I've been using bitterx but I really don't leave any coins there so not too worried about loosing coins. I would always check shapeshift and bitterx and see which one had the better exchange rate and use it. If you just want to get the trade done you can go with the current price and it's pretty close to using shapeshift just the extra step of initiating the exchange then withdrawing. Still will be nice to have shapeshift back and I hope they add more coins.
i do it too in middle 2015, buying altcoin then withdraw to my altcoin wallet, but after i get big problem with altcoin wallet, i save my altcoin at exchanger.
my big problem is some altcoin wallet can't synced perfect, so i can't send my altcoin from dekstop wallet to exchanger. now im still have 120.000 clevercoin (CLV) and i can't send my CLV to c-cex market.