Is AliExpress Safe : Everything You Need to Know About AliExpress
AliExpress is an e-commerce platform, which is also considered as Amazon in China, Where you can source out almost all goods you may imagine. But before you go shopping on AliExpress, you need to have a complete overview of this platform to avoid any issues that may happen eventually. The below issues really happen quite a lot such as parcels still not being received after a month of delivery, or no updating logistic tracking information, in this sense, many customers will lose trust in AliExpress and come up with this concern: If AliExpress is a safe and reliable e-commerce platform.
In this article, I will let you have a complete view of Aliexpress and teach you how to buy from Aliexpress safely with less risk of being scammed.
What is AliExpress?
AliExpress as its name implies,which is actually a child company of Alibaba Group, it’s a well-known online marketplace that allows independent small business sellers and factories in China to sell directly to individual customers worldwide
AliExpress offers a huge variety of items available for global customers, where you can find anything you want, so it’s also considered as Amazon or eBay in China. Products on AliExpress will be significantly cheaper than in other places in the world including the US, and EUROPEAN countries.
Difference between AliExpress and Alibaba
When you are the first time to hear about these two companies, you may get confused between AliExpress and Alibaba, as they really sound similar. Actually, these two companies are both owned by their parent company Alibaba Group, which is already the e-commerce leader in China.
Now let’s dive deep and get to know better both of these two online platforms about how they work.
How Alibaba Works
Alibaba is a complete directory of all China wholesale suppliers that help overseas businesses men find manufacturers they need.
But in the business mode, Alibaba is still a platform for B TO B bulk order business, not a B-to-C e-commerce platform. So you can not purchase a single unit quantity on Alibaba. You can find a factory by searching with keywords of your products. Then tell your inquiry requirement to the factory. The factory can also customize or personalize your products according to your customization needs. In this way, you will have your unique products with your own private label.
Generally, if you buy from factories on Alibaba, they will have their MOQ(minimum order quantity) requirement. That means you need to purchase a quantity not less than their MOQ.
The whole trading process will occur offline but not on the Alibaba Platform. You need to have detailed communication then with your chosen factory outside of Alibaba. For more information, you can also read my guide about how to buy from Alibaba.
How AliExpress Works
AliExpress is an online marketplace where you can buy small quantities from sellers settled on AliExpress. The whole transaction process will be completed on the platform. AliExpress has been positioned ever since its foundation on online small business, which plays the same role as eBay.
This differs from Alibaba which can’t allow single unit quantity. AliExpress allows you to purchase single unit quantities, and the whole transaction occurs only on the platform as the price shown in the product listing. And then all the products on AliExpress are not allowed to be customized as you want. So in simple words, you can not private label, but the good thing is that you don’t need to invest a lot of money to start your business like in Alibaba.
Even though the prices on AliExpress are low compared to the rest of the world. But when it comes to the unit price, it will still be higher than large quantity wholesale on Alibaba.
The other issue is that you can not ask the seller for a free sample . so you can not examine the product quality before you buy. however, Aliexpress will provide buyers protection to reduce the risk of receiving poor-quality products.
Then you need to consider the delivery time, all orders will be shipped from China to your country, which may last weeks or even months.
Is AliExpress Safe?
Firstly I want to confirm that AliExpress is a reliable platform, so buying from AliExpress is safe, As Aliexpress also has a protection program that can guarantee each online purchase from beginning to end.
If you find your order doesn’t arrive on time or as predicted time, you can also ask for a full refund. The buyer protection will be automatically applied when you place an order on AliExpress.
In this case, your goods never arrive or are found as junk products. You can directly use the buyer protection policy.
Firstly you need to contact AliExpress support to report a problem with your order. then the seller will be notified and has a chance to rectify the situation
1. If your seller refuses to help you, so you can open a dispute on AliExpress
2. If the seller doesn’t give you a response to the dispute. Then AliExpress will return the money.
3. When the dispute closed in your favor. you’ll get your money back in two weeks.
So in this way, you stay safe while buying from AliExpress and will be protected by the Platform. And have no risk of being scammed.
