Buying guide
Articles about buying guide.
15 articles
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Best temperature humidity sensor for Arduino and ESP32
Best temperature humidity sensor for Arduino and ESP32: DHT22 vs BME280 vs SHT31 vs AHT20 compared on accuracy, interface, voltage and fake-chip risk.
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Save money on electronics parts from China: one big haul
How to save money on electronics parts from China: consolidate parcels through a shopping agent, spread fixed costs over more goods, and know when not to.
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Best shopping agent for Taobao? Seven Chinese agents compared
Chinese shopping agent comparison for European makers: which is the best shopping agent for Taobao and 1688 on fees, QC photos, storage and EU import charges.
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RP2040 Zero vs Raspberry Pi Pico: cheap RP2040 boards compared
RP2040 Zero vs Raspberry Pi Pico: how cheap RP2040 boards from Chinese marketplaces differ on pinout, flash, USB-C, LEDs and buttons, and when the real Pico wins.
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Shipping batteries from China: 18650s, LiPo and power banks
Shipping batteries from China through a shopping agent: why 18650 cells and LiPo packs are restricted, what ships inside equipment, and how to avoid refusals.
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QC photos for electronics: what to check and what to request
QC photos shopping agent electronics guide: what to ask the warehouse to photograph for boards, sensors, modules and displays, and how to read the photos.
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Cheap electronics modules from China: clones explained
Cheap electronics modules from China explained: Arduino clones, CH340 chips, BME280 vs BMP280 mix-ups, how to spot what you got, and when a clone is fine.
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How to build electronics projects cheaply: a BOM-first method
How to build electronics projects cheaply: write the BOM first, go generic where it is safe, pay more where it matters, and batch orders. Worked ESP32 example.
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How to choose the right option on Taobao (variants explained)
How to choose the right option on Taobao: read variant names, spot price-bait SKUs, check photos against the datasheet and use QC photos to catch a wrong part.
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How to search Taobao in Chinese for electronics: a glossary
How to search Taobao in Chinese for electronics: pair a model number with a word like 开发板 or 模块. Includes a glossary of Chinese keywords for parts.
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Taobao vs AliExpress vs 1688 for electronics parts from Europe
Taobao vs AliExpress vs 1688 for maker electronics: who sells, pricing, MOQ, language, payment, parcel routes, buyer protection and EU VAT and duty compared.
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Which ESP32 board to buy: ESP32 vs S3 vs C3 vs C6 explained
Which ESP32 board to buy? ESP32 vs ESP32-S3 vs ESP32-C3 vs ESP32-C6 compared, plus how to read generic Chinese board listings: module, flash, PSRAM and USB.
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How to buy from 1688: a maker's guide for European buyers
How to buy from 1688 as a maker in Europe: what the wholesale marketplace is, why you need a shopping agent, and the order flow from MOQ checks to shipping.
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Buy electronic components direct from China: who gets the markup
Buy electronic components direct from China and see where the markup goes: factory, trader, wholesaler, reseller. What buying closer saves, costs and risks.
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What landed cost really includes when you buy maker parts from China
What landed cost really includes when buying maker parts from China: goods, domestic freight, agent fees, shipping and import charges, and how to estimate them.