First Time Buying on AliExpress- Is This Too Good to Be True?

Lgoodlife21 on 21/03/2023 - 13:20

Hi All, long time lurker here, first forum post.

I am a first time aliexpress user and came across some great deals for Tools. The seller doesn't have much feedback, its new store and also the description does not match the item. Do these seem to be legitimate?

168-Piece Full Tool Set for only $8.74
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005242907231.html

120 Pcs Home Tool Kit with Drill 20V Power Drill Cordless only $8.74
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005167720451.html

Any general advice on how not to get ripped off on Aliexpress will be highly appreciated! Thanks!

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  • Drakesy on 21/03/2023 - 14:02

    You're buying a tin plate… just need to read the description.

    Aliexpress won't stick up for you either.

    • 12
  • trustnoone on 21/03/2023 - 13:31

    Seems off to me, the description talks about selling you a "tin plate" with sticky side to it. Nothing about the tool set or drill. Infact they both talk about the tin plate which you see in the second photo.

    • 9
    • azonki on 22/03/2023 - 08:55

      Yes. You are buying a sign.
      Read the description.

      • 3
    • Dr Phil on 22/03/2023 - 10:52

      Correct!
      Its a case of wrong photo/ main heading

      OP will end up with a tin plate

      happens on eBay as well sometimes

      • 0
  • CodeXD on 21/03/2023 - 13:33

    As long as you are after this tin plate

    Package include :

    • 1 × Tin Sign

    • 2 × Double-sided Tape

    • 8
  • Roman Sandstorm on 21/03/2023 - 14:23

    Maybe I've been lucky, but I have purchased hundreds of items off AliExpress over the years, mostly without any problems.

    Of course…. some clothing sizes are… misrepresented, let's say.

    And some cables/electronic items/etc are just crap and poorly made.

    But, for sometimes a fifth of the equivalent price I'm prepared to accept an occasional 'Ali tax'.

    And so many items are absolutely identical, down to the package and description, of 'regular' items you will find on Amazon, or in $2.00 shops, or even at Bunnings or K-Mart. Usually just without the local branding.

    However…. in this case it seems you have hit upon a newish internal Ali scam. It can be quite common to initially show the price for a single item, instead of the pair expected, or for the basic model instead of the deluxe, or for the awful colour instead of the nicer one. But usually there is a drop-down to select the desired item. In this case the advertiser is blatantly showing a 'bait & switch' item as the primary. Looking in the description below it clearly shows a tin plate, 20 cm x 30 cm as the item, but the picture and description have power tools set. And there is no drop-down to select the tools (which should be for $45, or whatever).

    Likewise, many of the links in this listing also lead to seemingly-attractively priced items, but on examination are not real.

    I expect Ali will get onto this new scam in due course.

    Like eBay, and Amazon, there are good and bad traders on AliExpress. I have had some outstanding ones, who have simply sent replacement items when the originals were broken/wrong size, etc, and who conducted very pleasant email conversations. Others… well, not so much.

    But when things cost so much less I'm prepared to cut some slack.

    I suggest you start small. Cables, knickers, kitchen utensils, simple toys, etc. After all, there is a thrill to getting those grey horrid-smelling plastic bags at the parcel locker.

    • 6
  • horseshoe on 21/03/2023 - 14:06

    It's a tin plate for sure.

    This may be a difficult habit to break, but sort by price: lowest to highest is useless on AliExpress. Unless you want to browse through all the scams first.

    • 4
  • mskeggs on 21/03/2023 - 14:38

    This isn't a scam, they are selling a picture of the toolkit printed on a tin plate.

    Not sure why anybody would want that, so I presume any sales are because people thought they were getting the tools.
    It is like the iphone box sales on eBay. The picture shows the phone but the description is for an empty box.
    No help if you get tricked because they sent what they said they would.

    • 4
    • trapper on 21/03/2023 - 17:11

      The picture shows the phone but the description is for an empty box.

      In this case though the titles say

      "2023 New New Mechanics Tools Kit and Socket Set 168-Piece Full Set"

      "New 2023 120 Pcs Home Tool Kit with Drill 20V Power Drill Cordless Set 25+1 Clutch Tool Sets for Household Tool Set Metal Wall"

      so this is absolutely a scam.

      • 1
    • Ricky Jones on 21/03/2023 - 17:51

      Looks like a blank piece of tin

      • 0
  • Archi on 21/03/2023 - 15:41

    Any general advice on how not to get ripped off on Aliexpress will be highly appreciated! Thanks!

    read the description it tells you what you are paying for.

    • 3
  • ozbs25 on 21/03/2023 - 13:39

    I'm pretty sure that first picture is a Dewalt 168 PC Mechanics Tools Set with the main Dewalt labels photoshopped out. Can you make out Dewalt on any of the handles in their picture?

    Edit: I think I found the original image they photoshopped too. All the reflections match up.

    • 2
  • trapper on 21/03/2023 - 17:07

    AliExpress is great in general but there are a lot of scams on there like this.

