AliExpress is a popular online marketplace where individuals and businesses can purchase products from sellers located all around the world. However, like any online marketplace, some buyers may have concerns about the safety and legitimacy of AliExpress. In this article, we'll explore 10 truths you should know about AliExpress to help you determine whether it's a safe platform for you to buy from.
1.Is AliExpress a legitimate website?
AliExpress is a legitimate online retail platform owned by the Alibaba Group, which is a publicly traded company. Alibaba Group is a multinational conglomerate with several subsidiaries, including Taobao, Tmall, and AliExpress. These subsidiaries cater to different market segments, but all are legitimate.
2. Why is AliExpress so cheap?
The products on AliExpress are often cheaper than those found on other e-commerce platforms because the website allows individual sellers to offer their products directly to customers, cutting out middlemen and other additional costs that could increase the price of a product.
AliExpress is a global marketplace, and many of the products are sourced from manufacturers and wholesalers in China and other parts of Asia, where production costs are often lower than in other parts of the world. This can contribute to lower prices for buyers.
In addition, AliExpress offers a range of products at different price points, with many sellers competing to offer the lowest prices. This can lead to further price reductions as sellers try to attract customers with the best deals.
3.Are the products sold on AliExpress good quality? Is it genuine?
The quality of products sold on AliExpress can vary depending on the seller and the specific product. AliExpress is a marketplace that allows individual sellers to list and sell products, so it's important to research the seller and read reviews from other buyers before making a purchase.
In general, there are many high-quality products available on AliExpress, including electronics, clothing, accessories, and more. Many of these products come directly from manufacturers and wholesalers in China and other parts of Asia, where they are produced at a lower cost.
However, there may also be some lower quality or counterfeit products available on the platform, so it's important to be cautious and do your research before making a purchase. Some ways to ensure the quality of the product include reading reviews from other buyers, checking the seller's ratings and feedback, and looking for certifications or other indications of quality.
4. Why do some people think Aliexpress is a scam? (4 reasons)
“Scam” is a little bit exaggerated. In particular, there are more possible problems in international trade, which is much more complex than the process of placing an order and shipping on Amazon. And when problems occur, buyers usually think it’s the responsibility of AliExpress.
I notice that 70% of AliExpress’s bad reviews are caused by delivery delays, problems with the product, and the unpleasant dispute process. Oftentimes, unsatisfactory outcomes of disputes result in a bad customer service experience. Gradually, many customers think that sellers on AliExpress are not reliable and that they can not get good right protection from the platform.
There are 4 main reasons why customers feel insecure.
● Payment issues
● Long shipping times
● Counterfeit products
● Difficulty with customer service
Payment issues
Some buyers may experience issues with payments, such as unauthorized charges or difficulty getting a refund. These issues can lead to frustration and distrust of the platform.
Long shipping times
AliExpress products are often shipped from overseas, and shipping times can be quite long, sometimes taking several weeks or even months to arrive. This can lead to frustration for some buyers, who may feel that their order is taking too long or may not arrive at all.
Counterfeit products
One of the most common concerns with AliExpress is that some sellers may offer counterfeit or imitation products that are not as described. This is especially true for popular brands, where sellers may attempt to sell fake products at a lower price.
Difficulty with customer service
Some buyers may have difficulty getting a response from customer service or resolving issues with their orders, which can lead to frustration and distrust of the platform.
5. Is it safe to buy from AliExpress? Does buyer protection protect you?
AliExpress is a reliable online marketplace with hundreds of millions of visitors, among which 150+ million are active buyers. It’s a good place to buy products made in China at a low price.
AliExpress has buyer protection to keep you safe in 3 major aspects,
- Protect your individual privacy from being stolen, such as bank account information.
- Offer a refund if you don’t receive the package or there’s a long delay in getting the parcel.
- Provide a refund if the items are not as described in the product listing.
That is to say, you don’t have to worry about AliExpress’s overall environment.
6. Are the buyer reviews on AliExpress credible?
The trustworthiness of buyer reviews on AliExpress can vary, as with any online marketplace. While most buyer reviews on AliExpress are genuine and can provide valuable insights into the quality of a product and the reliability of a seller, there are also some fake or biased reviews that can be misleading. Here are some factors to consider when evaluating the trustworthiness of buyer reviews on AliExpress:
The number and consistency of reviews
If a product has a large number of reviews that are consistent in their feedback, it's more likely that the reviews are genuine. Conversely, if a product has only a few reviews, or if the reviews are inconsistent or suspiciously similar, it's possible that the reviews may be fake.
The language and tone of reviews
Genuine reviews are typically written in a natural, conversational tone and include specific details about the product or seller. On the other hand, fake reviews may be written in broken English or use generic language that doesn't provide any useful information.
The reviewer's profile
You can often view a reviewer's profile on AliExpress to see their past reviews and ratings. If a reviewer has a history of leaving detailed, genuine reviews on a variety of products, they are more likely to be trustworthy than a reviewer who has only left a few short reviews.
The timing of reviews
If a large number of reviews are posted within a short timeframe, it's possible that they may be fake or incentivized.
The type of reviews
Be wary of reviews that are overly positive or negative, as they may be biased or fake. Look for reviews that provide balanced, honest feedback on the product and the seller's service.
