Upfront summary: Is Aliexpress worth it?

Aliexpress is a China-based e-commerce platform that offers low prices comparable to those found on wholesale sites, but without the commitment of purchasing a high volume of products, or costly shipping. Aliexpress was established in 2010 as a subsidiary of the e-commerce wholesale giant, Alibaba. So they have plenty of resources and experience to support them.

Clothes for a night out, swimwear, jewelry, and electronics are just a short list of the items sold on Aliexpress for a percentage of what they retail for in stores. Items are shipped all over the globe from a select few approved countries sometimes causing long delivery times. But, most Aliexpress supporters would say it was worth the savings!

Aliexpress Company Information

Official Website:www.aliexpress.com
Founded:2010
Owner:Alibaba Group
Location:Hangzhou, China
Customer Service Contact:service.aliexpress.com
Social Media:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin

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What is Aliexpress?

Aliexpress connects retailers from 6 different countries and territories to buyers in 230 countries and territories across the globe; reaching a similar number of consumers as Alibaba. But, unlike its parent company, Aliexpress brings the business to the consumer, catering to the individual shopper or small business owner. Although products purchased from Aliexpress will likely come from overseas, shipping can take as little as a week, but as long as four weeks.

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Is Aliexpress a Scam?

A political feud with China has led India to ban Aliexpress from operating within the country, pointing to cyber security as a point of concern. Yet, there is little evidence to support this claim. Aliexpress requires that all sellers present their Value-Added Tax number, company license, identification number belonging to the company’s legal representative, and contact information of the company and its legal representatives to verify the legitimacy of the business.

Additionally, Aliexpress extends their Buyer Protection System to anyone who purchases from their platform. The Buyer Protection System consists of guarantees, including protection of payment and personal information. It also protects consumers against con-artists by requiring packages to be delivered before the seller can receive their payment.

Aliexpress makes further efforts to monitor products traded across their platform by stating, “[y]ou also can not sell illegal or illegally traded products, as well as products that prohibit the AliExpress policy,” to deter potential scammers.

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Is Aliexpress Trustworthy?

As far as buyer and seller protection is concerned, Aliexpress appears to be doing all they can to make their internet marketplace a reliable ground for consumers. Still, they cannot guarantee satisfaction 100% of the time. Comparing close to 7,000 reviews on Aliexpress, the website sitejabber.com gives the e-commerce platform a 3.15 average rating.

This 3.15-star average indicates that buyers are mostly satisfied with their purchase through Aliexpress, but plenty are not. Complaints of an expiration of the Buyer Protection System after only 15 days of receiving the order, and the lack of an organized customer service structure were among the greatest concerns for consumers.

Thankfully complaints regarding fraud and theft are scarce, suggesting that Aliexpress is trustworthy for the average shopper. Aliexpress also encourages sellers to provide protection efforts to buyers in addition to Aliexpress’ promise to provide privacy and payment protection with the Buyer Protection System.

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How to Track an Order on Aliexpress

To access the tracking number of an order begin by logging into the Aliexpress account used to make the purchase. Select “My Orders,” in the account tab at the top right corner of the page. Click “view detail” on the order in route, and the tracking number will be presented. The tracking number must be entered into the corresponding shipping company’s website to view the status of the item. Which Countries Does Aliexpress Ship to?

Aliexpress ships to over 200 countries and territories including the United States, Russia, Spain, France, and even Barbados. The full list of countries is available on Aliexpress.com under the “ship to” tab at the top of the page.

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What’s the Average Shipping Time of an Aliexpress Order?

Although Aliexpress is available to consumers in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world, the company has a small list of locations suppliers can sell from. This may be to blame for the unpredictable, or long waits for the shopper.

According to a piece published by Alibaba, the average Aliexpress shipping time is between 1 and 4 weeks, but consumers have reported waiting up to several months for their order. Although the cases of waiting months for a shipment seem to be less than frequent, the overall consensus of consumers would be to order your item no later than a month before you need it.

What is the Cost of Shipping for an Aliexpress Order?

