You must be planning to learn about business in 2021. You must want to start one. Or you could be an owner of a brick-and-mortar store who’s now wanting to be more tech-savvy. If so, you must have come across the term dropshipping several times. In most cases, it goes hand-in-hand with AliExpress.
Dropshipping is a business model where the entrepreneur or digital store owner doesn’t keep a stock inventory of goods to resell. Instead, it passes the fulfillment of the customer’s order to the supplier.
For example, if person A (customer) orders a product from person B (seller), person B looks for a supplier of the product (person C). Person C (supplier) then ships the product straight to the customer. It eliminates the need for person B (seller) to handle the packaging nor the shipment himself.
It sounds simple, and it is simple. But if you are a “beginner-preneur” or a proprietor looking to shift to another business model, you might want to consider learning more about AliExpress dropshipping. This will help guarantee a 100% success rate into earning profit from dropshipping.
Table of Contents
- What Is AliExpress?
- How Does Dropshipping Work on AliExpress?
- How Much Does it Cost to Dropship From AliExpress?
- How to Find Reliable AliExpress Suppliers
- What is AliExpress Dropshipping Center?
- How Do I Start a Dropshipping Business on AliExpress?
- What Are AliExpress Shipping Times Like?
- What Is AliExpress’ Refund Policy?
- Does AliExpress Provide Customer Service?
- AliExpress Dropshipping FAQs
- How to Dropship From AliExpress Conclusion
What Is AliExpress?
AliExpress is one of the most famous global ecommerce marketplaces. It has a wide customer base of international buyers. Many online stores sell products of all sorts and sizes at a much lower price in this online marketplace. Currently, it caters to more than 190 countries all over the world.
AliExpress, launched in 2010, is a sister company to the globally-renowned ecommerce giant, Alibaba. Founded by Jack Ma, a Chinese business tycoon. Alibaba Group also owns Tmall and Taobao.
While Alibaba supports wholesalers and requires bulk orders, AliExpress supports retailers. AliExpress offers cheaper products compared to other online retail marketplaces. With the feature that enables single purchases, it is the perfect online market for dropshipping stores.
So does AliExpress support dropshipping? The answer is a definite yes!
How Does Dropshipping Work on AliExpress?
In a dropshipping business, you’re quite-but-not-quite the seller and the buyer. Customers order products from you thinking you have them on-hand. They think you will be the one to process the shipment. But you instead use their money to buy the product they ordered from suppliers you find on AliExpress. These suppliers will then process the shipment to them. This gives you more opportunity to explore the niches that sell well for your store while minimizing, if not removing, the risk of losing capital. When you find reliable suppliers, this non-conventional business method is definitely promising.
But before going through this, let’s take a step back to familiarize ourselves with how dropshipping on AliExpress works:
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Set up an online store if you don’t have one yet. You can do this through the help of ecommerce website builders such as Shopify.
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Import the products you’d like to sell from the AliExpress product lists to your store. You can do this manually or you can easily sync the products from one platform to another using apps like Oberlo. Customers may then order from the product catalog available in your store.
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Set the markup price for the products at your store. The AliExpress seller will usually offer you the products at a wholesale price. Meaning, you’ll get the products you sell to your store for cheaper at AliExpress. The difference between the prices will be your dropshipping business’ profit.
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When a customer checks out or buys from your store, place an order with the seller at AliExpress using the customer’s details. This way, the seller will be able to ship it to the customer. You can also save time and energy doing the product ordering by automating the process using the tools we’ll discuss below.
These steps are an overview of how to start your dropshipping business.
How Much Does It Cost to Dropship from AliExpress?
One of the reasons why you might want to consider dropshipping in AliExpress is that you save from the cost of some upfront fees like inventory. This is especially for those in the entry level of business.
In traditional business models, you usually need an ample amount of money as start up capital. It is for the most part because of the need to stock inventory. In a dropshipping business model, you need to dedicate a smaller amount of capital. That amount pays for setting up your ecommerce store and subscribing to apps that will help market and automate your business. You can even cut down on these expenses on your first try! Ecommerce platforms and dropshipping apps generally offer free trials for a certain period. So in a way, for a time, you can do dropshipping without paying for said expenses yet.
