The WFHW team recently completed a not so favorable 
review of the Alibaba.com website, giving it a user beware rating.
Since AliExpress.com is owned by Alibaba.com we felt it was important to let our readers know if AliExpress.com could be trusted or are they operating with some of the same unethical strategies that are giving Alibaba.com a bad name.
To read the review of Alibaba.com in its entirety click here.
What is AliExpress.com?
AliExpress.com founded in 2009 is a marketplace offering products at factory prices direct from China. Orders can be as small as a single item.
The AliExpress.com website is actually featured on the main Alibaba.com website. When you sign up for a free membership with AliExpress, you are actually registering with Alibaba.com at the same time.
Unlike Alibaba.com (which has no payment tracking because they use Western Union), payment for products purchased through AliExpress.com are held by Alibaba.com in their Escrow Alipay system and are only released to the seller once the product is received by the purchaser. This system was put in place to overcome one of the biggest challenges Alibaba.com was experiencing, non delivery of products.
However, it appears that the escrow system has not completely resolved the problem with products not being delivered. There were a few customer complaints suggesting that even though the money was held in escrow, when they did not receive their product and requested a refund, the money was not release back to them. One person after waiting several months still had not received their money back, nor had they received the products they purchased.
What Are The Main Differences Between AliExpress.com and Alibaba.com?
I had to take a real close look at these two sites in order to identify the main differences.
1) All the suppliers for AliExpress.com are from China where as Alibaba.com has international suppliers as well as suppliers from China.
2) AliExpress.com payments are made online when the order is placed and funds are held in an Escrow. Buyers at Alibaba.com make payments offline via Western Union so there is no way to track where the money goes.
3) Unlike Alibaba.com which caters to companies with large orders, AliExpress.com provides products to both companies and individuals with no minimal order requirement.
4) Shipments on AliExpress.com are by air only, while Alibaba.com offers a choice of shipping by sea or air.
What Do You Need To Be Aware Of Before Making A Purchase Through AliExpress?
The use of an Escrow-based Alipay system to manage payments between sellers and customers may help to prevent the non delivery of products – a concern of customers and one of the major stumbling blocks with Alibaba.com. However, there are problems that it won’t solve.
Buyers that purchase products through AliExpress.com will still be dealing with the same vendors that service Alibaba.com. Because there are no regulations and quality control in place, some of these sellers have unethical business practices which have resulted in a large number of the complaints issued by purchasers about Alibaba. The only difference is that sellers won’t get the money until the product is in the customers hand.
Sellers have also been known to replace items with similar look-a-likes that may not have the exact specification so you need to check merchandise very carefully when you receive it. There have been a number of complaints that sellers were not able to deliver products on time. However, the time frame it takes for products to clear is an unpredictable variable that could cause product arrival delays.
Potential buyers need to examine vendors very carefully before making any purchases. The following are 5 warning signs that you should be aware of when researching a seller.
1) They Offer a Wide Range of Products.
If the sellers profile indicates that they sell a wide range of products, this is an indication that they are a trading company and as a result you won’t get the best deals.
2) They’re Slow To Answer Or Don’t Respond At All To Pre-sell Questions.
If they don’t provide any pre-sell customers service, who is going to help resolve your situation if you have an issue after making a purchase and require customer service?
3) They Are Located in Fujian
While not all sellers from this region are crooks, sellers in this area have a reputation that is notorious for generating customer complaints.
4) They Don’t Use The Same Name Or Provide A Company Name Without A City
Sellers should always have a city attached to their name. Most Chinese companies do. If you come across a seller without a city attached to their name, you should be very cautious.
5) They Claim To Sell Brand Name Products
Brand name products are sold at brand name prices. It would be very unlikely that a small company like AliExpress could acquire brand name products to sell.
AliExpress is not a scam, but there are unethical sellers so you need to be careful and do some research before considering making a purchase. You may even consider testing the waters by making a small purchase before investing any significant amount of money in products.
~Terri
WFHW Team
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Has anyone found a way to contact these people or resolve getting a refund when items are never received? I made a purchase for $500USD over 2 months ago. The day before the seller’s deadline to ship they input a tracking number that was for a package being shipped to someone clear across the country. I disputed and then escalated. That was several weeks ago and with no response from site or seller my complaint status is ‘closed’. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I paid with a debit card and my time to dispute with bank has elapsed. How do I get my money back?
Hi Kris
Sorry to hear about your challenges with AliExpress. You may consider going back to your bank and let them know that the dispute process for AliExpress can take up to 60 days. I think sellers drag this process out on purpose in order to attempt to prevent credit card refunds from happening.
Your credit card company may be willing to assist you.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW Team
Hello, I have never bought from Aliexpress, but discovered the site a few days ago, since I’m looking for an item that only this site seems to have… I’ve read a lot of complaints on Aliexpress, way more than I checked for Ebay (the items I bought from Ebay never disappointed me), but I decided to ask a question here, since some people seem to like Aliexpress.
First of all, can someone tell me if it’s true that the ratings are falsified? I read someone had given a 1 star rating, but on the shop owner’s page, it was changed for a 4 star rating and instead of saying ”don’t buy there”, it said ”excellent!” I don’t know what to think. We have to rely on the ratings, but if they’re not even true?!
Also, I messaged a shop owner for the information on a product. The images always showed two pillows that were different from each other, and the name of the item is really confusing, so I couldn’t tell which one was for sale. It’s like they tried to put the most words in the title, so there can be a lot of tags. This is the question I asked:
Hello, I’m really interested in the Hello Kitty pillow, and I was wondering which colors you carried in this type of pillow. The image shows two pillows of different sizes, one red and one pink. However the item specifics show ”color: Army Green”. Is the pillow Army Green and different from the pictures shown? If not, which one between the two is for sale? The small red or big pink?
Thank you a lot, have a nice day!
And this is the answer I received. This is the first time I receive this type of answer:
hi, there is something wrong with our editing.
so let me explain, two sizes 4 types,
smaller one: 60cm*32cm Red bowknot or Pink bowknot Price: $ 22.18
bigger one: 85cm*35cm Red bowknot or Pink bowknot Price: $ 31.18
If you want smaller one, you can order and pay directly, if want bigger one, you can order and wait me change price, then pay for it.
Thank you.
However, I am wondering why they did not do two pages separately for the small and the big pillow?! Why one page for two items? What does it mean? I admit it’s weird. I don’t want to order the big one at full price and then receive the small one (scam eh). And there are no reviews on the item, which is strange. The reviews of the shop owner are great, but somes told me they were falsified. I don’t know what to think! Can you help me please? Thank you!
Hi Sophie
Does the seller have a drop down menu on the sales page where you can select the size of the pillow? Either way there is no guarantee that the seller will send you the right size pillow.
We have received several comments from readers who have used AliExpress and posted a comment to the seller’s site only to find their comment was deleted. Because it appears that some unethical sellers manipulate the feedback system it makes it tough to know which sellers have a true rating and are trustworthy.
AliExpress should be doing a better job of policing their seller rating system but unfortunately they don’t see it as important.
Keep us posted on your progress if you decide to order.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW Team
I’ve recently attempted to order a product on AliExpress.com and towards the end it was cancelled and it stated
“Your order has been cancelled for security reasons. The fund for this order hasn’t been deducted by AliExpress. However, some banks may hold this payment, and the bank will reverse the payment for up to 7-10 working days before releasing back to the card holder. To avoid order cancellation in the future, please submit a claim for payment verification”
Once I had contacted the bank, they had confirmed the money was NOT held by them, but being paid to a company named ‘AliExpress.com’. As I am from the UK I tried to contact them from their UK number and it’s just an automated message telling us to contact them online. I’ve tried their email and I’, still awaiting a response I urgently need this money back or this product to be ordered as soon as possible. The ‘claim’ the asked me to submit for ‘payment verification’ involves me having to post pictures of either my passport or the front and back of my card which I don’t feel comfortable doing and don’t think is necessary. What should I do and is there anyway of cancelling that payment to them?
Hi Toyosi
First off pictures of your passport and/or front and back of your credit card are never required for the purpose of making a purchase online. Anytime a seller asks for this type of information it should be a red flag that the seller is a fraud. I strongly advice you to protect your identity and your finances and never provide this information.
It sounds like you used a credit card to make your purchase. I would contact the credit card company and see if you can dispute the charge through them. Provide the credit card with all the information that the supplier has sent to you regarding the cancelled order and the request for pictures of your card and passport for verification.
Toyosi since you live in the UK you may want to report the seller to http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I have purchased many items from AliExpress and have been buying there for a couple years now. I have not had any issues with my orders at all. I even purchased my wedding dress and bridesmaid’s dress here as well.
As with any business you definitely need to have common sense. I know others have posted these in the past, but they are so true.
1. Keep in mind that these items are coming from China. If you bought an item with free shipping, it is understandably going to take a while longer to reach you unless you want to pay for the faster option.
2. Do a little research before purchasing that must-have item. I almost fell victim to this one. I was ready to fork over the big bucks for an item I fell in love with, but at the last moment I decided to search around. I managed to find the exact same item for a fraction of the cost that I had originally been intending to pay. The same is true of sellers as well. Look around. Most of the time, I don’t mind paying a few dollars more to get the item from an established seller with good ratings.
3. Have some patience with the sellers. First, English is probably not their first language, and it would not surprise me to find that some don’t even speak English and are using some translation program. Second, If they don’t respond to your message right away, it’s probably because there is a huge time difference to account for.
4. Don’t be hasty to blame the entire site for problems with the individual sellers. I did have a disagreement with a seller, but that will not prevent me from purchasing other goods from the site. I simply will not purchase from that seller again. I do the same when I have problems with individuals on eBay (come to think of it, I have more issues with people on eBay than I do on AE).
Ultimately, what I am getting at is that I love AliExpress, and I will continue to use it. As long as you keep these items in mind, most people should have no problems at all (aside from those who thrive on drama and create their own issues).
Hi Cassandra
Thanks for the tips. We’re glad to hear that you are experiencing success with AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi. Does anyone have a phone number for Aliexpress in the US?
Hi Micah
There are no phone numbers posted on the AliExpress site. Your best option is to try their live chat http://www.aliexpress.com/help/newContactUs.htm
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I purchased 1 items from vendor (xiyi Co Ltd) @ Ali Express. I never received my item (rain boots) I tried to track the item but when I went to the China Post Airmail web site it said that 0 items were found with that tracking number. I did get the number correct as I used the copy/past method. I am very frustrated with this whole process and also do not feel that there is good communication with either of these companies. What a scam. I am sure glad I did not order more and do not plan to ever order again. I was taken and seem to have no recourse. I will go back to placing my orders with American companies that I have worked with and can trust. and that are trust worthy. Neither Ali Express or Alibaba are trust worthy and others should know.
Hi Cathy
Sorry to hear about your challenge with AliExpress. Did you try and contact the supplier and AliExpress? If you cannot resolve the issue with AliExpress and you paid by credit card you can always contact your credit card company and file a dispute with them.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi again, I wanted you to know that I did just receive my order. I was very happy to finally get my order. However, I am very disappointed with the lack of communication. I do really like what I ordered but am not sure if I will order again due to the very slow shipping and no extra communication that was forth coming other than when the order was placed. So this company was trust worthy just not good at communicating that the order would be shipped but would take a very long time before it would arrive. It took 6 weeks for my rain boots to arrive, but glad they did.
Hi Cathy
Glad to hear that you received your order and that you are happy with the product.
Terri
WFHW
I have absolutely no problem buying stuff from Aliexpress. I do a few common sense things, like checking the sellers’ ratings, shopping around for the best prices. I understand that if I want free shipping, I can’t expect the product to arrive quickly, but not to worry – it does arrive! I confess that I haven’t tried filing any complaint, but that’s because I haven’t had any! One has to expect that colours may not exactly match what you see on your computer – every computer is different. One might also have to check several sellers on the same product to find a quality vendor and get the description right, since English is not the sellers’ strong point, but it”s worth that little bit of trouble. Also at this point, I’m staying away from ordering electronics or any other product in which cheap or fraudulent manufacture can be hidden. I recommend that readers do a little homework – research Aliexpress’s procedure and the sellers. I’m sensing that a few (certainly not all) of these comments are from people who don’t quite understand how the process works, or are not cooperating to expedite resolution.
