Warning about AliExpress

Lbteq on 26/07/2019 - 10:53

Unfortunately it seems AliExpress has changed their dispute approach considerably in favour of the seller. A warning to all.

I ordered a 30 pin Bluetooth receiver. It arrived DOA. I’ve provided every bit of evidence I can including a 2 minute video. They rejected first dispute as “evidence not relevant”. Appeal accepted but they only refund $7.74 of $23. Chat promised they’d fix it, raised a counter appeal, Rejected because “refund already provided” and “please be patient”. Chat said they’d fix it by the end of the chat then just offered to raise another counter appeal. Said no and I want to speak to manager. Can’t. “Do I want my case raised to the manager team”. “Is that the same as the counter appeal higher team?”. “Yes same team”. Now they’ve raised a compensation claim and a complaint and I just have to wait again. All over $23 item clearly DOA. They said they didn’t refund because “the item has some value” and “next time you should choose to return the item”. If they don’t fix it this time I’m closing my account.

Sad. It was great before. But given 5%-10% of items have some issue the site is too risky without solid customer protection.

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  • 18
    I have had refund problems with AliExpress
  • 24
    I have had no refund problems with AliExpress
Electrical & Electronics

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Comments

  • ronnknee on 26/07/2019 - 11:04

    Hmm that's worrying if it's true. I've previously raised disputes previously due to quality/item not as described problems genuinely and always got a full refund.

  • niknah on 26/07/2019 - 11:05

    I've only ever requested one refund for a similar amount. The product was working but it wasn't the same brand as described, it was a cheapo brand & didn't fit exactly. It was missing some plastic tools which I didn't really need anyways.
    It took two days from the request to the refund.

  • RM on 26/07/2019 - 11:06

    Bought a "smart" watch which said will work with a standalone SIM. It didn't…after all the evidence and video and few notes exchanged, they closed dispute without any information. Not buying another thing again from this site, if I do, will raise a dispute as not received.

  • zuuutoootuuu on 26/07/2019 - 11:09
    +1

    I had a similar experience 2 weeks ago except the item I purchased was $250. I won't use Aliexpress again.

  • HighAndDry on 26/07/2019 - 11:22

    I haven't had any recent refund issues… but I'm happy to take your advice and not risk any in the first place.

  • Helmuth on 26/07/2019 - 11:32
    +2

    The problem is that Aliexpress shows Aussie Post tracking. Aussie Post marks the damn parcel as received when the container lands in country, not when the package is delivered to me. So if the package gets lost between the airport/port and the receiver, the Sender says to AliExpress "See, it's delivered". You have to raise a case with Aust Post directly, get them to send you a letter, then explain the Aliexpress that Aust Post's "Delivered" status only means receipt of the container in country and nothing to do with your individual package.

    Three months later you might get some money back.

  • grimwagon on 26/07/2019 - 11:36

    Same problem with recent purchase. Entirely different product sent out, only partial refund provided.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/07/2019 - 12:05
    +2

    You take these risks if you buy from Aliexpress. The pricing difference reflects that.

    Stick with Amazon or eBay if you want some form of actual buyer protection.

  • moto on 26/07/2019 - 12:40
    +1

    I only buy an item on AliExpress if I seen the feedback comments and real photos of the feedback of the item I wanted to buy. I always sort by Orders first. I've never had a problem doing it this way. Unless they've sent the wrong colour they partial refund me. Never ever click you received the item or you won't be able to get further help like refunds.

    • altomic on 26/07/2019 - 13:16
      +1

      you can still raise a dispute after clicking item received. there is a 15(?) day window to do that.

  • try2bhelpful on 26/07/2019 - 17:24

    Interesting to know. I've only had one dispute and it was because the product was taking ages to turn up; they were happy to refund my money and then send me a new one. When the product finally turned up I notified them it had and they thanked me for my honesty. I was happy to have multiples so I just repaid the original cost.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2019 - 19:22
    +2

    I prefer delivery in 3 days not 8 weeks lol.

    • try2bhelpful on 26/07/2019 - 19:23

      me too. Not sure where it went to.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2019 - 19:36
    -3

    Your not a ozbargainer if you buy from ail express your a cheap arse who likes crap.

    • rogerm22 on 27/07/2019 - 11:26

      There's lots of top quality products sold on Aliexpress. It's not all crap.

    • ozboygsl on 27/07/2019 - 13:00

      Really? and who made you with your filth arrogance and questionable intellect the decider of is and isn't a Ozbarginer?

      • [Deactivated] on 27/07/2019 - 13:58

        wow touchy. take a mud bath lol.