Furthermore, dropshipping, in its essence, does not need you to draw money from your pockets to pay for AliExpress suppliers. Rather, the money will come from the customers who paid for the product they ordered from your store.
It sounds pretty easy and convenient, right?
It’s easy to get carried away by this fact. But keep in mind that there are inevitable expenses in starting a business. Dropshipping is no exception. You have to pay for your domain name before you set up your ecommerce website. If your website is self-hosted, there will be hosting fees as well as fees for support and security. You might also have to pay for plugins, extensions, or other integrations. After using up the trial period, in Shopify’s case, a 14-day trial, you will have to pay for the ecommerce platform hosting. Shopify’s basic plan costs $29 per month. This will cover the online store aspect of your business.
Since it will be tiring and time-consuming to add products manually, you will have to pay for apps that offers store automation features. Oberlo automates importing products, syncing shipping details to your store, and more. Oberlo’s basic plan costs $20.90 per month.
You would also pay for review apps to build your customers’ trust to your brand. You might buy themes to make on-site navigation easier for customers. You would want to add Content Management System (CMS) to boost your website’s performance. To improve marketing, you might even add Search Engine Optimization (SEO) features.
All in all, your expense will depend on what your store will need to gain more customers.
How to Find Profitable Products to Dropship from AliExpress
Once you’ve made up your mind about starting an AliExpress dropshipping business, the next thing you need to figure out is what to sell. You have to consider what products would not only sell but also make your business sustainable and successful in the long run. In determining which products to sell, you have to figure out your niche.
If you are not familiar with this term, niche simply means a particular area in the broad market where you serve a specific kind of product or service.
What particular store are you going to be? Are you going to sell clothes? What kind of clothing? Is it for athletic ladies? Athleisure?
You might have already mulled over a thousand different product ideas in your head. Yet, here are several ways you can find the niche that will suit you best:
Consider your hobbies and interests.
Your hobbies and interests might not seem too big of a deal. But the thing is, when you sell products that have something to do with what you love, you’re likely to transfer and commit the same passion to your business.
Check your skills and areas of knowledge.
Your previous job experiences must have taught you a thing or two about certain products. For example, if you worked for a fashion brand or an atelier before, you must have gained knowledge of the demand for types of fabric or clothing. This could be an advantage if you enter a fashion or clothing niche.
Browse the AliExpress Categories.
There are countless product listings on AliExpress segmented into different categories. It includes home essentials, beauty and health, sports, and many others that still divide into smaller categories.
Research what’s in and out of the market trend.
In pre-pandemic times, masks weren’t part of our daily essentials. But with the struggle faced now by the whole world, the demand for masks had exceeded its supply. This problem escalated to a point where both private and public sectors had to haggle over it. This is a present opportunity especially for dropshippers looking for immediate sales.
While trends might not last a long time, it will give you an idea of products that can immediately sell in the market. You can use the Bestsellers and Top Rankings features in AliExpress to know the market craze right now. These features are highlighted on the AliExpress homepage.
You can also use keyword research tools such as Google Trends to know the searchability of a niche. It will help assess if a specific niche is still relevant and increasing in searches. It will also suggest brands or products related to a particular niche you searched for.
Read through Customer Reviews.
With product ideas in mind, it’s good practice to check on reviews to see how well the market receives the product. In turn, you also learn the age range of the users or buyers of the product and understand their problems and needs. This is key in dealing with your target market later on. To find genuine reviews, read through social media comments. Facebook and Instagram can give organic reviews. Quora and Reddit discussions are also very insightful.
How to Find Reliable AliExpress Suppliers
Suppliers are vital in fulfilling the needs of your customers. In choosing the right dropshipping suppliers, there is only one keyword: Reliability. Though the word may sound abstract, there are practical ways on how to find reliable AliExpress suppliers:
1. Look for Suppliers with 4.5 star ratings or higher.
As you know, reviews or feedback can make or break a business. The same goes for suppliers. The higher the positive feedback is, the easier it is to trust that supplier. Why? Because it shows both the legitimacy of the product and the integrity of the supplier in conducting business.
The feedback or star rating of the product at AliExpress is beside the product image. What’s good about this is that besides the 1 to 5 star rating, the percentage of feedback rating is also shown.
