Beaker wrote
Have a read of this Tabbycat:
http://www.workfromhomewatchdog.com/is-aliexpress-com-a-scam/I have never used Alibaba or Aliexpress, so have no personal experience to share. However, as I understand it, the feedback ratings cannot be relied on, as they relate purely to the shipping - no other factors ae taken into account.
@beaker
thanks beaker, i saw that one and that was the one that put me off most. some positive experiences but enough negative ones to make me feel i don't want to get into something sticky for the sake of saving a few pounds.
i seem to permanently have some open case with chinese sellers on ebay anyway, so may as well follow the first rule of camping and keep shitting in the same corner.
if a few people here had posted and said, it's great, don't worry, i'd have had a go. but little enthusiasm possibly a sign. by a nice fluke, after deciding to stick to ebay anyway, i went back and found another seller had just posted what i was after with a fiver discount. so i win a cheap toy.
@muadzin
thanks muadzin. the £20 less of a concern than that my cc details could get passed on to some grubby spiv. keen to avoid that.