Shop details for BuySKU

BuySKU is a webshop specializing in Android Smartphones, Tablets, Gadgets, and accessories. Based out of Shenzhen, China's "Electronics Capital," BuySKU currently holds a respectable place among the top 170k most-visited websites in the world delivering thousands of products to over 200 countries last year. The site's two biggest markets, the US and India, currently make up close to 30% of all visits and purchases but we expect that number to shrink as BuySKU continues to grow and attract more customers from all over the world.

BuySKU's Homepage: Your portal for Discount Tech

Experience with BuySKU

As seasoned fans of cool and new gadgetry, we had a lot of fun perusing the products on BuySKU. They really have everything; consumer electronics, RC toys and planes, jewelry, video game accessories, and even some home decor items. We were ready to make BuySKU our go-to gift and fun store by the time we placed a test order.

For our test order, we showed some restraint and settled on a pocket flashlight and a "carneval-style Candy Grabber." Although I was pretty set on getting a new Bluetooth Speaker, we decided it was better to stick to small things before ordering anything too expensive. You can read on for the in-depth review of our experience with BuySKU.

TL;DR -- We waited 1.5 months (almost 7 weeks) for our delivery to the German Office with the Free Shipping. Everything worked great with acceptable quality.

Payment

Shoppers on BuySKU have the option to pay via PayPal, Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX),  Bank Transfer, Western Union, or PayAnyWay. We always recommend paying with PayPal for all international orders to take advantage of their 45-day Buyer Protection program, which adds an extra layer of protection in case of a problem with your order.

BuySKU also requires that you create an account before you can continue with the Checkout, as there is no PayPal Express Checkout option.

Supported Payment Methods

PayPal		You're always safe with PayPal. Their internal Buyer Protection program allows you to open a case against a payment up to 45 days afterwards in order to request your money back.
Credit Card		Credit Card Payments are an online staple, just plug in your info and go. If you're a PayPal customer, you can process your card via PayPal to take advantage of the buyer protection program.
Western Union		The official payment method of Ron Swanson and people living "Off-the-Grid." Western Union hasn't been useful for a long time. Beware of the fees!
Bank Transfer		Bank Transfers to Chinese accounts can take quite a long time to process, and be aware of international transfer fees.

Shipping Costs and Delivery Times

BuySKU gives its customers three choices in shipping option. The Free Economy Shipping option gives you a Tracking Number and delivers your package within 20-40 workdays, or 10-20 workdays for North American customers. Why do North Americans get to have all the fun? Well, BuySKU has an international warehouse in the US that will cut your shipping time in half if your product is available in the US warehouse and you ship within North America.

The remaining two shipping options include the Standard Shipping, which delivers in 25-40 workdays (or 8-15 workdays for North America), and the Express Shipping, which delivers your order in 4-10 workdays (or a blistering 5-10 workdays for North America).

The only catch for North American customers is that the product ordered must be in the US warehouse when you place your order to get the reduced shipping times. To see if your product is there, you can click on the "US Warehouse" banner on the upper righthand side of the website to see all products currently held in the US warehouse. Otherwise, you need to wait until you check out to see what arrival estimates you are given in red.

BuySKU and Customs

The test order was shipped to our German Office so, unfortunately, we were unable to test out the speedier US shipping. But, our order did arrive well within the 40 workday estimate given at check out (it took about 32 workdays). A few of those days were spent at the German customs office because of a random package control. We didn't have to pay for the random check, but we did notice that the unexpected layover delayed its delivery by a few days.

We always recommend reading up on your country's rules and regulations regarding international shipping and customs fees in case your order makes an unexpected stopover at your local customs office.

For shipments entering the US, extra taxes and fees on your product are possible. Not every item is taxed when entering the country, and the majority are only subject to a nominal processing fee of between $2 and $9 in the case of a random customs stop. The amount to be paid, however, can vary widely depending on the product and how it’s sent. If you are concerned about your item, or are planning to order goods in excess of $500, it is worth it to check with the Customs Office at the port of entry to confirm any extra fees.

Any extra taxes or duties on your shipment will either be paid at your door when the mailman drops it off, or the package may be held at your local post office. In which case, you will need to go pick it up and pay any applicable fees in person.

Return Policy

BuySKU offers its customers a relatively flexible 45-day return policy on all items.

You may return your BuySKU item for any reason within 45 days of delivery to receive a replacement, get the item repaired, or to get a refund. However, the customer is responsible for the return shipping costs. BuySKU will cover the shipping back to you in the case of a replacement or repair because of a defective item.

Although it is a little bit of a bummer that BuySKU makes the customer pay for the return shipping, a 45-day Return policy that allows returns for any reason (not just for defective products) is rare among Chinese webshops.

Special Features

BuySKU features a relatively active community of shoppers from all over the world, contributing to the site's multiple customer reviews on items. The sheer number of negative or indifferent reviews we saw among them tells us that most of the reviews are from real customers, so we recommend paying attention to the reviews before ordering.

Conclusion

BuySKU makes a solid case for itself as a safe and easy source of budget electronics, toys, and tech accessories. While the selection focuses mostly on more expensive items such as Chinese-branded Smartphones and Tablets, the wide variety of gizmos and gadgets available at fairly low prices are the real prize here. Whether you're looking for a cheap tablet to keep you entertained on your next flight,  cheap but decent bluetooth speaker for your next party/camping trip, or just a new pair of headphones, BuySKU is worth a visit. Plus, 45-day return policy and Free Shipping worldwide mean that you don't have to worry so much about ordering a dud item here as you would on many other equally-cheap Chinese tech sites!

Alternatives

Alternative 1:	Dealsmachine	comparable prices, large selection, free shipping worldwide
Alternative 2:	Dealextreme	comparable prices with warehouse in the US and England, very wide variety of products, free shipping to most countries