AliExpress is one of the biggest online shopping destinations in China. Millions of people use the site every day to buy everything from electronics to clothing. And while many shoppers love the convenience of buying products directly from Chinese manufacturers, others worry about the safety of doing business with companies based overseas.
Read our full review of AliExpress here.
What Is AliExpress?
AliExpress is a massive ecommerce site based out of Beijing, China. Founded in 2005, it has grown into one of the largest shopping sites in the world, rivaling Amazon.com.
The company offers a variety of products, including electronics, clothing, toys, household items, food, and much more.
In addition to being a place where people buy things, AliExpress is also a great resource for finding niche items like vintage cameras, collectible figurines, and even rare books.
Why Is AliExpress So Cheap?
AliExpress is one of the world’s largest online shopping platforms, offering everything from electronics to clothing to food. But it’s also known for being cheap. A lot cheaper than Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc., even though it doesn’t offer free shipping.
So why is AliExpress so cheap? And what does this mean for ecommerce businesses looking to sell their goods there?
There are a number of possible explanations for this phenomenon. Here are five of the most likely ones:
1. AliExpress is a Chinese marketplace. This makes sense because China is where Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is based out of. Alibaba is the parent company of both AliExpress and Tmall.com.
2. AliExpress is a market leader in China. In fact, according to Statista, it had over $3 billion in sales in 2016.
3. AliExpress uses a different payment system than those used by Western retailers. Instead of charging customers via credit cards, AliExpress charges sellers directly. This allows it to charge lower fees, and keep the money earned from each transaction.
4. AliExpress is selling counterfeit items. While this isn’t necessarily true, it’s worth noting that counterfeits account for about 30% of total sales on the site.
You’re Buying Direct
If you’ve ever bought something online, chances are you’ve done it from Alibaba.com. This Chinese e-commerce site offers some of the lowest prices around for everything from clothes to cars to robots. But what makes AliExpress special isn’t just the low price tag. It’s also the fact that you’re buying directly off the manufacturer. You don’t have to go through a retailer like Amazon or eBay. And since most of the products sold on AliExpress are manufactured in China, you’re getting the best deal possible.
The problem is that many people aren’t aware of this. They think they’re shopping on Amazon or another major retailer, but they’re actually doing business with a brand new company called AliExpress. So how do they pull this off? Well, here are four reasons why you might find yourself buying from AliExpress.
1. Low Prices
2. Easy Returns
3. Fast Shipping
4. Great Customer Service
It’s Fake
AliExpress is one of the biggest online shopping destinations in Asia, where people buy everything from electronics to clothing. But according to a recent report by Alibaba Group, nearly half of items sold on the site are fakes.
The study found that 42% of products listed on AliExpress are counterfeits. Of those, 20% are knockoffs, 10% are pirated goods, and 12% are substandard versions of popular brands.
That’s because many sellers don’t bother to verify the authenticity of their products. Instead, they just list whatever they want to sell, even if it’s fake.
Listing Tricks
In order to compete against hundreds or even thousands of other sellers offering the exact same product for a similar low price, some sellers will use sneaky tactics like including a small accessory as an option. This trick makes it look like there are many different options for the same item, making it seem like a better deal.
The problem is that the cost of the accessory isn’t actually included in the final price. Instead, it appears in the search results as a separate add-on.
Here’s an example where a LEGO set is listed as being priced at $4.64, but the actual price includes a bag of 10 balls.
This is deceptive because the buyer doesn’t know how much the ball bag costs. They’re just seeing the total price, which looks like a great deal.
But once they click through to the listing, they find out that the real price is $4.64 plus $4.64 for the bag of balls.
How Long Does AliExpress Take to Deliver?
I’m always looking for ways to save money, especially during times like these. I recently purchased some headphones from AliExpress, and while I love the sound quality, I wasn’t impressed with how quickly they arrived. After spending about $30 on shipping, I received the package just over four weeks later.
The headphones themselves are fine, but the packaging was pretty terrible. They came wrapped in plastic, and there was no return label included. There was also no tracking information.
If you’re planning on buying anything from AliExpress, make sure you check out the estimated delivery time on the item page. If it says “within 7 working days,” don’t buy it.
