You feel comfortable enough buying a computer part, especially one that is relatively easy to fake, from Aliexpress? Seriously?
For one, you most certainly wouldn’t get any warranty with it. Or proof that it’s a n official product. Or proof that it won’t lose anything other than the first 32gb written.
That’s not a retail channel. At best, it’s a “fallen off the truck” channel.
The Framework Marketplace is where the company sells accessories for their products. The products which are sourced directly from WD, as clearly explained by TFA. Did you even read the article or look at the marketplace before commenting? It’s pretty obvious it’s not a third party marketplace from like… a second of browsing.
The only random seller you’d be buying from is the one on AE. The one which couldn’t possibly provide you with a warranty or even guarantee that what you’re buying is a real product. 1740 people could have easily been scammed or are in on the scam. That’s not a lot of people, especially not random online stranger who have no incentive to be honest with you about their experiences.
I briefly read that article, I saw marketplace and thought it is like Walmart marketplace. I buy on Aliexpress from reputable sellers and I find it better than buying on Amazon. At least reviews are not faked.
“No” is a complete sentence. As is “No, I didn’t bother looking, assumed, then got caught with my pants down when my assumptions were proven wrong with… 5 seconds of looking at it”.
Next time, maybe actually take the most cursory of looks at what something is before going off and assuming. It will help save you from looking like a complete fool.
> At least reviews are not faked.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh that’s hilarious. If you believe that, I’ve got a boat to sell you. A whole marina, even.
I haven’t made any statements that can be easily proven false with the quickest of glances. That was you.
At the end of the day, show me how AliExpress prevents fake reviews, ensures that each of those buyers is real, and that the seller is authorized to sell the product and offers a full warranty. Buying from Framework ensures that because they’re officially reselling the products from the supplier.
You know, the most basic of requirements to be considered a “retail channel”.
There is a seller on a known platform with lots of reviews and pictures where people put WD drives into their Steam consoles. The platform I already use. And there is some random website, popular on HN, no reviews, no pictures, nothing and they also sell WD drives. I never shopped on the latter since they mostly sell laptops but not Linux laptops. I trust Aliexpress vendor who sold 1715 drives for Steam console more than Framework. Unless you show me statement from WD that Framework is official reseller and WD JBL Global Sales Store not.
Have you even read your own link? The store's name is "JBL Global Sales Store". It has no WD in the name, or any proof that they are related to the company. In fact, it's only been in business for a bit over a year, so it's not like it has any weight behind its name.
I'm just rolling on the floor at the idea that a random seller on AE is more reputable and trustworthy than Framework. One of Time's best inventions of 2021 or Fast Company's most innovative companies of 2022. That's rich.
An OEM has extreme incentives to stock real products. Considering they have to support said products for years and deal with any negative PR when something goes wrong. A random AE seller which has a 75-day money back guarantee has no such incentive.
1700 people who bought it there. 240 reviews, some with pictures of people inserting drives to Steam console. I would rather buy from Aliexpress for $215 than from Framework for $299.
Be careful. Many people pop a drive in, add a few games and then report the drives as legit .when in actuality, it's a 512gb drive spoofed to be a 2tb drive etc.
My advice, if you buy such a drive, install it in a USB case, and rub a verification program (RMusbPrep, FakeFlash).
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EHpXKi5