I actually enjoy getting all the spam emails from Aliexpress. They show all sorts of weird things - electronic, mechanical, spare parts, sex toys, trinkets, household gadgets. I often see things that I cannot identify and I click on the item to find out what the heck it is. What I learned
- the Chinese are not afraid to make something, no matter how crazy.
- documentation and descriptions are not a strong point and are often funny
- the price of some stuff is incredibly low, how do they do it?
- they are definitely the manufacturer to the world

Hi Lew to go full circle, I visit Australia for 5/6 weeks Feb/March time to see our son and it is also my annual holiday. As you say the news is done reasonably well but there are so many adverts!!!!

I am afraid Planet America was our favourite program and the Oz take on it. Otherwise the entertainment TV was zilch.

I should also add I have a few younger family members (via my wife) in the Vancouver area, so interested in Canada as well.

all the best,
Roy

Way to go Roy😁🇨🇦

It’s interesting how many of us Canadians liked your comment.

Roy we also watch CNN balanced with the BBC. The journalists have excellent learned guests on their programs and commentary following.

Well I always try to buy British where I can - if you don’t the retailers will disappear completely.

For speed controllers I always use mtroniks - excellent bits of kit and are only manufactured just down the road - on the rare occasion on goes uk I ring them up and a new one arrives next day

As regards quality I believe you get what you pay for but my biggest gripe about AliExpress is delivery time - I ordered batteries and they literally took 3 months to arrive to me that is totally unexceptable

Roy, It looks like you watch the same CNN based on the names you listed. I supposed we both have different wiews politically. That's OK, we do have similar views on model boats.
We actually enjoy watching Skynews from Australia. Wow, talk about news for your own country coming from another part of the earth!
Lew

Hi Lew further to views on world events, I get CNN on my TV i/p they are 7 hours behind us in time so it is late night for me. Also their daily emails. The newscasters and pundits seem to have a very balanced view in general although 'you know who' is dominating the agenda for many reasons.
I also look forward to the US elections to see what happens next. I like Wolf Blltzer, Kaitlan Collins, Erin Burnet and Abby Phillips, all competent interviewers and presenters.

What is definitely needed in US Politics is the likes of our late 'Screaming Lord Such' a clown who kept us laughing during our elections. Our No. 3 party adopted his mantle with doing daft things and doubled the number of members of Parliament from last time.
Roy

Hi Pat, I use Aliexpress, I look for what I want and then the other offers included. The arrival time often ties in with the price with the cheaper the price the longer delay. Never been disappointed with the transactions and a bit of planning ahead often pays off.
I thought I would feel guilty buying from China, but buying in the UK often involves purchasing imports from the same.

I used to design (in a small way) my own electronic circuits and buy kits for assembly, but now it is not worth my while in time apart from cost! I use esc's for about 25 Watts, 4 - 8 volts which cost less that £2 each. I could spend 20 times that amount for a similar UK made one, but why would I?

I still have my go-to shops like Components Shop, Howes of Oxford and a few more and if they have what I want, I buy.

I did buy 32 off NiMh cells from Aliexpress but at 4/5ths sub-C 2800mAh, they are not available here. They are good and reliable as well. This makes use of my newly purchased mini-welder and of course battery wrap, still getting the hang of this!

My experience is good and their reputation for me is excellent.

Roy

Thanks to both of you. I agree with you Roy about world problems. Too much bad stuff going on. I always look at your interesting posts in this hobby that we both enjoy.
Lew

Apologies if I got hold of the wrong end of the stick !!!

Sorry Lew, I agree it is presumtuous to have critical views of another country I apologise. We have our own problems in the UK which I accept as similar populist politicians can so easily call the narrative.

Roy