The first time I ventured inside the web of AliExpress was in February 2019. I was looking for affordable summer dresses to wear on our upcoming vacation to Croatia and was too early to shop for summer clothes in Canada. So I decided to shop on AliExpress and see if it’s worth the time and money. Like anyone who wasn’t familiar with AliExpress, I was skeptical about this move since I heard that it takes a long time for orders to arrive if they ever do.
But what the heck? I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. I fell in love with two boho dresses and three sets of earrings. After reading the seller and product reviews, I felt confident to click on the “add to cart” button, placed the order, then waited. A few weeks went by before the dresses arrived in a plastic envelope. And you know what? They were adorable! Not just that, the product quality wasn’t bad, or at least, not as bad as I had thought it would be. Forward to 2021, I still love to wear them in summer and receive many compliments from strangers. To my disappointment, though, the earrings never arrived!
This year, I went back to shop on AliExpress for some viral fashion goods like these comfy slippers, these resin rings and this boho necklace. I speculated it would take months for the items to arrive due to the pandemic. However, to my delight, shipping was much faster than in 2019, and sellers were quick to respond to inquiries. More importantly, the items were well made, matched the displayed photos, even some of my followers and friends ended up buying the same items.
So I believe I figured out how to shop on AliExpress without disappointment
And now it’s time to share my insights with you. I will walk you through my tips and personal advice on what to look for when shopping on this massive marketplace.
Register your AliExpress account
To shop on AliExpress safely, you must first register an account with AliExpress. It’s the only way you can order from their marketplace sellers. Plus it’s a secure way to track your orders and shipping details. There are different options to register an account, either with your Facebook, Google, Twitter or Apple accounts.
As well, there are two ways to shop on AliExpress: on the web or on AliExpress App. The choice is yours. I usually prefer to shop on my laptop to get closer looks at the items that interest me. The App is a great way to look for ideas, deals and even coin games.
Welcome Coupon
Click on the box below to claim your new user gifts coupon where you can shop for as low as $0.01 US deals.
Select your language and currency preferences
The next step is to select the country where you reside, your language preference, and the local currency. You can find these options (web option) in one tab which is located right below the top promo header and to the left of the account tab (on the right corner). If you prefer to shop from AliExpress app, these options are located at the top of the app screen. Just click on the setting button to make the selection.
Browsing and searching for products
AliExpress may appear overwhelming at first but it’s one of the most advanced marketplaces you’ll ever find for online shopping. It has a bunch of great features to help you source the right goods, check seller history, number of followers, and product ratings. It can also suggest items based on your browsing activities, lists weekly deals, top-ranking products, and promos.
AliExpress app is loaded with incredible features including games to collect coins, Price drops, freebies, free shipping, coupon pals, bonus buddies, fresh finds, live sessions and style zone.
You can simply browse by typing in the search button a product name, such as “black dress”. Or you can select by category such as fashion, decor, electronics, toys, office supplies, beauty, etc.
Examples
Here are examples of items I bought from AliExpress and love!
How to know if the seller is trustworthy
In this day and age, one must be mindful of online shopping on any website, including Amazon and AliExpress. The two retailers are enormous marketplaces where you can find countless sellers – the good, the bad, and the ugly! As well, this goes for every online store or website that pops on every corner of your computer and mobile screens. You just never know if they are legit and reliable. Yet what I like about AliExpress is that they provide as much transparency as possible based on the data collected from store orders, reviews, followers, and likes. Let me show you how to rank a seller’s reliability:
When you click on an item you like, you’ll be directed to the product page where you can review seller ranking including:
- Percentage of positive feedback: The higher the percentage the better but do not accept less than 90%.
- Number of followers: Again a store is more reliable if they have a large following and fans.
- To brand badge: The badge means it’s a popular seller or brand.
- You can see the year the seller opened, their contact and visit the store.
Should you shop on AliExpress?
So you found something you like on AliExpress and are not sure if you should order it. What should you look for before adding it to your cart and placing the order? First, remember that AliExpress is a marketplace curating white labels and manufacturer products, meaning that what you buy isn’t a private label. As a result, you shouldn’t expect the quality to be similar to a private label where the retailer or designer stipulates the manufacturing process, quality, material, and end product. Having said that, you can still find great deals and well-made items on AliExpress, similar to Amazon, Shein, H&M and budget retailers.
Here’s how to rank a product on AliExpress
I still check product reviews and comments even if the seller has exceptional rankings. And here’s what you should look for:
- Star rating: you’ll find this under the product descriptions. The rating is based on average buyers’ reviews. And this feature never fails to tell the story, the true story.
- Number of orders: a popular product is a trending item and is indicative of its reliability. If a product has a 5-star rating, and only 2 orders, it’s best to search for other sellers to get a better picture of rating. If the product has 4.8 star rating and hundreds or thousands of orders, the rating is more accurate and reliable.
- Reviews: always read reviews from buyers because they share their experience and input about product quality, material and size. They’ll tell you if you if the item fits right, if it works in your country (electronics are an example) and if it has a reasonable life.
- Buyers photos: I always check buyers photos to make sure the item looks is identical to the seller’s published photos. In fashion, when looking at buyers photos wearing an item, you can tell if it looks good or cheap. Often sellers use unauthorized product images from social media influencers and private labels to lure buyers into ordering a fashion item. That’s why I always review photos submitted by customers and buyers.
Payment methods on AliExpress
There are several ways to pay on AliExpress which include credit card, PayPal, Apple and Google Pay. There’s also the option to use AliPay in some countries but all countries support some payment options. Check the payment section for more details.
How does shipping work on AliExpress?
Shipping options differ according to seller and shipping destination. Some sellers offer free shipping or you may be eligible for free shipping promotions. But the cheapest option is the AliExpress Standard Shipping method with an estimated delivery window of 3 to 4 weeks. That doesn’t mean you will receive it within the timeframe as there could be some unforeseeable delays in sea or customs. AliExpress Premium Shipping is expensive and delivers within 9 to 20 days. Or you can choose private couriers such as FedEx and DHL if you need the item within 2 weeks. You do have to bite the bullet on premium shipping and courier prices! They can be more expensive than the item you plan to buy.
Can you buy several products and pay only one shipment?
On my latest order, the sellers used “Combined Delivery” which was the first time and a delightful experience. More and more sellers are using this breakthrough delivery option to save on shipping costs and gives priority to your order that makes it arrive sooner.
Does AliExpress add custom fees?
No, it doesn’t. These fees are governed by your country’s customs regulations. You can review some FAQs on the AliExpress website but you are better off checking your country’s customs website.
How do you settle disputes, cancellation or refunds?
On AliExpress, you can resolve a dispute either by contacting the seller open a dispute with AliExpress. Sometimes contacting the seller first can speed up the resolution. They may offer you a replacement instead of a refund for a missing or damaged item. If you can’t resolve it with the seller, then open a dispute here.
Once you open a dispute, you should submit evidence and request a refund. The seller will make a proposal which you can either accept or refuse. In the latter case, AliExpress intervenes and offers a resolution. You would receive a refund from AliExpress within days and by the same payment method, you used for the order.
