How to Shop Safely on Aliexpress
4A short guide on how to shop as safely as possible on Aliexpress and reduce the chances of getting scammed or data being stolen.
Written Guide: https://duckyobrien.com/2024/03/30/how-to-shop-safely-on-aliexpress/
Privacy Oriented
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1. Get a new email account just for Aliexpress
2. Get a dummy phone number (Google Voice)
3. Hide your IP (Proton VPN or any VPN)
4. Hide your credit card (Paypal/Privacy Card)
5. Hide your address (P.O. Box/work address)
6. Dummy Phone (If using Ali app)
Avoiding Scams
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1. Check store open date (avoid stores a month old)
2. Check detailed store ratings (4.6 and above is ideal)
3. Check number of items sold (low items sold in a new shop = high chance of being a scam)
4. Check number of reviews (scam listings usually have no reviews)
5. Read the reviews (reviews can be faked but it's still a good indicator)
6. Avoid listings with prices too low (especially if it has a junk item as one of the options)
Example of fake listing: https://www.reddit.com/r/SBCGaming/comments/1ay7kz5/aliexpress_rg405v/
Best Sale Dates
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1. First 5 days of every month
2. Major holidays (Christmas, Black Friday, etc.)
3. Singles day (11/11)
4. Aliexpress anniversary (around March)
What To Do When You Get Your Item
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1. Record yourself opening the package, clearly show the label (sometimes the seller/manufacturer well require video evidence before issuing a return or replacement)
2. Check the item right away to make sure it works
What To Do When Things Go Wrong
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1. File for a refund at Aliexpress
2. If that fails, start a Paypal dispute
3. If that fails, issue a charge back on the credit card
**AVOID LUNAR NEW YEAR. Shop around 3 weeks after lunar new year is over.
Table of Contents
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00:00 - Start
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Privacy Oriented
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00:35 - New Email
01:06 - Dummy Phone (Google Voice)
02:21 - VPN (Proton VPN)
03:18 - PayPal
04:03 - Privacy Card
05:05 - P.O. Box/Work Address
05:44 - Dummy Phone (For Ali App)
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Avoiding Scams
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08:10 - Store Open Date
09:02 - Store Ratings
09:27 - Items Sold
10:02 - Review Count
10:10 - Review Content
11:24 - How Reviews are Faked
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Best Sale Dates
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13:14 - Sale Dates
15:04 - Avoid Chinese New Year
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Example Scam Listing
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16:43 - Bait & Switch Scam
18:47 - Record Unboxing & Check the Item
19:52 - Refund Process
21:34 - Goodbye Friends!
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