Buy known brands.
If you buy unknown, be aware that you could loose the invested money.

Example: I buy only stuff that is somewhere betrween max 25-30€ per item.
If it’s over (like my gl-inet router) I make sure the brand isnt a scam.

As a general rule for AliExpress, if something is priced too low, it’s going to be garbage.

I’ve relied on Reddit thread advice in the past for getting decently reputable Chinese brands, which has worked well when buying various things (cycling gear, kitchen scale, mini-PC).

Is there any way

Read. Read again, then read again.

Know your requirements. Use your brain. Compare.

Look where they sell the exactly similar product with several different brand names etc. This is may be good or bad. In both cases, recognize it.

Rule out the extra expensive ones if they are the same as others.

Rule out the cheapest ones if they seem “too cheap to be true.”

Or, if just don’t like to do any exercises with your brain muscle: Don’t buy on aliexpress.

Lol, you’d be surprised at how much the stuff on Amazon really cost

I’ve bought a lot of cables and chargers from AliExpress over the last 10 years. No issues.

Typically, what I get on there is either low cost accessories that are fine to be generic or they are highly unique items that I can’t find anywhere else (usually very specific replacement parts).

In either case, I always take the approach of “would I feel like I got screwed if this item doesn’t work out well?” And the answer is usually no because it’s like $2-5.

If the price is higher and I have concerns about the quality, I head over to Amazon and read the reviews because the exact same item is almost certainly there as well.

The buyer protection is pretty reliable for missing, broken in transit, and/or inaccurate items. I’ve only had one case over the years where a refund was denied.

Hope that helps!

You are correct about what you’re seeing on Amazon. It’s been described as AliExpress, but with faster shipping. There is a ton of worthless crap on there.

Where you’re going wrong is that it shouldn’t be your baseline for quality. There are plenty of other, more trustworthy sources that are a better option. Some of them are even online sources that will ship directly to your door. Since you mentioned prices in euros, I can’t help you directly. But in the US, Micro Center and Newegg (yes, even knowing about GN) would be viable alternatives. Just be sure to avoid any “marketplace” sellers that might be there.

Both are mega companies rhat aim at eliminating your local suppliers. Once that is done, you won’t be able to chose anymore. Bonus point, fewer headaches

Those “overpriced” products in your local stores?

You’re supporting your neighbors.

There’s also the cost to you of shipping, even if it’s hidden inside the payment for your Amazon Prime membership.

Although these days with the dominance of chain stores, some percentage is shipped out of the community.

Also, shopping locally reduces single use plastic shipping package pollution.

I haven’t shopped on Amazon for over a decade, and only buy something online if I truly can’t find it locally.

And then I prefer buying from the company’s own website, then eBay, then AliExpress, before I’ll even think of one click inside Amazon.

I use AliExpress a lot for mostly fishing gear and non-electronic stuff like foot baths and organizers or simple kitchen tools (silicon spill guards for the hobs and oven, etc). I’ve bought a few electronics off AliExpress (glasses cleaner and laser thermometer). Most were utter crap, but the fg knot tying device works fine.

I’d avoid electronics there, personally.

You can have products that look the same (same manufacturing process for the most parts) but that have missing components or similar, as a way to reduce the price.

I read some time ago about how a lot of the products imported from aliexpress-like sources tend to not follow EU safety norms, which is probably less likely through amazon if the seller is located in Europe, even if the product looks the same as another on aliexpress.

For non-electronic stuff it’s probably different, but with electronics no one is going to notice a missing component.