Aliexpress is an online retail store that sells a lot of items. It was launched in 2010 in China as a member of the Alibaba Group. Even though Aliexpress is a Chinese company, it serves customers in different parts of the world. So, no matter where you are, you can access Aliexpress and make a lot of purchases from the site.
But then, is Aliexpress legit? Does it truly deliver items to buyers? Can it be trusted? What do people say about Aliexpress? How positive are Aliexpress reviews? Does Aliexpress sell genuine items? Should you do your next shopping there?
You know, these questions can go on and on because you will want to be sure that Aliexpress is legit before you trust it enough to buy items there. But you shouldn’t worry so much because this Aliexpress review will answer most of the questions for you. So, take this journey with us while we look around this online retail store to discover what it offers and whether you should go for your next shopping there.
How Does Aliexpress Work?
Since Aliexpress is an online store that sells different kinds of items for homes and personal uses, you can visit the site to buy the things you want and need. This means that the site works the same way every other online store does. In other words, if you visit Aliexpress, you will have to search for what you want, place an order, pay for it, and it will be delivered to your home or the shipping address you submitted.
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But, as of the time of writing this Aliexpress review, you will have to open an account with the site before you can make any purchase there. So, you can’t buy anything at AliExpress as a guest shopper, but you will be welcome to look around the store.
You can also sell items at Aliexpress if you wish. But to do that, you will need to open an account as a seller. That is, you can’t use the same account for placing an order to sell an item at the store. If you want to become a seller at AliExpress, you should click the “Sell on AliExpress” button on the main menu and then follow the prompt. Note that this button is on the website’s homepage.
In this AliExpress review, we are going to focus on purchasing items on the website. Of course, the same type of items you buy there is the one you can sell. All the same, if you want to sell at this online store, you should visit the website to find out more.
Is Aliexpress Legit?
You must have noticed from this AliExpress review that there is something good about this store. In the first place, it is registered with the government of China and it has been operating since 2010. These are signs that AliExpress is not a scam. I mean, if AliExpress is a scam, it wouldn’t have bothered registering with the Chinese government, would it? And, the store would have closed down a long time ago because people would have said bad things about it. But then, all the AliExpress reviews we could find online have something nice to say about the store.
The truth is that AliExpress is not a scam and can never defraud you with your money. So, if you want to buy any of the lovely inexpensive items you found there, you can go ahead and create your AliExpress account today.
Subscription and Subscription Plans at Aliexpress
AliExpress does not have a paid subscription plan. As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, if you want to use this online store for your regular shopping, you must have an account with the site but you won’t pay a dime for it. So, you shouldn’t hesitate to open an account at AliExpress if that’s your wish.
Another thing about AliExpress is that you can view and select the items in its store even if you don’t have an account there. That is, you can begin your shopping process even before you create your account on the website. So, if you want to understand how the site works, you can go ahead and do some window shopping. You can even select items and add them to your cart if you want. However, when you want to checkout and pay for those items, you will have to open an account. This is to say that you must have an account with AliExpress before you can shop at the online store.
Things You Can Buy at Aliexpress
As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can buy different kinds of things at the site. Maybe more items would have been added to the store’s stock by the time you visit the site but let’s use this section of the AliExpress review to discover what the store sells as of the time of writing this.
So, here are some of the things you can buy at AliExpress.
Women’s Fashion
At AliExpress, you can buy different kinds of clothing and fashion accessories for women. These include dresses, pants, blouses, shirts, hoodies, abayas, hijabs, and so on. You can also buy outfits and accessories for weddings and other special events. If you want to buy underwear, swimwear, and any kind of accessory you need, you will find it at the site too.
Men’s Fashion
As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can buy men’s outfits, such as tops, bottoms, sportswear, suits, blazers, jackets, underwear, loungewear, and accessories at the online store.
Phones & Telecommunications
Yes, you can buy phones at AliExpress. The phones there as of the time of writing this AliExpress review are from good brands, such as iPhone, Huawei, Samsung, Infinix, Realme, and so many others. You can also buy phone cases and covers, chargers, cables, and other phone accessories. If you are looking for phone parts and any other form of communication device, you will find them at AliExpress too.
