What should you know before buying from Aliexpress?
No one can guarantee you complete safety and security when shopping online.
On every big and reputable website, there are hundreds of sellers who want to take your money and never see or hear from you again. customer protection systems.
In this place we will try to explain customer protection systems when buying from Aliexpress.
What is Aliexpress?
Alibaba Group is a Chinese e-commerce company that offers a variety of retail services to businesses and consumers around the world and in China.
Aliexpress is part of the Alibaba Group.
Alibaba Group launched AliExpress in 2010.
While the Alibaba site is for wholesale, on Aliexpress you can buy individual small quantities as a business and as an individual.
On Aliexpress, you can only buy products "as-is-finished products" and you buy directly on their platform.
Aliexpress does not own or sell the products.
Although prices on Aliexpress are low compared to the rest of the world, they will almost always be higher than if you were to buy a larger quantity from a supplier that located on Alibaba.
It is important to note that almost all goods purchased on AliExpress are shipped from China, which means it will take weeks, if not months, for you to receive your goods.
Usually it is 15 to 60 days. Although 60 is a bit too much, in practice it is 20-25 days.
Buying from Aliexpress
What to pay attention to before shopping on Aliexpress.
All customs costs related to the purchased product are paid by the customer. To avoid delivery delays, please check your local laws, as well as the list of prohibited items (you have it at the bottom of the page) and the list of taxable items.
When placing your order, please confirm every detail, such as color, size, quantity, etc. Please make sure you have provided the correct address for the package to be delivered to.
When the package arrives, please inspect it for any damage or loss before signing for receipt of the goods.
After signing, please carefully examine the received items.
If they are not in accordance with the pre-purchase agreement, you can request a refund. Keep a copy of the history of all online chats, e-mail correspondence with the supplier, etc. You never know if you'll need it.
The security system used on AliExpress is Escrow!
What is Escrow?
Escrow service on Aliexpress is implemented in cooperation with Alipay.com, the leading online payment platform that is also part of the Alibaba Group.
Escrow system allows you to pay securely online without showing your credit card details. You can also track the payment to the supplier after confirming that you have received your order. Escrow is fast, free and easy to use!
Can only be used in countries outside of China. The principle is very simple and is shown in the picture below. Basically, the buyer pays for the goods, but the seller receives that money only after the buyer confirms that he has received his product. 
Payment methods and security when paying on Aliexpress
It is normal to be suspicious before buying from any website, because you never know who is behind it.
But Aliexpress is a world-famous shopping site where millions of people shop.
In addition, you can be completely relaxed because Aliexpress works with an Escrow system, which means that your money is protected and the seller will never receive your payment information, and they will receive the money only after you confirm that everything has arrived and everything is in ok
Aliexpress protects all payments using the latest encryption systems from Visa, Mastercard and VerisignSSL.
On its site, it uses the HTTPS protocol, through which the data you exchange between the computer and the server is encrypted and cannot be stolen by third parties.
In short,b Aliexpress is a completely safe place to shop thanks to multiple encryption systems.
Which payment methods does Aliexpress support?
- 1 - Payment by debit or credit card
is the most frequently used method of payment, and they are also practical considering that banks are increasingly facilitating the obtaining of cards without additional costs.
Aliexpress supports Visa Debit/Credit Cards, MasterCard Credit Cards, Maestro Debit Cards and American Express.
Any valid payment card is accepted, all that matters is that you have enough money in your account, it doesn't have to be "special" card for online purchases as many think.
- 2 - Paypal
Few remember but Aliexpress initially supported PayPal, however, after a year, that cooperation was terminated, due to the high commissions imposed by Paypal (and perhaps also because it is owned by the competitor Ebay).
Sometime around 2011, the cooperation was terminated and Aliexpress no longer offered this payment system, until recently.
Recently, Aliexpress re-established the ability to pay via Paypal in some of its stores.
This payment method has a great advantage, because we can link our bank account to our Paypal account so that we can buy on Aliexpress even if we don't have a credit card.
However, not all sellers accept payment via Paypal, and if we do find such a seller and pay with Paypal, we will have to pay a small additional fee for choosing this payment method.
- 3 - Western Union
Although it is less known, you can also pay via Western Union.
However, the process is much slower than with other payment methods: you have to go to the post office or bank, fill out the form and wait up to a few days for the payment to be verified.