Of course, there are instances when suppliers look promising but it lacks ratings. In which case, you have to check the history of the seller because they might have just entered the scene. Stores with at least a year in operation are a safer bet. You may also use the AliExpress Seller Check for background checking if you don’t want to rely solely on the ratings.
2. Look for Top Stores or Top Brands.
AliExpress grants a Top Brand badge to stores that meet all its requirements. These stores are featured in the Top Stores section found on its homepage. Stores selling high quality products and with a proven track record of excellent service receive the Top Brand Status. Because these brands are highly-rated, it’s safe to assume that these stores are reliable.
3. Look for High Quality Products with Justifiable Prices Which Still Allow for Great Profit.
You might think that in dropshipping, low priced products with a high profit margin are the obvious choice. But, low pricing is a double edged sword. If you find high quality products for a very low price with high margin potential, then it’s great! But sometimes, low pricing also means sacrificing the quality of the product.
This is why buying a sample of the product from the supplier is also important. This way, you will be able to experience the product and judge its value in person. Products from competing brands might look exactly the same in the pictures. Yet the cheaper one might use substandard raw materials. As a result, the end product is of inferior quality. While you can still get a good profit from it, your customers’ trust and your store’s reputation might dip.
4. Look Into How Prompt and Helpful the Seller Is.
You can message a supplier’s store with questions about the product you’re interested in. You can also buy a sample product from it to check how the supplier negotiates. Observe if the seller answers messages right away and if the answers are clear and thorough. Check if the shipping interval shown on the store policy is the same as the actual shipping of the product. No response, very late response, and incomprehensible response are most likely red flags.
5. Look for Suppliers that Offer EPacket Delivery with Free Shipping.
EPacket Delivery is also known as AliExpress Premium Shipping. It is the fastest international shipping delivery option offered by sellers from Hong Kong and China. This allows you to track your small orders. If you’re using an Oberlo App, you can set this as the default delivery option for all your AliExpress orders. If you’re using Shopify, you have to enter the tracking number. AliExpress sends it via email then you can fulfill your order.
6. Be Mindful of Sellers Selling Branded Items.
Knockoffs, counterfeits, fakes, rip-offs, or whatever you may call it, products imitating items from large established brands and even carrying its logo, are a big no-no for your dropshipping business. Although they might seem like an eye-candy, they also have the power to ruin your business. You might end up paying hefty sums for copyright claims. If you want to build a classy and authentic image, it might also affect your brand’s reputation.
7. Look For Suppliers That Ship From the US
Imagine getting your customer’s orders delivered in no more than 7 days. What if customers from the UK, Brazil, or Canada receive their package in a week or less? Your online shop will no doubt receive great feedback. You will gain your customers’ trust. It can create a positive brand image and it will help guarantee returning customers. Moreover, it will cut shipping costs since the warehouse is near your target market. Customer satisfaction is also easier obtained when the products you sell are US-made. That’s the goal, right?
But maybe right now you’re thinking, “would I be hitting this goal through AliExpress?” You might think that the long waiting time for delivery is normal in AliExpress. After all, it is based in China and many of its sellers are from China. However, there is a way to resolve this problem. The truth is, there are many sellers in AliExpress who have warehouses in the USA. The same goes for countries near its borders.
So how do you use AliExpress to find these US suppliers?
Type the name of the product you want to sell at the AliExpress search bar and click on the search icon.
Once it loads the results, click on the Ship To box. You will find this on top of the page, just above the search icon and cart symbol. Select United States then click Save.
Then above the product results, on the middle right side of the page, click the Ship From button. Select United States from the dropdown menu that appears. It will load all similar products from suppliers that ship from the US.
You’ll also be able to do this without going to AliExpress website. This is possible through dropshipping automation tools. For example, Dropified features US Products Database right from its dashboard. From there, you can easily select filtered products shipped from the US.
What is AliExpress Dropshipping Center?
AliExpress Dropshipping Center is also known as AliExpress Booster Program. Basically, it helps dropshippers easily look for competitive products and established suppliers. And by dropshippers, it means it can be used by ALL dropshippers, regardless if they use AliExpress or not. You can use this in a lot of ways to conveniently start or scale your dropshipping business. You only need to register an account at AliExpress or use supported apps. What’s more, you can use this tool for free!