Hi Judy
Glad to hear you have had success with AliExpress. Your feedback and tips are much appreciated.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Four of my orders are closed for security reason and my payment refund to western union.Aliexpress ask me to claim that money but do not provide for me MTCN western union numbers. What can do to get back my money.WHAT I KNOW , CHANCE TO GET BACK MY MONEY IS VERY SMALL ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
Hi Kabemba
You’ll need to contact Western Union. This link provides some customer support options.
https://thewesternunion.custhelp.com/app/home
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
If I talk about MTCN number, it is because, we tried with western union to track all the refunded orders with my sending payment MTCN numbers ; what we find is those numbers are no longer in the system. Western Union asked me to return to Aliexpress, who is the sender of the refund,to provide the MTCN numbers.All effort to contact Aliexpress services like transaction services,security services,Alipay Escrow, seem to be impossible, because there is no answer.After almost twenty days of trying to contact Aliexpress you are the fist one to give me hope.About the SIte you gave me , I know it and have already sick help from it no success.My question is : HOW CAN I CONTACT ALIEXPRESS TO GET MTCN NUMBERS? God Bless You to try help a most sophisticated system in the earth.
Hi Kabemba
If AliExpress is not responding to your request for the MTCN number you should contact Western Union for help resolving the issue.
https://thewesternunion.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/96
Inform Western Union of your attempts to get the the MTCN numbers from AliExpress. Hopefully Western Union will have a solution for you. If not you may want to contact Western Union’s Fraud Hotline.
If you believe you’re a victim of fraud, call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 1-800-448-1492. You can also forward any suspicious emails to spoof@westernunion.com. Visit our Consumer…
This number is for Western Union USA. If you live in another country. You need to go to the Western Union website for your country, type fraud in the search box and will receive the contact information for the Western Union fraud department in your country.
Keep us posted on your progress.
Terri
WFHW
I placed an order yesterday and had a nice online chat about the product and delivery as I wanted to be sure that that the item was in stock and when they could ship. All went well and then I finalised the transaction, not 4 hours later I have received emails from both Aliexpress and the seller that the transaction was automatically closed for security reasons and I need to re-add to cart and start again.
I have checked my credit card and there is a transaction pending, which the Aliexpress site advises will drop off as they wont follow thru.
Is this True? does anyone know, and if so do I need to reorder as I am being requested by site and seller.
(Transaction Closed
Reminder:
Your order has been cancelled for security reasons. The fund for this order hasn’t been deducted by AliExpress. However, some banks may hold this payment, and the bank will reverse the payment for up to 7-10 working days before releasing back to the card holder. To avoid order cancellation in the future, please submit a claim for payment verification.)
Cathy
Hi Cathy
I would suggest contacting your credit card company and see what they have to say. See if the credit card company can put a stop payment on the transaction if it has not gone through at their end.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
thanks it is still pending so might be OK.
I was looking 3 days live chat for Aliexpress online . this is my order number 1124968864 It was not my intention to cancel the order the supplier force me to. I ask him that I need an v813 tablet PC urgent for gift how possible I can get. He suggest me to pay for shipping DHL 35 dollar and he will ship Monday and Tuesday he will give me truck number. I have not heard him till late hours Tuesday and he told me his missing HDMI cable for order and will take longer I suggest him to send without the HDMI and then send later. He offer me to send the HDMI separately for China Post I agree.
He again promise to send the Tablet PC and the rest off accessories without HDMI Wednesday again he never send. When I ask him he told me cancel I will not send you and if you do not cancel will automatic cancel after 3 days. He told me he afraid I open dispute and he told me I do not want take a chance I told him I will not get my refund in time and this is gift please send he refused.
I cancelled and I do not have my money back I was tried to chat live Aliexpress never give me a chance always generic answer and generic email. The amount was 206 USD I give him bad feedback the supplier so no one will happen he has 2 good feedback however they never posted my negative feedback I ask help center why never posted my feedback and I can’t Believed the answer: the feeback will be post only if the buyer and the supplier agree. so how he will ever get bad feedback?
I called my bank and this is the answer we will open investigation and that take 30 days. This is the site off the store I bought http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/232838581.html the supplier name Peter Lee. I will not recommend to buy anything from online that not have customer service nor you can chat or call really people to buy anything and even supplier will ignore you to chat with you after the purchase has completed and you pay…do not believe how nice they are the only good till they make sales. That is the reason PayPal closed to deal Alibaba and Aliexpress.
Hi Nur
Sorry to hear about your challenges with AliExpress. Hopefully your credit card company will come through for you.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
USING ALIEXPRESS YOU ARE TAKING HUGE RISKS.
The transaction date of my order was 03/12/2013. Got order confirmation same day and seller processed the order in 2 days. With seller promised Delivery Time:15-26 Days, the item should arrive within 04/10/2013. With no Item received till 04/29/2013, and tracking# trail lost, emailed the seller asking him for a full refund if not delivered within60 days.. Sellers advised me ,” please be more patient. please do not worry about it, if it is lost on the way, we can resend you a new one.now just let’s wait and see, ok?”. The seller objective was to keep me inactive for an INDEFINITE period of time, while less than 2 weeks left, to dispute my credit card. With no order received and unsuccessful negotiation with seller to get a refund tried to open dispute with aliexpress and received Error Message. Only a dispute with my credit Card solved the PROBLEM.
Seller has Contractual Obligation with Aliexpress. Aliexpress has Contractual Obligation with the Credit Card Bank. Credit Card Bank has Contractual Obligations with consumer, based on Credit Card Consumer protection ACT.
If anything goes wrong and consumer stays inactive beyond 60 days, then everybody will be off the hook, and the Consumer WILL RUN OUT OF LUCK. While the seller will get the money, the Consumer will Get Nothing, or a Different Inferior Product, or a Fake Product.
Hi Robert
It is unfortunate that some sellers at AliExpress like to play games and AliExpress lets them get away with it. Fortunately credit card companies
want your business and most cases will work with you to resolve disputes about your purchases. As a result it is important to stay within the credit card companies timeline and take action through them when necessary regardless of what the seller at AliExpress has to say.
Purchases from overseas should not take longer than 30 days to arrive unless they are a custom order.
Thanks for sharing Robert and all the best to you.
Terri
WFHW
Hi Terri,
I’m quite impressed with your kind responses and suggestions to all complainants on this site so far regarding AE.
I really cherish your selfless service. Well done for the very useful tips on how go about AE sellers. My conclusion is that AE is not a scam site, just that some sellers don’t believe in lasting customer or mutual and beneficial business relationships. I’m about beginning to patronize AE and decided to conduct a search on them whether it’s a scam site.
I hope they’ll one day come to terms with this key component of wealth building and sustenance.
Hi Ovegho
Thank you for you kind words. AliExpress although not a scam site could do a much better job of monitoring their sellers and eliminating those who do not conduct business ethically. Evidently customer satisfaction, repeat business and referrals are not important to them.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I had a similar experience, I just disputed after 40 days and will be receiving credit from my credit card company. I’ve had success with small items but this was my largest charge ($150) and I was getting one word responses from the seller along with bogus tracking numbers. no more aliexpress for me.
Hi Jeff
Glad to hear that you were able to get a refund.
One word responses and bogus tracking numbers are not a good sign. It’s assure to know that credit are companies will back you when sellers and AliExpress fail to cooperate.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi
I have used Aliexpress and wondering if the sellers are veted in anyway to avoid the pitfalls as people have described in the above messages. I have often found the photograph used is a misrepresentation of the products you actually receive. Whilst there is a dispute process this process is so time consuming and people usually end up giving up. Unlike other websites Aliexpress tend to remove negative feedback as a result the seller will continue to make sales misrepresenting products over and over again. I also have noted there are automatic feedback left of sellers accounts even though the buyer did not leave feedback they are marking them high.
There are good suppliers on Aliexpress however in my experience they are few and far between.
It also appears there are far too many sellers on Aliexpress representation themselves are corporate organisations when the could be working from a shed.
Hi Mark
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insight about AliExpress. Your experience is similar to so many others who have commented.
It’s quite clear that buyers need to “Beware” when shopping on AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I’m absolutely livid!!! I purchased a product through Aliexpress Oct 4th, 2012… 2012!!! Not only was I sent a fake tracking number the Seller said they no longer had the item in stock and that I would have to pick another after a whole month went by and I’m thinking the package is on it’s way the only reason they told me that is because the tracking number was non existent.
It’s now April year 2013 and I STILL haven’t received my package and the tracking number they provided me was the exact same one that didn’t work. Countless messages I’ve sent to the supplier asking what’s going on yet vague responses and weeks to a month no reply. I feel ripped off and hurt anyone would operate like this and consider it good business. I can’t seem to get in contact with Aliexpress to resolve this issue, I just keep asking myself where on earth is the customer service.
Hi Brian
Sorry to hear about your challenges with AliExpress. It is unfortunate that AliExpress does not monitor it’s sellers to ensure they follow ethical business practices. It also appears they would rather turn a blind eye on customer complaints rather than work on resolving the issues.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
hello I was interested in buying from aliexpress, however I am from the united kingdom and was wondering if it will convert the currency from dollars to pounds for me?
Hi Turaya
I’m not sure what you mean by it. You can use a site such as http://www.xe.com to give you an idea of the exchange rate.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Its been more than 100 days no update from seller and product still didn’t received for order id 1105132748.
I cant contact aliexpress customer service, it is always directing to automatic robert service.
So posting it here. I have already escalated the dispute but no use…
Hi Tech
Sorry to hear that you are having a challenge with AliExpress. If you paid with your purchase using a credit card you may want to consider contacting your credit card company and see if you can dispute the charge.
Credit card companies allow you to dispute charges for goods and services you didn’t accept or weren’t delivered as agreed upon. This document will give you more information about credit card disputes http://creditcardforum.com/blog/credit-card-dispute
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
hi,
i was thinking of ordering from ali express but i am now in two minds whether to do so or not since seeing these negative comments about experiences with ordering and not receiving your items. it says on the webisite that they offer ship goods by ups and dhl which is better for tracking and more familiar to most of us as apposed to ems and tnt which they prefer to use.
would anyone take a chance on ordering from ali express with using either dhl or ups for shipping?
i am desperate to order as i have seen some good deals that could potentially boost my earnings but i can not afford to loose any money like everyone on here.
i have never used ali express before or anything like this to be honest, i am just a bit anxious and need some advice whether it would be more secure in ordering or not. please get back to me.
thanks
mags.
Hi Mag
Yes you would think that using UPS and DHL would be safer because of the tracking numbers however if you read through the reviews you will find many comments about the seller providing invalid tracking numbers.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I placed an order for a laptop worth USD195.00 with shipping cost of USD77.4 and I paid USD272.4 all together. But, seeing the product sent, it’s less in value to the description of what I have paid for and it was so clear on the commercial invoice that came along with the laptop sent. The invoice stated, “Mini Notebook Sample, 1pc, USD130.00 as price and USD35.00 as shipping fee and USD165.00 as the total” against USD272.00 that I paid. What can I do to claim my remnant amount of USD107.4? Thanks as you urgently reply!
I have had good experiences with Ali Express until my last two orders. One was 28th Nov 2012 and I waited till Feb 2013 to follow up. Christmas and Chinese New Year in this time delayed things. After a few emails to supplier I was sent only one item of three ordered and have not been able to get an answer from supplier since. Lost my money to boot as I cannot get to Ali express to ask for refund. Can ‘t lodge a dispute as considered “Order complete” Don’t know what I did wrong there.
Last order was not shipped within time frame so order was cancelled by Ali express. Hope to get a refund in 2 weeks.
Hi Robyn
Sorry to hear about your challenges with AliExpress.