Computer, Office & Security
You can buy computers and computer components at AliExpress. As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, laptops, tablets, laptop bags and cases, tablet bags and cases, security devices (such as CCTV and other security cameras), printers (including 3D printers), storage devices, and so on, are available at the online retail store.
Consumer Electronics
At AliExpress, you can buy TVs, projectors, drones, headphones, MP3 players, smart electronics, cameras, game consoles, and so on.
Jewelry & Watches
Aliexpress has fine jewelry, wedding jewelry, men’s and women’s watches, and other kinds of jewelry in stock. You can also buy DIY beads at the store.
Home, Pet & Appliances
At AliExpress, you can buy home décor, pet products, home textiles, crafts, storage devices, bathroom items, household cleaning equipment, furniture, and many other equipment and products for your home, garden, and office.
Bags & Shoes
You can buy different kinds of shoes for men and women at AliExpress. Of course, the shoes there include casual shoes, sports shoes, boots, heels, flats, sneakers, and loafers. For your bags, you should check AliExpress for luggage, wallets, briefcases, passport covers, cosmetic bags, and other kinds of bags.
Toys, Kids & Babies
This section of the AliExpress website is where you can find items for your children. You can also buy items for maternity here. Note that some of the toys you will buy here use batteries and can be remote-controlled. You can also buy educational materials (not books, though) here for your children.
Outdoor Fun & Sports
This section is where you should visit if you want to buy items for fishing, hiking, cycling, hunting, swimming, and other outdoor activities. If you need equipment and facilities for bodybuilding and other fitness activities, you will find them under this section too.
Beauty, Health & Hair
You should visit this section of the AliExpress website for your wigs, weaves, makeup, hair care products, skincare items, and healthcare equipment. You can also buy adult items and personal care products here.
Automobiles & Motorcycles
No, as of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can’t buy a car or motorcycle at the online retail store. But you can buy auto replacement parts and tools from this section of the site. You can also buy car electronics and accessories here. If you need motorcycle accessories and parts, you can find them under this section too.
Tools & Home Improvement
As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can buy different kinds of manual and electric tools, tool parts, indoor and outdoor lighting, home improvement equipment and facilities (including solar power), and smart family devices.
How to Place an Order at Aliexpress
It is very easy to place an order at AliExpress. If you have been shopping at online stores before, you can use the same process of ordering items in those stores to purchase items at AliExpress. But, let’s look at the steps you should take to order items from this store.
So, as of the time of writing this AliExpress review, these are the steps you should take to make your purchases on the site:
- First of all, you need to log into your account before you start shopping. If you don’t have an account yet, you should create one right now. But if you want to look around first before opening an account with the site, you can go ahead and start picking up items for your cart. You can open your account when you want to check out. Nevertheless, let’s continue with this section of the AliExpress review by assuming you already created your account and that you have logged in
- Select (by clicking) the category of items you want to buy. You will find all the categories listed on the main menu on the AliExpress website’s homepage. Of course, if you check the section of this AliExpress review that listed the items you can buy in this store, you will have an idea of the things available at the store.
- After selecting the category of the items you want to buy, you will find the list of available products under it. You should then search through the hundreds of products on the list. As you do this, remember to also look out for the prices, discounts, and shipping options available for each of the items. This is important because AliExpress is good at helping shoppers to buy good items at discounted prices. Some sellers offer free shipping bonuses too. You should look out for that as well. So, when you finally find any of the items that you like, you can then go to the next stage.
- Select the item you like so you can visit its order page. There, you should check for the product description (please scroll down the page to find the real pictures of the item), the different sizes and colors available, all the designs it comes in, the discounts available, and the shipping methods offered by the seller. If you love what you see there, you should click “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart”, depending on what you want to do. But we are going to assume that you are done shopping and want to pay for the item. In that case, you should click the button that says “Buy Now”.
- So now that you have clicked the “Buy Now” button, you will be taken to the checkout page. Here, you will provide your shipping address and payment details. After that, you will pay for the item and then wait for it to be delivered. Note that you can track your parcel from this moment until it is delivered to you. You will find the tracking number on the order page. Besides, the vendor will send you a payment confirmation email and notify you when your purchase is shipped. By the way, remember you can’t get to this level of placing an order at AliExpress if you didn’t log into your account. So, create your AliExpress account right now so it will be easier for you to shop there.