AliExpress Dropshipping Center features two main sections from its dashboard or Panel. The first one is the Product Research tool which appears as Find Products to Sell. This section reveals three navigation buttons that will help you search for products. One of these is the Top Sellers which features what’s hot in the market. The second is the Search by Photo option which uses a photo of the product to search for similar items. Finally, the Sponsored Products showcase products paid for by sellers to be featured by AliExpress. This is helpful in figuring out your niche as well as in looking for suppliers.
The second feature, on the other hand, is the Product Analysis tool. It helps users or buyers analyze the number of sales or demand for a product through its URL as shown in a graph.
There are also other great features offered by AliExpress Dropshipping Center. You can add other apps and search for trusted suppliers appearing in ranks. You can take advantage of the tools it offers to efficiently build your brand.
How Do I Start a Dropshipping Business on AliExpress?
What else would you need to start your AliExpress dropshipping business? Actually, after finalizing everything from niche to products to suppliers, you’re basically ready.
You might be thinking, “is it that easy?” The short answer is yes. You don’t have to secure licenses right away. You don’t have to immediately legalize your business. You’ll able to resell from AliExpress without many complications. Once you buy a product from AliExpress, or any online marketplace for that matter, it’s basically yours. Thus, you can decide whether you resell it or not.
Create Your Ecommerce Store
Earlier, you learned that you need to have an online shop to be able to dropship from AliExpress. Nowadays, there are a lot of online store builders that you can integrate with AliExpress. It makes it easier to manage your dropshipping business. These ecommerce platforms will be your key tool in running your business. Order processing and shipping management could be efficiently dealt with using these. You’ll be able to conveniently export products from AliExpress to your store. You can also customize your store, change themes, and add apps to attract and engage customers.
Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce are examples of ecommerce website builders. You can build your shop on one of these ecommerce platforms and connect it with AliExpress.
Choose a Dropshipping Platform to Connect to AliExpress
There are two ways to handle your online dropshipping store: manual and automated.
As the name suggests, manual means you will have to add the products one by one from AliExpress to your store. You also have to physically input tracking numbers and fulfill orders in your store.
Alternatively, you can utilize dropshipping platforms to automatically carry out your business processes. It takes care of and improves order fulfillment, shipping management, product importation, etc.
Oberlo
Oberlo is a dropshipping platform that allows you to import products from AliExpress straight to your Shopify store. With just a few clicks, you’ll also be able to manage the shipment of your order directly to your customers. It takes care of your worries about shipping or packaging. It does not just automate the inventory but also the pricing. You’ll have access to plenty of themes and it features discounted coupons. Furthermore, it offers abandoned cart recovery which isn’t very common on other platforms.
It is an app exclusive only for Shopify stores. But it is available in any country and in different languages. You can read more about Oberlo to find out how much time and energy you can save by using it in your ecommerce store.
AliDropship
AliDropship is a dropshipping plugin for WordPress. You can only use this for WooCommerce which is also a WordPress plugin. It is a tool that imports both AliExpress products and reviews to your WooCommerce store.
Like Oberlo, AliDropship allows you to automate custom pricing. It offers marketing features for sending emails and creating coupons. It lets you track products and analytics from your store’s dashboard. It gives you a great deal of theme options too. It caters to over 200 countries through a large number of carriers. So, managing your dropshipping orders from your WooCommerce store is as easy as can be.
Dropified
Dropified is also a dropshipping platform that is compatible with several ecommerce platforms. These include Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, GrooveKart, and CommerceHQ. Like the rest, it also offers product inventory syncing from AliExpress to your store. It also provides custom pricing upon importing the products. Yet, Dropified features an Auto Place Order Button. This allows you to select as many orders as possible and have them process in a queue. It will then notify you once an order is finished and move on to the next order sequentially.
Moreover, you’ll also be able to auto place orders for bundled products. You can hide non-top brands to easily search for reliable suppliers. You can also hide products without ePacket and provide ePacket ID for many countries. You’ll receive a notification for delayed tracking number syncing. Additionally, Dropified offers add on features not yet seen on other dropshipping platforms.
Add Your Products to Your Store
You don’t have to have the in-depth technical know-how to deal with processes like adding products. Even as a beginner, you can easily follow these simple steps that are particular to every dropshipping platform you’re using.
Oberlo
To add products to your Shopify store using the Oberlo app:
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Click the Find Products button in your Oberlo dashboard.
