In certain instances, we may earn revenue when a reader makes a purchase or completes a form through our pages or on a partner’s website. We adhere to a strict If you’re always looking for bargains online, you may be wondering: Is AliExpress legit and safe?
The Chinese e-commerce platform is selling almost everything you can think of. It enables small businesses to trade globally, meaning you’ll likely find some enticing deals – whether the products are genuine or counterfeit.
Now, the legitimacy of AliExpress traders and their products regularly comes up in conversations. Is AliExpress safe to use, and how can you guarantee the products you buy are legit? Does AliExpress have a complaint procedure, and how easily can you get a refund?
In this article, we’ll explore AliExpress’s legitimacy and recommend a few tools for protecting your online data when shopping.
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What is AliExpress?
AliExpress is an online store that resembles a cross between eBay and Amazon. The retail platform was created in 2010 and is owned by the Alibaba Group, a Chinese technology and e-commerce company founded in 1999.
Initially, it focused on business-to-business trading and was popular with drop shippers (sellers who keep no physical stock and rely on remote wholesalers to distribute orders). However, Alibaba Group has slowly expanded AliExpress into a customer-focused online marketplace, and it is now considered second only to Amazon.
Shoppers can access AliExpress through the website (www.aliexpress.com) or via a mobile app. Regardless, they will find an immense selection of goods grouped by category at prices that look too good to be true. Such low prices raise the question of whether the site is legit or if there’s more to it.
Is AliExpress Legit?
AliExpress is a legitimate e-commerce platform that enables third parties to sell goods online to potential buyers. However, since AliExpress does not directly deal with product sales, the platform cannot guarantee the quality of the goods of each seller.
This means that some sellers might offer either substandard or non-existent products.
Here are some of the most popular AliExpress scams you should look out for:
- Counterfeit goods – China has very relaxed laws concerning counterfeiting and intellectual property, so you can easily end up buying “knockoff” products. To stay on the safe side, avoid buying branded items and check product reviews.
- Wrong tracking number – Scam sellers can sometimes send a fake tracking number so that when the order is marked as delivered, they close it, and the buyer receives nothing.
- Refund scam – If you don’t receive your goods and file a dispute, the seller will send a refund via PayPal. When you close the dispute, the seller claims a refund through PayPal, and the money is returned to the seller.
- Early dispute closure – When a buyer raises a dispute, some scammers might offer money or other items if you close the dispute. However, if you do this, there’s no more reason for them to keep in contact with you.
All in all, while AliExpress is legitimate, some traders might be looking to scam innocent buyers. So, always do your research before buying from AliExpress.
Is AliExpress Safe to Use?
AliExpress is a fairly safe platform; however, as stated in its policy, the platform does collect some of its users’ personal information.
To shop on AliExpress, you’ll need to create an account, meaning your personal information, like name, email address, phone number, payment method, and shipping/billing address, will be stored on your profile. AliExpress also uses cookies to track your behavior on the site and offer you targeted ads.
While all this is very typical of an online marketplace, I did notice that AliExpress shares its users’ data not only with sellers but also with third-party advertisers. This could result in quite a few spam emails in your inbox. So, if that’s not something you’d like to get, a secure VPN like NordVPN and a reliable TotalAV antivirus can help you block spammy ads or better secure your data online.
What Safety Measures Does AliExpress Implement?
There are always risks when buying online; however, big online shopping platforms are expected to implement numerous security measures to minimize these risks.
First, AliExpress boasts several measures to keep users safe from online fraud. Perhaps the most important practice is using secure payments, where payment-related data is encrypted. Additionally, the account has various provisions, such as two-factor authentication, to prevent unauthorized access to your profile.
AliExpress has also introduced safety features that protect buyers (and sellers) from scams.
Buyers can rely on the following:
- Buyer Protection – All reputable sellers should have a Buyer Protection badge on their profile. This guarantees that the ordered goods will arrive within the guaranteed 75 days. If the goods are late or don’t reach you at all, you can file a claim, and AliExpress will refund you.
- Dispute Resolution – If you receive damaged, unsatisfactory, or not-as-described goods, you can raise a dispute with the seller and try to agree on how to resolve the issue. However, if no agreement is reached, AliExpress will mediate to resolve the dispute.
Meanwhile, AliExpress monitors seller performance and encourages buyers to rate and review their purchases. This helps other potential buyers to judge whether the seller can be trusted.
Why is AliExpress so Cheap?
The majority of products listed on AliExpress are incredibly cheap, even when compared with discount sale prices on Amazon. So how is this possible?
There are a few possible reasons as to why the prices on AliExpress are as low as they are:
- Business Model – Since AliExpress is a dropshipping business, most sellers do not need large warehouses, importers, or distributors. Most goods come straight from the factory, eliminating the middle chain, which results in no additional costs.
- Manufacturing Costs – Most products come from China, where an average yearly salary in manufacturing is around $13,400; products have low manufacturing costs, which allows sellers to still make a profit even when selling cheaply.
- Fake Products – If you found a deal that sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. Since most products come from local Chinese factories, there’s little to no chance of finding legitimate products from popular brands. You might find a Gucci purse for $10, but we both know it’s not the real deal.
- Misleading Listing – You can often see an ad or a listing showcasing an incredibly low price. Let’s say you found a nice shirt for just $3.00. You click on the listing and see that the shirt is now $8.00. Did the seller lie? Not quite. There’s a possibility that another item on the listing costs $3.00, just not the shirt you wanted. But it did the job and got you clicking on the item anyway.
How to Stay Safe When Shopping on AliExpress?
Whether you think AliExpress is safe to shop on or not, you are just as responsible for protecting your online data as the online platform.
Here are a few ways you can enhance your online security when shopping on AliExpress:
- Check User Reviews – Always check out the seller’s reviews. Are the products good? Are the buyers satisfied? Were there any issues?
- Check Item Reviews – While the seller might have a good reputation, some goods might not be as good as others. So always check individual product reviews, too.
- Use Safe Payment Options – Always opt for secure payment getaways like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Another good option is a self-destructing virtual card. Avoid paying with a debit card or bank transfer.
- Employ Additional Security Tools – Even if you follow all the suggestions above, external cyber security software can further improve your security. By using a secure VPN, like NordVPN or an all-in-one TotalAV antivirus, you can block spammy ads, hide your real IP address, and encrypt your internet traffic, making it virtually unreadable to third parties.
AliExpress Reviews and Complaints
Whenever you shop online, it’s a good idea to check reviews of the items you’re planning to buy, as well as the reputation of retailers (and individual sellers). Checking AliExpress on Trustpilot reveals an interesting mix of reviews, with the site attaining a “poor” score of 2.7 stars.
One recent review from Melanie Cooper in Great Britain considered the AliExpress customer support “unskilled” and awarded it just 1 star.
Similarly, Mickey Matosh complained about receiving the wrong order and having to “jump through hoops to try and get it resolved!”
On the other hand, AliExpress gets its share of good reviews, too. Gen from the US enjoys using AliExpress for home décor.
While this review is very reassuring, I did notice that the majority of 5-star reviews are quite vague and don’t mention any specific products. This raises the question of whether these positive comments are real or just an attempt to improve the overall score on Trustpilot.
Conclusion
AliExpress is a safe and legitimate marketplace with many happy customers worldwide. It’s a great place to be if you’re actively looking for bargains, as long as you’re vigilant about shady sellers and counterfeit products.
While the website does a fairly good job at protecting its users, it’s important to approach AliExpress carefully. To protect your personal information, use secure payment methods and consider additional security tools like TotalAV or NordVPN.
