Is It Safe to Buy from AliExpress? Plus, How to Avoid Scams

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Plus, AliExpress's shipping, return, & refund policies

Co-authored by Tasmin Angelina Houssein and Devin McSween

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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Is AliExpress a legit website?

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Shopping Safely & Avoiding Scams

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Refund & Return Policies

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Shipping Times

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How does AliExpress protect buyers?

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Why is AliExpress so cheap?

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If you’ve seen the super low prices for clothing and electronics on AliExpress, you might be wondering if it’s a safe company to buy from. AliExpress is a legitimate online marketplace that allows merchants around the world to sell directly to consumers. However, it’s important to check seller reviews, read product descriptions carefully, and use a credit card to safely buy from AliExpress. In this article, we’ll explain what AliExpress is, how to stay safe when shopping on the site, how AliExpress protects buyers, and why they can offer such inexpensive prices.

Is AliExpress safe to use?

AliExpress is a legitimate business and is generally safe to buy from, though they do have a reputation for selling counterfeit products. Take precautions to stay safe and avoid scams, including reading the seller’s reviews, looking for free returns, avoiding too-good-to-be-true prices, and paying with a credit card.

Section 1 of 6:

Is AliExpress a legit website?

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AliExpress is a legit site, but use caution when shopping on it. AliExpress is a Chinese-based, online marketplace that was founded in 2010. It is similar to eBay in that individual merchants sell their products on the site. While AliExpress is a legitimate business and safe to buy from, it’s important to shop from reputable sellers and be wary of name-brand products to avoid potential scams.^{[1]
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- AliExpress is on the United States Trade Representative’s list of companies that notoriously sell counterfeit products. It’s common for merchants to market dupes as the real thing.^{[2]
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- AliExpress is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It has a 1-star rating and a D- BBB score.^{[3]
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  Better Business Bureau
  Nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting marketplace trustworthiness by educating consumers and reviewing businesses
  
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- AliExpress sells all kinds of products, including clothes, accessories, beauty products, home goods, and electronics.
- The merchants on AliExpress can be individual people or companies.
- While AliExpress is based in China, it ships internationally to countries all around the world.
- AliExpress is owned by Alibaba Group, which is a Chinese-based company that founded other online marketplaces like Taobao and Lazada.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Shop Safely and Avoid Scams on AliExpress

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Shop from sellers with good reviews and over 100 completed orders. Make sure the seller is trustworthy and fulfills their orders before you buy from them. Take a look at their star rating and read through their reviews to see if customers are satisfied with their purchases.^{[4]
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Federal Trade Commission
Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson

Go to source} Many AliExpress shoppers recommend buying from merchants only if they have over 100 completed orders.
- Pay special attention to reviews that include pictures, as this can help you see what the product actually looks like.
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Read the product description carefully. Images can be deceiving on AliExpress, so always read through the entire product description to know exactly what you’re buying. Some sellers might have pictures of a whole product but in the description, clarify that they only sell parts of the item.^{[5]
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- Some sellers also have a minimum order quantity, which means you have to order the minimum amount of that product.
Information about free returns and refunds is prominent on the product page. Ensuring that you’re eligible for a return and refund helps keep your money safe if you don’t like the product, it comes damaged, or the seller never ends up shipping it.^{[6]
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Be wary of sellers offering prices that are too good to be true. AliExpress is well known for their inexpensive prices and impressive deals. However, if you’re looking at an expensive or trendy item that’s priced way below its market price, it’s probably best to skip it. The item might be fake, very low quality, or not come as advertised.^{[7]
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Federal Trade Commission
Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson