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Type products that you want to add to your import list on the search bar.
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Point the cursor to the product that you want to add then click on Add to Import List.
Note, that after adding the products to the Import List, you need to edit the product details before importing them to Shopify. This increases your products’ chances of being seen by your market. To do this, you have to click on the Import List. It will open to various tabs which will allow you to customize the product details. Product details include product description, product title, variants, and images. Adjusting the weights fall on the Variants tab.
To add products to your Shopify store using Oberlo Chrome Extension:
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Download the Oberlo Chrome Extension on your Google Chrome browser and open AliExpress website.
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Search for the products that you want to sell and update location and shipping settings.
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Look for the blue Oberlo icon at the bottom right corner of the page and click on it to add the products to the Import list.
Follow the same process of editing the product details in the Oberlo App as explained above before importing them to your Shopify store.
AliDropship
To add products to your WooCommerce store using the AliDropship plugin:
By installing the AliDropship plugin, you already get access to 50 product imports from AliExpress. Moreover, the product details are already edited. It is also already pre-optimized by experts on the side of the creators of the app. This means that the product details are ready to be published. You also have the option to immediately add the product to your store in a single click without editing. If you want to add more product to your Imports List, follow these steps:
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Click on the Get More Imports section.
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Select an imports package.
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Wait for the package code sent via notification email.
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Activate the code by pasting it on the empty field under the Add Imports button of the Import Products section. Your package will soon be added to your imports balance.
To add products to your WooCommerce store using the AliDropship Chrome Extension:
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Download and activate the AliDropship Chrome Extension in your Google Chrome browser.
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Click on the extension icon in your browser and click on Log in to authorize your domain.
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Go to the Import Products section in AliDropship and click on Direct Import from AliExpress button.
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Check the extension settings and click on the cogs icon to set search filters such as shipping settings.
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Import products in three ways:
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Bulk import through the Bulk Import button
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Import products one by one from the category page by clicking the orange AliDropship cart, and
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Import single products which allow the option to edit product details before publishing or being added to the Import List
Dropified
To add products to any supported ecommerce store using the Dropified Chrome Extension:
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Download the Dropified Google Chrome Extension using the Google Chrome browser.
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Go to AliExpress and search for products you want to add to your store.
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Import the products in two ways:
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Hover the cursor to the item you wish to import. Click the button with the Dropified logo that will appear. The product and all its data will be imported to the Saved Products section in Dropified.
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Click on the product that you want to import. Then, click on the Dropified extension on the upper side of the browser. All the product data will appear on the extension window and you can edit the product details. Then, either click on the Send to My Store button at the bottom of the extension page or the Save for Later button. Clicking the Send to My Store button imports the product directly to your online store. The Save for Later button, on the other hand, means to edit it further in the Dropified App. You can edit the products in bulk by organizing them into categories.
No matter what ecommerce platforms and dropshipping apps you use, always check and edit the product details. Check the title, product description, variants, shipping options and location, images, and reviews. It will save you from issues and complications in your dropshipping business. Images and videos should be rid of watermarks and descriptions should be optimized. You might need the help of creative professionals to accomplish these tasks.
Market Your Business to Bring in Customers
Marketing is very important in any business. It helps you reach potential customers and keep the old ones. It’s what drives sales. So you have to devise marketing strategies to sustain the life and growth of your business. Since we are partly living in the virtual world, investing in digital marketing warrants conversion. Strategies such as SEO will help your online shop gain steady traffic.
With this, when people search for products or services related to your business, you’ll appear at the top spot in the Google search results. This will make your store more visible to potential customers.
You may also use Google Ads (formerly Google Adwords) to advertise your business on top of Google search results. You can also use FB Ads Manager to promote your business on Facebook and Instagram. You can collaborate with social media influencers to give written or video-recorded reviews. Potential and loyal customers can watch it from YouTube, Tiktok, Snapchat, and other social media platforms of your choice.
Fulfill Your Orders through Dropshipping Platform
As mentioned a while ago, you can fulfill your orders in two ways: manual and automated.
In manual order fulfillment, once the customer pays for the order, the order status is unfulfilled. You have to process the fulfillment yourself. You need to input the tracking details and change the settings one by one to fulfill the order. You have to wait for several different notifications too. You need them to fulfill different single tasks like tracking orders or sending shipping details to customers. Since there’s no stock inventory, manual order fulfillment is both taxing and time-consuming.