Please keep us posted on your refund.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I had performed several purchases before in aliexpress, there were many payment options. Suddenly, moneybookers and paypal were removed. Disputes are not being managed as before. I opened one two months ago, and there is no answer from aliexpress.
Thus, I do not recommend them anymore. I will contact sellers there, but manage my purchases from outside.
Luis Ramos
Hi Luis
Thanks for stopping by. From the number of comments posted from our readers there are many people who are not happy with AliExpress dispute process.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I made some orders and tracking numbers carries no info. When tracked, it appears, “success – 0 item” with no info on the item, status, origin, destination and others. What can I do? This is one of the tracking nos: RB144815727CN…what do you think I should not hesitate to do? Thanks!
I brought an product from Aliexpress worth 98 dollars, its been 90 days still I didn’t receive the product. Seller has provided a guaranteed that product will be delivered within 45 days else money back. I have escalated the issue with Aliexpress but no proper response. I suggest not to buy from them. My order number is 1105132748
Hi Bala
I would suggest contacting your credit card company and see if you can dispute the charge. Credit card companies allow you to dispute charges for goods and services you didn’t accept or weren’t delivered as agreed upon. This document will give you more information about credit card disputes http://creditcardforum.com/blog/credit-card-dispute
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Please, can somebody tell me what it means to get “frozen orders” as status in the course of making payment for an order at AE using my debit card (master card)? No indication that the payment was successful but verification success. Though, I’ll have to confirm from my bank at day break. I’ve once made transaction and stil making transactions but just worried about what “frozen orders” as status mean. Thanks
Hi Isaac
Sorry to hear you are having a challenge with your order at AliExpress.
I recommend contacting the seller to find out why the order is frozen.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Thanks Terri. As per d frozen orders in the course of payment, the seller said it’s cos it’s been checked or verified by AE that after, I can go ahead to pay.
Meanwhile, I’ve ordered and pay for an item and the tracking number given carries no info whenever I track but stipulates “success – 0 items found”. This is the tracking number RB144815727CN and this is the order number 1116736328. You can as well track and verify and let me know which step I better take. Thanks!
Hey i ordered something about 3 weeks ago for almost $200 and it has not come yet i tried to use the tracking number they gave me and it does not work. i called dhl which is the tracking company and they said they do not have that number in there system. Im really upset and wish i never ordered from this website. i tried to call aliexpress and it just goes to voice mail. what kind of company is this.
Hi Shanice
Sorry to hear you are having a challenge with AliExpress. Take a look at the buyer protection program http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/index.html
As soon as your are eligible be sure to open a dispute http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/how_do_i_open_a_dispute.html
Hopefully your situation will be resolved without having to open a dispute. Unfortunately when the seller sends you an incorrect tracking number it’s not a good sign.
Another option is to contact your credit card company and see if you can dispute the charge.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi Terry, I actually just orders 2 shoes and 2 handbags but im very scared because i used a credit card with a balance of $4,000. Do you think they will take more than the total balance was?
Hi Bushra
It is not likely they will charge more because you only authorized the purchase amount. Keep your transaction receipt in case you need it. Monitor your card for any future unauthorized purchases. In the future you may want to consider purchasing a prepaid credit card for these types of online purchases.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi, maybe you can help me. I just bought jacket on aliexpress, and my visa card has been charged. But when I go to my profile on aliexpress it show like I have not paid for it. They say “Awaiting payment”
What do I dp?
Hi Heida
Sorry to hear that you are having a challenge with your order. I would recommend contacting the supplier. Send them a copy of your transaction receipt and ask them to update your order status and to send you a email with the tracking number when the order is shipped.
If the supplier does not respond or update your status within 48 hours contact your credit card company. Let your credit card company know that you would like to report a fraudulent transaction.
AliExpress will not allow you to open a dispute until after you receive shipping confirmation as a result you have no recourse with AliExpress whereas your credit card company will contact the supplier while investigating the transaction.
Unfortunately the credit card company will likely cancel your credit card and re-issue a new one. This maybe an inconvenience for you. However, this will expose the fraudulent activity of the supplier and will put you in a position to receive a refund from your credit card company.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Thank you very much for your answer. I have tried to contact the supplier and (bougth from 2 suppliers) one of the has not answerd me, the other one is extremely rude. Saying it is my proublem and I have to help myself.
I have a question, is there any email on alibaba that I can send to?
I find the webside very hard to find help.. just standard helping questins but I really need to contanct real person on alilbaba about this, not computer answering :( If you have any idea how I can send them an email were I can send them copy of my visa transaction I would very much appriciate it.
My best
Heiða
Even if AliExpress is a mix of good and bad sellers, it just goes to show AliExpress does not moderate the crud that gets sold to people by scammers. Reading reviews might not even help, who knows how many positive reviews have been written by the company itself to boost its image.
My experience with AliExpress was frustrating, yet comical to say the least. I purchased a jacket after looking around at multiple styles. I had searched reviews for AliExpress and seen that they pretty much never get you what you ordered. It’s either out of stock, the order is frozen, wrong size/color, ect. I decided to take a chance on AliExpress because I figured 20 bucks was worth the gamble.
The jacket I was ordering came in two options for colors; Black, and Blue. I ordered a Medium size in Blue. It arrived in Brown, in a size Small. It hardly fit me and the fabric looked like it had been made with felt from a craft store. It only slightly resembled the image of the product when I purchased it. I wasn’t about to begin complaining to the manufacturer, that would have been like talking to a brick wall. I felt rather stupid for having spent $20+ on a gamble and ending up on the losing edge. However I gave it to a friend of mine and she was petite enough to fit into it, so it made for a very early Christmas present. I found it funny that the jacket came with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which promptly expired one day after it arrives. Just goes to show you how easy it is for a company to sell you junk.
Moral of this story: Buying from a non-credible, insecure websites like AliExpress is not worth the discount. You’d might as well play a claw machine if you decide to go through AliExpress, because chances are you’d spend more money trying to get what you actually wanted instead of just buying the item itself from somewhere credible and reliable. If you decide to take a chance of AliExpress you might just end up where I started, and you’ll probably feel the same way.
Hi Joe
Sorry to hear about your negative experience with AliExpress. Your comments are appreciated and should make others think twice before making a purchase – especially if they can’t afford to gamble.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I’ve read many comments on here, it’s unfortunate that we have so many scam artist around the world. Myself have had many successful transactions off Ali & Alibaba. I’ve been blessed enough to build great business relationships with several sellers. 2 which I’ve verified Nike has used 1 factory to produce sneakers. And 4 other well known women clothing & shoe providers has used to produce high end product.
I started buying small than cut Ali & Alababa out all together. I’ve only had to raise my voice a couple times at a supplier. I realized real sellers won’t hind information, they want your money more than you need their products.
People take note; all Asian sellers aren’t bad. We have just as many scams in the US.
1st.. I get phone contacts along with addresses, I demand SKYPE video calls etc. I want to know whom I’m doing business with. If you to cheap to make international calls, stick with buying in the US.
Learn about trading before wasting your time and money. About 12 states in the US (mainly west coast) addresses Ali won’t ship to unless the transaction is b2b. Western Union won’t transfer funds to overseas companies, this leave uneducated international buyers the only options of dealing with sellers directly.
Once this happen without fully understanding process & procdures we get complaints and Ali will not get involved. I can keep going about how I protect myself but I won’t.
I suggest fully getting to know a seller by vetting them as much as possible. Skype calls are free, use the video call also. I like to see background if its real business or not, don’t depend on Ali & Alababa payment methods. Lastly if I’m placing large orders its done b2b via my control escrow, real business providers won’t object to it.
Happy and Safe Trading… p.s. great site you’ll..
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience with Alibaba and AliExpress. Your strategies can be helpful especially to those who are looking at placing large orders.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
AliExpress IS A SCAM!!!!!
Paid several hundred dollars for item. Package arrived was very small in a hand woven sack. Item received was nothing like what was pictured. Return postage was way to0 high — about $75. So submitted complaint. They just run you through a long process and then state not enough evidence and disperse funds to the seller. In other words, if you dispute you give up your right to a refund. So realize it is cost prohibitive to return the merchandise, which is not always what is pictured. And furthermore, the seller rating is fraudulent. Even if you give all 1′s — they add the three 1st together, so that all sellers get above three stars, even if you gave the poorest rating on all three measures. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SITE IS FRAUDULENT. Also note: YAHOO Is owned in part by Alibaba — the Chinese Fraud Company that owns AliExpress.
STAY AWAY FROM YAHOO (discontinue use of Y mail) , Alibaba and AliExpress.
Hi Mike
We are sorry to hear about your experience with AliExpress. Like you many of our visits have mentioned that the dispute process has failed to resolve their issue nor were they successful in getting a refund.
You are definitely taking a risk purchasing through AliExpress.
Terri
WFHW
The site (company) and it’s merchant accounts also knowingly engage in phishing which to my understanding may even go as far as to being a partnership.
Their credit card processing merchants, use the details of your transactions to make fraudulent contact in order to phish for sensitive financial information. If you receive phone calls coincidentally from “Bank of America” or “Wells Fargo” etc, after shopping on this site, know that their card processing merchants are actually phishing. This has been reported to aliexpress/alibaba several times, but of course continues to occur.
Be very, very careful
Hi Lynda
AliExpress/Alibaba do not monitor their seller’s nor to they have any policies to deter sellers from engaging in unethical business practices.
Phishing or any type of suspected fraud related to your credit card or debit card should be reported to the credit card company. A bank or credit card company will not call you and ask for personal information. As a result you should never provide this type of information to anyone who calls.
If ever in doubt ask for the caller’s name, phone number, title and the organization they represent. Let them know you will call them back. Most fraudulent callers will not provide this information and if they do, call the financial institution they claim to represent and inquire about the call.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Actually Terri,
That is not the case.
The phishing I am referring to is not done through the sellers, as sellers do not access to information such as Credit Card Issuer, it is done through the Ali Express system.
Ali Express is engaging in illegal activity as they are aware of the problem, it has contracted several MERCHANT ACCOUNTS, i.e companies who process credit card information, who engage in these phishing attempts.
It is in fact these companies that engage in phishing attempts in this case and NOT the “sellers” who are using the AliExpress platform, hope this clarifies.
Lynda thank you for your clarification. I understand what you are saying. When you make a transaction in person you can see the merchant’s logo on the pin pad when enter your pin number. Unfortunately with AliExpress because the transaction is made digitally you cannot see who processes it. However, you should still report it to the fraud department of your credit card company.
If reported by enough consumers, credit card companies should take notice and will likely investigate these companies. Once they see what’s happening these merchants companies will be shut down. They may also ban AliExpress from any future credit or debit transactions since as you mentioned AliExpress was aware that these companies were committing fraud and did nothing to stop it.
Credit card companies do not take fraud lightly. It is our responsibility as consumers and victims of fraud to report these activities so they can be taken care of before more people become victims.
Terri
WFHW
I have read through a number of replies and I’m considering making a purchase. I just had a few questions I hope can be answered for a first time buyer? 1: Is this site safe in using your banking information? 2: I have notice that some items have free shipping and or reasonable shipping. I live in Canada so my question is. Will or how much can or does Canada Post charge? Is there additional shipping fees? curious bc if so would the deals be worth it? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Hi Cory
Check with your bank regarding the safety of using bank transfers for payment. You can also get more information at http://escrow.aliexpress.com/escrow-faq/payment/how-do-i-pay-using-bank-transfers.html. Regarding shipping costs you will needs to check with the seller. You may also find more information at http://help.aliexpress.com/delivery_options.html.
All the best with your purchases and keep us posted on your progress.
Terri
WFHW
I would NOT advise this, a card is easier to close and replace than a bank account.
Do not give ali express access to sensitive information unless you are using an encrypted page, indicated usually bt https in your browser and a lock icon, if you absolutely must give out this information, one tip is when placing orders use an alternative phone number that your bank does not use, in order to track where follow up correspondence comes from, if you are suddenly receiving correspondence regarding your financial information to your alternative phone number, then most likely it is via alibaba/aliexpress..
