Shopping with AliExpress
What it is, and what it is good for
AliExpress is a marketplace, not a shop. You are buying from whichever seller is on the listing, and AliExpress's own terms say the sale is between you and that third-party seller. That is why a phone case, a drill and a pair of trainers can sit side by side at wildly different prices and quality. I think it is best for cheap, low-risk stuff: cables, cases, craft supplies, spare parts, gadgets you would not mind losing a tenner on. It is much less comfortable for anything you would want to hold a retailer to account over.
Delivery: read the labels
Listings carry labels such as Free shipping and Fast delivery, and each shows an estimated delivery window. A Fast delivery listing shows its own estimated window, and those are the ones I would trust when you need something by a date; plenty of cheaper listings will not come close. AliExpress's own commitments page says items without the Fast delivery label can take much longer, with refund windows of 60 to 120 days if nothing turns up. Some listings also offer collection from pick-up points. Fast delivery items come with extras such as a refund if the parcel is lost or damaged, and a refund if nothing arrives within a set number of days, which AliExpress's pages put at 35 or 40 depending on the listing.
VAT and customs for UK orders
This is where UK shoppers get caught out. Under UK rules, for goods shipped from abroad in a consignment worth £135 or less, VAT is charged at the point of sale, which is why listings can show a VAT-inclusive price. Above £135 the normal route applies: import VAT and any customs duty are collected when the parcel arrives, usually by the courier, before it is handed over. Splitting a big basket to dodge that is not something I would bank on, because the £135 test is on the consignment, not the individual item.
Returns and Buyer Protection
Buyer Protection covers items that are not as described or arrive damaged, within 15 days of receiving them, and items that never turn up within the guaranteed delivery window. You contact the seller first, then file a return or refund request from My Orders. AliExpress also advertises free returns, but the period varies: its Buyer Protection page talks of 15 days from delivery, while some listings show a longer window, so check the box on the item. If you simply change your mind, you generally pay the return postage yourself. Underwear, socks, food, batteries and customised items are excluded from the return policy. AliExpress's terms for EU, EEA and UK consumers also acknowledge a statutory 14-day withdrawal right, which applies on top.
Buying more safely
Look at who the seller is: an Official Store or a named trader is easier to chase than a nameless shop. I would also be wary of anything mains-powered or intended for children, and the product pages carry a compliance information section worth reading before you buy.
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