aliexpress is that legit?? i'm afraid to click on it and send my IP into some Chinese hacking wormhole. but that is a great price for sure.
Aliexpress is a marketplace, made up of both good and bad sellers.
It is not a place for those who don't do their homework, are risk-averse, or expect any level of good customer service, or iron-clad aftersales support. Nor is it a place for the impatient, as it takes weeks, if not months under some circumstances, for an order to arrive, and presents opportunities to learn more about international logistics than one may ever desire.
If something goes wrong with an Amazon transaction, even if it may be your mistake, the company will probably have your back, and make it right.
If something goes wrong with an AX transaction, even if it's not your mistake, or just plain due to outright shenanigans, the onus will be on you to build a case (often requiring video evidence), submit it for review, and wait for a verdict.
The site can also be quirky, to put it mildly, and the sales tactics which often follow the "more, more, more" mantra, can be confusing, with multiple "official" seller stores, multiple listings for the same items, and multiple variations within those individual item listings. Not friendly to those who aren't detail oriented. And that doesn't even include the inscrutable coupon system.
Shoppers who expect otherwise, like those here who repeatedly beat the RockAuto horse, would be well-advised to steer clear.
That said, there are still good reasons to shop on AX, like lower pricing on the products that get marked up to 2-3x the cost from those who import and slap their name on and peddle on Amazon. Sales tax and higher shipping costs have cut into that, but it's still worthwhile.
There are also product categories where the Chinese sellers excel, like electronic tools, "Chi-fi" audio, and flashlights. Some things can't be procured any other way, as some manufacturers only sell through AX, and similar sites, often factory direct.
Another example relevant to here-- if one is going to play around with those crappy LED retrofit bulbs, there's little reason to pay the highly inflated prices on Amazon, when they can be had for a fraction from AX, at a cost much more in line with their quality.
And the sheer breadth of stuff is unmatched. Like it or not, China is the world's largest factory, and if it's going to be made there, then there's a good chance to pick it up from AX, for cheap.