AliExpress Shopping Tips

AliExpress Tips

After shopping on this site for some time now I've had numerous disasters and successes. These are some tips that I've pooled together that I wish I knew before using AliExpress:

1. Note the seller's rating and how long they have been in business

• Try to buy from someone with at least 95% positive ratings

2. Don't be afraid to communicate with the seller

• Message them, notice both how they respond and their response rate

Through personal experience, I always felt that if the seller responds quickly and actually understands what you're saying (lol), this is a good thing. They are customer service oriented and are serious with their business.

3. Try to buy items that already have positive feedback

• if someone left feedback with decent photos, this is even better-- you can see how good/bad the product looks
• request the seller to send you photos of the actual product (sometimes they might not have access to the information because they aren't the manufacturer or don't actually have the physical product in hand)

4. Always use "epacket" as shipping

• this shipping option generally ships the fastest at the lowest cost (for US/CA residents) and a REAL/TIMELY tracking number is provided
• from what i've observed, if you do a big order (+$40CAD), you can ask the seller if they are willing to epacket to you for free or at a lower cost than provided if you message them privately

5. Install the AliExpress App and Checkout with it

• You can save an additional 1% off on MOST items if you check out with the app. You just need to make sure the product says"Get our app to see exclusive prices"
• You may think 1% is not much, but your savings will definitely accumulate in the long-term

6. Look for Coupons

• Scout the product information and check to see if you are eligible for coupons by spending a certain amount. This can be found on "Store Promotion"  underneath the Buy Now and Add to Cart buttons

I encountered many problems with shipping. The majority of products that automatically shipped to me were with China Registered Mail, and I always found that their tracking information was not correct (I mean, granted it actually tells you that there is no tracking information provided)....even though the seller would tell you they do give you one... I know, super confusing. But trust me, epacket tracking information will tell you when the item is shipped, where it is heading to, if it's in customs clearance, when it is out in transit and actually delivered to you. You will know for sure that the seller did, in fact, ship out your package with this reliable shipping option.

I hope these tips were helpful to you if you're thinking about ordering from this site. With any online shopping, you're bound to encounter both the ugly and beautiful side. If anything terrible happens, just talk to the seller or open a dispute if need be. 

Let me know some of your shopping experiences or tips on AliExpress :)

~SleepyBunnii