What are your current experiences buying and more importantly receiving from these retailers?
How difficult was it to receive refunds for faulty or not received products?
What other online stores are similar to these? Are there any of these stores that can deliver to a PO BOX?
Is there a comparison site that compares the best prices for these retailers at any given day?
cheers,
AliExpress are generally good for returns. Deliver times can vary from a week, to 2 months. Item I bought 3 weeks ago arrived yesterday broken, raised a return request and they send me a return shipping note (goes to a PO Box in Carlingford NSW). Went to post office and dropped it off, and got the refund late yesterday
I’ve had one bad return experience, where I ordered something and received something totally different. When I went to raise a refund, they declined it saying I should have recorded myself opening it. Was only $4 so I didn’t care, but it annoyed me
So we all have to record ourselves when opening?
Which of these online el-cheapo stores deliver to a PO BOX??
If they deliver and leave it in your front porch etc , take a photo that has been delivered and some one steals it, then what??
That is why I'd rather they deliver to a PO BOX.
AliExpress has always been around 7 business days for delivery. Refunds without posting back haven't been an issue. The few times I've been sent fake products from low feedback stores (worth a shot) I've had an immediate refund.
Temu always takes a few weeks to deliver but their system can be exploited for free credit. So they're good for getting generic unbranded crap for cheap, while AliExpress for Chinese brands.
It's worth noting that Temu's no questions asked refund policy hurts the individual stores. If you request a refund on a $10 item, Temu will deduct $20-$50 from the store. It's always a minimum of double the value or up to 5x. Dodgy and has led to a few protests in China.
I have not returned anything from Temu but have gotten faulty product refunded such as a necklace missing a stone, or product not being as described. Ordered heaps from there such as socks, bins, storage containers, car covers, spray guns, mosquito nets, earrings, necklaces, vibrators, and plenty of miscallaneous items. No issues it's actually really great if you are fine waiting 10days or so delivery!
Why cant they deliver to a PO Box address?
They may not use Australia Post for local delivery.
Star Trek Express and others leave the parcel at Post Office when you are not home, Why can't they?
Star Trek are owned by Australia Post.
- Live long and prosper
It goes over my head, a PO Box is a place where you have registered your new place of "residence" almost virtual, but it seems like its not recognized as the safest place to deliver by these retailers, it can waste time and money and admin cost to the retailers if it is not received by the buyer…however registered postage may cost more for the buyer but it has a 99% tracking delivery success rate…is it not an incitive that the sender uses a company that leaves or can deliver to a PO Box and or leave it at the post office if no one is home??
A PO Box is for the postal service(Auspost/StarTrack). There is a service called PO Box Plus now which allows delivery to a PO Box. You'd likely get a "Suite" address.
The interest of AliExpress/Temu for most users is more than likely minimising cost.
Temu was great until you reach the $40 shipping requirement and have spent your credits getting around the cap
Aliexpress is good though for purchases and returns. Quality isn’t great for most things but you know things going into the sale
Used Aliexpress for years, particularly for electronic parts and small items. Slooow delivery, usually a month, but fine for non-urgent items. However times blew out and occasional lost parcels put me off. Not AE's fault but Australia Post, which shelves its international postal obligations and warehouses cheap postage items for weeks if not months. Profit before public service.
AE now posts free by courier for $15 minimum orders and they arrive in 10 days or less, and I'm back onboard. I'll check Amazon and Ebay first but AE is usually cheaper. Never returned anything, but have got refunds or part refunds for faulty items or not to description. Big ticket items I look for Australian sellers and warranties.
Not a big fan of Temu because of their much higher order minimum for postage. Found I was buying junk I didn't want just to hit their minimum.
I used to use other Chinese online sellers: Banggood, Geekbuying, DHgate, etc. They didn't charge GST, which was a real bonus. Not sure now, haven't used them in a long time.
Thanks Sepa
AliExpress. Yet to try Temu but my partner has shopped there without any issues.
Easy. Typical market place advice applies - assess the seller, google name, too good to be true, check feedback, etc. Postage recently has been very quick.
Easy, but it has been a while since I've had an issue.