What's more, this is the most expensive way to transfer money to China.
- 4 - Bank transfer
This is one of the least recommended forms of payment, because you can only pay for orders over $20 by bank transfer.
In addition, you will have to pay in dollars and make an international transfer.
Most banks charge for international transfers, and the buyer must bear the costs. In short, it is better to opt for another payment method.
There are some less known ones that refer to individual countries and are not important to us.
Feedback system
The easiest way to avoid problems and disputes is to find a reputable seller.
Then the purchase is much safer and less uncertain.
If thousands of satisfied customers have bought from a seller, it is much less likely that you will encounter problems with him.
The best way to check a seller is to look at their business history.
On any seller's page, click the Feedback tab to get a full view of the seller's rating.
Buy from suppliers who have a 95% or higher positive feedback score
The two most important things when evaluating sellers and products on Aliexpress.com are the feedback score of the seller (Feedback Score) and the rating of the product itself (Customer reviews).
The feedback score of the seller (Feedback Score) shows the volume of the seller's sales and the assessment of his business (it is assessed whether the product is as described on the website, communication with the seller as well as the speed and quality of delivery).
While Customer Reviews represents the rate of feedback that a supplier has received for a particular product sold.
When choosing a seller, always aim for him to have a Feedback Score of 95% and above with at least 2,000 ratings.
All sellers on Aliexpress have their own feedback score. It can be seen on the seller's page and looks like the picture above. Feedback system on Aliexpress has several different indicators.
1. Stars next to the product
Asterisks are an indicator of how satisfied customers are with the completed transaction.
Rating:
- 5 stars = excellent
- 4 stars = good
- 3 stars = fair
- 2 stars = bad
- 1 star = very bad
A rating of 5 and 4 stars is treated as positive feedback, 3 stars as neutral, and 2 and 1 stars as negative feedback.
2. Grade number
A rating number is the number of stars a seller has received over a period of time.
3. Feedback rating
Feedback score is the percentage of each type of feedback received for a given time period. Each member has positive, neutral and negative feedback. Formulas for calculating feedback can be found in the picture below
4. Feedback result
Feedback score is the sum of all stars received after they have been converted into points.
Conversion
5 stars or 4 stars = +1 Point
3 stars = 0 Points
2 stars or 1 star= -1 Point
5. Average grade
The average rating is the sum of the points of all stars divided by the total number of votes in a given time period.
Feedback symbols
Feedback symbols represent the number of successful transactions. Sellers and buyers have symbols, so you can assess how reliable the seller is, but also how relevant the buyer's comment is. In the table below you can see the symbols that are awarded depending on the number of successful transactions.
In addition to the seller's feedback, an important item in the selection the seller also has comments from customers who bought from them. Not all customers' opinions are equally relevant, since they are also ranked by the number of successful transactions. You can see what customer comments look like in the picture below.
Customer protection on Aliexpress
Buying online is almost always associated with risks.
Unlike shopping in a classic store, you can't hold the item in your hand before buying.
So the customer can't directly feel the product in their hand to test its build quality or check if all the product's functions are working way as stated in the description.
Only if you are buying a well-known brand, you can read online reviews about it or even go to a local store to see and familiarize yourself with it before buying.
However, many cheap Chinese products from Aliexpress are not available in stores, so you cannot get to know the product directly.
Usually you will make your decision based solely on the description and a few photos from the seller's website.
It is important, therefore, that the website you buy from has a strong customer protection policy.
Aliexpress offers two important guarantees:
- Full refund if you do not receive your order:
if the item doesn't show up, or even if it doesn't arrive within the seller's time frame, you can request a full refund. You will receive a full refund within 15 days.
- Full or partial refund if the item is not as described:
if the purchase is significantly different than expected, you have two options.
You can return the item and get a full refund or keep the item and get a partial refund.
Now, the question arises whether it is worth returning the product and who bears the costs of returning the product, which can be more expensive than the product itself.
As you know, shipping costs on Aliexpress are unrealistically low, sometimes shipping is free.
If you have ever tried to send a package to China, even a very small one, you would be surprised by the shipping costs.
Sellers marked "Free return"
Sellers who offer a "Free return" service have a "Free return" icon on their item details page.
With the "Free return" service, you get an additional 15 days (in addition to the regular delivery date) to decide whether you want to keep or return the item for any reason, provided that the products are unused, undamaged, unwashed and in their original condition condition - together with original packaging, tags, etc.
