AliExpress is an online retail service that is based in China. It is owned by Alibaba Group and launched in 2010. The main aim of this business is to provide online services to their customers and also offer products to online international buyers. It is a publicly-traded company and one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.
But people show concern about its security and want to know if is Aliexpress legit or not. In today’s blog post, you will know about its legitimacy and other related questions. Keep reading to explore more.
What Is AliExpress?
AliExpress is a popular online store that offers products to the online international buyers. It is better for purchasing products a very cheap prices than other online stores like Amazon, Daraz etc. AliExpress is also known as Ebay of China and it offers a huge variety of products that have about 10,000+ categories.
Did you know that China is a place where the cost of labour is so low, that’s why the products are much cheaper than anywhere else in the world including the US? At first, Alibaba Group’s online store was built the items in bulk that were quickly utilized by dropshipping business people around the world.
AliExpress is a multi-billion dollar corporation that has started a selling and buying business in start and now expanded to business to consumer, consumer to consumer, cloud computing and payment services.
AliExpress is not selling anything through itself, it just provides the marketplace to the people to add things to its marketplace and then sell them. So it means that your experience can vary widely depending on the seller.
How AliExpress Works?
AliExpress is a B2C online marketplace from where you can buy products which are mainly made in China to customers all over the world. It is a marketplace where small companies and businesses in China sell products directly to customers, unlike Amazon.
This platform doesn’t produce its products and these products are sold as is, meaning that you cannot customize or private label goods. And AliExpress does not have any minimum order quantities, unlike Alibaba, so you can even order a single unit of data at a time.
So, anyone can buy from AliExpress, which means that businesses and individuals can buy goods in small or large quantities. But Alibaba sells the products wholesale, so you have to buy the products in bulk as shown exactly in the product listing which cannot be customized. Remember that you cannot request a free sample to check the quality of the products.
Interesting Note: AliExpress provides products in almost any category at significantly lower prices than other retailers and marketplaces all over the world.
Is AliExpress Safe?
Yes, AliExpress is mostly safe and it offers a buyer protection program that covers every purchase end to end. It is a safe place to shop online but you need to be careful about that. Remember, AliExpress can’t ensure the quality of the product because AliExpress doesn’t sell anything from its end, you are always purchasing from a third party person.
And if you want to buy really from this platform, then first you must check the reviews and read the listing carefully, it is if safety is your priority. Then order it at your own risk. AliExpress guarantees only in the case that if your product does not arrive on time, you will get a refund.
AliExpress guarantees to provide your product safe and secure and also gave some benefits to you which are given below:
- You have to first contact the customer support team of AliExpress and report your problem. When you report the problem, the seller will also be notified and also have the option to provide the solution.
- And if the seller doesn’t respond to you or is not willing to help you then you can open a dispute with AliExpress.
- Still the seller does not respond to your dispute, then AliExpress will return your money.
Note: You can get the money within two weeks of your dispute.
AliExpress also ensures that their sellers are authentic and get information about their business and profile. Also includes asking sellers to provide a valid business license and all other important and necessary documents. So it is a safe marketplace for selling and purchasing.
What Safety Measures Does AliExpress Use?
AliExpress is a legitimate and safe-to-use platform that is owned by Alibaba Group and has taken some measures to make the platform more secure and reliable for their customers.
Buyer Protection
The buyer protection of AliExpress means that it gives you a money-back guarantee. Like if your parcel is not delivered or you are not received on the expected date then AliExpress gives you a buyer protection date which is about 75 days. And when this time is gone, you have an option to report your problem and ask for your refund or money back.
And sometimes, if your items are broken, incomplete, or not good enough for you then you can raise a dispute with the seller to find a solution for you. If the seller not respond to you then AliExpress decide what should you do.
Payment Handling
It should be noted that you are not given the money directly to the sellers or any third party. AliExpress is the middle party between them, so it will handle your payment information. So you don’t have to worry about the sellers or any third party can access to your credit or debit cards.
You can pay for your items with different payment plans like AliPay, PayPal, Venmo etc. And when you pay to the AliExpress, then AliExpress know your details on the site. And it is suggested that you pay online only with AliPay which is the best secure and safe payment way.
Is My Personal Information Secure When Shopping On AliExpress?
Yes, your personal information is safe and you don’t have to worry about that. Like other online marketplaces, AliExpress collects information from users which is given below:
- Information User Provide Directly includes user name, address, contact details, payment information, purchase history, and any other related information provided for customer support.
- Information that is collected automatically includes IP address, device information, browsing activities and inferences drawn from other information collected.
- Information collected from third-party sources like if you register or with any social media accounts then it will gain this data from sources.
- Support information provided during customer support like chat logs, phone recordings phone numbers etc.
How Long Does AliExpress Take To Deliver?
