How to buy on AliExpress - a beginner’s guide for 2026

Thousands of independent sellers operate on AliExpress, so service quality and product quality can vary a lot. Before buying, always check a few things.

• Seller ratingLook for sellers rated above 95% positive feedback. The number of orders matters too - a seller with 10,000 orders is usually safer than one with only a few dozen sales.
• Time in businessCheck how many years the store has been active. Shops open for more than 2 years tend to have a more predictable reputation.
• Reviews of the specific productThe store rating is one thing, but also read reviews of the exact product you want. Buyer photos and videos are the most useful.
• Seller responsivenessA good seller answers buyer questions and responds to messages. No reply for 2–3 days, vague automated answers or avoiding the question are warning signs.

Even with a good seller, it’s worth verifying a few things before you pay.

• Product variantMake sure you picked the right size, color, plug type, language version or specification. On AliExpress it’s easy to accidentally order a different version than the one shown in the main listing photo.
• Technical descriptionListing photos can be illustrative. Read the technical parameters, especially for electronics, chargers, cables and mains-powered devices.
• Total price with shippingAlways check the full checkout cost, including delivery, VAT and possible import charges. Some sellers lower the product price while increasing the shipping fee.
• Delivery timeThe cheapest shipping option can mean several weeks of waiting. If timing matters, choose AliExpress Standard Shipping, Choice or shipping from a warehouse in your country or the EU.

AliExpress offers buyer protection for orders completed through the platform. You can request a refund if the parcel does not arrive within the stated time, the product is damaged or it differs significantly from the description.

You open a dispute via "My Orders" → select the order → "Open Dispute". The deadline depends on the order status and is shown in the transaction details. For delivered items, the window after confirmed receipt is limited, so do not postpone complaints. Take photos or record a video while unboxing the parcel - this is your key evidence in a dispute.

The safest approach is to pay using methods available directly at AliExpress checkout: Visa/Mastercard, local payment methods or PayPal if it appears for that specific order. Card payments may also allow a bank chargeback if the platform dispute does not solve the issue. Avoid bank transfers directly to the seller and payments outside AliExpress - outside the platform you lose its protection.

EU VAT applies to parcels from outside the European Union regardless of their value. For small orders, AliExpress usually collects VAT at checkout through IOSS, but you should still check the checkout summary and order documents.

Important 2026 change: until 30 June 2026, parcels worth up to 150 EUR were exempt from customs duty, while still being subject to VAT. Since 1 July 2026, the EU applies a temporary 3 EUR customs duty per tariff item / product category in e-commerce consignments up to 150 EUR from outside the EU. For parcels above 150 EUR, normal customs duty rates apply depending on the product category.

For orders shipped from local or EU warehouses, you usually avoid import clearance on the buyer side and VAT is already included in the price. Still, check the real shipping country, because a translated listing does not mean the item is physically located in the EU.

• Start with cheap products to test a seller’s quality before placing a bigger order.
• Use rating and order-count filters, but do not rely only on the average star score.
• Read reviews with photos, preferably from buyers in your country or the EU.
• During big sales, prices can be lower, but compare price history and shipping cost - not every promotion is a real deal.
• The AliExpress mobile app sometimes shows different coupons than the browser version, so compare the cart in both places.