I just wanted to chime in with my experiences with China. I am a Canadian citizen, living in Shenzhen for three years. The Chinese are masters at copying. Fakes are everywhere, and by that, I mean electronics, purses, wallets, clothing, accessories, etc. The Chinese are bent on becoming more “western” and by western, they think “brand name”. So everyone wants to wear and own brand names here, but very few can afford them, hence the huge copy market. The culture here is very different than the west, and when a westerner learns that the Chinese have mastered the fake egg, we think “why?”……whereas the Chinese think “clever”. My own experience here is that most Chinese will rob you blind if given the opportunity. There is also huge quality and safety issues with fakes that are produced here…..dyes and plastics with toxins in them, leather treated with substances that would be banned in Canada, same with jewellery. I could go on and on……
My take-home message is this: be very wary of what you are ordering from any site based in china. My experiences with china would leave me to believe you will likely be purchasing fake products, especially electronics and clothing/accessories, or you will be sold outdated/expired items, or you will be sent “seconds” or damaged products. You may be lucky enough to receive a genuine item, just as ordered…….I have known some ex pats to have come across legit items that have simply “fallen off the delivery truck”, but those are usually sold at a higher price, and are rarities.
I hope some folks find this information useful.
Hi Kim
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience with China.
It’s unfortunate that this type of mentality exits. As so many of our visitors have mentioned you take a chance when you purchase
products from AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I love AE. Have been using them for 3 months small orders selling online from home. No problems. My questions all awnsered promptly helpful people good quality on the products some better quality then others ratings on who is doing well. Excellent site.
Hi Randy
We are glad to hear that AliExpress is working well for you.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi there
First time buyer from Aliexpress and wont be 2nd time buyer. I bought 4 Andriod tablets that were all missing files one wouldnt even charge. Chargers were doddgy by Australian standards. Sent them back and was told i would get a full refund plus shipping costs and i am still waiting. On the feedback for the seller .. if one doesnt acknowledge shipment and make the payment then one can not leave ‘feed back’ so if you get doddgy goods and request a refund you don’t get to leave any negative feedback, so it is almost impossible to tell if the seller is bad.
In my case the seller received his goods back and then ceased communications with me and now i am waiting for the response team to get back to me which seems to take some time.
I do know of people that order there regulary and have not had any problems, but i for one won’t be returning.
Thanks Julie
Hi Julie
Thanks for stopping by. We are sorry to hear about your negative experience with AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hello everyone,
My case is a very simple: I received Android Tablet Novo 7 in December 2011 with the broken screen and sent out it back to a seller. During the open dispute the seller had confirmed that he had had received the product back and he was going to send me money back. However, the dispute had been closed by Aliexpress and since then I have got nothing, no money no Android Tablet back.
I sent many emails to Aliexpress and to the seller, have got no responses at all,
what would you advise me please?
Thanks in advance
Hi Nikolay
Did you make your purchase in December 2011 or 2012? If you made your purchase in 2012 you may want to consider contacting
your credit card company and see if you can get your money back through them.
If the seller starts getting pressured by credit card companies they a lot more likely to respond as they do not want to loose
their credit card processing privileges.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi
I have purchased a marble fireplace, 3 four wheelers, many pairs of boots, 300 neon clocks, neon NASCAR items, I have purchased many items over the last 4 years and have never had a problem. Thanks
George
Hi George
Thanks for stopping by. We are glad to hear that AliExpress is working well for you.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Ordered pen refills from a seller on Aliexpress. The seller had no exact measurements and just a note saying that they would fit a certain type of pen. That should have been the first alarm bell right there but, because they were cheap and matched the ones I was looking for (to refill a nice promo pen I’d been given), I ordered them.
They arrived fine but didn’t fit, being a good couple of centimetres too short. Emailed the seller, offering to return them for a full refund. Seller refused, offering only a partial refund and telling me I should have known they could only fit this kind of pen (They’ve now added a photo of this pen to their description but still no measurements). I again asked for a refund, stating that they offered a no-argument guarantee. Seller started getting abusive so I’m now refusing to speak to them and am waiting for the 3 days to elapse so I can open a dispute with the site (not that I’m holding my breath on getting any further).
However, I called my credit card company and because it was such a low amount, they instantly credited my card and are, from what I can gather, opening a dispute with the company. I explained exactly what had happened (items not what I wanted, seller not willing to offer a full refund and becoming abusive). No matter what the amount you’ve spent, it’s worth giving your credit card company a call and getting them on your side.
Hi Rae
We are sorry to hear about your challenge with AliExpress. We’re glad that you were able to get a refund through your credit card company.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Folks..I notice that Ali Express offers a large number of Italian carbon racing pushbike frames for sale (Pinarello, Bianchi, Cipollini etc) at bargain basement prices (approx 10% of real frame costs). An associate of mine repairs carbon fiber bike frames etc and has come across quite a few of these “Fakarello’s” and was alarmed to find that a substantial quantity of the “carbon fiber” was in fact fiberglass which is considerably weaker than carbon. I stupidly got “stung” buying a replacement carbon fork for a bike only to find that I couldn’t purchase a suitable bearing to match the steerer tube. Whilst I am sure that there are some great bike frames for sale at very low prices, (allegedly coming from the same factory as the Italian companies use), please do your research first as finding yourself riding at 40KMH+ and having a major frame component fracture (or snap completely) could turn out to be a costly and dangerous exercise
Hi Garry
North American bike companies would not get away with this type of false advertising. The potential for injury is way too high.
Thanks for alerting us about this. Everyone definitely needs to do some research before purchasing a carbon fiber pedal bike from AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I ordered an item from AliExpress a few months ago and it was an item from China. Still havn’t received an item nor refund, even after a dispute has been opened. It was the first and last time I ordered something from that website.
Moritz thanks for stopping by. We are sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience with AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I have placed 3 orders from 3 different aliexpress shops over the last 15 months or so:
#1 – Sent a bogus tracking number, never answered inquiries. Dispute filed, money refunded.
#2 – Flawless transaction. (Would have ordered order #3 with them if they had what I had wanted in stock)
#3 – Both of the items arrived, 1 was missing an ordered accessory. Dispute filed, cost of accessory refunded.
I have never lost money but I carefully read up on how to conduct myself. The most important things:
* Understand how your buyer protection works. Never let the store trick you into doing the wrong thing.
* Never click confirm delivery until you are 100% satisfied. Once that happens the store gets your money and will never respond to you again.
* Never let the timer on the confirm delivery button expire, its the same as clicking the button. Open a dispute by the last day if there is no sign of your order.
* Once in the dispute process, never click the End Dispute button unless you are 100% satisfied. Once you do the store gets your money and all communication from them stops.
Hi dvancleef
Glad to hear that AliExpress is working well for you.
We appreciate your tips on how to use the buyer protection program.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I placed my second order for Aliexpress yesterday.
The first order I placed in October 2012 consisted of three parts, and every single part arrived unscathed within a month of the order placed.
I only usually order jewellery making supplies, and I usually do not spend that much money. My experiences of aliexpress so far are encouraging, but the language barrier puts me off.
Now I’m not bilingual, and give major props to people who are. But during this last order I had to ask a question about a product I wanted to order, and the person on the other end of the chat wasn’t able to understand the question I was asking. See http ://goo.gl/q8zo4
If I end up with 100 blue cabochons, I can live with that. But I’m less likely to buy from that supplier in the future if communication is impossible.
So far, I give the company a thumbs up, but from a communications perspective, I wouldn’t order anything too dear from them.
Laura thanks for sharing your experience with AliExpress. We are glad that your shopping experiences have been positive.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I wish i read this before hand… I asked 21 questions before placing an order ($100 u.s)
they shorted me on the order sent me wrong items and the items they did send were wrong in size thus unsellable or even useable. Ke ke’s store is a scam 100% i disputed it provided pictures and even a video and they still have not refunded my money. Its been 2 months!
Hi Octav
We are sorry to hear about your negative experience with AliExpress.
Your comment will help other readers to void doing business with unethical suppliers like Ke ke.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi Terri!
I found out about Aliexpress.com not too long ago and I loved the deals there! I researched on different websites about this platform bc there seem to be a big gap between the lover and the hater of Aliexpress. Till now I haven`t found out if it`s possible to shop there as a private customer without getting any probs. I saw that a lot of customers buy only 1 or 2 pieces so quantity shouldn`t be a problem.
Please reply to my inquiry bc I have really no idea how to find out! Your site is amazing and I`m sure that many many ppl found help here!
Thank u & all the best
Hi Tina
Yes anyone can make a purchase on AliExpress. There are no minimum order requirements.
If you decide to make a purchase feel free to drop by and let us know about your experience.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
i bought some Items from Aliexpress the sent 2 of them and 7 items not received,
i tried hard with them ,you can read one word WAIT,i wait 4 monthes and nothing.
they are scam,and when i tried contact with anyone in the website you contant with EVA !!!!!!!!!!! who is EVA ? she is no one.
Hi Zainah
Sorry to hear about your negative experience with AliExpress. It’s unfortunate the company does not quality control in place to weed out unethical sellers.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I bought from AliExpress some mobile phone batteries, which were charged to my MC card on 4th nov 2012, received their confirmations *Full Shipment Made for Order No. 1018303061* and +Full Shipment Made for Order No. 1018303060* inmediately, but those products never arrived and AliExpress website does not find those order numbers, which blocks any chance to claim payment back..
I call it FRAUD !!!
Stay away from those scammers !!!
Ricard
Hi Ricard
We are sorry to hear about your negative experience with AliExpress. It’s unfortunate that AliExpress does not monitor sellers and eliminate those that pursue unethical business practices.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Glad i have across this site. i have been purchasing from Aliexpress for the last two months (hair extensions) and so far i haven’t had any problem. so two weeks ago i came across a vendor with a very high positive rating of 99% and had exactly what i needed. so i made a purchase worth 1100$. 3 days after i ordered, my account stated that item has been shipped, but the tracking number for DHL was not a valid one. I contacted the vendor who said sometimes DHL delays in updating the information. Next she puts in another tracking number which is also invalid!! So i told her i would contact Aliexpress directly to handle this matter, but from what i can read now, i will clearly not get any help there in getting my money back timely. any suggestions anyone?? i used visa to pay for this transaction. I became vip silver member very fast at AE! but from what i have read on the buyer forums, that doesn’t give you priority when it comes to solving problems.
Hi Liz
We are sorry to hear about your challenges with AliExpress. We recommend opening a dispute
with AliExpress http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/index.html Let them know that the
DHL tracking numbers you’ve received from the seller are invalid. Pay close attention to the
time lines of your dispute so that if need be you can file a claim 3 days after your initial
dispute request.
According to AliExpress your purchase should be protected by their Buyer Protection System.
http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/how_to_be_eligible.html
If your situation is not resolved via AliExpress contact your credit card company and see if
there is anything they can do for you. Let AliExpress know that you will be contacting your credit
card company about the situation if they do not hold to their policy and resolve your dispute.
Credit card companies have been known to pull their terminals from companies who have a reputation
of fraudulent transactions.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi there, im interested in doing business with aliexpress… but i am in south africa, how can I make a bank deposit to singapore? any advice please?
Hi Riaan
You can check with your bank to see what payment options are available. Many people prefer using pre-paid credit cards for their AliExpress purchases.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
don’t buy from aliepress store “Yaoqi huang’s store” site is scam no buyer protection . recieved different item than on their website, no help from staff lost 150 usd.
Thanks for sharing with our visitors Lena, and we are sorry to hear that you have had such a negative experience with this store.
All the best,
Marcus
WFHW
Hi I ordered from aliexpress and had a great experience! And I’d like to add to that I have ordered about 7 times from them and all of my orders have had great timing and I’m very happy and satisfied! They can be sure I will keep ordering!
Hi Jowanna
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to share your experience with Aliexpress. We are glad to hear that you are a satisfied customer.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
My previous post from last week got removed from this blog so we will see how long this lasts. This also tells you something about who the folks running this forum are batting for.
