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Comment by kennywinker | Hacker News Reader

You’re making an apples to hand-grenades comparison. If you can find a shredder for $500 shredder off alibaba (every one i clicked was actually $1000 not including shipping and tariffs), it is likely going to break immediately if you stick anything bigger than a solo cup into it.

A machine equivalent to the precious plastics shredder will likely cost you a similar amount. Probably more with shipping… and tariffs until the taco tacos.

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The one below is $495, and to my untrained eye this looks more solid than Precious's DIY machines.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Plastic-Crusher-Equip...

It is listed at $495, that’s true. Have you ever tried to buy a machine off alibaba? In my limited experience: unless it says buy it now, with shipping costs listed, it’s probably not the price you see on the listing.

I see this same “pc180” elsewhere for about $1500, so i’d guess that’s what it’d cost when you actually try to buy it.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe that only applies to the couple machines I have looked into and not this one.

No, you are not wrong. Alibaba is a platform for business to business transactions. The $495 may end up being your price (before all other charges) for a machine if you buy a few shipping containers full of the things. If you want to buy a single one, it will be much more expensive and it will require you to convince the seller that you are planning to set up a business and require a sample or something of that sort.

edit: If you don't want to build a machine, you can find vendors through the PP Bazar[1]. Even fancy ones with CE and made from wood somewhere in Austria :D [2]

[1] https://bazar.preciousplastic.com/

[2] https://www.plasticpreneur.com/

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