Overall, while buyer reviews on AliExpress can provide valuable insights into a product and a seller's reliability, it's important to approach them with a critical eye and evaluate them based on the factors listed above. Additionally, you can also take advantage of AliExpress's buyer protection policies, such as the ability to open a dispute if a product is not as described, to further protect yourself when making a purchase.
7. How to select reliable suppliers to buy ？
In fact, most sellers do business honestly like you and me. But there are indeed some unethical suppliers. As with shopping on eBay, you might meet a bad seller who sells poor-quality or damaged goods. Therefore, you need to find a reliable supplier for safer shopping. The following 3 aspects are very important elements:
Check the product description
Apart from scanning product reviews and store feedback, you should pay more attention to the product detail pages. A good detail page must be one that contains all information you want including information about the product's size, materials, and other relevant details. A detailed product description indicates that the seller takes the time to provide accurate information and cares about their customers' satisfaction.
Look for seller guarantees
Some sellers offer guarantees such as a return policy, product warranty, or money-back guarantee. These guarantees can provide peace of mind and indicate that the seller is confident in the quality of their products.
Look for seller badges
AliExpress offers several badges to sellers who meet certain criteria, such as a Top Brand badge or a Guaranteed Genuine badge. Sellers with these badges are more likely to be reliable.
8. What should you do if you don’t want to wait so long?
As mentioned above, we can know cross-border e-commerce shipping has some pain points, including logistics information not being updated in time, the long delivery time, parcels that arrive damaged or lost, etc. If you don't want to wait a long time for your AliExpress order to arrive, there are several options you can consider:
Look for products that are available for "local delivery" or "ships from your country"
Some products on AliExpress are available for local delivery, which means they will be shipped from a warehouse in your country rather than from overseas. You can filter search results by selecting "local delivery" to find these products.
Look for sellers with fast shipping options
Some AliExpress sellers offer faster shipping options such as express shipping or ePacket, which can significantly reduce shipping times. Look for sellers who offer these options when making a purchase.
Use a shipping agent or freight forwarder
Shipping agents and freight forwarders can help you consolidate multiple AliExpress orders and ship them to you using a faster shipping method. However, this option may incur additional fees.
Consider purchasing from a different online marketplace
If you need a product quickly and can't wait for long shipping times, you may want to consider purchasing from a different online marketplace that offers faster shipping options.
9. How to track my order on AliExpress
To track your order on AliExpress, follow these steps:
Go to the AliExpress website and log in to your account.
Click on "My Orders" on the top right corner of the page.
Find the order that you want to track and click on "View Detail" next to it.
Look for the tracking number on the order details page. If there is no tracking number, it may not have been shipped yet.
Copy the tracking number and go to the website of the shipping carrier that the seller used to ship your order (such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc.).
Enter the tracking number in the tracking field on the carrier's website and click on "Track" or "Submit".
You will then be able to see the current status and location of your package.
Please note that tracking information may not be available immediately after your order is shipped. It may take a few days for the carrier to update their system with the latest information.
10. What’s the right time to open a dispute and file a claim？
There are many complaints about the dispute from customers. For example, when customers can’t receive their parcels after waiting for a long time, they will ask the sellers about the shipping situation, but they don’t get any response from the sellers.
Or sellers just tell them to wait for more time or extend delivery time directly, such as changing 60 to 90 days. Under such circumstances, customers will choose to get a refund on the AliExpress platform.
But there is a rule for you to submit refund applications on AliExpress.
The first situation
Your order is not received within the confirmation date. Confirmation dates vary according to the sellers’ stated delivery time, usually, 60 days maximum is calculated from the seller confirming the order has been shipped.
Hence, although you think it is urgent, you are allowed to open the dispute after the agreed confirmation date. For example, the agreed date between you and the sellers is 75 days, and you can open the dispute after 75 days.
After submitting the Open Dispute Form, the seller has 15 days to respond and try to reach an agreement with you. If no agreement is reached within the 15-day time period, the dispute automatically becomes a claim (see file a claim). Claims are reviewed and mediated by the AliExpress Case Management Team.
If you don’t hear back from the seller or if you feel negotiations are not moving forward, you do not have to wait until the 15-day dispute period ends – you may file a claim within 3 days of opening a dispute.
Therefore, really don’t worry too much, as long as you don’t get your package, you certainly can get your full refund.
The second situation
If the goods you received are not in a satisfactory condition, open a dispute, and fill out the dispute form provided. You had better explain the issue in an explicit video or photos, then communicate with the seller about partial refunds or full refunds.
If you can’t receive any responses from the seller after 15 days, then the dispute will step into the claim stage. AliExpress will involve in the dispute directly. Under such a circumstance, if sellers should be responsible for the issue, you certainly can get a full refund from Aliexpress.
Because of the uncontrollable international logistics on Aliexpress, it will provide the seller with 15 days to tackle the problems. Hence, the refund process will be relatively slow. Besides, the time to get a refund varies for different bank accounts, what you need to do is just wait patiently and check your bank account.
Different from Aliexpress, Amazon will deal with the dispute directly, skipping the communicating stage between sellers and buyers, so you can get your refund earlier.
In short, you can protect their rights on AliExpress by going through a dispute, but you should first contact and negotiate with the seller for a solution.
In general
It is safe to shop on AliExpress as long as you do it in the right way. Now I want to turn it over to you: which point in today’s guide helped you? Or do you have any other concerns about AliExpress? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
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