EU and UK Automatic Taxation; USA Up to $800
The European Union and United Kingdom are set to introduce automatic taxation on online purchases, according to reports. The move is expected to come into effect next summer.
From July 2021, shoppers from the European Union will find that orders under 150 euros ($160) will automatically have Value Added Tax (VAT) added on by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., China’s largest e-commerce firm. Orders above this threshold will still be subject to local customs duties.
This cost is not reflected on AliExpress’s sales page, which is currently the case for UK customers. However, packages over £135/€145 value will not have VAT automatically added; this will be handled directly by the shipping company instead.
Packages over €150/US$135 value will not have Vat automatically added; this will also be handled by the shipping companies instead. You will also be liable for the extra charges, such as handling fees.
What About AliExpress’s Quality of Goods?
AliExpress is one of the largest online marketplaces in China. It offers thousands of products from hundreds of vendors, including many small businesses. Many people use it to shop for electronics, clothing, toys, and even household items. But some people are finding themselves disappointed with the quality of the goods they’ve purchased.
In fact, according to a survey conducted by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., nearly half of Chinese consumers say they have had negative experiences buying things on AliExpress. And about 40% of respondents said they wouldn’t recommend AliExpress to friends and family members.
The problem is that AliExpress doesn’t allow buyers to return items. Instead, customers must contact the seller directly to request a refund. If the seller agrees, he or she will send the item back to AliExpress for a full refund. Otherwise, the seller keeps the money.
So why don’t sellers want to give refunds? Because they know that once they agree to provide a refund, they’ll lose out on future sales. This is especially true because AliExpress allows sellers to set up multiple accounts, meaning they could potentially sell the same item under several names.
This is where the issue lies. While the buyer gets a refund, the seller loses nothing. So why bother providing a refund?
The Real Danger of AliExpress: Fraudsters and Fakes
AliExpress is a Chinese ecommerce site that sells everything from electronics to clothing, toys to furniture. It’s been around since 2005, and it’s become increasingly popular over the years. In fact, it now claims to be the world’s largest online shopping destination. And while there are plenty of legitimate reasons to shop on AliExpress, the site is also home to some pretty sketchy businesses.
In October 2018, hackers stole $2 million worth of cryptocurrency from customers’ accounts on the site. A few months later, another group of cybercriminals hacked into AliExpress’s servers and took control of millions of customer records. These incidents led many people to question whether AliExpress is safe to use.
But the truth is, despite being a big player in China, AliExpress is actually fairly small compared to other major international sites. For example, according to Alexa, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Alipay is the third most visited website in the world. Amazon Inc.’s Amazon Web Services is number four. And eBay Inc.’s PayPal is fifth.
So why does AliExpress rank so high? Well, it’s because AliExpress doesn’t store any personal information about its users. Instead, it relies on third parties to collect payment information. This makes it much harder for criminals to steal money from customers’ accounts.
And AliExpress takes extra steps to protect against fraud. For example, it uses multiple layers of encryption to secure transactions, and it requires customers to verify their identity by entering a password.
As far as the risk of getting scammed goes, AliExpress is safer than other major retailers. For example, the average person is more likely to buy something from Amazon than from AliExpress. And the chances of someone buying counterfeit goods on AliExpress are very low.
Never Buy Branded Goods on AliExpress
AliExpress is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces for counterfeit products. But it’s also home to many legitimate businesses selling everything from electronics to clothing. And while there are no hard numbers, experts say that over half of the items sold on AliExpress are counterfeits.
The problem is that even though AliExpress claims to offer brand protection, it doesn’t really do anything about it. There are some exceptions, such as companies that have registered trademarks in China, but most brands don’t bother registering their names here because they know that they won’t be protected.
So what happens when you buy something off AliExpress? Well, if you live in the United States, chances are good that the item you purchased came from China. In fact, according to a report published in 2017 by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, nearly 90 percent of the goods imported into the United States come from China. So if you buy something from AliExpress, and it turns out to be fake, you could find yourself facing legal trouble.
Check the Seller’s Feedback Before Buying
If you’re looking to buy something online, it’s important to check out the seller’s reputation. You want to make sure that the person selling the product isn’t just trying to scam you. There are several ways to do this, including reading the seller’s feedback and checking out their reviews.
