Is AliExpress legit? Tips to shop safely and avoid scams

AliExpress is one of the world’s most popular eCommerce marketplaces, widely known as the Amazon of China. With affordable prices, a wide selection of products, and an easy-to-use interface, it’s the go-to choice for millions of shoppers. 

Due to its popularity, you might wonder whether is AliExpress legit or not. In this blog, we dive deep into AliExpress and how to use it safely while avoiding common scams.

Is AliExpress legit?

Yes. AliExpress is a legitimate online marketplace owned by eCommerce giant Alibaba Group. It works by allowing sellers and manufacturers from China to sell directly to online shoppers around the globe.

While AliExpress is a trusted platform, not all the sellers on it are. The platform is so large that you can find millions of sellers; some of them are reliable and some are not. So you just need to do your homework first to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable seller.

Is AliExpress safe?

People often wonder whether is AliExpress app safe for online shopping. AliExpress app is safe and allows secure payment methods while protecting user data. It also works with reputable shipping companies like DHL and China Post, so shipping is also reliable. 

However, due to the increasing number of third-party sellers on AliExpress, there’s always a risk of encountering bad actors. To help users stay safe while shopping, AliExpress implements a few safety measures to protect its users.

What are the safety measures on AliExpress?

There are safety and security features that make it safe to buy from AliExpress and help protect shoppers from scammers:

Buyer protection

One of the main AliExpress safety measures is buyer protection. Users shopping on the online marketplace can get help if they have any issues.

This includes orders not delivered, broken items, or missing items. The AliExpress buyer protection program has a period of 15 days after your product is delivered. During this period, you can open a dispute and request a refund if you have any issues with your order.

Payment handling

Another security feature is payment handling. When you pay on AliExpress, you don’t pay the seller directly. Instead, you enter your payment information on AliExpress and confirm the transaction. This means that you don’t need to share your personal details with the seller or engage with them in any way. 

Reasons why AliExpress is so cheap

If there’s one thing AliExpress is known for, it would be the ridiculously low prices that beat any Black Friday deal. Here are some of the reasons to explain why products on AliExpress are so cheap:

Made in China

Products made in China (PRC) often cost way less than in other regions like Europe and North America. On AliExpress, most of its products are made in countries that have low labor costs, such as China,  Vietnam, and Thailand. 

Manufacturers can sell directly

AliExpress is so cheap because factories can list products and sell them to shoppers. By cutting the middlemen, such as distributors and retailers, AliExpress allows manufacturers to offer lower prices directly to consumers.

Counterfeiting 

Unfortunately, fake products on AliExpress are common, which is why some products can appear too cheap even compared to other sellers on the same platform. When you’re shopping on AliExpress and find a deal that’s too good to be true, chances are it’s a counterfeiting product.

Other reasons

There are a few tricks sellers on AliExpress do to appear cheaper than others. This includes listing tricks, misleading discounts, and other tactics. 

Why is AliExpress reputation so bad?

There are a few reasons why AliExpress has a bad reputation and user reviews. The platform is used by over 150 million buyers worldwide, each with their own perspective and experience. When you have a very popular platform focusing on cheap products, the number of unsafe sellers and fake listings would naturally increase.

Moreover, some shoppers may have unrealistic expectations. While AliExpress isn’t known for top-notch quality, it often delivers value for what you pay.

Who can buy from AliExpress?

Everyone can use AliExpress. The marketplace supports over 220 countries and regions. The only exception is people living in mainland China, as they have to use a different platform. In addition, a limited number of countries may not be supported by the shipping lines used by AliExpress. 

Buying from AliExpress is easy. The interface is simple and there are many payment methods supported. You can pay for products using credit or debit card, PayPal, bank transfers, and many others.

Shop safely: How to avoid scams on AliExpress? 

Now that the doubts are cleared about whether is AliExpress legit or not, it’s time to learn some tips on how to shop safely. Here’s how to avoid AliExpress scams and buy from legitimate sellers:

Avoid products from popular brands 

One of the most well-known scams on AliExpress is listing products that claim to be from popular brands like Samsung or Apple. If you’re looking for products from such brands, it’s better to buy them from your local retailer. On AliExpress, products from popular brands are often fake, especially if the deal is too good to be true. 

Read reviews

One of the benefits of having millions of users on AliExpress is the amount of reviews you can find. If you’re on the fence about buying a product, check the reviews to see what other consumers have to say. If the product doesn’t have reviews, that’s usually a red flag. 

Beware of brushing 

Brushing scams occur when sellers create fake accounts to buy their own products and post fake reviews. To spot this scam, look for signs like reviews with similar wording, reviews posted within a short time frame, or reviews lacking detailed feedback. Always be cautious of unusually high ratings without meaningful content.

Check the listing, not just the pictures

One common trick on AliExpress involves showing a full product in the pictures but describing only a part of it in the listing. For example, a seller might display images of an entire speaker set, but the product description reveals it’s only for one speaker.

Does AliExpress have good quality products?

For better or for worse, AliExpress is known for its ultra-low prices, which means low-quality products. However, this is not the case for all sellers on the platform. With over 2 million sellers, there are quite a few manufacturers that focus on selling quality products and want to build a reputation.

If you’re looking to buy quality products at low prices from AliExpress, Alibaba, or directly from manufacturers, Lansil Global can help. As a leading China sourcing company, we help businesses get products from the best suppliers in China at 10-15% less than sourcing sites.

Reach out to Lansil Global today for a free consultation.

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