS Air Mail Service', say for RC electronics parts?

Typically how many days does it take when ordered via 'Air Parcel Register'? (Based on actual orders by forum members here...)

Lastly, customs duty if applicable on a product needs to be paid by visiting the local post office? How do I know if the parcel is with customs or has been applied with customs duty?

Select air parcel register and message the seller asking him to mark the package as GIFT and LOW ITEM VALUE ($5 or less). This will ensure your item comes through without a problem. Don't order prohibited goods like radios or RTF quads.

LHS is local hobby store as mentioned by vibranthobbies. You can use rcduniya.com to check across all indian LHS to find what you need.

Quote from: merin_83 on September 06, 2016, 01:13:14 PM

Quote from: samayaraj on September 06, 2016, 11:24:37 AM
And regarding customs duty, it depends on the officer. Generally duty will vary from 10 to 30% of total value (order value + shipping). I dono why the hell they are including shipping cost into the duty calculation 

Another incident is I bought a dozen of plastic geared motor from aliexpress. It cost about $20 (nearly 1350 Rs) including shipping. It came in a sealed box. It was opened by customs officer and charged 100% duty. I was forced to pay another 1350 Rs  . That was my bad day.

Duty will be collected by post man who is delivering. He will come with a duty charge slip stating the amount to paid + postal charges. It will be informed by post man to you through phone if the amount is big.

why was 100% charged any reason?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

May be he would have thought the order is under rated. But its the actual cost.

Quote from: Cycloned on September 06, 2016, 02:28:48 PM

Select air parcel register and message the seller asking him to mark the package as GIFT and LOW ITEM VALUE ($5 or less). This will ensure your item comes through without a problem. Don't order prohibited goods like radios or RTF quads.

LHS is local hobby store as mentioned by vibranthobbies. You can use rcduniya.com to check across all indian LHS to find what you need.

So RTF (Ready to fly) quadcopters are prohibited from import? I thought people do import DJI Phantom and similar products to India.

Also by Radio, do you mean the transmitter-receiver RC units (from Turnigy or likewise) to control the quads cannot be imported either? or are we referring to some other radios?

Quote from: msafiri on September 08, 2016, 03:59:29 PM

Quote from: Cycloned on September 06, 2016, 02:28:48 PM

Select air parcel register and message the seller asking him to mark the package as GIFT and LOW ITEM VALUE ($5 or less). This will ensure your item comes through without a problem. Don't order prohibited goods like radios or RTF quads.

LHS is local hobby store as mentioned by vibranthobbies. You can use rcduniya.com to check across all indian LHS to find what you need.

So RTF (Ready to fly) quadcopters are prohibited from import? I thought people do import DJI Phantom and similar products to India.

Also by Radio, do you mean the transmitter-receiver RC units (from Turnigy or likewise) to control the quads cannot be imported either? or are we referring to some other radios?

Yup, RTF quads are banned from importing. Companies are able to import them, but it is very difficult. The common citizen can't do it.

Receivers are not a problem but the transmitters are also prohibited from import. And yes, I'm talking about RC transmitters.