AliExpress

How to survive (and thrive) with AliExpress.

It's been almost a year since I wrote my rather negative review of AliExpress and I have learned a lot since then. To be fair, I think AliExpress has also learn a few things as well. I've continued to use the platform, but my MO has evolved. This, and the fact that AliExpress has also evolved leaves me with fewer murderous thoughts and even, dare I say, a growing fondness.
There are mainly 3 reasons for this:
1. I now rarely order anything that is not in the "Choice" category where, for orders over $15, the entire delivery is free. Also the delivery times are way shorter at around 2 weeks and often even quicker.
2. Also, accessed from the home page, there is another category of personal "picks", which requires the buyer to order at least 3 items to get the free delivery. The items available here are sometime at crazy low prices and the actual items offered seem to be influenced by what you have previously been looking for.
So, I start off by looking for my target items by selecting the "choice" filter, but before going to my cart and purchasing. I look in the "pick" section to see if any of the items in my cart are available here at knock-down prices. This required a bit more effort, but I feel that the rewards make it worthwhile.
3. I have also found that AliExpress has improved their refund policy in several ways.
If an item doesn't arrive by the due date and I request a refund, it will often come through immediately and automatically if the item was of a lower value, and still quite quickly for a more expensive item.
Of course it is still possible that some of your purchases will be total fizzers but a refund request, if accompanied by some good evidentiary photos and a properly laid out written explanation, will now usually be well received. Often, for cheaper items, no return is required and when a return is requested they send a label to cover the shipping cost.
Thing don't always go to plan. I recently received an item I forgot I had ordered 7 MONTHS AGO. As I said in my original review you will need to look at the big picture. Yes there will probably still be disasters and disappointments, but if the overall pricing is leaving you well ahead of the game, you'll come out smiling.

This site claims low cost itms but this particular seller send what he wants, then I asked for a refund,

A massive bunch of crooks. Say no more. No customer back up, wrong stuff sent. Save your self some time and just bang your head against another wall.

Undelivered goods - Nov 11,2015 ordered from AliExpress Seller: Southeast Asian shoe bag clothing store has NOT provide tracking number nor has proof item was sent. Buyer has NOT received product and demands AliExpress stand behind their Buyer Protection and refund Buyer full refund for undelivered goods,
FTC Complaint Assistant will be contacted with copies of messages between Buyer and Seller and I will file suit towards AliExpress Buyer Protection. "Welcome to AliExpress Buyer Protection" "Everyone who shops on AliExpress receives the following guarantees you will get a full refund if your order does not arrive within the delivery time promised by the seller. << STATEMENT NOT TRUE!
Dispute Case No *******539 Southeast Asian shoe bag clothing store Seller Reject "I Have To Send The Goods" was written by Seller 50+ days after ordering. Seller refuses to provide proof of item sent with a tracking number. ALIEXPRESS writes "please provide official document from post office" POST OFFICE "need a tracking number"
Now filing with FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection. ALIEXPRESS DOES NOT REFUND FOR ITEMS NOT DELIVERED. ( No Valid Tracking Number to Track Package)

FACT! All of the sellers on Aliexpress are all the same sellers on Amazon.ca?. Com, Cute and lighting the box, Alibaba.com. Every single one. FYI, Amazon.ca is no better. Order and delivery started off smooth only to realize it is just as bad. Amazo, Ca i understood is a warehouse stocked with merchandise within canada. NOPE, its NOT. The same issue with refunds and the PRIME is a money grab. Pay to join Prime $, then ship faster is more $ and get this you pay per item to ship faster but its not if its coming from china or England or Russia! And the tracking numbers are not even trackable! All scammers! If you are work hard for your money youre better off to go and pay retail pick up your item immediately and have it in your possession this way you can also go back and return it if theres an issue. Warning! When you return a item to any online website YOU pay on top of what you already paid and you have to claim the true value. Unlike what sender values the item for, which is supper low. I ordered an item from China came FedEx I just received a notification from FedEx stating they paid taxes and dutys on my behalf the item cost $20 the tax and duty cost $14 why would I have actually purchase that item if I knew it was gonna cost me more than what it was posted for? Scam Now I have to pay Fedex

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/PRO-Q-SWITCH-YAG-LASER-LIPLINE-MACHINE-TATTOO-EYEBROW-REMOVAL-EYELINE-EMBROIDERY/*******697.html#*******432

I had the worst time with this seller! And ali! I bought this and customs sent back because seller isnt licensed they continue to say im responsible for the return shipping? $#*! you ali express! I am losing over $700 because of these unregulated $#*!tards... when i contact ali they keep saying its ok there on my side wasting time until the deadline when they say they need 3 more days! So im forced to lose my right to accept a still very low ball offer due to sellers incompetence..."

