Alright, I bit the bullet. Let's hope I don't regret this!
The seller is named "QILEFU Official Store" and their aliexpress page is here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1430139I bought the item labeled "New chameleon color 700C Fully concealed cable Road Bike 1K Full Carbon Fibre Thru Axle Disc Brake Bicycle Frame Handlebar Fork":
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010484026234.html(1)I bugged the seller a lot regarding shipping to Europe and import taxes. Their replies are as such:
Friend, we will ship your order after production is completed, and the estimated production time is 15-30 days，no matter which method you choose
The fastest and most convenient transportation method is DPD air transportation
The transportation time is uncontrollable, usually ranging from 25 to 40 days DPD air is about 10 days faster than other transportation methods, but additional fees need to be paid
Now, to be clear, I don't like DPD, but I dislike the national post service's expensive import procedure more. I caved and paid the 20€ extra. For an additional 70€ I was also offered air shipping, but I declined.
I placed my order on September 2nd. It's a size 530 with a 400x100 handlebar.
(2) The seller quickly messaged me to confirm that I really didn't make a mistake ordering the "workblank" (i.e. straight-from-the-mold) frame. He also let me know rather quickly that 400x100 handlebars were not available. Neither was the 400x90 size. I was offered the choice between waiting 3-4 weeks for my handlebar size to be produced or accepting a different size and getting the package shipped quicker. I opted for the latter.
There's some delay in my communication with the seller because their working time in Beijing is only until noon by my local time. I have work in the morning, and I have aliexpress notifications disabled on my phone, so it's understandable I can miss a message. So on September 7th, I received these pictures of my size 530 frame and 400x110 handlebar, plus accessories:
https://imgur.com/a/1TgmeYW I will say that I think the pictures on the Aliexpress listing were rougher and uglier, and I'm a bit disappointed that my frame doesn't seem to have those cosmetic faults. I quite like the idea of a bicycle so ugly that nobody would steal it!
On September 9th (today), the package status on Aliexpress was "shipped". My parcel tracking website of choice says the carrier used is "Feia" and that the delivery will be done by UPS. I hope not--their service so far has been a bigger disappointment than DPD's!
That's it for now, I suppose. I just wanted to share some of my communication with the seller (fruitful so far!) and high resolution photos of the frame before it left the seller (the only other ones I can find are in Aliexpress reviews, which are lo-fi).
______(1) This is undoubtedly a Pinarello F clone. The geometry listed on the product page lines up exactly with the 2023/2024 model Dogma (the newer 2024/2025 model has a mm difference here and there but is effectively the same bicycle--as noted in my earlier post, that frame is also available, but it costs ~30€ extra, and I don't believe it to be a 10% better bike).(2) I'm 179 cm tall and I know size 56 bikes are way too long for me. Despite this being the average height in many Western countries, frame manufacturers will often list me as between around 54 and 56. I will never understand the recommendation that a bigger frame is more comfortable. A bigger stack might keep you more upright, but the longer reach will stretch you out far enough that you might consider a 40 mm MTB stem! I am comfortable on my bone stock Tarmac SL7 size 54, and would have no problems using a 110 mm stem and slamming it.
