In my previous post on stashing up on a low budget, I mentioned seeking out deals and bargains through Google/online searches as a good way to score some great nappy bargains. Chances are you would have stumbled across really cheap deals such as on eBay for China-made re-labelled nappies, or sometimes called ‘China cheapies’.
These nappies are manufactured in China and distributed to various resellers and retailers around the world who re-label them under their own brand name. There are no set guidelines on pricing, so prices can vary quite widely between different resellers. However prices across the board are generally much cheaper compared to most mainstream commercial or WAHM brands.
I myself have been tempted a couple times to click the ‘add to cart’ button for one of those cheapies. The prices seemed so attractive for an endless array of colours and design options to choose from. Somehow something always held me back – perhaps an inner radar for anything that was just ‘too good to be true’.
However I personally do not think these sort of nappies are actually bad in themselves. They get their share of both good and bad reviews, so clearly they work for some folks but not for others. I think it’s a case of managing your expectations based on what you pay for. As these nappies are imported and sold by various retailers/sellers at different prices, make sure you are paying a fair price for these nappies wherever you are getting them from.
Here are my own tips to add on buying China cheapies:
Look carefully at pictures of the nappies being sold and compare them with images from China manufacturers or eBay retailers to determine if they might be China imports
Search for reviews on the relabelled ‘brands’ of these nappies to see what others are saying
If you suspect that the nappies you are looking at might be re-branded China imports, evaluate the pricing and decide if it’s a fair price for you
A ‘fair price’ to you might mean being able to get faster and more secure shipping via a local reseller or perhaps simply being able to bulk up your stash with low-budget general workhorse nappies – bearing in mind that ‘you get what you pay for’.
Three major China manufacturers you can look out for are:
1. Alvababy
2. Sunbaby
3. Kawaii Baby
So in summary on buying China cheapies:
1. Do your research
2. Ensure you are getting a fair price
3. Manage your expectations