First off all I strongly disagree with the assertions of the OP that AliExpress is legit. This is a site run by scammers, for the scammers with the intent to defraud and cheat people. Here are the facts of my case.
Placed orders on 09/10. They were marked shipped on 09/11. Based on tracking info, contacted my local PO on 10/12. PO incdicated that there was no trace of these shipments and these no’s were either wrong (read fradulent) or the items were lost.
Opened a dispute with AliExpress on 10/17. Their message under my order list read…” someone from AliExpress would contact me in TWO days”
After a week, no emails, no contact and suddenly a new message showed up about “delays in items being shipped”
Note, the tracking info indicated that the items were shipped almost a month back. I tried contacting AliExpress, no response. Their Phone no herein the USA (area code 425) is a voicemail which is full. Ali Express was still advising me to contact the shipper and resolve with them. Really!!! what happened to your mediation and Escrow?
I finally contacted my CC provider on 10/27, who was more than willing to help and were aware of the practices of this website.
Meanwhile trying to pursue through Aliexpress as well, I was surprised to see that all disputes were removed from my account, the orders closed and disputes erased as if they were never opened, no history, nada, nothing!!!!
This confirmed my suspicion about the website and its practices. This is a bunch of scammers providing pictures of products and low prices to lure and scam. There is no protection, whatsoever.
Moreover AliExpress is falsely advertising that they are working with Paypal whereas the fact is that PayPal booted them after their unscrupulous practices.
My advice, run away with your money of you see AliExpress or Alibaba and save yourself a lot of aggravation
Hi Sh Will,
Let me just start off by saying that we do not post all the comments that we get, simply because it would take us a long time. This in no way reflects what we feel about the comments that are made, and if you take a look around the site you will see that we believe in freedom of speech – good or bad.
Your own dealings with AliExpress certainly raises some concerns, and we thank you for taking the time to share your experience and helping our visitors.
It would be great if we could get someone from AliExpress to take a look at what our visitors are saying about their service, and make changes that address the problems. We might look into the possibility of making this happen, so we will keep you posted.
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your experiences.
Marcus
WFHW
I was looking forward to buy some good first copy sunglasses on aliexpress.com as the original price is out of my reach.
Help if anyone had a good experience with such sellers on aliexpress.
Please forward their link if any.
Thanks
Regards,
Sonu
Hi Allasdhi
Hopefully one of our readers will be able to help you out with your request. If you decide to purchase from AliExpress please take a few moments to come back and share your experience with us.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I don’t think people should read too much into the star rating. I recently placed a couple of small orders and left my honest opinion about a purchase. I was then hounded by the seller begging me to alter the rating. Also, there is a rating that is done by default which appears quite high, but potential customers should be aware that if there is no written feedback or it states its a default rating, then its just an arbitary one.
Ish
Hi Ish
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience with AliExpress. Potential customers frequently rely on the ratings and feedback from other customers to determine the credibility of a seller. It’s unfortunate that some sellers feel the need to contact their customers and ask them to change their rating in order to improve the seller’s image in the eyes of future customers.
Ish did you change your rating? If you left the rating as initially submitted was your review deleted?
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I agree, do not use this web site. It is run by a bunch of liars! I purchased two cycle frames from Great Keen Cycles. Because of their lack in communication I was sent two frames the same size. I had to pay to ship one of the frames back. I was told by the supplier, Jerry Wang, that he would refund my shipping costs. We had lots of contact by email but as soon as he got the frame back he wouldnt reply to my emails. I did get my refund from Aliexpress as I opened a dispute. I have tried to complain again to Aliexpress and again they will not respond to my emails. This site should NOT be used. They cant be trusted.
Hi David
Thanks for stopping by. Sorry to hear that you are having problems with AliExpress and seller Jerry Wang.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Under no circumstances should anyone buy from AliExpress. They say they have buyer protection, but both the seller and AliExpress will make you jump through hoops and still not refund you if some goes wrong. I was sent a different item than what I ordered. The seller would not refund and wanted me to pay to ship the item back to them. I filed a dispute with AliExpress, but that is just more of the same communication with the seller. Finally, I was able to file a claim with AliExpress, but they denied it, asking for evidence of the wrong item that I received even though the seller was not disputing that she sent the wrong item. In fact, she admitted it over and over again in our dispute. If you think you can always go through buyer protection when something isn’t right, think again. AliExpress will NOT refund you. Worst online experience ever!
Has anybody purchased from Shanghai KISIS Wholesale Store? They have really good ratings and a lot of products I’m interested in. I also Googled ‘scam’, ‘complaints’ and ‘reviews’, but couldn’t find anything – nothing. Feedback from people here who purchased from them before (more than once), would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Maxie if you decide to purchase from Shanghai KISIS please keep posted about your experience.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi, I know this chat is old but if anyone is still reading….
Would it be smart to request the alibaba seller’s email address and head over to paypal and pay that way? I have never used paypal beyond ebay but I know they have a service like what i just mentioned and I’m sure it’s monitored and secure ( I trust paypal a LOT). My only concern with alibaba is pretty much….everything. I dont feel comfortable with paying with my visa card- I dont trust alibaba enough for that. I also dont really know how moneygram works in terms of safety precautions, and I’ve heard of other paypal-like sites but….. why use them when i can try to use the real thing. If alibaba forces me to give them ANY visa information then too bad I wont be buying from them…..
Hi Jusblaze
We appreciate you stopping by and sharing your opinion. It would be great if sellers on
AliExpress accepted Paypal but unfortunately most don’t.
You’re not alone, many people do not feel comfortable using their credit card on AliExpress.
Some readers have mentioned that they purchased a pre-paid visa or mastercards specifically for
their AliExpress purchases.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I ordered a few items 2 month ago form Aliexpress, got them in 15 days, I sold them all, then I ordered a lot more, and sold them all again, I’m placing my 3rd order and it’s gonna be even bigger. I’m very happy now that I’m starting my business, and aliexpress has been a really good resource.
Haven’t had a single problem with Aliexpress, I did my research on every company I bought from, and read a lot of reviews, I spent sometime on it, but it was worth it.
I wish everybody good luck with you businesses.
From Vancouver, Canada
Hi Jose
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your results with AliExpress. We are happy to hear that you are experiencing success.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Do you know anything about Yiwu QQ Jewelry? I received a shipping confirmation on 9/11 but as of today 9/26 still no product. I know it’s coming from China so I’m trying to be patient but it seems excessive.
Hi Nicole
Did the seller provide you with a tracking number? Did they provide you with an estimated delivery date? If not contact the seller and ask them when you can expect the shipment to arrive. Also ask them if they can provide you with a tracking number.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Im considering buying a wedding dress off of aliexpress.com through supplier Golden Lily. Its a wonderful price and has good ratings but I saw on here that negative ratings are possibly not posted. The dress I want does have one negative posting saying that the person didn’t like the dress because it wasn’t the same color and material. The store is based China (Mainland) (Jiangsu).
And heres the link:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/WD7434-hot-sale-Mermaid-Ruffle-and-Beaded-Organza-Wedding-Dress-with-removable-flower-one-shoulder/513361088.html
So before buying I’m wondering is this provider/supplier reliable?
Hi Kit
This link will give you a better idea of Golden Lily’s reliability. Notice how long the seller has been in business, the number of reviews, break down of review scores and overall review rating. http://www.aliexpress.com/store/feedback-score/206404.html
If you decide to make a purchase please keep us updated on your results.
Congratulations on your wedding.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I have just stumbled across all this feed back and now i am worried… I ordered a phone case from a supplier on aliexpress and have paid for DHL express shipping I used my pre paid credit card, I ordered on the 14th I think and it says my payment has been accepted I went back into my account to check on things and it now say’s the supplier has 2 days to ship the item or it will be cancelled so i messaged the supplier and he tells me not to worry my friend and to give it one more day, am i being scammed? If so what can I do? Please Help
Hi Abra
If you paid for DHL express shipping you should get a tracking number. Contact the supplier and ask for the tracking number. If the supplier doesn’t provide a tracking number within the shipping time line I’d be concerned but not before then.
Keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hello friends,
I had a lot af email exchange with a seller that seems to be a producer, and that sell on aliexpress for ‘sample’ selling. I am not concerned with the shipment of the product, but about giving to aliexpress my credit card number, as they do not accept paypal payments.
Do you think that I can trust them from this point of view?
Thanks,
giorgio
Hi Giorgio
Thanks for stopping by. Most sellers on AliExpress accept payment via Western Union. If you are not comfortable using your credit card there are other options.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Thanks Terri,
Wester Union is very expensive. I will get a prepaid card.
Best regards,
giorgio
I seen a travel trailer online for sale and the seller who moved out of state to the UK said she is selling it through Aliexpress escrow buyer protection. I have seen the pictures she sent and she said it is at a storage in El paso,Texas and that the shipping is included in the price.My question is how can i check to make sure this is a legit purchase and all the things to make sure this transaction goes smoothly and that i wont be scammed out of thousands of dollars?
Craig check out AliExpress buyer protection program http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/index.html. Take a look at who the seller is who is selling the travel trailer. How long have they been in business? What kind of reputation do they have?
AliExpress does not have quality control in place to discourage and eliminate sellers who partake in unethical selling practices, as a result there is always a risk when purchasing through AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Well, I guess that I will place my comments about AliExpress here to keep it all up to date with what is happening. I was a Gold buyer with DHGate, but left them as they would not do anything at all about a supplier that sold rubbish to us. So I then have gone to AliExpress where I am now a Platium Buyer. We have made many thousands of dollars in purchases with not many problems to date. There are a few things that worry me though. One a recent Order from 3 different suppliers of about 15 different items and their relievent Item Numbers. Some were not as they should of been as well as being short shipped. When I went onto the site to check on this I immediately noticed that all the part numbers that I had ordered were now not used, in other words they had been dropped for some unknown reason? That reason is I think – is that even though I make a negative feedback on the items, no one is ever going to see them, as all have been de-listed changed to another description! A clever way to avoid any bad press by the sellers who obviously know that it is coming. Also, just try to get a email address in which to complain to either DHGate or to AliExpress! It is impossible! And if you have already made a past complaint to the select a box compliants input with no person there of course – then check your account for past complaints, you will be amazed like me to find that it is nil. In other words it has not even been entered, so all that work in entering it goes to no one – that is why you get no refund or answers. I am no seriously considering in de-camping from these sites, as I have no trouble in direct buying from the actual manufacturers from MadeinChina.com, sure I have no escrow as such, but when it comes down to it, you will not be given any refunds or help in any case. So why not trust the makers. Almost all sellers on the DHGate and AliExpress are just Drop shippers in any case. They operate from an apartment or a small office with nil stock on hand and then only order it in once you place an order with them – this explains the usual shipping delays shown with the items. It allows them time to get it in, also the photo’s of their factory and busy businesses are always fake of course. So I hope that this clears the air and shows you the direction that they are headed now in order to avoid any bad feedbacks, just get rid if the item number immediately and re-place it with the same item but another part number. Does DHGate and AliExpress know about this – sure they do! Do they choose to do anything about it? Nope!
Hi Graham
Thanks for stopping by an sharing your insight and experience with AliExpress.
All the best in your future endeavors,
Terri
WFHW
oh and 6: Watch for “Minimum Purchase Amounts” like must purchase $12 or 12 items to be eligible for free shipping or else they may send you an email asking for more money to ship when it said it was free, when it’s actually only free under those guidelines, so watch for that.
I found the site by accident when I was looking for gift ideas and inexpensive jewelry, I excitedly made a few purchases. It’s only been two weeks and I got one of them already, am expecting the other three lots of items soon. At first I didn’t realize how big the site was but when I saw that they also offered clothes I went straight to the girl toddlers and was blown away by the awesome prices for such interesting pieces. I would not buy electronics from them or fine jewelry, I will keep it to small orders of clothes, costume jewelry, and trinket/gifts. I stopped buying Christmas presents for people a long time ago because $5 each wasn’t enough to get much else than the dollar tree, walmart, or dollar store and it felt like a waste of money 35-40 times over every year finally said enough already. Finding Ali Express has made me consider buying for a few people again if my $3 spent is the same as what you get at walmart or target for $15.
