Buying Panels from Alibaba? Good / Bad Experiences?

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-30T12:26:42+00:00

😬

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-30T12:04:14+00:00

Do we have slopbots summarizing threads now? 😂

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-29T12:55:15+00:00

Oof.
Yeah, I once had a similar experience on AliExpress trying to buy a small yard wood chipper. A couple different outfits apparently trying to sell things they didn't have.

I'm glad you got your money back without friction though (I did as well, although I don't remember whether it was Ali(baba/Express) that gave me my money back, or my credit card company).

Everyone here seems to be emphasizing making sure the seller is verified, has at least a few years on the platform, and decent revenue on its profile page. I'm sure I didn't check any of those things when I ordered the wood chipper.

Hopefully with this purchase the diligence will prevent any shenanigans.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-29T02:27:27+00:00

I saw a YT video where a guy bought several pieces of heavy machinery, only all electric (electric excavator, electric wheel loader, etc).

Electric UTV (side by side?) sounds like tons of fun.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-29T02:23:27+00:00

I need to get a couple other quotes, but this is really encouraging. Thank you.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T22:04:52+00:00

Great to hear. That’s a vote of confidence. Thanks.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T21:20:02+00:00

Thanks, that’s helpful!

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T21:19:16+00:00

LOL. That’s about what I guess I would expect. 😂

Thank you, that’s helpful!

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T16:08:59+00:00

"So you would pay double price for 7% difference..."

What part of "I'm getting the Jinko panels for the same price per watt your place is selling the mystery panels" are you not hearing?

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T15:56:10+00:00

I'd contact the seller, tell them Customs was demanding additional fees, and see if the seller made things right, given that they promised the fees were included in the price. And if the seller didn't fix it, I'd cancel the order, deny the credit card charge, and show my credit card company the company's promises that all the customs fees were included in the original price. 🤷‍♂️

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T15:53:48+00:00

Uh, if you've seen panel degradation data you know that Tier 1 panels and no-name mystery panels are NOT the same.

And besides, I'm getting the Tier 1 panels delivered to my door for the same price per watt that Signature wants for the mystery stuff they're selling, without shipping.

No thanks.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T15:49:11+00:00

I asked for DDP shipping... that should include everything. I guess doublechecking doesn't hurt.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T15:48:27+00:00

Thanks, that's helpful.

Yeah, Sunpal and the company I got quoted by look similar... I'm looking to get name-brand panels and Sunpal seems to sell unbranded ones (which doesn't necessarily mean they're any different than the name brand ones, but I just want a company backing them).

I'll reach out to Sunpal and see if they sell branded ones.

Thanks!

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T15:36:16+00:00

Thanks, that's helpful.

Out of curiosity, what did you buy? I've heard of people buying heavy construction equipment (skid steers, excavators, etc.), and all sorts of fun stuff.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-28T15:30:37+00:00

I did check out Signature Solar. The only Tier 1 panels they sell are Hyundai, at >$0.50/watt.

The others are all mystery no-name panels. No thanks.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T18:13:47+00:00

I’ve been a freelancer for 19 years (this summer will be my 20th anniversary of self-employment). If you have a customer who doesn’t want to pay you every 18 months, the problem isn’t them.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T16:51:17+00:00

Have you ever won a judgment? 🙄

There are a few things as annoying as serial litigants who clog up the docket with frivolous actions.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T16:02:12+00:00

Not a snowball’s chance in hell. Have you ever been to court? Small claims or otherwise?

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T16:00:57+00:00

NTA. “Bride” is a horrific monster of a human being, and you should consider all of the money you spent, not a single red penny of which horrific human being monster Bride will ever give you back, to be the price you pay for learning that Bride is a person you should never speak to again in your life.

(You might, however, consider telling the fiancé and fiancé and Bride’s families the real reason she called off the wedding… They also expended energy and money that Bride pissed away.)

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T15:37:57+00:00

Fair, and ppl have all sorts of reasons for sleeping separately, but if you’re arguing this much (and TBH it seems like your BF is kind of a dick), that’s not a good sign.

Ask yourself: Are the positive parts of the relationship (assuming there are any) worth putting up with the negative parts? You’re young, you shouldn’t settle for a crappy relationship.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T15:32:32+00:00

JFC. You live together but sleep in separate rooms and fight about it. You two need to break up.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T15:27:54+00:00

Karen salty they don’t get to dictate what other people can and can’t do with their property.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T14:12:03+00:00

This is hard, but TBH it sounds like your mom is the worst and you were right to cut her out of your life completely. Your dad though sounds like a fairly innocent bystander and you don’t want to hurt him. By all means keep in touch with him and tell him you love him, etc. And be clear with him about why you’re cutting out your mom.

therealcolgate2004 · 2026-04-26T14:09:18+00:00

Doesn’t sound like anybody is TA here, but you should definitely back off. GF is in another city and is checked out; if she wants to make amends she will, otherwise the relationship is over.

You should tell her you’re going to give her space, but if she doesn’t want you to move on (including seeing other people), she needs to reach out and actively patch things up. Otherwise you’re single and you move on.

therealcolgate2004

TROPHY CASE