Is AliExpress Legit? Pros, Cons, and Buyer Safety Tips!

Have you ever come across amazing deals on the Internet and thought they might be scams? AliExpress is one such platform. It’s a huge online marketplace of products at pretty unbelievable prices. This naturally leads to the question: Is AliExpress legit? 

Many potential buyers are playing it safe. They are looking to confirm that their money and personal data are secure. The present article focuses on the in-depth study of AliExpress. We will also examine its benefits and drawbacks, and most significantly, whether AliExpress is legit and safe for you to use.

What is AliExpress?

AliExpress is an online retail service based in China. The Alibaba Group introduced it in 2010. In contrast to Alibaba, which does trade between companies, AliExpress is the channel for the ordinary buyer. It is a direct link between individual buyers and sellers who are primarily manufacturers or wholesalers in China. 

The range of what can be found on AliExpress is virtually unlimited. From clothes, electronics, and home improvement items to jewelry, the listings are in millions. The site can be used across the world with multiple languages available.

How Does AliExpress Work?

AliExpress plays the part of a middleman, selling indirectly to the customer. It simply provides space for the sellers to list their products and the buyers to purchase the goods. The buyer is buying from a specific seller on the platform when an order is placed. The payment process is handled by AliExpress, as the payment is not collected until you confirm that the product has been received in good condition. 

This strategy gives a certain level of security to the buyer. The sellers are sending the products directly to you. The time for product delivery varies and depends mostly on the time of seller and your location. Normally, buyers talk to the sellers via the AliExpress messaging system.  

Why is AliExpress So Cheap?

AliExpress has incredibly low prices. You must have wondered about the reason for the same. Here are some of the forces working together to make up the low prices:

• Direct from Manufacturers: Many sellers are also the manufacturers. This cuts out middlemen and reduces costs.
• Large-Scale Production: Chinese manufacturers often benefit from economies of scale. They produce goods in large quantities, lowering the per-unit cost.   
• Lower Labor Costs: Labor costs in China are generally lower than in many other parts of the world. This has a direct consequence for the goods’ retail price.
• Intense Competition: The large number of merchants on AliExpress who provide the same goods creates intense competition. Sellers are always reducing prices to appeal to more customers.
• Lower Overhead: The expenses of internet-only businesses are mainly lower than those of businesses with physical stores.

Is AliExpress Safe to Buy From?

So far, we have confirmed that AliExpress is a legit platform. However, when it comes to securing your transactions, you might still have many questions. While most of the vendors on the platform are genuine, there are some not-so-righteous sellers too. 

Here is a safety matters breakdown that you can refer to before buying from AliExpress:

• Platform Legitimacy: AliExpress is a genuine e-commerce platform that has been operating for a long time and has a very good reputation. The company has managed to gather a big pool of users around the world.  
• Seller Reputation: The company has made it possible for the sellers to get rated by the buyers. The seller’s overview section shows the feedback score of the seller plus the number of positive reviews received from buyers. From this, the buyer can make the right judgment on the seller’s reliability.  
• Buyer Protection: The “Buyer Protection” program by AliExpress is very important since the customer has a dual possibility in case the order is not delivered or it is substantially different.  

On the other hand, online marketplaces like AliExpress are also home to certain hazards. These are:

• Scammers: Some fake dealers may attempt to sell non-genuine or substandard products. Apart from that, they might probably not send the items at all.  
• Misleading Descriptions: Product descriptions and the pictures can be wrong, as well as sometimes they can be so catchy, you get to the actual product and realize it’s not like how it appeared to be, or the size is different.  
• Quality Issues: There is a wide variety of prices and quality of materials among sellers. Low prices might indicate that the goods are of poor quality.  
• Intellectual Property Infringement: One of the problems with counterfeit goods is that sometimes they are sold on the platform.  

Major Risks Associated with AliExpress

Even though AliExpress is legit and majorly safe to buy from, there are still a few risks that the buyer must be aware of:

• Receiving Counterfeit Goods: There could be some sellers on AliExpress who sell copies and imitations.    
• Poor Quality Products: The low prices can be due to low-quality materials and poor workmanship.    
• Long Shipping Times: The duration of transporting products from China can be quite lengthy, ranging from a few weeks to even months.    
• Communication Barriers: Sometimes, language differences can be a problem while you are trying to have a word with the sellers.
• Customs and Taxes: Subject to the regulations in your country, you have to handle import duties, taxes, or customs fees.

How Does AliExpress Protect Buyers?