    Another trick sellers will do is to put multiple items in one listing, with one being a very cheap accessory. This way they come up as the cheapest result in a search, but then when you click through it suddenly costs more. Makes it really hard to find the best price for an item.

    • 1
  • goodlife21 on 22/03/2023 - 09:40

    Thanks so much everyone for your wisdom and for educating me!
    I would have been fuming if I got the tinplate instead of the tools after weeks of waiting.

    As most you have suggested, I need to go by description and not the images/titles of the listing. Also thanks for all the additional tips

    • 1
    • kmwa on 22/03/2023 - 12:17

      Also read the reviews of the item, buyers will say if the item is fraudulent, give tips about using it, and post photos of the actual item as received.
      You can buy really good cheap stuff from Aliexpress, and it's always a lovely surprise when the envelope arrives two months after you ordered it and you have no idea what's inside until you open it.

      • 1
      • trapper on 22/03/2023 - 16:28

        and it's always a lovely surprise when the envelope arrives two months after you ordered it and you have no idea what's inside until you open it.

        This is the best part!

        • 0
        • Roman Sandstorm on 23/03/2023 - 14:02

          Yes, and the stink of those grey plastic packages… That is Pavlovian-imprinted in my brain now.

          • 0
  • Nugs on 21/03/2023 - 13:33

    'comoware' drill, not commieware
    .

    • 0
  • I Smell Pennies on 21/03/2023 - 13:56

    Just be careful. I've seen some scam sellers on there that initially look very legitimate initially

    • 0
    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 21/03/2023 - 13:58

      look very legitimate initially

      this has red flags out the wazoo from the get go though haha

      • 0
  • lostgoat on 21/03/2023 - 14:10

    Somehow I think we know the quality not going to be crash hot hehe . A bit like Anko Kmart crap /

    • 0
  • Protractor on 21/03/2023 - 15:05

    Just read ( R-E-A-D ) the actual listings.
    Aliexpress sellers like this, hope all buyers don't.
    'sounds to good to be true' alarm bell was designed for sites like Aliexpress.

    • 0
  • Flying Ace on 21/03/2023 - 15:27

    If you don't read the description, you're about to buy a 20 x 30cm tin plate.

    • 0
  • Reverse Snorkel on 21/03/2023 - 15:29

    Aliexpress is ok. I've gotten lots of bits for my 3D printer from there. Just comes on the slow boat from China most of the time.

    Alibaba is ok if you like to buy in bulk on items. I'm currently importing some scooters from there. I'll see how they go. It's not B2B buying style.

    • 0
  • CrispyChrispy on 21/03/2023 - 15:45

    Yes, as the others have said, that is a tin plate. Not an actual tool set.

    In general with anything AliExpress/Banggood, stick with the reputable sellers with lots of feedback or followers. Less chance of being stuffed over, though AliExpress support is helpful most of the time in the occurrence where you do get a dud.

    • 0
  • gbinitt on 21/03/2023 - 15:49

    It's called clickbait. Enjoy the picture frame.

    • 0
  • lostgoat on 21/03/2023 - 15:52

    Ok then why in the hell did OP put a pic frame up here a bargain ? lol

    Guerrilla marketing for em .

    • 0
  • rumblytangara on 21/03/2023 - 16:38

    Ahaha, what have you got to lose- $8?

    If you get something, great. Even if it's crap, it's a cheap learning experience.

    And no, I would not buy either of these. They're probably garbage. But it's hard to imagine being seriously 'ripped off' here.

    Edit: I just scrolled down, and both are clearly database errors.

    • 0
  • kiwiyonip on 21/03/2023 - 17:17

    Aliexpress is great, backed by Alibaba, you just need to buy from seller that sold multiple products with positive reviews. The downside is returning a faulty product, you'll be lucky to find a decent seller that will accept returns/replacement. I've purchased so many things from that website, took at least 3 weeks to deliver.

    • 0
    • trapper on 22/03/2023 - 16:26

      I've never been asked to return a faulty item yet.

      Just got refunded the cost including shipping.

      • 0
  • Ricky Jones on 21/03/2023 - 17:52

    Sales and marketing 101

    • 0
  • Waltervp on 22/03/2023 - 08:50

    Ive often been fooled by the ads when you think youre buying a product as pictured and described, for example a car, and only get the inner tube valve replacement rubber.. in hindsight the description was actually right. Unless they trap you, committ you and then change the ad later… but im pretty sure its me not readong carefully enough.

    • 0
  • BooYa on 27/03/2023 - 14:42

    AliExpress rating on Product Review is 1.4 out of 5 (based on over a thousand ratings and reviews).

    This should tell you what to expect from AliExpress generally (there will be good and bad sellers but the bad ones seem to be in a large majority):

    https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/aliexpress-com

    • 0
  • lostgoat on 21/03/2023 - 13:43

    What is the postage ? If they don't get you there I'm ordering 100 .

    • -2
  • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2023 - 13:47

    going by the 1 review i say go for it!

    Just like the photo is pretty 20 Feb 2023 05:11

    • -2
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