Why I Stopped Buying from Local Stores and Started Ordering Directly from China Let me tell you something that might sound a little crazy. About two years ago, I was standing in my kitchen, staring at a set of bamboo cutting boards I’d just bought from a fancy homeware store downtown. They cost me $85. A few weeks later, I saw almost the exact same set—same design, same bamboo texture, same finish—on AliExpress for $12. I nearly choked on my coffee. That moment flipped a switch in my brain. I’m Emma, by the way. I live in Portland, Oregon. I’m a freelance graphic designer and part-time vintage enthusiast, which means…