1. Check the ratings and understand you are taking a chance when only a few ratings showed.
2. Google store name with review or scam and see if there’s a “ping”
3. Understand that shipping just takes a while sometimes
4. Don’t order too much from one place so if you do lose your money it’s not a total wash
5. If the retailers can do it so can we, don’t let a few bad apples spoil the value of wholesale shopping.
Hi Stacy,
Great advice there for our visitors, and we are pleased to hear that things are working out for you so far.
It would be great if you could stop by in the future and keep us updated with your purchases from AliExpress.
All the best for now,
Marcus
WFHW
Hey again, so i was looking for denim button ups for my clothing brand. Heres a link of the denim shirt
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/618535724-Free-Shipping-2012-autumn-personalized-fashion-button-denim-long-sleeve-shirt-male-shirt-casual-shirt-male-wholesalers.html
i wanted to ask for your opinions. It says their from China (Mainland) (Guandong) not from Fujian
ive also looked for another denim shirt exactly like this but they are the only ones who i can find it from.
should i buy from this person? or should i not? Thanks again!
Hi Anthony,
The supplier has good ratings and typically purchasing clothing is less risking than purchasing electronics, however you must decide whether you wish to the buy the shirt or not. The WFHW Team is not responsible for making purchase decision for you.
Terri
WFHW
This is very handy, thank you for the effort.
Nina thanks for dropping by. We’re glad you like the site.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
So what do you mean by a wide variety of products?
Most of them have 10-20 products on aliexpress im not sure. If you could be more specific about the quantity of a wide variety. Thank you
Thanks for stopping by Anthony. To answer your question…if most sellers on AliExpress offer 10-20 products and you see a seller that offers 30 or more products be sure to do some research on the seller and check out their credibility before you consider doing business with them.
All the best,
Terri
As always online, it’s buyer beware. Research is required before purchasing from any supplier. I’ve had good and bad results from purchasing with Aliexpress, and also with supposed ‘legit’ companies in America who took my money and disappeared. Always contact the company first and no reply means no purchase. Secondly, ask for a copy of their business licence. No copy, no purchase. If they send it, check the company name and address matches what they claim. For larger purchases, contact a buyers agent and have them do the checking. It’s worth the up front cost.
I have bought thousands of dollars of goods via Aliexpress and other online wholesalers. I have had my money stolen and goods never delivered, but not from Aliexpress. I have had goods not as ordered and have had no success getting my money back from the supplier on Aliexpress. I had one issue with a phone that turned out to be used, when sold as new. It appeared new when I purchased, so I confirmed receipt. When it turned out to be second hand, and died as soon as my customer used it, they told me to contact the supplier directly as they were no longer involved. The supplier promised to exchange, so I spent a lot more money returning the goods and then never got a refund or exchange.
Rebecca thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience and suggestions with the WFHW readers.
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Terri
WFHW
I have a large pile of failed or just plain useless tablets, phones from aliexpress suppliers today 30/8/12 my dispute since April was knocked back(I rec’d a pkg which had been obviously looted Australia post refused any responsibility singpost stopped answering emails aliexpress when they talked to wanted more than the jpgs as evidence therefore total loss, escrow dispute seem obvious sham) however finally managed to get a phone from high rated supplier with them so no more as why push my luck? cheaper in long run to buy from local over counter suppliers.
Ron thanks for dropping by and sharing your experience with AliExpress. I’m glad you were able to get the phone you were looking for but it’s unfortunate you had to jump through so many hoopes for that to happen.
AliExpress should be monitoring their sellers more carefully and weeding out the unethical ones. They are loosing a ton of business as a result of lack of quality control.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Also i have used Aliexspress 3 times. the first two times i had no problems at all. I was very satisfied with everything. My third order was a few days ago so i am not sure how it will be…iv just read your info about it along with a few other bad reviews, so now im afraid of not receiving it. We will see..
Heather there are good suppliers on AliExpress who deliver the products they advertise on time as you’ve experienced. If at all possible stick with them when making future purchases. Unfortunately it’s the unethical sellers that spoil the reputation of the program. Keep us posted on the progress of your 3rd purchase.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Do you know any non scam work at home jobs for a stay at home mother? Iv been searching the web for a long time and they all seem to be scams.
Heather take a look at our recommendations page:
http://www.workfromhomewatchdog.com/our-recommendations/
We offer a variety of work from home options, some are free to join. Let us know if you have any questions.
We wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
Terri
WFHW
I actually only got turned to this site due to a seller that was well known in the things I wanted to purchase. But I went searching through the site and bought something that never arrived.
Please, please, just call your credit card company.
My credit card company (visa) gave me two options, I could either put in 15 days after my payment, that I never got the product and than Visa contacts them and allows them 30 days to deliver the product. OR. When you receive the product and it is not what you asked for, Visa will open a dispute and refund your money.
In my case the product was not what I had asked for so I contacted the site, they did not reply to me so I contacted Visa, explained my problem. And they contacted the suppler. The supplier actually just agreed to a refund because they did not want to deal with the problem anymore. If they don’t reply to visa, than visa usually refunds your money in about a week.
Check your credit card company’s policy on things like this.
Niki sorry to hear that AliExpress did not work for you. Thank you for stopping by and sharing this great suggestion.
The WFHW readers will appreciate your recommendation.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Let the buyer beware !
When I placed an order for a tablet from a seller on this site, I thought I would be backed like I am with eBay and most US based sites.
1) First the seller out-and-out LIED about the product, advertising false spec’s and promising to send out within 2-3 days, when it took over 2 weeks.
2) Next the seller FALSELY entered a FAKE tracking number, so that he wouldn’t get the order AUTOMATICALLY cancelled.
The seller communicated well, however, after 10 days from initial contact, I had to make a decision to either start over, or accept what he was finally offering, which was quite a bit different than what he advertised. I also ordered additional items to go with that tablet, and that is what I have a problem with.
3) When you order on Ali-Express, the dealer doesn’t get paid until you acknowledge receipt of the item. Once you do this, YOU HAVE NO MORE RECOURSE !!!! That applies to both warranties and merchandise shortages.
I should have been more diligent and take a couple of days, let the dealer sweat it out, you don’t have to acknowledge right away. I was trying to be considerate to the dealer, but in retrospect… be absolutely sure before click that CONFIRMATION BUTTON !
In the bigger scheme of things, I got a decent tablet, with chargers, and a case, and was only shorted the least expensive of all items “a stylus and a soft bag” which were only a couple of dollars compared to the rest of the order, but I was UNABLE to get the dealer to send them to me, and more importantly I COULD NOT GET ALI-EXPRESS to do anything about it !!!
So let the BUYER BEWARE !
And look at the quantity of orders processed for anyone you are considering to buy from ! All these dealers are buying from the same manufacturers most of them drop-shipping directly from the manufacturer, irregardless of what they say, and where they are located.
Sincerely,
John Martoccio
Ingleside IL
John thanks for stopping by and sharing your tips about AliExpress with the WFHW readers.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I have made a purchase and its has still not arrives from that ching chang company from China. I need my part and have paid for it that was order Aug 3 and they said it would process on Aug 10 still no products. Thank you for the information. And I will never order from this website again. Still need my stuff! Any phone # that I may contact someone there?
Darlene sorry to hear you are having a challenge with AliExpress. Shipments can sometimes take upwards of 3 weeks to arrive from overseas.
Take a look at AliExpress buyer protection policy http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/overview.html.
Here is a link to open a dispute with AliExpress http://www.aliexpress.com/buyerprotection/how_do_i_open_a_dispute.html.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi,
It seems that people have different experiences with Ali Express. I realized that AE has several individual sellers. Fortunately for me, my transaction went well and the seller was good.
I ordered biking shorts on 7/27/12 and they arrived 8/13/12, around three weeks after. Since the package will be coming from China and mailed using regular postal service, I knew it would take quite a while to get here. Plus, my seller provided me with a tracking number through USPS (I’ve been tracking it and content with it).
So overall I had a great experience with AE but if you need an urgent delivery, not sure if that will be guaranteed.
Trixie
Trixie thanks for sharing your experience with AliExpress. The details you provided about shipping will help others get a better idea of the time frames involved. A tracking number is very helpful. I will recommend that others inquired about whether the seller provides tracking numbers before they make a purchase.
All the best in your future endeavors.
Terri
WFHW
With all respect Sir. I think Aliexpress is a scam. I purchased their fake Sabenza knife. The knife is a piece of garbage. I gave the supplier bad feedback so Aliexpress sent me an email that requested I pull back my bad ratings which I never did. I will never buy anything on Aliexpress again.
Valdi thanks for dropping by and sharing your experience with AliExpress. It’s unfortunately that AliExpress does not take purchaser’s feedback seriously and does not take action against these unethical sellers.
Your rating will help others avoid a similar experience with this seller.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I ordered biking shorts and a shirt 6/13/12. Here it is 8/11/12 and still no delivery. I’am out $40.00. Not a good deal after all. No more AliExpress for me…
Robert sorry to hear about your misfortune with AliExpress. Have you tried contacting the supplier or AliExpress about the situation?
Terri
WFHW
dealing with aliexpress, I found there are very good deals. also a few scams that promise free shipping, then later asking for money.
Aliexpress has a very very poor way of looking out for your interest. to them a scam is normal part of business. I see a few of these suppliers are trying it on EBAY and of course are not doing very well.
stay clear of this supplier :
Lixin Electromagnetic Clutch Co., Ltd.
Maxx123 thanks for dropping by and sharing your experience with AliExpress. Sorry to hear it was not so good. Your feedback will help others avoid this unethical company.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I ordered a product from Aliexpress but currently I have not received it though it is still within schedule.
Here are come things to check out before purchasing from ALIEXPRESS.
-The supplier should either be a VERIFIED SUPPLIER or a GOLD MERCHANT.
-Their rating should really be high.
-Feedback left by customers should be 90% positive.
-The supplier should reply to your mail in due time.
-Their online chat service should be active and reply should be immediate.
I got all this from an EBOOK I bought online. At least 4 of 5 of the above criteria should be met before you think of purchasing from any merchant.
Chibuzor thanks for stopping by and sharing these valuable tips with our readers.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I wanted to order two backpacks from there and I just wated to know if it was a good idea since no other website has those exact bags?
Carolina check the reviews on the seller to see their reputation for delivering products. If you decide to order keep us posted on your results.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi,
I have made over 50 purchases from aliexpress and they’ve all been successful. Shipping can be a little long but that’s when you opt for free shipping. I love the great deals that I get. I hope others enjoy the success that I have.
Malissa thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience. This is very encouraging news. Do you use the same seller or multiple sellers?
Terri
WFHW
Well.. I tried my self and AliExpress delivered my item quickly and without any kind of problem no delay.. no damages… nothing at all…
Actually they have improved their quality service and the issues has gone… So let me keep my good faith in AliExpress.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Sarah. We hope your future shopping experiences with AliExpress are as good.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Actually, a lot of the information here is inaccurate. Aliexpress is not specifically chinese manufacturers, it is for SMALL ORDERS as opposed to retail clients who want to make large bulk orders.
It is not ONE company, but more like an Ebay. Little distributors buy from manufacturers and sell in small lots.
And it absolutely can be the brand name. Where do you think Asos and zara and H&M produce their products? I’ve purchased many things from this website, and a couple of times, I’ve received H&M items that weren’t even labeled that way on aliexpress.
It’s pretty safe to order because, like Ebay, it’s a service for manufacturers and your money is held in escrow. You have to mark your items received before the seller receives payment.
Hope this helps your understanding!
Hi Betty
Thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you’ve had success with AliExpress. Most of the information that is provided in the review comes from the AliExpress site. If you look at the shipping information for each product you will see that the rates are based on shipment from China.
