Is AliExpress Legit and How to Use It

AliExpress is a go-to online shopping website that offers all kinds of items at lower prices. Even with the shipping fee included, the total bill is usually lower than expected. This online portal has become so popular that few users question its trustworthiness. If you’ve never ordered via this website before, it’s natural to be reluctant. Here’s everything you should know about AliExpress before making your first purchase.

How Legitimate Is AliExpress?

Based in China, this popular e-commerce website stocks almost everything, from stationery and baby equipment to clothes and all kinds of mobile devices. Popular brands may not always be available, as AliExpress also helps smaller businesses reach prospective customers worldwide.

No matter where you live, AliExpress is legit. Their orders may sometimes take a bit longer to arrive, but they’ll reach your address at some point. Also, their customer service is pretty responsive, which is crucial for this type of website. If you experience any problems with your order, you shouldn’t have trouble getting the item replaced or receiving a refund.

Even though AliExpress is legit, you can still find sellers/wholesalers that are dishonest. Although mistakes are possible, so are misleading sellers, AliExpress does NOT scam people, but sellers can. Remember, you can report a transaction, and AliExpress will look into it and take appropriate action. The company doesn’t want to collaborate with businesses that trick customers into buying their products with misleading sales pages or ads. If you identify a double-dealing seller on AliExpress and report them, they’ll get removed from the website upon verification of your claim.

If you don’t get your order or receive damaged goods, you can contact AliExpress customer support for help. Of course, no one guarantees you’ll be 100% satisfied with the quality of the ordered items or the shipping time, but the site is generally safe.

Lastly, be aware that some distributors/sellers offer counterfeit, non-genuine items. However, that scenario can’t get categorized as illegitimate because the description fits the item. Of course, the seller wants to make money, so they may not mention that it is not genuine, and they often use words to trick you into thinking you are getting the real thing.

Therefore, even though Ali Express is legit, be aware of what you purchase from sellers and do your homework whenever possible!

How to Create an Account on AliExpress

All you need to get started on AliExpress is an account. It’s completely free, and here’s how to do it:

1. Launch your web browser and visit aliexpress.com.
   
2. Click on “Account,” then “Join,” and then select the “Register tab” if not already selected.
   
3. Choose your “location” from the dropdown selection, enter your “email,” choose a “password,” then click on “Create account.”
   
4. Enter the “confirmation code” sent to your newly registered email account, then click on “Verify email.”
   
5. The home page appears. Click on the “Language/Currency” dropdown at the top and confirm your “Ship to” location, double check the “Language” and “Currency” options, then click “Save.”
   

How Does Shopping on AliExpress Work?

When shopping on AliExpress, you’ll see different categories of items listed on the left when on the homepage. Browse through these categories or use the search field to find what you need. When you locate the desired item, click on it and select the orange Add to cart button below the item description.

Before placing your order, ensure you’ve chosen the right size, model, color, and quantity required. You can also see the estimated delivery time and how much the item will cost. If you only want to purchase this one item, you can click on “Buy Now” instead of adding the product to your cart.

After choosing your items, go to the cart and confirm the purchase. A screen appears where you need to enter the shipping address and other associated information and then confirm the purchase.

When you’re done with this, you need to choose a payment method—your bank card, for example. If you’re planning to buy from AliExpress again, you can save the information for use the next time you need it. Just ensure that nobody else has access to your AliExpress account if you opt to keep the card details.

How to Protect Yourself When Purchasing on AliExpress

If you’re new to AliExpress, it may take time to learn which sellers you can trust and how to ensure that you’ll get the correct item you purchased. But like we said, overall, the site is trustworthy and legit. Here’s what to do to protect yourself when shopping on AliExpress.

1. Read the Reviews

There are two types of feedback you can find on AliExpress. First of all, each product has a rating. If the item you want to order has too much negative feedback, maybe you should think again. In addition, sellers have reviews too, so if a particular seller has an excellent rating and positive feedback from customers, you can probably trust them.

2. Use the Buyer Protection

When paying with a card, you’ll notice there’s a Buyer Protection field at the bottom of the page that provides the following protections:

1. Your personal and card info is safe and won’t be revealed to any third party.
2. You can ask for a full refund if you receive a damaged item.
3. If the item isn’t original, but a replica, you can also ask for a refund.
4. If your order isn’t shipped in 60 days at most, you can ask for a refund, unless there are circumstances that neither the platform nor the seller can affect.
5. The payment is only completed after you confirm that you’ve received the goods and that nothing’s wrong with them. Ensure you make a complaint on time because the payment will be completed past the estimated delivery time if you take no action.

In closing, excellent online shopping experiences require a reliable platform that you can trust. AliExpress is one of the trustworthy websites where you can freely enter your personal and bank account information and not worry about it. The refund policy is for the customer, and customer service is reliable. Regardless, always take precautionary steps by reading the reviews and using buyer protection. You can also research an item or seller online.

Do you already have an account on AliExpress? What’s your verdict on the site? Let us know in the comments section below.