Anyone have experience with buying on either site? I'm looking at cheepee electric Chinese golf carts for abt 4 grand. MMC-GOLF Store https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPjbviQ
Aliexpress is more of a consumer online site, like Amazon. Alibaba is more of a business wholesale site where you are usually directly dealing with the Chinese company. One thing to be careful of with Alibaba is shipping, you have to pay attention to the shipping abbreviation and what they all mean. Some of the options put the responsibility of customs imports fees, taxes, etc on the buyer. Or you may need to involve a shipping broker as an intermediary.
Go to a golf course and see if they are getting rid of any golf carts for new ones. See what price they are asking for a used one. If you're not particular about buying used. I'am just guessing you can buy one this way.
And where do you buy parts for your "cheepee electric Chinese golf cart" after a year or two? Chances are big that you discover that the manufacturer went bankrupt, or changed production and is now only selling wheelbarrows....
Update, I found out that most of not all golf coursed lease golf carts. So to buy one, you would have to go to the company that the golf course is leasing from and see if they will sale you a golf cart. Now I have to wonder if all these golf carts go the a big auction for sale off!
I have purchased from both Alibaba and Aliexpress, though I have never purchased anything as large as a golf cart. As others have said, sellers on both sites are independent of the websites, so you have to pay attention to the fine details of the purchase. My experience has been that Chinese sellers are eager to receive an American buyer's money and will generally bend over backwards to ensure that the buyer is satisfied.
I'm thinking the cart has to be assembled after delivery. They couldn't sell them so low without a reason. I'll have to email their sales manager for specifics.
Stopped and chatted with a custom cart store, he gave me all the info on course lease programs, lead acid vs lithium vs gas powered. Suspension, tires & wheels, body kits, top brands. Club Car, EZ Go, Yamaha are best 3. Gas carts are most money, on backorder since covid he said. He also mentioned parts availability and time frame to get them, if at all. Might be best to just use the cart at the course where you've paid your greens fees to play....