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- Check out the shipping price before clicking “Purchase,” too. Some sellers might use expensive shipping to make up for their low-priced products.
- In general, you get what you pay for on AliExpress. The products are often made with lower-quality materials, so clothing, accessories, and electronics can be hit or miss.
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Avoid sellers offering name-brand products. AliExpress is notorious for selling counterfeit goods and fake luxury items. If you’re looking to buy a brand-name product, it’s best to buy it from the manufacturer or a reputable second-hand site instead of AliExpress. This helps ensure you get the real deal.^{[8]
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- For instance, if you’re shopping for a phone, look for new and refurbished ones on Apple’s official website.
- Or, if you’re looking for luxury clothes or accessories, go to the official store or shop on sites that authenticate the products, such as The RealReal.
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Use a credit card to make your payment. Credit cards provide more protection than other forms of payment in case you don’t receive your product, it’s damaged, or it doesn’t appear as advertised. If the seller doesn’t help fix the problem, you can file a dispute with your credit card company to get your money back.^{[9]
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Federal Trade Commission
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- Only make payments through AliExpress’ website or mobile app. If the seller messages you directly asking for payment, they might be a scammer.
Only shopping for inexpensive, low-risk items like clothing, accessories, and home goods on AliExpress helps prevent you from losing money and feeling buyer’s remorse. It’s probably best to shop for big-ticket items like electronics and furniture from reputable, big-box stores to help ensure you get what you paid for.
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Go up 1 to 2 sizes when purchasing clothes. Most clothing on AliExpress follows Chinese sizing, which tends to run small compared to US/European sizing. To help ensure a good fit, order 1 to 2 sizes up from your normal US/European size.^{[10]
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- Most sellers on AliExpress provide a sizing chart that can help you select the correct size.
- If the seller doesn’t provide a size chart, message them to ask if they have one by clicking the “Message” button in the top right corner.
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Visit AliExpress’ Help Center or chat with an agent if you have questions. If you have a specific question or problem, go to the Help Center and type your query in the search bar. If you can’t find what you need, speak to an AliExpress customer service agent by clicking “Chat Now” at the bottom of the Help Center page.
- AliExpress’ customer service desk is open 24/7.

Section 3 of 6:

AliExpress Refund and Return Policies

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AliExpress offers free returns and refunds within 15 days of delivery. AliExpress’ buyer protection program means you’re eligible for refunds if the item doesn't get delivered, comes damaged, or arrives not as described. Just make a “Return and refund” request within 15 days of receiving your item by logging into AliExpress’ website and going to “Account” and then “Orders.”^{[11]
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- It can take 1 to 10 days for you to receive your refund.^{[12]
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- If the item is damaged or incorrect, the seller pays the return shipping. However, if you are returning something because you changed your mind, you pay the return shipping.
- Some items are not eligible for returns or refunds:
  - Items you damaged
  - Custom items
  - Perishable items
  - Some hygienic and health-related items

Section 4 of 6:

What are AliExpress’ shipping times?

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Shipping can vary from several days to several weeks. Shipping times depend on how far you live from the seller. If the seller is in China and you’re in the US, it may take a few weeks. If you’re both in the US, it may take a few days to 1 week.
- AliExpress provides an estimated delivery time and information about where the item is shipping from on the product page.
- AliExpress provides tracking information for each order. To track your shipment, go to the “My Orders” page and click “Track Order.”^{[13]
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- It can take up to 11 days for tracking information to appear after you order your item.^{[14]
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- If you don’t receive your item by the delivery date, request a refund from AliExpress.

Section 5 of 6:

How does AliExpress protect buyers?

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AliExpress doesn’t pay sellers until buyers get their items. When you make a purchase on AliExpress, your payment is held from the seller until you get your item and confirm you are happy with it. This helps prevent scams and encourages good service from sellers.^{[15]
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- AliExpress also offers payment options for most major card companies, like Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, PayPal, ApplePay, and GooglePay.
- You can also use Alipay to make purchases on AliExpress. This is an online payment service similar to Venmo or PayPal. You connect your bank account or cards to the app and simply select the payment you want to use at checkout.^{[16]
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Section 6 of 6:

Why is AliExpress so cheap?

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AliExpress isn’t a physical store, so they don’t have to pay rent, utilities, or as many employees. The company also sources their products directly from sellers, which means they don’t have to pay middlemen. Because AliExpress is a Chinese company, they also get subsidies for being a direct-to-consumer company.^{[17]
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