Is AliExpress legit?
AliExpress is a legit e-commerce platform without any doubt, which is already a popular retail marketplace.
AliExpress was founded in China and is owned by its parent company Alibaba Group for online cross-boarder B to C business.
For the sellers that want to settle into AliExpress, they will be asked for all legit certificates for opening a shop, in addition, AliExpress has also a series of rules and regulations for sellers that conduct business on the platform.
Why Is AliExpress so cheap?
Due to the low labor cost and completely diverse supply of raw materials, so in China, suppliers can offer a more competitive price for a variety of products.
On the other side, All goods on AliExpress are directly supplied by suppliers themselves without middlemen to earn the difference. In this sense, the sellers are direct selling to the end consumers. Just like eBay and Amazon.
3 reasons why customers think AliExpress is a scam platform.
Actually, all these bad reviews are from the complex trading process, as across broader business involves a series of steps. Sometimes when an issue occurs. Buyers will think this is the responsibility of the platform.
Among all the issues that may happen during the transaction process, the most reviewed are delivery delays, quality problems,s and also unpleasant dispute experiences. Then more and more customers will think the sellers on AliExpress are not reliable.
Below are listed the 3 common reasons why customers feel unsafe
- Parcel delay for a long time
- Tracking info is not updated
- The product received is not the same as expected
Let’s just analyze them in detail one by one
Why there will be a long delay in getting the parcel
The general delivery time is around 30-50 days, but in many countries and regions, delivery will take even longer up to 60 days, and in the worst situation, the parcel will be lost in transit.
Why tracking info is not updated?
You may meet with this situation that your parcel shipping info is still not updated 1-2 weeks after having placed the order but if you find your parcel still doesn’t arrive after 60 days, you have to ask your seller about the parcel shipping information, in most of cases, you will get on the answer to your parcel shipping info, as your sellers they also don’t know where is the exact place of your parcel.
Why received product is not the same as expected
In the case you receive an item with defects or a damaged parcel, you can directly ask your seller to send a new parcel, or you can directly ask for a refund, and the sellers will agree to return your money.
In another case you find the item you received is a fake that doesn’t match your expectations., for example, you bought a pair of Adidas sneakers at the price of 20 dollars, and when you received the shoes, you found the shoes are not the same as original. You want to ask for a refund, so in this case, the seller can refuse your refund, as he /she offers you the shoes for only 20 dollars, anyway the fake Adidas shoes match the cost of 30 dollars.
4 common shipping methods for AliExpress
Economy Shipping
- Shipping time: 20-60 days
- Carriers: Cainiao Super Economy, Chins Post Ordinary Small Packet Plus, Yanwen Economic Air Mail
Saver Shipping - Shipping time: 30-50 days
- Carriers: AliExpress Saver Shipping, Cainiao Saver Shipping for Special Goods
Standard Shipping
- Delivery time: 10 to 45 days.
- Carriers: AliExpress Standard Shipping, Cainiao Expedited Standard, China Post Registered Air Mail, ePacket, Special Line-YW, etc.
Premium Shipping
- Delivery time: 5 to 10 days.
- Carriers: AliExpress Premium Shipping, DHL, EMS, e-EMS, TNT, UPS, FedEx, GATI, DPEX, and so forth.
The above-listed 4 types of shipping methods have both their advantages and disadvantages, it all depends on your balance of shipping budget and time requirement. If you are urgent with delivery time, with enough budget, you can choose Premium Shipping, but if you have a limited budget for shipping, so just choose the other 3 types of shipping options.
In Conclusion
In common sense, AliExpress is a safe and legit e-commerce platform for single and small quantities, I also hope this guide will help you to avoid potential risks in your purchase in AliExpress, and if you have any concerns about AliExpress, Just leave your comment below this article, or contact us for your starting up business.
