Ali Express seller "Xiaomi Online Store" - Asking for additional freight money?

Lsweetnipples on 17/04/2017 - 19:25
Last edited 17/04/2017 - 19:26

Have i missed something here?

Today i purchased a new phone from the Xiaomi Online Store at Ali Express.
Following what many other OZB users have
I paid an additional $16.90 AUD for DHL freight with tracking.

All seemed straight forward and my transaction went through and they took my money.
Then i receive an email from the seller asking for an additional $30 AUD because apparently i live in a remote area?
I have never in my life been asked for this before
Nor, did i see any such warning during the check out process.

They did provide a link for me to look at, and input my post code in, which says i am in a Remote Area
This is the link: http://raslist.dhl.com/jsp/first.jsp

I live 1 hour from a major town and have never come across this before, especially when i just paid $16.90 for DHL.

Is this a normal thing?

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Comments

  • Clear on 17/04/2017 - 19:33

    Never been asked before with DHL or in general? It's standard for an additional fee when people are in a remote area as DHL have to use a contractor.

    Perhaps ask if they can use a different courier?

  • sweetnipples on 17/04/2017 - 19:48

    They emailed me with 3 options.

    1: Pay an additional $30 AUD (not likely)
    2: Supply another address (have tried 2 other address's, both considered regional)
    3: They said they would send via SG Post and refund the freight difference when i receive the item.

    This last one makes no sense, as the other option was FREE SHIPPING
    So what difference is that? It is a Full Refund of the DHL amount isn't it?
    Or is SG Post different to their Free Freight option?

    Worst thing is, the purchase was rather expensive, so i want some kind of security, i choose DHL for this reason.
    No wonder Ali Express don't use PayPal

    If this was made apparent during the checking out process, i would have not purchased from this seller
    I saw no mention of it, or for me to check before proceeding.

  • jiberz on 17/04/2017 - 19:58

    They don't use paypal because they don't want to pay a commission to them. I have found every time I had a dodgy seller on aliexpress (happened a few times) I just started the claim thing and was refunded every time. As for the issue, you can put in a dispute and get the order canceled.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2017 - 00:19

      300+ items orders on aliexpress maybe 2 dodgy sellers all others have been good.

    • Clear on 18/04/2017 - 11:08

      They don't use Paypal because they own a the much larger competitor… AliPay.

  • JimmyF on 17/04/2017 - 20:34
    +3

    Option 4, cancel the order…

    • tomsco on 17/04/2017 - 20:39

      i had one ask for extra money once. I told him to cancel the order and they offered to waive the extra cost.

    • sweetnipples on 17/04/2017 - 20:48

      Thanks Level380, i would cancel the order, but from memory it is always a long winded process with extended refund times.
      They are more than happy to take your money in advance, but when it comes to refunds, seems the worlds technologies are switched off and you must wait 1 month for a refund :(

  • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 20:38

    I wonder if you can supply a convenient to you dhl depot address and do pickup from there? I bought my phone from that store a few weeks back, and ended up getting from the local depot rather than hang around home all day waiting for them to deliver.

    • sweetnipples on 17/04/2017 - 20:45

      Most things go to my local Post Office anyway (if i am not home)
      So i am guessing their nearest depot isn't any where near me.

  • Jalif on 18/04/2017 - 15:47

    I'd pay the extra for DHL.

    16.90 seems very low for the service they provide.

  • ScoMosas on 23/04/2017 - 22:21

    Xiaomi does not have any official store on Aliexpress.

    Read this

    My friend had another experience. During one of the sale he ordered with discounted price but then they demanded more money to deliver the phone. He sent email to offer the discount but they refused. Then he paid the extra amount and waited until they sent the phone. Once he received the phone he raised the case [that he did not receive the phone] with his credit card company and got all money back.

    I know it's not right practice but this is how you can handle the dodgy sellers.

    • sweetnipples on 25/04/2017 - 08:44
      +2

      Thank You nisang
      This has cleared up some issues.
      Interesting to know it is not an Official Xiaomi Store… Makes a lot of sense now.

      I ended up telling the store i would begin the Cancellation process (even though i hadn't done it yet)
      The next day they posted the item with DHL.

      What turns up remains to be seen

      My lesson in all this, is don't bother with these 2 Tier Non Australian distributed phones
      I would have been better off just buying a 2nd hand Samsung for the same price and got a far superior phone in the process.

  • sweetnipples on 27/04/2017 - 12:52

    Ok…. Now it gets worse.

    I had the option to Cancel the order, but what the Seller has done, is processed it as shipped (even though it is not shipped)
    He has emailed me saying its in the hands of the freight company and will not be sent until the extra shipping is paid (which was the MOST $$$$ option)

    What a total joke.

    People, never buy from "Xiaomi Online Store" EVER!!!!

    So now, i can't seem to cancel the order
    Nor can i open a dispute until i wait until the 21/06/2017
    What a total racket

    • tomsco on 27/04/2017 - 21:54

      Credit card dispute.

      • sweetnipples on 28/04/2017 - 04:36

        Australia Post Pre Paid VISA card, not sure i even have the option to dispute?

        • tomsco on 28/04/2017 - 08:47

          Possibly - I think you may be able to pursue it through VISA. How though? I'm not to sure.

          Here also suggests it's possible.

  • sweetnipples on 28/04/2017 - 13:27

    Now i get an email from them apologizing for my last 2 emails, that they are from a new person that doesn't know what he is doing.
    They are now deny what they have previously said.

    Bahahaha, what is this, Amateur Hour at Xiaomi Online Shore?

    • tomsco on 28/04/2017 - 14:03

      Lol, probs the one person - can't make up their mind.

      • sweetnipples on 28/04/2017 - 15:09

        Most likely, what a joke this system is.

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