When you order from AliExpress the platform gives you an estimated time for delivery and it usually takes about 20 to 60 days. And in the time of Covid 19, the buyer protection time is up to 90 days. If your order is not delivered then it will take about 90 days for a complete refund.
Regretfully, the delivery method chosen also affects this. With its own warehouses and shipping partners in key nations, Alibaba introduced Cainao, its shipping service, in 2018. I find the Cainao Global Economy to be quite bad.
And if you order globally then it arrives in your home country on time but it is placed in any city of your country for a long time like for a month and after it is verified, then it is delivered to you.
How To Buy From AliExpress Safely Without Getting Ripped Off?
If you want to buy from AliExpress safely without getting ripped off, then follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Create an AliExpress Account.
If you want to get started with AliExpress then you have to first start an AliExpress account. Then open the browser and go to AliExpress.com. When the page is open then click on the Sign up button.
When you sign up for your account, you can confirm your email address. For new users, it will give you a new bonus coupon.
Step 2: Go Shopping
You can search for the product and click on the “Add to Cart” button. But there are some things that you must consider before you buy. Here are the stats you should pay attention to when shopping on AliExpress.
- Must check the feedback rating is always above 4.5.
- Make sure that the seller must sell 100 orders that are shipped and also check their cost.
- Must check the product has at least 100 reviews that depending on the items and how cheap it is.
Step 3: Check The Trademark Database
You must check the USPTO trademark database on the product of AliExpress to avoid legal troubles when buying and selling AliExpress merchandise.
You have to just go to the USPTO website and then type in the brand. If the brand appears on the website, the brand is trademarked. The majority of name-brand products offered for sale on AliExpress are often fake. Because of this, products with names like Gucci, Apple, or Nike are probably phoney.
Step 4: Check AliExpress Delivery Times
AliExpress ships internationally, with China being the country of origin for the majority of its items. However, if you’re lucky, you could occasionally locate a product that can be supplied from a regional distributor in your nation.
Step 5: Check AliExpress Payment Method
Once your checkout is complete, then click on the Checkout button and fill in your billing and shipping information. Like AliExpress offers different payment methods like AliPay, credit card and debit cards, Paypal, Western Union, and bank transfers.
You are secure regardless of whether you decide to pay with a credit card or via PayPal. Also, there is very little chance of blatant fraud because of PayPal/Credit card and AliExpress buyer protection.
How Are AliExpress’s Online Reviews?
Average review of AliExpress is about 2.6 stars with most customers dissatisfied with the quality of the products and items do not match the description. AliExpress customer service is also criticized because customers are complaining that they are waiting long times and have difficulty with customer support.
To protect your personal information, you have to take some measures which are given below;
- Encrypting your data with industry-standard security technologies like TLS and HTTPS.
- preserving your private data on safe servers housed in global data centres.
- limiting authorised personnel and outside partners that require your personal information to deliver services to AliExpress access to it.
- having a privacy policy in place that specifies exactly how they will use and distribute your data.
Pros Of Buying From AliExpress
There are benefits of buying through AliExpress which are given below:
- You have given affordable services and you see lower prices on this platform unlike on other platforms.
- There is no minimum requirement for any order quantity and also has a lower initial cost.
- It also offers excellent buyer protection that leads to decreased chances of getting scammed.
- It is a one-step shopping platform with a wide number of buyers and sellers.
Cons Of Buying From AliExpress
- Products are the same as you see in the description, hence hard to customize or add a private label.
- Very little quality control like in China as well.
- Actual products are quite different from the product listing on the website.
What About Shipping?
Except in a few cases where things can be transported from a local store or warehouse in the buyer’s country, the majority of products bought on AliExpress are shipped from China.
There are several shipping alternatives available in the marketplace. The cost of shipping will vary according to your location and preferred speed of delivery; quicker delivery alternatives will cost more.
Orders can arrive in as little as two weeks or as long as two months, depending on the region and delivery speed chosen. However, in general, exporting goods from China abroad requires some time.
You may find more than 250 reasonably priced shipping companies in Easyship’s network; some of them even ship to China. Additionally, we collaborate with you to make the challenging international maritime waterways seem more like calm waters. In addition, Easyship provides an extensive range of other shipping solutions to assist your company in remaining ahead of the curve and expedite the shipping process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to buy on AliExpress?
Yes, AliExpress is safe to use and buy if you do your homework first. Must check the reviews of sellers, read the listing carefully, check ratings etc. Then buy the product or item.
Why is AliExpress so cheap?
AliExpress is so cheap because it is the low cost of raw materials and supplies.
What country is AliExpress from?
AliExpress is an online shopping marketplace that is based in China and owned by Alibaba Group.
Conclusion
AliExpress is an online platform that offers services to international buyers. And it is legitimate and safe to use. Hopefully, the above information is helpful for you. If you have any queries, then feel free to put your queries in the below comment box. Have a good day.