As was mentioned in the review just because money is held in escrow does not mean that money will be release back to you in the invent you are sent the wrong product or an inferior product. Several buyers have requested their money back for these reasons and never received it. If these same people had purchased on EBay they could put in a dispute ticket with paypal to have the situation resolved.
All the best with your future purchases.
Terri
WFHW
Dear Terri,
Thankyou for helping many buyers thru your site.
Now,please help know if Lenovo A750 phone is a genuine and not a counterfeit coz I want to buy one but I fear our govrnment would lock it if a counterfeit.Most seller that have asked tells me its original but hearing from a nonseller like you is more satisfying.Waiting to hear from you.
Evans, one of the risks you take when purchasing from AliExpress is may end up buying from a supplier who sends you inferior products. If you are considering buying a product on AliExpress that could get you in trouble with the government, so you may want to look at purchasing from a source you know you can trust.
I always believe when making a decision if you are not comfortable with the potential outcome then don’t do it. Sometimes saving a few bucks in the short term may not be worth it in the long run.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi
I have been trying to buy some virgin peruvian hair from aliexpress. I ask the vendor if he would send me a PAYPAL invoice for the hair, that way i am protected if they send me anything other then what i have ordered. You HAVE to be so careful with a lot of sellers on that site. Without paypal, if you are silghtly concerned DONT BUY
Michaela paying via Paypal would definitely remove the risk of purchasing from an AliExpress supplier. Unfortunately AliExpress does not accept Paypal, so as result there is always risk involved when making a purchase.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I have never had a problem with them and I am all the way in Jamaica. One thing I try my best not to purchase are electronics and other gadgets. I am too scared for that. I just stick to small items. I do not even purchase shoes or clothes from the site but so far I have received every single item I have ordered.
Dionne thanks for sharing your experience with AliExpress. We’re happy to hear that you’ve had success with the program.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I am exploring AliExpress as a potential source of pearl strands, and have exchanged emails with a couple of suppliers with outstanding reviews. Some product descriptions, however, were lacking essential specs, such as length of strands for example, and responses to my questions have been hasty, superficial, and incomplete. I have no reason to trust their quality classifications. I was shocked to find out they don’t accept Paypal as form of payment. This looks like a dead-end, I am afraid. Did anybody have a great experience buying pearl strands from AliExpress vendors? If so, which suppliers? Thanks much.
I’ve made over 50 transactions on AliExpress so far and they have all been excellent and i’ve been really pleased. All the sellers i’ve dealt with on AliExpress have been extremely helpful and kind – would definitely recommend buying from AliExpress – EXCELLENT SERVICE.
Sabrina glad to hear you are experiencing success with AliExpress. The site has some great sellers who provide quality products and service. Please keep us posted on your future purchases.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I’ve seen some reviews from people who had great experiences buying from AE. Apart from only sharing the names of the scam companies, can you please list the names of reputable suppliers? I’m looking into opening an online store and names of credible suppliers would be really helpful.
Hi Maxie
Thanks for stopping by unfortunately we do not have details of specific suppliers at AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
i have a store on Aliexpress. I think most of sellers on Aliexpress are honest, but i always angry to some dishonest sellers, they damage the rule of business and make more buyers become distrust us. So sad that but no idea to change it. I just only do good service to our customers. Becoz the business need win-win!!
Joy thanks for dropping by. I’m sure our readers will be happy to know that there are credible suppliers on AliExpress who are willing to raise their hand and identify themselves. We look forward to hearing success stores about your products and service.
Terri
WFHW
Joy,
We all know some bad apples spoil it for the all the good ones. But in this matter it is the ‘organizer’ ‘AliExpress) who should ensure the ‘bad’ ones are kicked out. Unfortunately often they seem to do the opposite: buyers are left in the cold and the bad apples can proceed unhampered.
The buyers are left in the cold by an unresponsive support. Maybe it is up to the sellers to complain about this situation with AE’s management.
Oh my God just recived a pendant lamp form them,I can’t belive they really are scam. Iv’e tired all day to try and contact them and nothing is user freindly forget about the dispute button. All i know i contacted my credit card and im going to dispute my money back. Also prouduct is fake no instructions made of painted plastic and tin. They should shut sites like thi from advertizing fake prouduct.
Taiddy thanks for dropping by. Sorry to hear about your negative experience with AliExpress. Will you share the name of the seller you dealt with so other readers don’t get caught dealing with this unethical person? We hope that you are able to resolve the situation through your credit card company.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Hi Teri,
Nice article. I have purchased from AE small things and was very Happy. Recently I was scammed twice but AE promised a refund. After almost a month: nothing. My main complaint is that AE’s (so-called) support NEVER replies when you write them.
I do Not believe AE is interested in customer satisfaction. They’re only interested in profits and will only change their tactics when profits go down. (Which may be faster than they think.)
I PURCHASED THE A5000 ANDRIOD CELL PHONE FROM DHGATES SIGHT ,IT WORKED 10 DAYS,I CONTACTED DHGATES GOT THE SELLERS ADDRESS AND SENT IT BACK. ITS BEEN A MONTH AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REFUND OR A NEW PHONE. THE DHGATES TEAM IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO GET ME A REFUND, THE SELLER EMAILED ME THEY WOULD SEND ME A NEW PHONE, THEY DID NOT SEND ME ANYTHING.
DHGATES AND SELLERS ON THERE SIGHT ARE CROOKS. THIS PHONE WAS MADE BY A COMPANY CALLED SHENZHEN, DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THIS SIGHT YOU WILL GET RIPPED OFF. DRC CHERRY@ DHGATES HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP ME EXCEPT TELL ME THERE LOOKING INTO IT,THEY /SHE LIED,PLEASE POST THIS FOR ALL TO SEE, PLEASE BUY YOUR PRODUCTS FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. BUYER BEWARE OF DHGATES.
Hi Carl
Sorry to hear about your misfortune with DHGATES. We appreciate your feedback as it will help others avoid a similar experience with unethical sellers like DHGATES.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Dear All,
I am based in Malaysia and have been a regular buyer on Ali Express. So far I have bought 7 items (small stuff like cables and phone parts) and had a 100% good experience.
But recently I went looking for more info and found all the AE horror stories. I hope it doesnt happen to me.
Merrick
Hi Merrick
Thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you’ve had good experiences with AliExpress. There are many credible sellers on the site but unfortunately there are some that are no so credible. Always do your homework before you purchase.
Keep us posted on your future experiences with the site.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I got stung by the Sunshinework international trade. They sold me a discontinued item then just sent me whatever cheap similar product they had on hand. Good luck dealing with a Chinese merchant or Aliexpress. For equal value and service please send your money to me. Actually I would feel guilt and send it back. With so much competition the merchants are quite willing to lie and steal. ebay didn’t have what I wanted unfortunately.
Hi Jeff
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with AliExpress. Hopefully you will be able to find the product you need at a reputable seller.
All the best with your future endeavors.
Terri
WFHW
I forgot to say….they (aliexpress) don’t even let me post in their forum, I’m banned so I cannot share my experience with others.
Stick to ebay everybody!!! I’ve had no problem ever with e-bay and I am 100% feedback with more than 300 buys!! Even the prices are lower!!!!
Good luck every one!!!
hI,
i WOULD LIKE TO SAY I AM JUST CHECKING ALIEXPRESS AT THE MOMENT THATS WHY IM READING ALL THESE COMMENTS BUT I ALSO HAVE TO WARN YOU THAT ON EBAY IT WILL HAVE 100% POSITIVE NEXT TO THE SELLER, BUT CLICK ON HIS NAME AND CLICK “SEE ALL FEEDBACK” AND YOU WILL SOMETIMES BE SURPRISED.I RECENTLY BOUGHT FROM SOMEONE WITH 100% POSITIVE BY HIS NAME,AFTER WAITING A FEW DAYS I DECIDED TO CHECK FURTHER HE HAD 10 DISPUTES,NON PAYMENTS NON DELIVERY ETC ETC IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS.hOW DID HE HAVE 100%.
i ALSO SOLD SOMETHING LAST WEEK BUT HE NEVER PAID,WHEN I CHECKED HIM HE ALSO HAD 100% POSITIVE AND YET GO FURTHER AND YOU WILL SEE OF THE 8 TRANSACTIONS ONE OF THOSE WAS SOMEONE ELSE BESIDES ME WHO NEVER GOT PAID.
SO ALTHOUGH EBAY IS OKAY THEIR FEEDBACK SYSTEM IS DODGY IN MY MIND AND DO CHECK FURTHER BECAUSE 100% MEANS NOTHING.
Peter thank you for stopping by and sharing your insight about eBay’s rating system.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
I don’t think Ebay is better..I’ve bought before & dnt get the item.. >.< Now i buy stuff on alibaba express lets see wht happens :)
Hi Kim
Did you file a dispute with Paypal regarding your purchase?
The good thing about Ebay is that you can pay via Paypal. Paypal has a dispute department that will work to resolve disputes between the buyer and seller. They will also ban sellers from using their service if they get too many complaints against them.
Keep us informed about your purchases with Alibaba.
Terri
WFHW
Here is my story. I bought an item 5 months ago on Aliexpress, and paid for it right away. When I got the item it was an outdated version of what I wanted, the seller clearly have lied on the description! When I confront him over the Aliexpress chat, he admit it and say he was in short supply of what I bought and decided to sent me a different one?? Just like that! I fought with him admitting it over the chat I would get my money back easily…but not quite. Aliexpress start asking me for pictures and treating me not to “forge the pics”? or I will lose my money…after I did everything they ask; they asked me to ship it back at my own cost $60 even when the sellers return policy said they will pay shipping back…then Aliexpress treated me again saying that if the item gets lost, I will lose my money….after that the seller (theft) gave me instructions to ship it to a different add. and asked me to lie on the description of it so he can avoid taxes in china??? I reported this to Aliexpress and they did nothing. They just kept giving me deadline after deadline to ship it back.
So I decide to ignore them and kept the obsolete item…then… 5 months later they offered me $100 back to close the case?…tired of this I agreed….well the case is closed now and I have not seen a penny back yet YES THEY (Aliexpress) lied on that too.
To buy from Aliexpress is just a gamble, you may get lucky or not, but remember to Aliexpress eyes the BUYER is always guilty of what ever the seller does wrong. As long as he ships “ANYTHING’ to you, all the responsibility to solve it is YOURS!
Aliescrow a JOKE.
Hi Joaquin
Thanks for sharing your experience with Aliexpress. It’s unfortunate that things didn’t work out for you. Your feedback will help others to avoid the same situation.
Your recommendation about using eBay is a great alternative with very little risk especially if you pay with Paypal. The Paypal dispute department will help you resolve any issue you’re not able to resolve directly with the seller.
Terri
WFHW
Don’t forget that in many instances people will claim they have not received their merchandise but actually did, rightfully so Aliexpress escrow will not give them the money back.Deal with the merchants who can send you delivery confirmation or registered mail products.I did get a refund from the Escrow Aliexpress.com after 30 days for someone selling me a fake silver coin on Aliexpress.If you see silver or gold coins for sale on those sites from China they are all fake.Since almost everything we can touch comes from China for at least the past 20 years,it will be really nice if someone set up a genuine and efficient company for direct sales from China to bypass the laughing middleman.
Hi John
That is a great point, delivery tracking provides a safety net of both the purchaser and the seller. As you mentioned when looking for a reputable seller you want to search for one that not only has good reviews but also provides tracking information or at least delivery confirmation.
I’m sure our readers will appreciate the heads up about staying away from silver and gold coin dealers in China.
Terri
WFHW
thanks for the positive remarks about aliexpress…..want to place my first order for shoes….i live in south africa….will keep you posted
Hi Cornelia,
Thanks for your comments, and keep us updated with your progress!
Best wishes,
Marcus
WFHW
thinking of buying some clothes to test it out should i cancel my oeder im doing it through the site and not through the dealer
Hi K.m
Always order through AliExpress. Be sure to check out the seller before you place an order. To check the supplier type their name into Google followed by the words “review” or “quality.
Keep us updated on your progress.