Several features are available on AliExpress that have buyer protection:

• Escrow System: Your payment is held by AliExpress until you confirm that you have received your order. The seller will get payment after you are satisfied.
• Full Refund If Not Received: If your order is not delivered within the prescribed time, you are entitled to open a dispute and request a full refund.
• Full or Partial Refund If Not as Described: In case the product you get varies greatly from the description provided by the seller, you can initiate a dispute. You may be given full or partial reimbursement.
• Dispute System: There is a dispute resolution system on AliExpress that’s designed to resolve conflicts between buyers and sellers. You are allowed to open a dispute whenever you face difficulties with your order. AliExpress plays a mediating role in case an agreement is impossible between you and the seller.  
• Seller Ratings and Reviews: These are very important because they can give you a reality-check as the buyer about the supplier and their products.

User Reviews and Experiences

To answer whether AliExpress is legit and safe, we went through various sources to check the user reviews. The experiences of those who shop on AliExpress are greatly diversified. While some were happy with the pricing and the product they received, others not so much.

With a 2.5-star TrustScore on Trustpilot and only 9% of users (from a total of 3200 plus reviews) recommending the platform on Reviews.io, AliExpress does not have a very good standing. Users on both websites largely pointed out the slow delivery, damaged goods, and difficult return process for the bad reviews. 

Apart from the bad reviews, some users have mentioned their good experience with the platform. In a post on Reddit, a user, u/Metty197, shared that they always had a good experience on the platform. The user shared that there are product and store reviews to see whether the stores are legit or not. In the same thread, another user, u/pizza_whistle, mentioned that they too never faced any serious scam or issue with the platform. They also mentioned that whenever their packages were lost in transit, Aliexpress refunded them easily. 

A review that caught our eye was by Reddit user u/Talk2Giuseppe. In the comment, the user mentioned how they had a 90% success rate while ordering from AliExpress. They went ahead to provide insights into how other users, too, can utilize the website for a pleasant experience. 

The user cautioned not to buy from sellers who have not completed at least 100+ orders, and also not to buy branded products, as most turn out to be knockoffs. The user mentioned that the shipping takes anywhere between four to six weeks, and buyers should not panic if the product tracking goes dark. According to them, this happens, and the product usually arrives without notice. Lastly, they advised that buyers should always use a credit card to make a payment. This helps to protect them in case something goes wrong with the order.

Tips to Help Avoid AliExpress Scams

Now that we have gone through the user reviews and risks associated with the platform, here are some tips that you can follow to stay safe while shopping on AliExpress:

• Beware of Extremely Low Prices: Do not fall for the trap of the most lucrative offer; they are unrealistic most of the time. Talk to the sellers and be ready to search for similar products on the website.
• Double Check the Listing and the Seller: Understand the product features by going through the details carefully. Also, be alert to the materials, specifications, and size, and try to see all the images provided. Note images with low resolution or poorly taken.
• Do Not Acknowledge Right Away: Do not indicate that you have received it as soon as you get your package. You are advised to acknowledge the delivery only when you are totally satisfied with it. If you have pressed the confirmation button, the seller will hardly agree to reopen the case for a refund.
• Utilize the AliExpress Buyer Protection: You are allowed to file a dispute via the AliExpress platform in the meantime if you meet a situation where your order is misplaced or the item you receive is defective. The timeframe should be in line with the requirements of the platform.
• Make Your Payment Safe: AliExpress provides many payment options. Paying for your order is a must-do job. It is more secure to choose from safe payment methods, such as using credit cards or Alipay, and less secure to make the payment directly through a bank account or in other insecure ways.
• Stick to AliExpress Communication Only: The seller can be reached via the AliExpress communication channel, as this is where they can best solve the issue. The history of your communication can be a form of evidence later, in case a dispute is initiated.

Also, read Is TruthFinder Legit or a Scam: Features, Pricing and User Review

Conclusion

So, is AliExpress legit? Now, that we have gone through how the platform works, risks associated with it, its user reviews, and certain tips to avoid the scams, we can largely conclude that AliExpress is a legitimate platform. It provides a vast variety of products at discounted prices. However, like all online shopping platforms that house different sellers, there are certain risks to it.

You can significantly increase your chances of being successful and secure in your shopping experience by knowing more about AliExpress, understanding the possible traps, and following the steps covered in this article. The most important requirement is to be a shrewd buyer, do a thorough seller background check, and make use of the buyer protection mechanisms provided by AliExpress.

Have a pleasant shopping experience!

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