  • bteq on 27/07/2019 - 00:13

    Latest response to my “compensation” claim:

    “We recently received your service request regarding order xxxxxxxx. We regret to inform you that we are unable to help you since the request raised beyond the buyer protection period.

    We suggest you to raise the 'Dispute' next time to ensure your refund been protected.”

    Of course I already did raise a dispute. They’re totally incompetent. Each response more ridiculous than the last.

    I’ve had a few disputes in the past and got a full refund every time, even where I’ve been sent a working item but not the item I ordered exactly. But it seems something has changed and I’m not the first to notice it based on forums and App Store reviews. Great shame. They used to be excellent at handling disputes quickly.

  • try2bhelpful on 27/07/2019 - 00:30
    +1

    Did you pay by credit card? Might be worth talking to your credit card people about what is a valid charge back. Have you tried to approach them through Facebook, making a nuisance there might get you visibility. Tell them if they pay for postage you will send back the DOA cable. This is why I prefer bricks and mortar stores rather than dealing with online places.

  • zzap on 27/07/2019 - 12:06

    This is what credit card chargebacks are for: you receive an item that’s DOA or not as described, you unsuccessfully try to resolve it with the merchant; raise it with your bank. You’ve already got “every piece of evidence” so you shouldn’t have any problem with the chargeback.

  • ozboygsl on 27/07/2019 - 13:02

    Haven't had a problem with aliexpress but certainly other merchants from china. And the problems are much more common now than a couple of years ago.

  • cfuse on 27/07/2019 - 17:40
    -1

    It's the global $2 store and you're getting exactly what you're paying for.

    If I care about quality and warranty I don't buy from aliexpress. For plenty of purchases that simply doesn't matter.

    Whether it's killing babies with tainted formula or ripping you off on a $1 cable it's all the same "méi bàn fǎ" attitude to the Chinese. It's a universal level of indifference to everything except one's own hustle. That's the culture and there's no changing it.

    In their defence, I don't see how you can pack a billion people into that small a space and not expect them to turn into massive pricks. All that before you even factor in the Commie backbiting politics (social ranking scores, anyone?). Is it any wonder why they behave as they do in the face of that?

    • ozboygsl on 28/07/2019 - 10:11

      ""not expect them" - yeah, nothing like a bit of generalisation.

      • cfuse on 28/07/2019 - 11:31

        Show me a single place anywhere in the world where increasing population density has made people nicer.

        I can't help it if you think this only applies to the Chinese. The expression of the competitive behaviour that results may change but the increase in competition always has a negative effect (at least from a humanist perspective).

        On the plus side, if that's the only criticism you have of what I've written then I'm pretty satisfied. Between Chinese shills and baizuo any comment other than "China #1!" usually gets a dogpiling from the shrilly offended.

  • dingdong3000 on 28/07/2019 - 11:34

    I've just had mine in my favour for full refund as recent as last week.

  • zionly on 03/08/2019 - 10:38

    Aliexpress is awful, bought a pair of prescription glasses from FONEX officail store and wearing it causing sore eyes and dizziness.

    The store has a lot of positive feedbacks and seems decent, really dont know how they get so many good feedbacks.

    filed a dispute and the seller demaand to have a optomotrist report of the glasses. eventually finding out that return postage cost more than the item itself““ never buy from them

    • rogerm22 on 04/08/2019 - 11:12

      That'a more of an issue with the individual seller rather than Aliexpress. There are good and bad sellers.

  • cloudy on 08/08/2019 - 22:30

    All the times I've bought from Aliexpress its for a amount I don't care about, under $3/4 bucks.

    Everything takes 2-3 months, you never know if it'll actually come, when it does, its probably wrong in some fashion. It's just a waste of space most of the stuff there.

    Now that im hearing the buyer protection is so bad it's a auto blacklist for me.

    • rogerm22 on 09/08/2019 - 11:20

      It should not take that long. If you use ePacket for delivery, then it usually takes around two weeks for delivery. When shopping, I have a look at multiple listings for an item, to find one with free or cheap ePacket shipping.

      Items sent with China Post take long to arrive, but it usually should be less than two months. I've bought 150 items over the last seven years and will continue to do so, as on the whole I find Aliexpress to be very reliable.

  • Stevesie76 on 12/08/2019 - 15:55
    +1

    My tip for Aliexpress is to use China Post or better. I've had 4 packages go missing recently with Yanwen Economic airmail. If it does arrive, it's really slow - up to 6 weeks. Aliexpress refunded very quickly on the missing packages, no complaints there. Raise an official dispute, don't cancel if the seller asks you to. Tell them you will purchase the product again but they don't have to reship if it eventually shows up.

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