Cheap Alibaba Excavators Reviews: Are They Worth the Money?

Excavators are among the most common machinery in any construction site. Also known as backhoes, excavators are powerful earth-moving machines that feature a rotating cab, a versatile arm with a bucket, and conspicuous tracks for mobility.

They are highly mobile and powerful and are suited for excavating, breaking rock, digging trenches, drilling, and lifting all manner of loads.

Excavators come in many different sizes, types, and brands. They are equipped with a variety of tools and versatile attachments suited and adaptable for different functions.

Excavator varieties include

• Skid steers
• Long-reach excavators
• Crawlers
• Dragline excavators
• Suction excavators

Since excavators are critical equipment in almost every construction or heavy-duty work, they are a must-have for most projects. This means the cost of the project will be impacted by the cost of acquiring an excavator. Apart from the initial cost, other running and operational costs come along with this heavy-duty machine.

Due to their complex, heavy-duty, and specialized applications in various fields, excavators are quite expensive to buy. Though the prices differ depending on brand, size, applications, and number of attachments, they do not come cheap and will cost you an arm and a leg.

But must one buy a new excavator? Can one buy a used or second-hand excavator? Are there cheaper options? And if indeed these cheap options are there, what are the pros and cons of these cheap/used excavators? In this article, we shall review the implications of the emerging cheap excavator models, especially from the Chinese manufacturers, and whether they are worth buying.

Overview

Further excavators are categorized into different classes depending on their configurations and design. Some are configured to undertake heavy-duty operations while others are designed for smaller tasks. As such, there are two classes of excavators-

Mini-size

They are also called compact excavators and are differentiated by their weight. Any excavator less than seven metric tons is a mini. They are used for smaller projects/sites (landscaping and trenching) due to their maneuverability. They have a zero or near-zero tail swing which enables them to operate in tight spaces.

Full-size

These are excavators above seven metric tons. They have massive power and come along with various working attachments for different operations in large commercial undertakings

Cost

The cost of an excavator is determined by its size (mini or full size) and brand. Other aspects such as age, reliability, features, and attachments also come into play in pricing. Some brands have built a reputation for reliability and efficiency, and thus their excavators are quite expensive compared to others. New excavators are dearer than second-hand excavators.

The cost of a new excavator ranges between $100,000 to over $500,000 while second-hand excavators vary depending on their conditions.

New Excavators pricing (average):

• Full-Size (30-40 tons): $150,000-500,000+
• Mid-Size (15-20 tons): $100,000-250,000
• Mini-size (7-15 tons): $75,000-150,000

Second-hand excavators

In most cases, a used excavator will cost anything between 25% - 50% of the original price depending on its condition. Thus, their price range is between $50,000 and $250,000 on average. Other factors such as the number of hours it has been in operation will play a role in the determination of the final price. For example, a ten-year Cat 345B with about 5,000 hours will set you back by $200,000, but if the hours are above 10,000, it will cost you between $75,000 and $120,000.

Alibaba Excavators

Alibaba is an e-commerce global market platform where all manner of merchandise is offered for sale. It is the largest e-commerce marketplace in the world where manufacturers and retailers connect with buyers from across the globe online. Alibaba offers products mainly from Chinese manufacturers but suppliers from other countries such as the USA and India are also involved.

Over the years, the use of excavators has become common globally and Alibaba offers cheap alternatives to the expensive excavators we have seen above. There are dozens of Chinese (as well as other global brands) alternatives offered at cheaper prices. A buyer searches online for the excavator, pays, and has the product delivered to the agreed address.

Price comparisons

While most new excavators cost between $100,000 and $500,000 elsewhere, those offered by Alibaba range between $50,000 and $100,000. Thus, the most expensive excavator on Alibaba is less than the cheapest elsewhere (see table below).

