Shop details for FastTech

FastTech.com is a webshop headquartered in Hong Kong that specializes in Consumer Electronics and Gadgets. FastTech is already pretty well established on the world market and currently maintains a respectable Alexa Ranking of 4,791, placing it among the top 5,000 most-visited websites worldwide.

Experience with FastTech.com

FastTech features a pretty good general selection of products and we've found its website to be acceptably user-friendly as well. We've already placed a couple test orders with FastTech to see how they are and all of our packages thus far have arrived within 3 weeks, that's on the quick end of average for Free Standard Shipping options from China. You can check out the rest of our impressions on the site below.

Details

• Shipping Time: 3-5 weeks; Global Express delivers in 3-5 work days
• Free Shipping to Europe and North America
• Selection: Focus on Electronics and Gadgets
• Low prices, similar to Chinese Competitors (dx.com, focalprice, etc.)
• Ranked the 4,791 most-visited website in the world (Alexa.com)

Payment

Aside from the slower standard checkout process, FastTech also gives you the option to place your order using PayPal Express Checkout. Using the standard checkout, however, gives you the option to open an account on FastTech, edit your order, and pay with PayPal or with your Visa, MasterCard, or Amex (via PayPal). Either way, you will have the option to calculate your final order price (excluding shipping costs) and enter your PandaCheck coupons to get discounts, when available. 

Supported Payment Methods

PayPal		Our recommendation; features a superb Buyer Protection Program and the option of One-Click Express Checkout.
Credit Card		Credit Cards are also accepted by FastTech when processed via PayPal. This ensures quick and safe online purchases.

Shipping Costs and Delivery Times

FastTech scores in our book with its Free Shipping option. FastTech even gives you a Tracking Number on Free Shipping orders over $20. If you would prefer not to wait one month for your delivery and are willing to pay extra for shipping, however, FastTech also gives you the option to pay for an express shipping option. Shipping via Registered Air Mail will deliver within 6-20 business days for a nominal fee of about $1. American shoppers have the option of upgrading to USPS for $1-$2 (depending on your order), which usually takes 5-12 business days to arrive. The quickest delivery method, however, is Speedpost Global Express which usually delivers within 3-8 business days and calculates shipping costs depending on the weight of your order. 

Remember to pay attention to shipping costs, as most will vary depending on the size of your order. For example, Global Express may be $3-5 for a small order, or upwards of $25 extra for larger orders. FastTest has an in-depth outline of shipping methods available in its FAQs.

FastTech and Customs

In our experience, FastTech is very good at labeling its packages for customs and so far none of our five previous orders from FastTech have been held up in customs. Only once did we need to go to the post office in person to pay extra sales tax.

We always recommend that you review the import laws of your country to know what to expect in case of a random customs inspections. Packages being shipped to Europe are liable for a 19% VAT and a customs fee of 150€ if stopped when entering the country.

For shipments entering the US, extra taxes and fees on your product are a possible, but only rarely come up in small orders. 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. 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.

Returns

You may exchange a product within 45 days of delivery. If you simply do not like a product that you ordered or would like to return it for any reason other than damage or an incorrect order, you will be expected to cover all return shipping costs. In the case of a damaged or incorrect item, FastTech covers all costs for the return shipping and exchange of the product. In the case of damaged, incorrect, or missing items, FastTech is usually pretty good at approving returns quickly. As with many other online shops, FastTech does require photographic proof of problems, however. 

Special Features

When discussing special features, we have to mention FastTech's active User Community, that gives you the chance to look up customer reviews on items, discuss pros and cons, and even arrange to exchange items with other users. FastTech's customer service is also accessible on the community forums. They are usually very responsive to all questions and comments regarding orders. 

Unlike a lot of other Chinese webshops, FastTech has been VeriSign-approved, adding an extra level of security and comfort to buying through them.

Conclusion

FastTech has convinced us with its product range, the low prices and the free shipping option. If your order isn't completely correct (which only happens in rare cases), FastTech's customer service usually reacts pretty quickly and accommodating.

You will receive many details on products and your parcels, so that you're always up-to-date on every detail concerning your order. So far we were satisfied with our orders, so go ahead and try out the gadget shop FastTech.

Alternatives

Especially the following websites are similar shops to FastTech. The two offer a very similar product range and even better prices than other shops:

Alternative 1:	Dealextreme	Features a fantastic selection of Consumer Electronics and some really interesting deals on cool gadgets
Alternative 2:	DHGate	big online market place. Product Selection covers a wide array of areas, especially good selection of Tech, Gadgets, and RC products

FastTech Coupons