Christmas present I ordered I bought in November will now arrive on Jan. So much for 3 weeks delivery.

They claim to have Buyers Protection, this is untrue. I ordered a total of 3 items from different sellers through Aliexpress. I received 2 of the 3 items. I left positive feedback for those 2 items. The other 1 never arrived, so I lodged a Dispute through Aliexpress, by communication with the Seller. The Seller offered me $0.00 Refund. A few weeks later Aliexpress stepped in... their outcome was to offer me nothing due to a lack of evidence. They asked for photo evidence, or upload proof. I couldn't send anything because I never received anything. The tracking from China shows my item is still in transit, but according to them this was not proof. My reply to Aliexpress is:-
I have purchased other items through Aliexpress and received my order. THIS ORDER HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED... IT IS NOT AT THE POST OFFICE. You have not offered me a refund. You can see that the item has not even arrived at the destination Country. Aliexpress can see the feedback I have left previously for received goods. Why would I say that I haven't received goods unless it's true. You are basically saying that I have lied Aliexpress. Your Buyer Protection is Fraudulent. Everyone will know this.:-
Buyers Beware, be prepared to loose your money of you buy anything through Aliexpress, it's hit and miss with them.

Can these people ever be honest about anything?

First Complaint - They take days and days to ship anything out. You pay extra for the fastest shipping service available, but what for? When they easily take almost a week before they even ship it out to you.

Second Complaint - Poor Quality/Fake Photo's. Most of anything received from these people is garbage. The photo's advertised on this site are 99 % fake and when you question them about it, they always say the opposite, which is a complete lie. What you will actually receive is Broken pieces, Missing parts, Sewing that appears to be done by a 5 year old child, Missing buttons, Loose threads, the wrong color, the wrong item, the wrong size, holes/rips/tears,... and so on.

Third Complaint - Out of Stock Products. Ok so here is another issue with many sellers from Aliexpress. They advertise products they don't even have in stock, and when you cancel the order and choose the reason *out of stock* The seller contacts you and tells you to choose *other reason* if you want the fastest refund. Basically you have to lie if you want the fastest refund. How does this seem fair? Aliexpress doesn't care because they are more for their sellers than their buyers.

Forth Complaint - Buyer Protection/Lack of. There is very little to none. It's your word against theirs. The amount of proof you have to show to win your case is absolutely ridiculous. Also if you open too many disputes, Aliexpress considers this abusing their system, and they will put a ban on you. Say Good-bye to any orders you have paid for, or money you have invested into this site.
I don't believe Aliexpress want's to believe that they could be harbouring as many crooked sellers as they do.
Also if you do win your case, in most cases you are expected to pay for return shipping. How is that fair?

Fifth Complaint - Customer Service. Is anybody real?, as it seems that most of anyone you talk too here is a robot.

All in all, Aliexpress is not the best service to use from my past experiences.

If you actually have a good experience using this website, consider yourself very fortunate.

Br. - São as bases de uma relação comercial. Eu afirmo que tudo o que eu comprei eu recebi em perfeito estado e pleno funcionamento. Afirmo ainda que quando ocorreu um problema no envio a empresa respondeu com presteza e exatidão. Estou muito satisfeito com esta relação comercial. É um prazer comprar com eles, sempre com boas novidades e bons preços.
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US - They are the basis of a business relationship. I affirm that everything I bought I received in perfect state and full functioning. I further state that when a problem occurred in the shipment the company responded with promptness and accuracy. I am very satisfied with this business relationship.It is a pleasure to buy with them, always with good news and good prices.

I was scammed by AliExpress! Please DON'T shop at AliExpress.
I have been shopping at AliExpress for a few years now. Prices are usually reasonable but as the saying goes "You get what you paid for" Shipping has always been an issue. Sometimes I'll order an item and receive it 2 to 3 months after I placed the order. This is very frustrating because in some cases, I no longer need the item at the time it arrives.
I know that there are lots of shady vendors (Scammers) on AliExpress but I didn't know that AliExpress will back them up. I purchased a set of masks 3 months ago; I NEVER received the items but AliExpress system automatically receives the items on by behalf after the 89 days processing time expires.
I opened a dispute to notify AliExpress that I did NOT receive the goods I paid for. They came back with a judgement saying that my dispute was invalid, even though the tracking # clearly shows that the item was ‘Undelivered'.
Basically, I did NOT get the items I paid for and will NEVER get my money back from AliExpress. Their customer service is the worse. Don't waste your money on AliExpress.

Received ONLY PICTURES of things I ordered.
DO NOT DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE.
They should be SHUT DOWN by BBB or whomever else can do it.
Find a reputable company to deal with