Sample Excavator Prices on Alibaba:

• Changlin ZG 250: Mid-size (25 tons), $67,000 - 86,700
• Sany Sy 354: Mini, 10,000 - $100,000
• CanMax Xe200da: 25 tons, $70,000 - 85,000
• Yuchai Yc215s: Full size, $85,000- 110,000
• Xuzhou Xe21: 20 tons, $75,000 - 80,000

Even in the used excavator segment, those offered on Alibaba are extremely cheap compared to the same offered in other markets. For instance, a 2-year-old Komatsu 21-ton is offered for between $13,700 and $14,400 on Alibaba (minus the shipping cost). The same excavator with about 8,000 hours would cost over $50,000 in the USA.

Are these Alibaba Excavators worth the money?

Excavators from well-established brands such as Volvo, Cat, John Deere, Kubota, and Case have a huge advantage over the cheap and more recent brands. They have proven reliability and performance over time. However, their prices are prohibitive, hence, the rise of the Alibaba cheap excavators.

 A review of most of these Alibaba excavators shows that the Chinese brands from factories have equal performances to the established brands. There is a tendency for people to worry about the quality of Chinese (Alibaba) excavators (and other products) due to their low prices. However, the quality of these excavators is as high as those from Europe and other established manufacturers.

Why the Low Price?

Alibaba excavators are relatively cheap compared to other brands because the cost of production in China is very low. Labor, raw materials, power, and taxation are very low and with a large ready market, Chinese excavators are very cheap and affordable.

Moreover, specialization over time in different areas has led to massive economies of scale which have lowered the cost of production for excavators and many other construction machinery in China.

1) Quality

Alibaba excavators, like many other construction machinery, are manufactured using strict global standards and high-quality raw materials that are readily available in China. Additionally, countries have strict guidelines on the type of machinery they allow to be imported from other countries. As such, these excavators are worth every coin.

The Chinese manufacturers offer warranties for their products as a sign of belief in the quality of their excavators. Most manufacturers give a minimum of two years warranty on their excavators and also provide after-sales service through their representatives or an online platform.

2) Technological Edge

Over the years, Chinese machinery manufacturers have undergone tremendous technological advancement. The production of hydraulic parts has grown rapidly in China. Hydraulic systems are very critical in the manufacture of excavators and this growth has improved excavator production in China, making them more advanced than their counterparts in the established European markets.

There have been massive infrastructure investments in China necessitating demand for improved, high-quality construction machinery that meets market expectations. This has seen the emergence of high-quality excavators among other construction machinery.

3) Delivery

Another major advantage that has attracted buyers to the Alibaba excavators is the ease of buying and having the excavator delivered to your doorstep. This eliminates many hustles that are associated with shopping for an excavator.

4) Customization

Most Alibaba excavators are easily customizable to your needs. The Chinese pride themselves on the manufacture of slightly smaller excavators with a host of attachments but providing the same expected performance. It is common to find or order customized attachments to your excavator based on your needs unlike in the other markets where you take what is availed in the market. This has made these excavators more attractive to customers and based on their pricing, they are quickly gaining traction in the market.

5) Value for Money

Alibaba excavators are more cost-effective since they provide the same reliable and efficient performance at a cheaper price. Due to their size and technology, they are more fuel-efficient and will thus use less money compared to the other brands.

Maintenance and Repairs

The maintenance and repair of Alibaba excavators are cheap and affordable compared to the other brands. The repair kits and spare parts are cheap, readily available, and more versatile than those of the other brands, hence they are value for money.

The Alibaba excavators have an elaborate after-sales service from the suppliers and manufacturers. The sellers provide real-time advice and solutions to their customers. This is another factor that has attracted customers to these excavators.

However, it is important to note that not all Alibaba excavators are of good quality. When buying from the Chinese market, it is important to carry out due diligence and find out more about the specific excavator you want to purchase. So, as you choose the Alibaba excavator, ensure that:

• You have gathered enough info concerning the manufacturer of the excavator you want to buy
• Consider the tasks you want to undertake
• You have ascertained the characteristics and specs of the excavator you want to purchase
• The excavator is compliant with the quality, pollution, and emissions standards in your country

From this review, it can be concluded that Alibaba excavators are equal to the task as their more popular European brands. A good quality, low-priced excavator is good value for money for it will perform the same task cheaply.