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AliExpress Shopping Guide 2026: How to Score the Best Deals!
Is AliExpress safe 2026?
Yes, AliExpress is its own company under the Alibaba Group. Some of the unique perks the platform offers include:
1. Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Pricing
The biggest draw is the removal of the “middleman.” * The Reality: On sites like Amazon or eBay, many items are simply resold from Chinese factories with a 50%–200% markup to cover local warehousing and marketing.
- The Benefit: On AliExpress, you are often buying directly from the manufacturer or a primary distributor in China. This allows you to pay “factory prices” for everything from electronics to home decor.
2. Robust Buyer Protection (15-Day Shield)
In 2026, AliExpress has streamlined its safety features to compete with Western marketplaces.
- Escrow System: When you pay, AliExpress holds your money in a “vault.” The seller only gets paid after you confirm you’ve received the item and are satisfied.
- 15-Day Refund Window: If an item arrives damaged, doesn’t match the description, or never shows up, you have 15 days after the “delivery confirmed” date to open a dispute and get a full or partial refund.
3. No Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
Unlike its parent company Alibaba, AliExpress has zero minimums.
- You can buy a single $0.50 charging cable or a single $800 laser engraver.
- This makes it the premier destination for “hobbyist” shoppers and people who want to test a product before committing to a larger purchase elsewhere.
4. Logistics Innovation: “Choice” & “Global 5-Day Delivery”
Previously, shipping from China took 30–60 days. In 2026, AliExpress leverages its Cainiao Network to offer:
- AliExpress Choice: Products labeled “Choice” are handled directly by AliExpress logistics, offering faster shipping (often 10–12 days) and easier returns.
- Consolidated Shipping: If you buy from five different sellers, AliExpress often bundles them into one single package at their sorting center to reduce wait times and shipping costs.
5. Extreme Product Variety
By connecting directly to the world’s largest manufacturing hub, AliExpress offers products months before they appear in local retail stores. It’s often the go-to spot for discovering niche tech gadgets, unique fashion accessories, and hard-to-find replacement parts unavailable in the West.
6. Advance dispute system
In 2026, the AliExpress dispute system is no longer just a “complaint button.” It has evolved into a sophisticated, evidence-based Escrow Protection Service.
Because AliExpress is a marketplace, they act as the “judge” between you and the seller. Here is how their advanced system works to protect your money:
6.1 The “Vault” (Escrow System)
When you click “Buy,” your money does not go to the seller. It goes into an AliExpress Escrow account.
- The seller sees that you have paid, so they ship the item.
- AliExpress holds the funds until you confirm you have received the item or the “Buyer Protection” countdown (usually 60–90 days) expires.
- The Win: If the seller never ships or the package is lost, the seller never gets paid, making it easy for AliExpress to return your money.
6.2 The 15-Day Protection Window
Once your package is marked as “Delivered,” a 15-day countdown begins. This is your most critical window.
- During these 15 days, the “Open Dispute” button is active.
- Even if you accidentally clicked “Confirm Receipt,” you still have these 15 days to report a hidden defect or a fake product.
6.3 “Refund Only” vs. “Return & Refund”
The system now offers two distinct paths depending on the severity of the issue:
- Refund Only: Best for items that never arrived, arrived broken, or were significantly “not as described” (e.g., you ordered a blue shirt and got a red one). Usually, for low-value items, you get your money back without having to ship the item back to China.
- Return & Refund: Used for higher-value items. In 2026, many “Choice” items include Free Local Returns, meaning you ship it to a warehouse in your own country rather than back to China.
6.4 Evidence-Based Resolution
The 2026 system relies heavily on a “Judgement Scale.” To win a dispute instantly, you must provide:
- Unboxing Video: This is the “Golden Evidence.” A single video showing the label, you opening the box, and the defect is almost an automatic win.
- Photos of the Shipping Label: To prove the weight and tracking number match your order.
- Screenshots of Conversations: If the seller promised a discount or a specific feature in the chat, the dispute team uses these as binding contracts.
6.5 Automatic Escalation
If you open a dispute, the seller has 5 days to propose a solution (like a partial refund).
- If the seller agrees: The dispute closes and you get paid.
- If the seller ignores it: You win by default after 5 days.
- If you and the seller disagree: The system automatically escalates the case to the AliExpress Case Management Team, who acts as a neutral third party to make a final decision based on the evidence.
Pro-Tip for 2026: The “Resend” Scam
Be careful if a seller asks you to “Close the dispute so I can resend the item.” > Never close a dispute until the money is in your bank account. Once a dispute is closed and the protection window has ended, AliExpress can’t assist if the “replacement” item never arrives. As a final note, remember that “resend” scams can occur occasionally, but they don’t reflect the majority of honest sellers offering their products on the platform.
Using AliExpress Coupons: Different Types of Discounts
You can snag these little gems during major promotions, too. With a variety of coupon types available, you can pick the perfect one to match your shopping spree.
| Coupon Type | Information |
|---|---|
| Sitewide (Global) Coupon codes | The “Holy Grail” of Coupons can be used for any product without limits. Usually limited quantity and usage per user. |
| Selected Coupons | Not as powerful as AliExpress Coupons, but it can still help you save some money. Once you have filled your basket and are ready to pay, the price of eligible items on your order confirmation will be automatically reduced with the selected coupons. Selected coupons can only be used if the minimum purchase requirements are fulfilled. |
| Seller Coupons | It can only be applied to specific products in a store. You can get this coupon directly on the product page. |
Additional Tips!
Take advantage of the coupons as soon as possible. They can be used together with sellers’ coupons and AliExpress’ SELECT coupons, which provide additional discounts on select products. Make sure to collect the coupons from the stores themselves. Also, remember to gather any additional discounts in addition to regular coupon codes and sellers’ coupons.
How to Apply a Coupon Code?
During checkout, simply enter the discount code and click Apply, as shown in the screenshot below.
- Step #A – Enter your coupon code.
- Step B – Choose the Apply option.
- Step C: Proceed to select “Place Order”.
Here are 29 essential buying tips to consider before placing an order:
1 – The seller wants to re-send the product without charging the customer.
2 – The seller and the customer agree to lower the current fixed price of the product to a different fee agreed by both sides.
How does it Work?
When the seller wants to re-send the product without charging the customer, the customer places an order but selects a payment option that is not valid or unavailable during checkout. In this situation, the order is placed and only paid once the seller adjusts the price to a lower fee, for example, $0.01. Once the price is modified, the customer can continue with the order by clicking the Pay button.
