RAPT Thermometer on AliExpress

[Leard]

I'm interested in buying a RAPT thermometer, and they seem to be cheaper on AliExpress, however there seems to be different types on there for different prices and don't want to buy a dud or scam one.

There's this which is actually sold by the Kegland store on Ali, at £30.

But there's also this one and this one for £20.

£20 seems like a steal for one of these, as they're £40+ on your normal homebrew websites. Has anybody experience with any of these?

 

[MickDundee]

I used to use AliExpress a lot, but since new rules re: VAT came in they’ve stopped being quite as much cheaper as buying from a U.K. based site.

Your £30 price is without VAT, you’ll be around £36 total. As I said, still cheaper than U.K. based suppliers but not as much as was the case a couple of years ago!

 

[Leard]

Your £30 price is without VAT, you’ll be around £36 total. As I said, still cheaper than U.K. based suppliers but not as much as was the case a couple of years ago!

You say that, but I can't find anywhere that it's cheaper than £36.

EDIT: Aaaand I misread your post!

 

[The Baron]

I think what Mick is saying is that the difference in price is not what it used to be and for £4 less it is riskier with the long transport and delivery time from China so the choice is Uk supply @ £4 more and quicker delivery, it's your choice

 

[MickDundee]

I think what Mick is saying is that the difference in price is not what it used to be and for £4 less it is riskier with the long transport and delivery time from China so the choice is Uk supply @ £4 more and quicker delivery, it's your choice

Yeah, this is what I meant. I actually did that a couple of months ago with a new in line regulator.

When I bought my first one I was about £10 cheaper on AliExpress. This time the difference was less than £3 so I just bought from The Naked Keg instead! I thought the extra £3 was worth it to get it within 3 days rather than 4 weeks!

 

[NicF]

It depends on whether its sent DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) or DAP (Delivered at place), with the former the sender is paying the duty, and that will be built into the costs you pay them where as with DAP there will be VAT, possibly import duty and the carriers' handling fee for admin which includes dealing with the clearance and collecting the VAT, to be paid on top within the UK prior to delivery.

Unless the seller is saying there is no tax to pay, it's likely to be DAP. There used to be a £15 threshold before VAT was collected but that went at the end of 2020.

The handling charges range from £5 upwards plus VAT depending on who is delivering at the UK end. Royal mail is £8 so if you spent £30 buying something from abroad then you'll likely end up paying an additional £14 in the UK prior to delivery. Factor in the risk of damage, cost of returning it if a fault develops and the savings/risk ratio is quickly eroded.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

How do you go about returning if its faulty?
As you are only making a small saving I would buy from a HBS here.

 

[The Baron]

That's another reason nowadays to buy from UK Chippy, return to China is a nightmare and usually at your postage cost too I think.
I used to use Ali Express but most items are not really worth the time and effort like a few years ago when we were all using it also some are cheap but have extortionate postage - don't know if that is to get around the Vat/Import tax and reduce it?

 

[Mash Monster]

My experience with AE has been a bit mixed. Please bear in mind that you will need to add batteries to the cost of the temp probe as they don’t ship with them !

 

[stripeyjoe]

AliExpress is great for Kegland’s small and lightweight items, carb caps, disconnects, spunding valves etc if you get some of those at the same time then overall you’ll save money. Just use Kegland’s store if you’re afraid of getting fakes.
There are also a few stores that do fairly cheap stainless steel stuff, camlock, tri-clamp etc which has been good quality.

 

[.Peter.]

Slight digression, is the probe AND connecting wire water (malt) proof?

 

[Ben034]

Slight digression, is the probe AND connecting wire water (malt) proof?

Yes it is coated in something waterproof and it can be submerged. I prefer not to submerge the end still though out of habit. It doesn't sink in the mash for me even when the mash is thin. So by default works its way into the middle of the mash which is ideal.

 

[.Peter.]

Yes it is coated in something waterproof and it can be submerged. I prefer not to submerge the end still though out of habit. It doesn't sink in the mash for me even when the mash is thin. So by default works its way into the middle of the mash which is ideal.

Thank you

 

[foxy]

Got my first 40-litre Guten from China for $550 AU about 275 GBP including delivery.
Got my probes off Ali Express a few weeks ago accurate to 0.5 degrees 100 ml probes are not wifi or Bluetooth but do the job intended.
Under $40 AU about 20 GBP delivered including batteries.