The cost of standard shipping in some cases can be free, but it is typically between one to five dollars depending on size, location, and other factors. However, standard shipping can cause a longer delivery time. The option for expedited shipping is offered by a majority sellers for a greater fee. Nearly all orders are tracked through the buyer’s Aliexpress account by signing in and viewing the order status.

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Does Aliexpress Have Good Customer Service?

Aliexpress has a variety of resources available to buyers and sellers on their website regarding customer service. These resources, though abundant, do not have many options for direct customer service interaction. The help center link on the website directs buyers and sellers to frequently asked questions and other self-service tools so they can try to help themselves.

Though there is no phone number to call or email address to write to, Aliexpress allows customers to chat with agents through the third-party app, Whatsapp! Issues such as refunds and payment appeals are handled however, by alerting the Aliexpress customer service team with an electronically written claim through an Aliexpress account. Among the most common complaints made against Aliexpress’ customer service is not being able to escalate a dispute concerning an order.

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How to Cancel an Order on Aliexpress

Deliveries are cancelled by selecting “cancel order,” which can be found after clicking “view detail” on the order you wish to cancel. If the product has already been shipped it can no longer be cancelled. If your package is “awaiting shipment,” then a request to cancel is sent to the seller along with the buyer’s reasoning. The seller has the option to deny the request.

Does Aliexpress Have Promo Codes?

By visiting sale.aliexpress.com, anyone can access a list of deals and promotions offered by sellers with an Aliexpress account. The coupons are organized by category and boast significant savings. Promo codes claiming to offer discounts do not appear promising as Aliexpress and sellers already aim to provide some of the lowest prices on products available to the consumer.

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Does Aliexpress Have a Return Policy?

Offered through the Buyer Protection System, Aliexpress allows the buyer to return damaged or inaccurately advertised items as long as a claim is submitted within 15 days from when the package was received. Claims made after the Buyer Protection System has expired will not be processed.

What Payment Methods Does Aliexpress Have?

Aliexpress accepts payments with Visa debit and credit cards, Mastercard, Maestro debit cards, American Express debit cards, PayPal, and prepaid debit cards. Some payment options such as PayPal are not available in certain territories.

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Pros and Cons of Aliexpress

  • Low prices
  • Payment protection and reasonable return policy
  • Long estimated shipping time
  • Poor customer service rating

Is Aliexpress a Good Company to Work for?

Aliexpress has nearly a 4-star rating from previous or current employees on Glassdoor.com with 79% of them claiming they would recommend the job to a friend. As for becoming a private seller through the site, sellers in specific countries can utilize the e-commerce platform to help them connect with international buyers. This gives sellers more opportunities to make a sale.

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Is it Difficult to get a job at Aliexpress?

Careers with Aliexpress are accessed with employment by the Alibaba Group. The Alibaba Group is an international company that operates multiple businesses. According to Alibaba.com, the company has offices in: “China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Russia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States,” that all require a great number of skilled employees. Finding a professional career with the Alibaba Group requires a college degree, but experience is not always necessary. There are some positions available that do not ask for higher education also .

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What are Some Alternatives to Aliexpress?

Aliexpress may be intimidating to the consumer concerned with ordering products from an overseas marketplace, or off-putting to the consumer who wants fast shipping. Here is a list of alternatives to Aliexpress that may be a better option:

Additional FAQs

Does Aliexpress Have an app?

For cell phone addicted buyers looking for a convenient way to shop while receiving exclusive members-only deals, Aliexpress does have an app that rewards its users with mobile-only offers straight to your cell phone.

Does Aliexpress Sell Counterfeit Items?

It is important to mention that Aliexpress does not permit the exchanging of counterfeit products through their website. Aliexpress discloses in their terms of service that counterfeit items are illegal and, therefore, not able to be sold or purchased with their platform. Despite the efforts made by Aliexpress, there will be people who try to sell illegal items anyway.

As a buyer, be aware that luxury items sold at low prices are likely to be counterfeit items and not made of the high quality they claim to be. Consumers who suspect that a seller is advertising counterfeit items are encouraged to alert Aliexpress customer service and not purchase from the seller.

Works Consulted