Conversely, automated order fulfillment minimizes action coming from you. It automatically updates most of the needed settings and shipping information. Using dropshipping platforms to adeptly manage and fulfill orders saves you from the mental load of having to do so much for a single order.
Take Oberlo for example. When a customer places an order on your store, you only need to go to the Orders page in Oberlo and click on Order Product. It will redirect you to AliExpress website. All the necessary actions are automatically done by the Oberlo Chrome extension. It fills out the customer shipping information, adds the product to cart, and chooses the shipping method mechanically. All you need to do is double check the information. Then pay for the order and sync the tracking number from AliExpress to Oberlo. You have to do this within 2-7 days once the supplier ships the product. And if you save your payment information to your AliExpress account, you do not have to enter it each time. Once the AliExpress order is marked Shipped by Oberlo, the Shopify mark also changes to Fulfilled. Then the customer automatically receives the tracking and shipping details. This only applies, though, if an automated email notification is set up in your store. It makes it fast, convenient, and helpful for you.
What the AliExpress Shipping Times Are Like
AliExpress shipping times vary with every shipping option available for use. To compare, these are the available shipping options:
AliExpress Premium Shipping (ePacket Delivery)
AliExpress Premium Shipping is also referred to as ePacket Delivery option. It is currently the fastest and most reliable shipping option in AliExpress. It takes 7-14 days for most of the shipment to arrive. It serves customers from the US, Australia, UK, Canada, and 34 other countries. You might notice that it is limited to only a few countries. It’s because it depends on the agreement between the third party logistics (3PL) provider from Hong Kong or China and the destination country’s default courier.
Shipments for ePacket delivery need to have a product size of 60 cm in length and 90 cm in height. As for weight, it requires that the product does not exceed 2kgs (4.4 lbs.) except for Israel where the product weight limit is 3kgs (6.61 lbs.).
As to package tracking, you can check the status of your order from sites like EMS, 17Track and Aftership.
AliExpress Saver Shipping
AliExpress Saver Shipping is another available shipping option in AliExpress. It is the cheapest among all options. It is offered for goods that are worth $5 and less.
The average window of delivery is about 15-20 days, but it could take as long as 35-45 days on rare occasions. Packages are sorted and shipped to destination countries from the Cainiao logistic warehouse. These packages are trackable from order tracking websites like Trackingmore. Its tracking numbers are usually formatted in this manner: ZA000000000HK or ZA000000000LV.
AliExpress Standard Shipping
AliExpress Standard Shipping offers low-cost delivery. It generally takes an average of 15-20 days to arrive. This shipping interval estimate shouldn’t be relied upon, though. Shipping times will still depend on how fast the partner carriers are in each country.
This is the shipping option that is most available in almost all countries around the globe. It includes shipping partners like DHL, Correos, SPSR, Direct Link, and several others. Packages can be tracked in popular shipment monitoring sites like 17Track. You only need to input the tracking numbers in the search bar on the website. Then click the search icon to see the status of your package.
Furthermore, this is the shipping option most offered to packages priced at 5$ and above. This also means that it caters to larger packages.
AliExpress Standard Shipping was introduced before the two above-mentioned options. This is why it is the most popular among the three delivery options.
What is AliExpress Refund Policy?
One of the pages on the AliExpress website is named Buyer Protection Policy. You will find it at the topmost part of the AliExpress website. The name itself is self-explanatory. It means safeguarding the buyers’ transactions and protecting them from scam deals. Under this program, sellers should adhere to rules. If the buyers receive items that are different from what they ordered, they are assured of 15-day money back guarantee. This refund also applies if the item does not arrive within the posted time frame of delivery. The buyer, however, will handle the shipping cost for the returned item.
Yet, most suppliers don’t offer a refund. That’s why, you, the shop owner, should know about customer relations. Customer dissatisfaction and lost items are common issues encountered by the buyers. Knowing why the customer is unhappy is the key in resolving the first issue. To resolve the matter, you can contact the supplier. Use the AliExpress Buyer Protection to refund the cost of the item.