Terri
WFHW
We order from Aliexpress retailers all the time. You just have to be sure to order from the suppliers with good ratings. We have been using them for a number of years. Couple lost packages, but we were able to work with the retailers to solve the issues.
Hi Vince,
Thanks for stopping by.
It’s great to hear that you used AliExpress for a number of years without any major issues. Good advice about selecting your suppliers, and it’s maybe a simple step that many people overlook.
Thanks again, and long may your success continue!
Marcus
WFHW
I have used Aliexpress to buy 10 LED bulbs, at a quarter of the price. They arrived exactly as advertised 8 days later via Fedex. I just placed a second order for 2 transformers (at 10% retail) for the bulbs via China Airmail, they were shipped 48 hrs later, and I am expecting them.
I live in Canada, and Ebay is not so great here: it is a hassle buying from the states as it has to go through the border (post 911), and although we have NAFTA apparently it doesnt apply to consumers, expecially when shipped through UPS. UPS will charge outrageous shipping costs, and then ask me to pick it up after paying some additional import tax, which is impossible to predict.
As most Ebay stores are stocked from Alibaba, I might as well cut the middle man and buy directly from China. Last time I bought from an Ebay supplier, he canceled one of the item without consulting me (he was out of stock). The guy didnt even bother contacting me to see if I wanted an alternative. So I ended up paying full shipping costs (and on ebay they can be outrageous) for half my order.
Yes there might be some problems with Aliexpress, but Ebay has its own track record of horrific stories.
In conclusion, I prefer to deal with Chinese suppliers directly, it is cheaper, and makes sense: why should goods transit through the US, which is building ever more border walls, and administrative red-tape, when I can get the goods directly from the manufacturer.
Cheers
Hi Jet
Being from Canada I can relate to what you are saying about Ebay and UPS shipping charges. Your experience and recommendations will help other Canadian readers make more informed decisions about purchasing products from other countries.
Thanks for stopping by and all the best with your future purchases.
Terri
WFHW
I am looking to purchase a few Samsung tv from Ali express. Do you think these will be 100% authentic ? Please can I have some advice
Hi Chris
Unfortunately we do not have details of specific sellers at AliExpress or the products they supply. I suggest you locate a few suppliers that offer the product you’re looking for then check them out in Google. You can do this by typing their name into Google followed by the words “review” or “quality”. Google will provide you with any online details that are available for each seller. Look for a seller that has a number of positive reviews and has been in business for at least a few years.
Keep us updated on your progress.
Terri
WFHW
I just wanted to thank the person whom spend time to search and write the review.
Thanks again.
Kouros glad you enjoyed the review.
Best Wishes,
Terri
WFHW
I’ve purchased about 1200 dollars worth of product from this site, from 5 or 6 suppliers. Very good reviews most of the suppliers. Still had issues with picture and , not matching the shipped product. Either completely different product was delivered. Either i order curly hair and i received straight or wavy. Ordered 1 kilo but received les than a kilo. Ordered a certain color received another. All in all they have long ways to go. The dispute resolution is and sorely lacking and completely inadeqate. I would say, be honest with your self if its too good to be true there it is. If you are looking to save money by buying certain items in bulk them you should save money. Shipping for me has always been been very quick. No longer than 3 or four days unbelievable from China, but true. Happy shopping.
Great advice Steve!
Services like this are often a breeding ground for those who like to “exaggerate” the quality of goods, so the common sense approach is definitely required.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, even though they have not been as good as you would expect from such a well-known company.
Good luck with your future ventures, Steve :)
Cheers,
Marcus
I ordered a small amount of fabric to test out the system and they arrived 14 days after I placed the order. I chose to have them delivered through China airmail as this seemed the cheapest option but warned of longer delivery times. Well packaged and just as described but also with a couple of useable samples of lace and other fabric. Very pleased with the service but the postage is very expensive and makes me hesitate before I place my next order. Better to buy in bulk next time!
Hi Hannah,
Glad to hear that you had a relatively smooth transaction.
As you say, buying in bulk is probably the better option when trying to keep the overall costs down.
Thanks for stopping by :)
Marcus
WFHW
I would like to buy work shirts and blazers in very small amount. Can u give me a few names of stores that has gotten good reviews on aliexpress?
Hi Shelly-Ann,
Unfortunately we do not have details of specific suppliers at AliExpress, but what I suggest you do is locate a few that you think might be suitable and then Google them. Maybe add “review” or “quality” to the name, and Google should return you any online reports by others for that supplier.
It would be great to hear how you get on, and we hope you find a suitable supplier!
Best wishes,
Marcus
WFHW
So far so good. Made four purchases so far and three arrived in good order and fast to New Zealand while the fourth should arrive any day now. I am about to re-order. Took some time to get the CE certificates for the electronic goods otherwise my electricien didn’t want to sign his installation work off. But in the end I got them. Insist to get the documentation before ordering. Having said this, I presume any certification can be bought in China. But the parts looked solid enough and properly engineered (mainly LED lighting related).
Rudy
That’s great to hear, Rudy!
Good advice also about the documentation, even if it only encourages the supplier to provide a more complete and trustworthy service.
Thanks for sharing your experiences so far, and we wish you well with your future purchases.
Marcus
WFHW
ive had 3 orders of items from aliExpress…..all no problems at all.
very good prices so far…..you pay your money and take a chance!
i’ll be buying more
Mark your feedback is appreciated. Good to hear that your experience with aliExpress was a positive one. Please keep us updated about any future purchases.
Terri
WFHW
I have just made my first purchase through Ali Express albeit a small one to test the waters. The goods arrived in about ten days,exactly as ordered and I’m happy with my purchase. I will use them again.
Col Weaving
Thanks for stopping by, Colin.
Wise move to test the waters with a small order, and we are glad to hear that you’ve had a positive experience.
Thanks for taking the time, and please let us now how things go with any future purchases.
All the best,
Marcus
WFHW
I canceled my order and the seller agreed. Now my status says ” refund has been released from escrow you should recieve it with in 7 business days”. Will I really get my money back?
I called my bank to see if there is a pending a refund, and there’s nothing.
I’ve read so many bad reveiws regarding refunds now I’m worried.
Hi Sharane
Typically if the seller agrees to a refund and your escrow status indicates the funds have been released you should receive them. The escrow option was put in place to give buyers additional security with their purchases. You will have to wait up to 7 days to see if the funds arrive.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
One thing that has me concerned is the amount of pirate/ed video games and consoles on the site.
If you’ve ever been in a mall you’ve probably seen them. Those 1000-in-1 SuperJoy consoles that claim to have Mario Bros. and other fantastic games for only $20-30. And then they turn out to be pretty terrible Mario clones. The only difference is this site stuffs all that into a PSP case and claim it has up to 25000 ‘amazing’ games.
Just look up the Game Boy Advance games. There are several DS only titles that they have somehow got on the GBA. Pokemon games with the Pokemon and Nintendo logo somehow gone. All sorts of weird stuff like that.
I went to China once and picked up a pirate game boy game to have it nearly fall apart in my hands. I don’t really wanna spend $20 to have it fall apart during shipping.
Hi Justin,
I agree…it’s a market where piracy is very common.
The way the games industry is heading I believe it will not be as easy to produce pirate copies. It seems like purchasing downloadable content is the direction the game producers want to head in, and this would certainly cut out piracy of physical products.
Good luck with your future ventures Justin.
Marcus
WFHW
The person I ordered from had good ratings from other buyers, so can I trust this person? My ordered was apparently processed 2 days ago, and they said it should come within 1-3 days, but considering that this person’s from China and I’m in the US… :/
China is a supplier of many of the products you buy in retail stores. Good ratings is a sign of an ethical seller. Please keep us posted on your experience and hopefully all will work out in your favor.
Terri
WFHW Team
I should have read the warnings before I made the purchase From daqing wang store.I think I can kiss my money good bye This aliexpress company is dishonest so my advice is to stay away from them.
Hi Neil
Let us know if your situation turns out favorably with daqing wang store. So fair from what we can tell they don’t have a good track record.
Terri
WFHW Team
I can see where you are coming from David and that’s a true statement that you make.
However – Sometimes it’s just easier and less ‘stressful’ to buy from a trusted source that leaves you at ease knowing your purchases are going to arrive. Probably why Ebay is such a biggy.
Tony
WFH Team
@elizabeth the article written above is wonderful but it shouldn’t discourage you from making purchases. All you ve got to do is be careful when doing so and be in constant communication with the seller before making your order or purchase
@David
I was wondering aloud about this statement of yours:” All you ve got to do is be careful when doing so and be in constant communication with the seller before making your order or purchase”. In the Internet, how careful can one be? They have the so-called escrow system, but, please don’t take their words for it. They are not reasonable people.
These people will promise you gold, but at best deliver you gold-coloured.
I ordered some items from a certain seller. During the ordering process, it was clearly stated that my order will be shipped free through DHL. Delivery was stated as 4-8 days plus an addition of 3 days of processing. All is fine, until I did not receive my items after 16 days. In between, I enquired if my order has been shipped, and was told to be patient. Guess what, when I threaten to cancel the order, the seller straitly told me I have to wait between 20-30 days! When I put request to void the order, the so-called arbitrators (of Aliexpress) told me to move on and accept delivery if it was delivered within 30 days. This is despite my showing them the screenshot of what’s promised during ordering. This is obviously biased, unethical and all their so-called customer protection is more of a make-believe. My suggestion is, if you are really itching to buy from these people, go and buy through your local buying agents, don’t deal with them direct. Just a side note, all prices at Aliexpress are quite highly inflated; I saw the difference when I was in China.
Hi Hamsap
Your testimonials are an eye opening example of how AliExpress treats its customers.
I want to thank you for the taking the time to share this with our visitors.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW
Thank you for the info on Aliexpress I almost purchased goods from them. Keep up the good work. Elizabeth
You’re very welcome Elizabeth!
We get a lot of pleasure from investigating work from home opportunities for our visitors, and comments like yours make it all worthwhile.
Have a great day…
Marcus
WFHW Team
he i am sorry but i do agree there are some true points here about ali express but hey ebay is exactly the same you get people pin pointing sellers faults not blaming eBay as a whole and they return there time after time to rebuy! i find in this instance ali express is exactly the same basically it consist of individual sellers which show in same way as eBay whether they have happy customers or not in there feedback, and if they have sold many things which tell you lots as they have returning happy customers,I brought 12 items of 10 different sellers and with only one issue you can get refunded very easily you just extend your order if not shaped yet and if they don’t ship and supply tracking within so many days your order gets cancelled and you are refunded any way and if your not prepared to wait or keep extending or seller ignores you then you have right to cancel to,with my one issue i gave seller 3 opportunities by asking politely why they had not shipped my order i kindly extending the time for them to process then i told them im canceling i put in to cancel seller was notified he had not sent so i was refunded,you cant really review ali express when dealing with individual suppliers there there are Good and bad sellers on lots of similar online sites,MY 3 RULES FOR NOT BEING SCAMED!
1,Message seller if they don’t reply they obviously don’t car for your custom much (so will more then likely rip you off)
2,read there feedback and check how much they have sold of different items and the feedback regarding item you are thinking of buying
3,Be patient shipping from china or hing kong can take up to 40 days!if not shipped your goods within a certain time and refuse to communicate with you even though ali help service is robot it records everything you write so is dealt with later by a real person they would not keep up without this system do you realize that sometimes there are these on eBay lol,note your complaint and do not sit waiting thirty days before canceling as if you do not cancel after 60 days i think the seller will get paid automatically by ecrow it also takes up to 4 weeks to be refunded!
i thinks its slightly unfair to review this site based on late post as its the help service and refund process they deal with not the supplying that’s down to the seller,I am very happy with my recent purchases! Elizabeth buy there pick your item from a seller offering one or two pieces with free post with good feedback who have sold lots watch what you buy to if a sellers offering a £500 iphone for say £200 got to be something fishy i buy items that are mainly not electric like stuffed toys and clothes.
Hi Chantelle
Thanks for stopping by and posting your tips and feedback about AliExpress.
All the best,
Terri
WFHW