Note:
You can only have one free location or free return for one order only.
So you can return only one product if you ordered more at once for free, while you bear the shipping costs for the others.
Resolution of disputes
In most cases, the best solution is direct communication with the seller.
Remember, if your argument is on point, justified and correct, sellers will do everything to accommodate you and not get a bad rating from you.
Grades are the main driving force behind their work. Whoever has better ratings has better sales.
If you are not satisfied with the product, you must first contact the seller and raise the issue directly with them.
Steps to resolve a dispute on Aliexpress
1. Contact Seller
Go to your order history and select the disputed item. Talk to the seller about the problems and find possible solutions.
2. Apply for a refund
If you cannot reach an amicable agreement after contacting the seller, simply submit a dispute request within 15 days of the arrival of the goods or the end of the deadline for reporting the confirmation of receipt of the package ( as specified in the order information).
3. Get your money back in 15 days
If your complaint is valid, most sellers will refund your money within 15 days;
However if the problem is not resolved, you can contact Aliexpress from the order detail page to report a dispute.
Additional tips
Be careful when buying well-known brands
Original or branded products on Aliexpress are very rare.
Always try to avoid them, because they probably aren't.
Check the seller's guarantees
Sellers may also offer customers certain safeguards.
As a general rule, the greater the guarantee provided by the seller, the more confident you will be in your purchase.
On the other hand, it helps that Aliexpress becomes a more reliable store.
Sellers offer product warranties.
The fact that they offer multiple warranties on one product does not mean that the same applies to all of their products.
Be sure to do your thorough research before deciding to purchase a product.
There are four different warranties that sellers offer:
- On-time Delivery The seller promises to provide a full refund if your package does not arrive at the previously agreed upon time.
- Return Policy The seller promises to offer a full or partial refund if the product does not match the description.
- Domestic Returns If the seller has a warehouse in your country. You can send the purchased goods to him without worrying about delivery costs or customs fees.
This is in talks, in its infancy, that Alibaba and Aliexpress have a warehouse in Serbia. - Guaranteed Genuine If you buy more expensive things, you should pay attention to this. This means that the item has been verified as genuine by Aliexpress itself.
Delivery before the New Year
Keep in mind that you are not the only one who thought of buying Christmas and New Year gifts on Aliexpress. Half the planet does this, so if you want your packages to arrive on time, order your goods on time at the beginning of the 10th month!!!
Prohibited Goods
Products listed as prohibited goods for transport are taken by DHL, EMS and AirMail. In order not to violate these regulations, please do not create orders that contain prohibited goods.
- Antiques and works of art valued in excess of £5,000
- Money, cash or any form of collection and payment (credit cards, checks. etc.)
- Original or imitation firearms and their parts (including stocks, moving mechanisms, bolts manufactured for the purpose of making firearms), ammunition, explosives
- Dangerous goods including but not limited to perfumes, aftershaves and flammable substances and biological substances UN classified dangerous substances and substances prohibited by the International Air Transport Association regulations ("IATA"), the Agreement on Dangerous Goods by Road ( "ADR") or International Maritime Dangerous Goods ("IMDG").
- Small electrical devices, including mobile phones with lithium batteries. Each package cannot contain more than two batteries that must be inside the electronic device.
- Fur and ivory
- Human remains and ashes
- Illegal goods, pirated goods, counterfeit goods, narcotics, illegal drugs
- Jewellery, precious stones and precious metals, costume jewelery exceeding £5,000 per bill of lading
- Laptop computers: no more than one laptop computer per package. Each package must not contain more than one lithium battery that must be inside the laptop! The consignment must not exceed a value of more than £5,000 per waybill.
- Animals, living and dead
- Unsecured lithium batteries
- Clinical and/or biological samples (including but not limited to body fluids and tissue samples)
- Perishable goods requiring temperature control (including but not limited to flowers and food)
- Pornography in any form ([print, film or digital format)
- Cigarettes, tobacco leaves, tobacco in any form
- Coins and banknotes of any kind
- Articles and texts prohibited by law or regulations for distribution or sending.
- Newspapers, magazines, books that are harmful to the interests of the People's Republic of China.
- Articles harmful to general health.
- Explosive, easily flammable, eroding radioactive and toxic substances.
- Alcohol (except alcoholic beverages)