If the product is broken, provide an option for the buyer to return the item to the seller. You can exchange it for a similar item in good condition. If the buyer misunderstood the purpose or physical attributes of the product, consider a refund. But you should change the description and title of your product to a comprehensible copy. This will keep the incident from repeating.
Does AliExpress Provide Customer Service?
AliExpress provides support through multiple channels. Whether you are a buyer or a dropshipper, AliExpress provides options to help you. If you have queries or you bumped into any issues, you can message an agent in the Live Chat Button. You can find this at the bottom of the AliExpress website homepage. You can also click on the Help tab on top of the website along with the other navigation panels. It will open to a page where you can have your specific queries answered. You can also send an email, join the AliExpress forum, or connect with their social media pages.
The support is leaning more on the buyer, though. So, you have to be the problem solver when your customers encounter problems. Your customers would expect you to have straightforward and practical solutions.
AliExpress Dropshipping FAQs
Can I dropship from AliExpress?
Definitely! You don’t have to get licensed or legalized if you don’t want to. Testing the waters to understand the market legally permissible. This might even help you figure out your niche.
Is Dropshipping from AliExpress Profitable?
Despite the continuous growth of ecommerce retailers, it is still a profitable market. According to eMarketer, time spent by people in digital media increased dramatically in 2020. It predicted, from analyzed data, that it will continue to increase in 2021. A report by KPMG China and GS1 Hong Kong also stated that consumer shopping behavior is shifting. More and more consumers are identifying themselves as “tech-savvy.”
These studies show that digital retail will retain, if not increase, its market going forward. Most importantly, AliExpress is not short in offering quality products. Nor does it lack in reliable suppliers and competitive profit margin. You only have to keep your commitment in learning the dropshipping business.
Is AliExpress Dropshipping Dead in 2021?
Every year, this question is being asked. From every ecommerce blog to AliExpress dropshipping Reddit community, people are always curious. But dropshipping is consistently slamming this question with a certain NO. AliExpress dropshipping is NOT DEAD in 2021.
How Do I Dropship from AliExpress to Amazon?
One way to dropship from AliExpress to Amazon is by following these simple steps:
First, create an online store in an ecommerce platform like Shopify.
Next is to connect it to a dropshipping platform like Oberlo. It will source the product inventory from AliExpress.
Then, create an Amazon Seller Account where you’ll make and publish your product listing. Add the Amazon Sales Channel to your Shopify account and link your Amazon product listing to it.
From there, you can already manage your Amazon store and sales through Shopify. It will also be easier to browse AliExpress products you can sell on your Amazon store.
Is it Legal to Resell Items from AliExpress?
Of course! The dropshipping framework may sound a bit complex for first timers so it’s normal to have doubts. But in reality, you are not committing any crime for reselling a product you already bought. Things you bought are technically considered yours so you can sell it as you please.
Is AliExpress Good for Dropshipping?
Certainly. AliExpress grew under a reputable brand, Alibaba Group. It is continuously helping retail merchants and buyers all around the world to gain profit. Since it’s based in China, and the largest part of manufacturers come from there, it’s easier to find cheap items with a good profit margin. With AliExpress dropshipping, items are close and the shipping fee is also low.
Also, you will not lose much capital when the product does not click with the market. It’s because you are allowed to buy in single orders. In fact, it is an opportunity to test as much product as you can till you find a competitive product to resell.
How to Dropship from AliExpress Conclusion
With the world becoming more digital by the day, and companies racing to uncover new digital solutions, AliExpress is as fierce as ever. There might be more competition this year. Yet, there are ways to lead you in earning a profit this 2021. Choose a niche that gives value and answers the needs of your specific target market. Also, use automation tools wisely to enforce the marketing of your brand. Last but not the least, know your market. It might be bumpy starting out but you will definitely not be lost.
To wrap things up, here are the pros and cons of AliExpress dropshipping. It will help you find out if you are cut out in starting an AliExpress dropshipping business.
Pros:
- No big financial commitment so there’s minimal risk
- No inventory
- No startup cost
- You learn sales and marketing
- No shipment or delivery management
- Scalable
- Large product selection of wide variety
- Competitive pricing
- Access to new products
- Low overheads
Cons:
- Supplier errors on shipping management
- You are not in control of product quality and shipping but complaints are your responsibility
- Stock issues
- Suppliers doing false advertisement
- Complicated Returns and refund processing
- Slow shipping times