When researching a potential purchase, you might come across some negative comments about the seller. These could include things like complaints about shipping delays or products that didn’t match what was described. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the seller is fraudulent; however, it does give you a heads up that you shouldn’t trust everything you read.
Another way to find out whether someone is trustworthy is to look at the store itself. A legitimate retailer will usually have a unique name, address, phone number, and email address. They will also use a real postal code, rather than one that appears to belong to another location. Finally, you want to avoid buying from retailers whose web addresses end in.ru or.com. These are often used by scammers to mask their identity.
Check Your Order Carefully When You Receive It
If you’re ordering online, there are many things you can do to make sure you receive exactly what you paid for. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting scammed.
1. Check the shipping address carefully. If you don’t know where you live, check the address against the USPS database. This way, you’ll know whether someone else has already purchased the same thing.
2. Look up reviews. Read customer feedback on sites such as Amazon and eBay. There are plenty of people out there willing to give honest opinions, and you can learn a lot about a product just by reading what others say.
3. Take pictures. Even if you think you know what you’re buying, take photos of every step of the process. This includes the packaging, the items inside, and the receipt. Then, compare those images to the actual products. If something seems off, contact the seller immediately.
4. Use the escrow feature. Many sellers offer an escrow option, which allows you to pay for the purchase and then hold onto the money until you’ve received the item. This gives you peace of mind because you won’t lose your money if the item never arrives.
5. Ask questions. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Some sellers will provide detailed information about the item, including how long it takes to ship, what it costs, and how much it weighs. Others will simply send you a picture of the package. Either way, you’ll be able to see exactly what you’re paying for.
6. Get proof of delivery. If you’re concerned about receiving the correct item, request tracking information. Most sellers include this in their communication with buyers.
Be Careful With Storage, Memory, and Graphics Cards
The Chinese government has cracked down on cryptocurrency mining, making it harder for people to make money from mining. This includes shutting down some of the smaller operations, but there are still plenty of large players left. These companies often sell used hardware, including graphics cards, memory sticks, and storage devices.
If you want to ensure that you don’t end up with a fake product, you’ll need to do some research beforehand. First, check out reviews of the device on sites such as Amazon and Newegg. Second, look for signs that the seller is offering too good a deal. Third, ask around about the vendor. People who are familiar with the industry might be able to tell if something seems fishy. Finally, take advantage of the fact that most vendors offer returns. If you find a problem, you can return the item and get a refund.
How to Get a Refund on AliExpress
If you buy something online and don’t like it, there are several ways to get a refund. In fact, you can do it even if you bought the item from AliExpress, one of China’s biggest ecommerce platforms. But keep reading because we’re about to show you how.
First things first: you must know what you’re buying. This is especially true if you’re buying electronics, since many sellers offer refunds only if you return the product unopened. So make sure you read the description carefully and check out reviews from previous buyers.
The next step is to contact the seller directly via email. Don’t use Alibaba’s messaging system, since it usually takes too long. Instead, send a detailed email explaining why you want a refund. Make sure to include photos of the damaged goods.
Next, you have to wait. Sometimes, the seller will respond quickly, while others take weeks to reply. Keep checking every day or two, and if you haven’t heard anything after three weeks, go ahead and file a claim.
Once you receive a response, you have another 30 days to decide whether you want to proceed with the refund. If you accept it, you’ll get a full refund minus the original shipping costs. However, if you decline, you won’t be charged for the return shipment.
You can find more information on each stage of the process here.
So, Is AliExpress Safe to Shop On?
AliExpress is one of the world’s largest online marketsplaces. Millions of people shop there every day looking for everything from electronics to clothing. But while some people love it, others aren’t quite so convinced. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, nearly half of Americans think that shopping on AliExpress could put them at risk of identity theft.
The study found that 45 percent of respondents thought that shopping on AliExpress might lead to financial fraud. A further 20 percent felt that it could lead to physical harm. And 14 percent worried about being stalked.
Of course, those numbers don’t tell us whether shoppers actually do experience problems. So we turned to our friends at Trustpilot, a review site that allows consumers to give feedback on businesses. We asked them what they thought about shopping on AliExpress.