Aliexpress Payment Methods

Placebo on 04/01/2014 - 16:13

Hi all,
I would like some small inexpensive items from Aliexpress, but I am a bit uncertain about the payment methods.

The options seem to be credit card or Western Union.

They appear to allow bank transfer, but being an international bank account, I have no clue how I would make that payment.

Has anyone used Aliexpress before or had any experience with the safety of credit card details and the like. Is it safe making a Western Union payment online giving them your credit card details, or are you better off doing it at the post office?

I should add that I am aware that buying from Aliexpress does carry a high degree of risk. I am not really fussed if I don't get the items and lose the small cost of them, my main concern is keeping my credit card details safe so I can't lose any money beyond the cost of the items.

I would be grateful for any advice :)

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Comments

  • donga100 on 04/01/2014 - 16:36

    I bought something on credit card a few months ago and haven't had any problems. I thought I had used Paypal but maybe not?

  • Placebo on 04/01/2014 - 16:37

    It seems like they used to accept Paypal, but don't any more after "relations between Aliexpress and Ebay cooled down" :( I would have much preferred to use Paypal.

  • Adz81 on 04/01/2014 - 17:06

    I think it depends on the individual seller… I purchased my last phone using Paypal from Aliexpress.

  • Brick50 on 04/01/2014 - 18:15

    Aliexpress are pretty reliable, Visa/Mastercard are really the only options. Western Union is too unsafe and Bank Transfers are usually $20 fee.
    They no longer accept PayPal
    I have ordered probably 100's of orders and not 1 of them has been a scammer and hasn't turned up

    When you pay the money doesn't go to the seller, It goes to Aliexpress and once you've received the item as described you submit that on the website and then Aliexpress release the money to the seller. There are hardly any scammers on Aliexpress because they wont get 'quick cash' they have to wait until you receive it and then allow aliexpress to release the money to them

  • nowlan on 04/01/2014 - 23:02

    The problem with western.union is their fee is like $10 (capped).
    But when you compare to credit card or paypal which is closer to 3% commission, and usually 3% exchange rate penalty.

    Some vendors will skirt around aliexpress and offer slightly less fee, but want western union to ease transfer. alarm bells anyone?

  • GirlFriday on 11/02/2015 - 09:44

    Just wanted to revive this thread and ask a question if I may: who gets to see my credit card number when I order? I am not worried about being scammed out of the goods, but more worried that if I use my credit card number it will end up on a list somewhere. Does anyone know if its just held by Aliexpress or whether each merchant I buy from gets to see it?

    • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2015 - 13:59
      +1

      Alibaba - for all its associated ventures - maintains its own 'Alipay' payment portal.

      I haven't bought much from Aliexpress, but others on OzBargain and elsewhere have purchased a veritable crapload and report no issues.
      Some, however, do associate their compromised cards with preceding Ali purchases.
      How secure are Alipay systems and protocols? It's China. Who can really say..?

      I'm not a 'points chaser' (unlike the guy in this thread…). What accrues, accrues. If it amounts to something useful - good, but it is a rare occasion that I direct a particular purchase - let alone all of them - on to a specific card for that specific purpose. If you are someone who does that, you won't like the following advice.
      Also, if you have taken on a particular card specifically to avoid the usual 2.5% or 3% foreign currency transaction fee, you also won't like this advice.

      Use a non-bank-linked reloadable debit card, and only load the required amount just prior to a given purchase.
      If your card details get compromised, and at any given point, slim pickings for the scum-sucking scammer.

      Although more expensive to buy initially ($10.95 vs $6.95), and not available over-the-counter, the Woolworths reloadable Mastercard is far more versatile (and depending on your circumstance - potentially 'ongoing' fee-free), relative to the Aus Post 'Load and Go' card. MUCH higher (and accumulated) load limits, and (should you need it) actually useful ATM withdrawal access - up to $2000 per day, as opposed $250 per week!

    • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2015 - 15:52
      +1

      Ali aside, I forgot to mention (in case you are unaware) that reloadable debit cards (Load & Go card - only after online registration) are linkable to PayPal.

      If you are extra-cautious in your online buying, you need never have any online purchases directly linked to your bank account(s).

      • GirlFriday on 12/02/2015 - 10:51
        +1

        That's some great advice, thank you Tas. I am not a points chaser so reloadable CC is probably the way to go. Do you know which reloadable cards are good for minimising the currency fee? Off to do my own research but if you have any you know of you particularly like please feel free to comment.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2015 - 11:54
          +1

          Woolworths reloadable - 2.5%.
          Load & Go, being Visa, is 3%. L&G card also has 9c fee for every transaction, foreign currency or AUD.

      • BigLeviathan on 23/06/2016 - 00:35

        If I use 28 Degrees Mastercard, if there is any dodgy activity, obviously we can inform the bank and get the payment reversed, right?

        • skittle on 09/10/2016 - 15:53

          Just found the answer to this.
          Several US transactions appeared on my 28 Degrees card. Apparently there were a lot more but they'd already stopped my card. I've disputed the remaining ones and it sounded likely that I'd get a full refund.

          Interestingly the only places I used that card were Paypal and AliExpress. Doesn't make me feel too good about adding a new card to AliExpress and there's no real alternative. Might stick to ebay for a while, at least until I'm sure 28 will refund me.

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