Risks For Paying Sellers Directly
What are the risks when bypassing the AliExpress payment system?
Every payment made on AliExpress is protected by our Buyer Protection System. Any payment made that bypasses AliExpress is not protected by us. For example:
Case 1: The buyer complains to the seller and to AliExpress that they did not receive the item after bypassing AliExpress and making a payment directly to the seller.
Eg: Miss Kobi is a new buyer on AliExpress. "I was happily browsing for goods on AliExpress when I found an electric bike I really liked. I spoke to the supplier and confirmed a price of $550 including shipping with DHL. The seller then asked me to pay him directly with PayPal. I paid the $550 as stated on the invoice the supplier sent me. Shortly after my PayPal payment went through, the seller stopped answering my calls and ignored all of my messages. The seller's website had also gone offline. He seems to be a fake seller. His trade manager ID is cn1000525697. I hope you can help me solve my problem. Regards, Kobi."
AliExpress closed the seller's store but was unable to get back any of her $550 back.
Case 2: The buyer complains to the seller and to AliExpress that the item received is not as described (such as the size, color, accessories, product package or type/design, functionality, etc.) after bypassing AliExpress and making a payment directly to the seller.
Eg: Mr. Joy is an experienced buyer on AliExpress. Mr. Joy says: "I bought a lot of Tablet PCs and accessories from Ms Jessica Lee from KTOP (http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/208119). She told me she would send me the purchase instructions and that I had to pay her via Telegraph Transfer (T/T). I received her purchase instructions and paid her the amount - twice. She sent me a package via DHL but the customs agency told me that the packages that arrived were all empty! I only received a lot of empty fly touch boxes! The Air Waybill (AWB) of DHL said that the shipment weight was 19kg! They didn't send me the products! She told me she would check the whole process, but I didn't hear from her again! I'm a very good client of AliExpress and Alibaba. Please help me! She disappeared!"
AliExpress closed the seller's store, but unfortunately we are unable to get back any of his money back, as he paid the money directly to the seller.
Case 3: The buyer encountered problems with the quality of the items and returned them to the seller, but did not receive a refund after bypassing AliExpress and making a payment directly to the seller.
Eg: Mr. Dima is an experienced buyer on AliExpress and also a retailer. He wants to be a good retailer and sell great products to his customers. He bought some hair from Seller A. but it was not what he was expecting, so he sent the items back. Almost a month had passed since he returned the hair and still no money had been returned to him. He then developed serious problems with his customers that bought the hair supplied by Seller A, as it was supposed to be real human hair. He had to refund his customers and has since found a lot of them now have problems trusting his company.
AliExpress closed the seller's store but was unable to get back any of Mr. Dima's money back. Mr. Dima felt very upset and regret that sent the money to Seller A directly, without made the transaction on AliExpress.