Payment Methods Accepted at Aliexpress
As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can pay for the items you bought at the store with credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, wire transfers, Carte Blue, Webmoney, PayPal, and so many others.
The good thing about AliExpress is that it considers the payment methods available in every country that can access and buy items from its website. That way, it makes sure it provides payment methods that every unrestricted buyer can use. So, you should go ahead and check the site to find out the best payment method you can use there. Trust me, the store has you covered.
Another good thing about AliExpress is that it allows the use of different local currencies. This means you may be lucky to find your own local currency accepted on the website. You will also notice that the items are listed in your local or preferred currencies on the online site. However, as of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can use US Dollars, Euros, Pound Sterling, Canadian Dollars, and so many others to pay for your items.
Shipping Methods
Shipping is another interesting thing about AliExpress. As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can choose different kinds of shipping methods for the delivery of your goods. The available shipping methods include DHL, FedEx, UPS, DHL Global Mail, China Post Registered Air Mail, EMS, TNT, TOLL, ePacket, e-EMS, China Post Ordinary Small Packet Plus, China Post Air Parcel, Hong Kong Post Air Parcel, Hong Kong Post Air Mail, Swiss Post, Singapore Post, Sweden Post, Russian Air, Special Line-YW, S.F. Express, and so on.
Note that you can enjoy free shipping at AliExpress too. But that depends on the seller. When you search for items, you will discover those that offer free shipping. Some sellers will also offer you free shipping if you buy a specified quantity of products from them. But then, if you go for an item that doesn’t attract a free shipping bonus, you will find the amount you will pay for its delivery when you are about to checkout. But remember, the type, size, weight, and quantity of items you bought as well as the shipping method you selected will determine how much you will pay as the shipping cost.
Returns and Refund Policy at Aliexpress
As of the time of writing this Aliexpress review, you can return an item you bought at this online store. Some of the products you will meet there have a warranty, which covers you after you purchase it. I will advise you to go for such items because you will enjoy a hitch-free return process if you buy what doesn’t meet the seller’s descriptions.
The general return policy at AliExpress is that buyers have a right to return counterfeit items, damaged before delivery, below or different from the description of the seller, different from what the buyer ordered, and other issues that make the item eligible for a refund. However, to begin the return and refund process, you have to visit the order page of the product and begin a dispute. That way, you will attract the attention of the AliExpress management, who will follow up to make sure the seller refunds you.
One more thing, you will need to start this dispute before the order is finally closed. As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you have 15 days from the time of delivery to raise a dispute ticket. If you miss the period, you may not be able to ask for a refund (unless the item has a warranty).
Customer Support
As of the time of writing this AliExpress review, you can only contact the online store through email. But the interesting thing here is that you cannot contact the store directly. You will first have to interact with the seller you bought the item from. However, if the seller does not respond to you after a reasonable time, you can escalate the issue by opening a dispute. You will find how to do this on the order page for the concerned item.
Let’s Wrap It Up
This AliExpress review has shown that this online retail store is one of the go-to places for purchasing different kinds of items for personal use, home, office, garden, and so on. You would have also discovered that the store is registered and has been operating for more than a decade. It also has a return policy that is fair to both buyers and sellers. This shows that AliExpress is legit and can be trusted. So, if you find an item you love at the site, you should go and place an order.
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Forget eBay or Amazon! I have ordered over half a dozen items from them and every one of them has been of good quality and received in reasonable time, except for one from a battery store. The store had the nerve to refuse a refund even though I had not received it, but AliExpress was lightning fast in resolving the dispute and I had the refund on my card the very next day. Very pleased. I will continue buying from AliExpress.
The only weak part is that there is no customer service department or a human you can talk to. Their chat is woefully inadequate considering it is manned by a robot with some canned issues. Even their Facebok page is automated. They really need to improve this aspect.
I don't know how Aliexpress can be rated as good.
Their dispute process is a fraud and a joke. There is absolutely no customer service, what chat? it is impossible to get and their "virtual Eva" is useless.
There are a lot of good sellers, good products, usually well described, but once you have a problem, you can forget about it, your money gets stolen, there are only stupid people working in the dispute department.