How to buy from AliExpress - A Guide

Aliexpress is one of the most widely used e-commerce sites in the world. It is a real gold mine for those who want to find high-tech, fashion and lifestyle items at a lower cost. The first purchase on this Chinese platform can be confusing, however. This folder will give you the keys to buy with complete peace of mind on Aliexpress.

Aliexpress, what is it?

Created by the Alibaba group, the Aliexpress online sales site is often described as the "Chinese Amazon". It is indeed a virtual marketplace. Like its American counterpart, Aliexpress connects third-party sellers with buyers. The site itself, therefore, does not have an affiliated factory and does not offer products in its own name.

The advantage of this type of marketplace is that there are few agents, so the prices are cheaper. Building on its success, Aliexpress even has mobile applications running Android and iOS. However, there are not only advantages to this type of business. A purchase on Aliexpress will, therefore, require some precautions as we will see in the next part.

The choice of the seller: a crucial element

As we said earlier, Aliexpress is a marketplace. You will, therefore, buy your item directly from a Chinese retailer, the online site will be your only intermediary in case of dispute. The choice of your shop will, therefore, be essential for a pleasant experience. Don't worry, Aliexpress does everything possible to ensure you such a result.

With thousands of vendors on the platform, you will probably be lost at first. A scoring system has therefore been put in place. After a purchase, the user is asked to give a score according to three criteria:

Conformity of the product with its description

Communication with the seller

Delivery time.

This rating ranges from 1 to 5. The higher it is, the better. A score called "Positive Return", expressed as a percentage, will also give you an idea of the seriousness of your future supplier. Similarly, an overall rating is assigned to the seller. Every positive comment makes her go up. A negative comment makes it go down the other way. Finally, a small acronym indicates at a glance the seriousness of the retailer. A crown or diamond ensures good quality. The best thing is to choose a "Premium Brand" store, it is the guarantee of an excellent service. All these data are visible by clicking on the name of a seller.

Still not satisfied? That's not surprising. In this case, feel free to read the comments of other users. Some even post pictures of the article. This will allow you to verify that the product is in conformity with the seller's description. In case of doubt, do not hesitate to visit another shop. 

Do not hesitate to contact the sellers. You will need to have a minimum of English, but you will be able to ensure that your interlocutor is honest. If he does not respond quickly, remains evasive or refuses to send you pictures of the product, do not insist and change shops.

Purchase protection and refund

For a platform like Aliexpress, a bad seller is a pain in the hell. The site is therefore extremely careful to monitor for abuses. To begin with, a shop is rated on the most important points as we have seen. A supplier who wants to succeed therefore has every interest in showing white hands.

Despite everything, it is not impossible to come across smart guys. In this case, the Escrow system takes over. The concept is simple: as long as you do not receive your item, your money is not given to the seller. The transaction therefore only takes place after receipt and validation of the product's conformity. In the case of a dispute, Aliexpress can go as far as a complete closure of the shop in question. You will, of course, be reimbursed for all your expenses.

On each product page, the seller must indicate his return conditions and maximum delivery time. If this period is exceeded, you will be eligible for a full refund. In the case of products that do not correspond to the description, a full or partial refund will be offered.

Aliexpress accepts Visa and MasterCard payments as well as transfers via Western Union. However, we do not recommend this last method of payment, as your money will be more difficult to recover in the case of a dispute. So choose the classic bank card.

Delivery and duties fees

As on most Chinese sites, you are exposed to the possibility of your package being processed through customs. Deliveries by UPS and DHL are mainly concerned. You will save time (about 1 week for delivery) but you will probably have to pay taxes.

So choose Chinese postal services. They are certainly slower with around 3 weeks of waiting, but you will save yourself 60$ in customs fees. However, be careful to choose a service with a tracking number. This will allow you to check the progress of your order and prove your goodwill in case of loss.