Any OzBargainers Have Successfully Received a Full Refund from Aliaba?

Lpodkor on 06/11/2019 - 22:43
Last edited 07/11/2019 - 09:08 by 1 other user

I wonder if any OzBargainers have successfully received a full refund from Aliaba?

I purchased a product from Alibaba that turned out to be a lemon as it never worked. After a long and hard negotiation with the seller, the seller told me to send the product back and agreed to reimburse shipping cost.

The seller received the product but now refusing to reimburse my $344 shipping cost and completely ignoring my messages.

I also opened a dispute in Alibaba and provided all conversation with the seller and evidences but Alibaba didn't seem to care much as this has been going on for 40 days already. I even paid through Alibaba trade assurance but didn't seem to do anything either.

The only chance I have is to dispute through my Visa Buyer protection which I don't want to do it as the seller will never pay back my shipping cost.

It's really disappointing and frustrating so wonder if any of OzBargainers have had issues successfully resolved with Alibaba before and any tips?

Related Stores

Alibaba.com

• 

  Kangal on 06/11/2019 - 22:52

  +5

  What item was it?
  How did you pay for it?
  Proof of purchase for shipping?
  Was the seller made aware of the high costs?
  Hotel?
  Trivago.

  • 

    podkor on 06/11/2019 - 23:09

    It's a complete set of power drill that I paid by Visa credit card.

    I even asked the seller if they wanted me to use their preferred courier but they just told me to use my local courier.

    When I purchased, I also paid $195(USD) for shipping.

• 

  AdosHouse on 06/11/2019 - 23:20

  +4

  You have in total about $600 for shipping??? Holy crap. What was so good about these power drill that you were happy to have such a risky transaction?

• 

  cloudy on 06/11/2019 - 23:44

  +9

  Alibaba isn't very good at helping buyers from experience.

  My lesson learnt with them is buy $2 cables from them, nothing over $10 unless im willing to risk it.

  • 

    podkor on 06/11/2019 - 23:49

    +1

    I have realised that after dealing with them. I thought of Alibaba like Amazon or Ebay but it seems quite opposite.

    • 

      Thrawn on 07/11/2019 - 00:00

      +4

      Alibaba is the B2B platform. AliExpress is the consumer platform, similar to Amazon/eBay

• 

  Cheeper on 07/11/2019 - 01:18

  +3

  They told you to choose the carrier of your choice for a reason… they had no intention of paying for it and knew they could get away with it.
  Have they refunded the cost of the product?

  • 

    podkor on 07/11/2019 - 09:07

    No, they have not. they have read my message but do not even bother replying. Alibaba is not trying anything but delaying the dispute for over 40 days.

    • 

      Cheeper on 07/11/2019 - 11:28

      You wont see the shipping cost refunded. They know you cannot do anything about it. They do it every day.
      I would be very surprised if you see the refund for the product as well.
      They may offer to ship it back to you… but you pay for the shipping first.
      Grey market… how it works is… you want something at a crazy discount.. you must be willing to accept that it has no warranty, no usable warranty that is.

      • 

        podkor on 08/11/2019 - 00:28

        I was too naive to believe the seller's words as Alibaba dispute officer even recommended to send the product back on seller's expense.

• 

  myusername on 07/11/2019 - 05:50

  So did you purchase it from Alibaba or Aliexpress?

  • 

    podkor on 07/11/2019 - 09:04

    Alibaba

• 

  apsilon on 07/11/2019 - 08:07

  +3

  Do the Visa dispute. They're never going to pay you back anyway so cut your losses. Something back is better than nothing back.

  • 

    podkor on 07/11/2019 - 09:07

    It seems like a wise option. Thanks!

• 

  Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 07/11/2019 - 08:46

  Raise a dispute with your CC. Stick to eBay in future. Or Bunnings.

  • 

    podkor on 07/11/2019 - 09:09

    Yeah, I have learnt a hard lesson!

  • 

    tryagain on 07/11/2019 - 09:54

    +2

    or Aliexpress, Alibaba is for business to business so not much in the way of consumer protection. I have had a number of refunds from Aliexpress without any issues.

• 

  Thrawn on 07/11/2019 - 12:59

  The idea for Alibaba is that businesses buy large quantities to resell or use as a main input to their business. When the seller see you buy 1 unit, they're basically treating it as a test sample purchase. They're hoping to sell thousands more to you. Since you don't like the test sample, the seller aren't going to care about you anymore and would rather chase big fish elsewhere.

  Thats also why you have to arrange your own shipping because usually these sellers customers are big buyers with their own shipping channels. They don't usually have an extensive supply chain process. They're just a factory and expect the buyer's shipper to pick up container loads at their warehouse.