AliExpress "Free Returns" Are No More

Lrobotics on 12/10/2023 - 21:54
Last edited 13/10/2023 - 13:19

Long time AE user and genuine believer in their place in our market. I've always accepted that their customer service is a roll of the dice at best, but whereas 15 Day "Free Returns" historically did mean just that, in that they would provide a "no questions asked" return label for such products to an Australian address, the Buyer is now expected to front the cost of shipping back to China for products marked "Free Returns".

To be clear, I'm not talking about change of mind returns on products not marked "Free Returns". Those are at the buyer's expense.

Also, be warned that their chat agents will suggest that you can claim the postage back after the fact, but it's total BS. The chat happens to cut out every time such a claim is made, and reference is made to refund of the original purchase price.

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Comments

  • Wiadro on 12/10/2023 - 21:56
    +6

    i dont think there has ever been a time I needed to return an item on aliexpress

    • USER DC on 13/10/2023 - 00:40
      +3

      Yeah its either
      1. Being used
      2. Collecting Dust
      3. Goes in trash bin

  • Bigpsol on 12/10/2023 - 22:10
    +3

    This is exactly what happened to me too. Exactly as @robotics described above. Seller refunds the amount for the item that was returned and tells you to contact AE service agent to get reimbursed for the shipping. Once you do the chat gets disconnected after some back and forth, them saying that the refund (of the actual item) has already processed. Sneaky, misleading behaviour. I also provided them with the Australia post receipt with the matching tracking number but no luck. Buy with caution. It's no longer free returns even if advertised as such.

    • robotics on 13/10/2023 - 08:47

      Thanks @Bigpsol yes that's been my experience. The simple fix here is to remove the "Free Returns" label. Returns are at the buyer's expense, and buy accordingly.

  • brendanm on 12/10/2023 - 23:00
    +4

    Trusting AliExpress

    NGMI

    You should assume the product will be of poor quality, with poor after sales service. Anything more than that is a win

    • robotics on 13/10/2023 - 08:45

      I'll give you the poor after sales service, hence the opening line in my post, but poor quality isn't a given. There are strategies to use the site to your advantage and mitigate the risk, which I've successfully done in all but a couple of cases, despite >50 purchases. This is just a PSA for people who rely on the Free Returns label which attaches to a minority of the products - it used to work and now doesn't.

  • valuer on 13/10/2023 - 15:17

    All good things come to an end.

  • payton on 24/10/2023 - 00:04
    -1

    Also, be warned that their chat agents will suggest that you can claim the postage back after the fact, but it's total BS. The chat happens to cut out every time such a claim is made, and reference is made to refund of the original purchase price.

    Even on the 0.01% chance it's actually honoured, AE states that they'll give you a coupon to the value of return postage paid, not actual cash.

    AE sent me a wrong model of an item (costs $80), contemplating whether I should just chargeback them thru Paypal or my C/C. I'm aware my acc might get blacklisted by AE but it doesn't sound too bad tbh

    • furyou on 25/10/2023 - 22:49
      +1

      I once got a coupon, but you loose bits due to forex, then you can't use discounts when you pay for the next item so you'll be out whatever special is on. AE is crap. Unless there's no other choice

      • payton on 25/10/2023 - 23:30
        -1

        AE 'coins' is also BS, I collected a weeks worth and found they only allow a tiny amount to be used per transaction, like 2% off the price. Supposedly there's 1-2 days in a year where you can cash out a bigger chunk to get higher discount % but F waiting that long.

        Unless there's no other choice

        Couldn't agree more. Polar opposite of Amazon despite Ali trying to pretend otherwise.

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