Court, I'm interested in a Zodin Folding 20" Mag Wheel ebike. It is a chinese bike that can be ordered through Alibaba imports, and is listed at $568

TomL

New Member
I know that you typically don't review or endorse Chinese ebikes, but this one has all the features that I want, and many of those "Chinese parts" are showing up on other American Bikes. Samsung 48V 10A. Lithium Ion batteries, 500 Watt Bafang Motor, Kenda 20"x 4" tires, Shimano Altus 7 speed gears and Tektro 180MM Disc Brakes. So my question is: If all these Chinese manufactured parts are incorporated into "American Ebike Brands", why wouldn't this Zodin bike with the same parts be a good buy at $568 plus shipping, when the "American Bikes" are being sold for $1299 to $1699 and some of them don't have the same power. Have you ever reviewed a Zodin Ebike or do you know where I could get a reference on it. Thanks, Tom
 
Are you really good at electrical troubleshooting and repair? Saving money on an Alibaba purchase is great if you know how to troubleshoot, repair, and find generic replacement electrical parts with the same connectors. If you aren't any of those, it's not a good deal. Make sure you check shipping costs. I've seen those be $300 on a single bike purchase.
 
Caveat Emptor. Just because something says "Shimano" of "Bafang" doesn't mean it was made by Shimano or Bafang (printing nameplates is cheap). Be a savvy consumer when buying "name brand" from Chinese (or "off-market") websites - there are a gazillion knock-offs out there, much of the stuff sold through sophisticated networks to hide the truth. [One peak inside an urban Chinese marketplace will convince you that there is a knock-off for just about every semi-popular gizmo in the US and European markets! Where do you think I got my $25 Rolex? ]
 
I know that you typically don't review or endorse Chinese ebikes, but this one has all the features that I want, and many of those "Chinese parts" are showing up on other American Bikes. Samsung 48V 10A. Lithium Ion batteries, 500 Watt Bafang Motor, Kenda 20"x 4" tires, Shimano Altus 7 speed gears and Tektro 180MM Disc Brakes. So my question is: If all these Chinese manufactured parts are incorporated into "American Ebike Brands", why wouldn't this Zodin bike with the same parts be a good buy at $568 plus shipping, when the "American Bikes" are being sold for $1299 to $1699 and some of them don't have the same power. Have you ever reviewed a Zodin Ebike or do you know where I could get a reference on it. Thanks, Tom
Plus shipping. That's the killer right there. The surest way to get here and not hassle with customs is air freight. Probably adds $500 to $600. And think about if even one thing goes bad, the replacement is air freight too or possibly weeks without a functioning bike.

Those suppliers are not looking for one off end users. And when they find out you bought it as an end user, which will be when you have trouble and ask for a replacement part, they will make you first send back the defective part. Then if you are lucky, they will likely say 'user error' and if you pay them more, you might Get that part in 6 to 8 weeks. If you aren't lucky, they will just ignore you. When distributors who plan to buy dozens or hundreds of these, order from them, they also buy extra parts at the time of the order knowing how these Chinese firms operate. They can get a little better support than an individual like you, but only bc they already placed a big order, and the supplier wants more large orders like it.

You aren't the first end user who just wants to buy one ebike who has approached these folks, and won't be the last. They can smell you coming a mile away, and have 'fun' at your expense if you are so willing to send them your American dollars. They'll be all friendly too, but just wait until you don't get the ebike when expected or there is a quality problem of any kind.
 
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The Bagi B10 has the mag wheels, step thru,and 20" fat tires. Its higher than your expected price, but you'll get great service and support and parts are over nighted out that day when you call, if you are in need.

Just an idea for you.
 
Plus shipping. That's the killer right there. The surest way to get here and not hassle with customs is air freight. Probably adds $500 to $600. And think about if even one thing goes bad, the replacement is air freight too or possibly weeks without a functioning bike.

Those suppliers are not looking for one off end users. And when they find out you bought it as an end user, which will be when you have trouble and ask for a replacement part, they will make you first send back the defective part. Then if you are lucky, they will likely say 'user error' and if you pay them more, you might Get that part in 6 to 8 weeks. If you aren't lucky, they will just ignore you. When distributors who plan to buy dozens or hundreds of these, order from them, they also buy extra parts at the time of the order knowing how these Chinese firms operate. They can get a little better support than an individual like you, but only bc they already placed a big order, and the supplier wants more large orders like it.

You aren't the first end user who just wants to buy one ebike who has approached these folks, and won't be the last. They can smell you coming a mile away, and have 'fun' at your expense if you are so willing to send them your American dollars. They'll be all friendly too, but just wait until you don't get the ebike when expected or there is a quality problem of any kind.
 
My concern comes from both Bolton and Tripper ebikes admitting that at least some of their models are manufactured and assembled in China, with the Zodin model that I was interested in, now being sold by Tripper Bikes as if it was there own creation. It certainly makes me wonder how many other American companies are rebranding their bikes. TomL
 

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Toml, all of them come 99% from China. Maybe someone has the decals printed in the USA, but it's probably easier to do that in China,

Wjen you look at the typical crowdfunded ebike, the "R%D" consisted of googling Alibaba for a newer off the shelf bike. Maybe they went over there to check out the supplier and negotiate the deal. Of course, the exceptions are the exceptional ebikes with novel designs. Not many of those.
 
I don't have a problem with buying a Chinese manufactured ebike, just an issue with companies that rebrand a bike assembled in China and calling it their own, with a jacked up price of course. I'm just trying to find out if Zodin is a reliable dealer, or if Alibaba, the shipping company actually stands behind the "warranty" TomL
ny a
 
Alibaba is a giant meta-business like Amazon (it sells for many, many thousands of companies) and they stand behind nothing sold on their platform.
 
I don't have a problem with buying a Chinese manufactured ebike, just an issue with companies that rebrand a bike assembled in China and calling it their own, with a jacked up price of course. I'm just trying to find out if Zodin is a reliable dealer, or if Alibaba, the shipping company actually stands behind the "warranty" TomL
ny a
I think you need to do a little more research in what you are really looking at on the internet. You are buying directly from a factory, and a listing company as Josh says. It's also been explained here as well about how problematic a warranty claim can be. Jacked up price? You don't think they deserve markup to handle phone calls before and after the sale, emails, texts, shipping to your door, replacing damaged parts from shippers up to and including full bike replacement, and stocking parts?
 
.... It certainly makes me wonder how many other American companies are rebranding their bikes. TomL
more research, seems required. There is nothing to wonder about, its all out there, nothing new, this is not a big hidden secret at all.

I think your opening remark in your first post is also unfair.
 
I did a deep dive on all of this myself. I had a handful of short-listed Alibaba bikes, contacts, and email chains with factory reps. Individual samples were easily sold, but shipping Li-Ion meant ocean LCL, with customs borkers in China/USA side, freight, and insurance. My $500 bike, then became around $1000+ landed, with no customer support. Some of them are obviously the real-deal factories making the "name-brand" bikes that are featured on this site. Any entrepreneur, willing to shoulder the QC and shipping damage hazards, can place a bulk container order on say 100 bikes, colour and brand them whatever you want, and list them on Ebay/Amazon for the $500 per unit spread. Some people do...just to finance their Burning Man.
 
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