AliExpress online shop with free shipping
Most of the questions you leave us on the website are usually about shipping methods from Aliexpress from China. That’s why in this article we are going to explain everything you need to know about them and answer your most frequently asked questions.
The shopping process on AliExpress
Before we start talking about shipping methods, we would like to make a clarification. Many of you may not know how the AliExpress buying process works. It is important to know that in their ad, sellers write to us what type of shipment will be used and the approximate delivery time from China. Although, if we do not pay for shipping, it is most common for the seller to use a shipping method that suits you.
Parcel delivery services from China
Also, if you have added items from different sellers to your cart, they will be delivered in separate parcels, even if you pay all together, as each seller is located in different parts of the country and sends the parcel independently.
The protection time is 60 days, which means it can take up to 60 days for delivery, although it usually takes much less time (depending on the country). At busy times with a large number of shipments (at Christmas, for example) the courier services are busy, so it may take longer to arrive.
Free shipping methods from Aliexpress?
For most items shipping on Aliexpress is completely free, although as you’ve been told in the comments on the site, there are certain items that now include shipping charges, and the reason is that many of these items previously had regular shipping (which cannot be tracked), and cannot be tracked, so the buyer can open a dispute claiming that he or she did not receive the order (even if it was, or even if it came a little later). This is why many sellers have chosen to introduce a small extra shipping charge and send it with tracking by track number to avoid fraud.
On the other hand, if we want to pay the shipping company, of course we have to pay for the shipment. Remember that, as we said before, this type of delivery usually comes with additional customs fees (which we will have to pay ourselves). In the case of registered and normal deliveries, it is much less likely to be stopped.
What types of deliveries does AliExpress offer?
First, we should clarify that shipping is not from AliExpress , but from the seller who accepts our order and is responsible for sending it. So there is no single type of shipping, because the seller can use thousands of shipping companies, so we will consider 3 main types of shipping.
Standard shipping
This shipping method is for small items (packages which fit in a small padded envelope). They cannot be tracked, which means that we cannot see where our order is going and we will not be notified on the day of delivery. Usually a parcel of this type is left in our post box by the postman, and it does not need a signature of receipt.
Certified mail shipments
The most common items on AliExpress are delivered this way. This type of shipment can be tracked over the internet by a track number and we can identify it, because the track number usually starts with R and ends with CN… The parcel is delivered to us by our country’s postal company, but in this case, they leave you a notice to collect your order at the post office.
Delivery by private courier
This type of delivery is suitable for very bulky or heavy orders. We recommend you to avoid this type of shipping as although it is faster, they usually have a customs duty.
Paid shipping methods from Aliexpress?
Paid shipping methods from Aliexpress include:
- China Post Air Mail – estimated delivery time up to 30 days;
- AliExpress Standard Shipping – estimated delivery time up to 25 days;
- Fedex IE – delivery time 7 to 15 days;
- Fedex Express – delivery time from 7 to 15 days;
- DHL – delivery time from 7 to 15 days.
Delivery methods are listed based on cost in ascending order. DHL is the most expensive and one of the fastest delivery methods on Aliexpress.
How to find our tracking number
In the detailed description of your order you will find the parcel tracking number and it will also show you the statuses it goes through.
In addition, there are also several apps for your smartphone that allow you to enter tracking numbers and see where your packages are being sent. And you can also use the page on our website. We use one of the most well-known and reliable services, which track packages by tracking number better than others. You can see it for yourself.
Which company sent my package? Is it a certified package or a parcel?
Although new shipping methods appear every day, most sellers rely on the same shipping companies, and so we will talk about the most common ones, according to the tracking number, they are all certified and we can track them to see where our parcels are:
- Starts with R and ends with CN: sent by Chinapost.
- Ends in HK: Sent by Hongkong Post.
- Ends in SG: Sent by Singapore Post.
- Ends in NL: Sent by Netherlands Post.
- Ends with PQ48: Sent by post, we will receive the letter when it arrives, it will be delivered within 48 hours.
In the case of normal shipping methods (those that cannot be tracked), there is a much wider range of companies, but we have found the following:
- Starts with LP: Sent by post (this cannot be tracked, but we will receive an email when it reaches our country).
- Starts with WD: Sent Wedo.
- Starts with PP: Sent by PayPal package.
- Starts with YC: Sent by Yanwen.
- Begins with WS: Sent by Ws-shipping.
- Begins with YD: Sent by Special line YW.
- Begins with SY: Sent by SunYou.
- All numbers: Sent by China ordinary mail.
The fastest delivery from China from Aliexpress without customs
If you need an item urgently, Aliexpress has introduced new methods to improve delivery and help you get your order in the shortest possible time, without going through customs. To use this new method, all you have to do is look for shops that have a warehouse in Russia. Here is how you find this type of seller.
Filter your search to find a shipment from your country
When searching for something, if we use the “Ship from” field, we will be able to filter out sellers who have a warehouse in our country. For example, if you are from Russia, you can search for sellers who have a warehouse in your country. This will mean that you will receive your purchase in the shortest possible time and without customs charges.
We answer your most frequently asked questions
We’ve already answered many of your questions throughout this article, but there are recurring doubts that we haven’t addressed yet. Below are some of the most common ones.
Can I buy something and have it sent to a country other than the one I live in?
Yes, all you have to do is change the setting at the top of the page and specify the country the order should be shipped to. So you will only receive items from sellers who ship to that country.
Can I change my delivery address?
If you have already paid for your order but notice that the delivery address is incorrect, it is best to contact the seller as soon as possible and explain the situation, in addition to sending the correct address. Another option is to cancel the order and place it again. Unfortunately, if the seller has already shipped the order, there is nothing you can do about it.
Sending goods from Aliexpress cash on delivery?
This is another one of your most frequently asked questions, especially for those of you who are trying to buy on AliExpress for the first time and are afraid of not getting your order. AliExpress does not offer cash on delivery, but your money is perfectly safe as the seller does not receive the money until you confirm receipt of your order.
Our opinion on AliExpress shipping
The truth is that since we launched this site, we’ve seen a lot of progress in terms of delivery methods on AliExpress: those in charge of this page are working hard to try and improve delivery times by offering less waiting time and better terms. With most delivery methods being free and low prices for their products, AliExpress is second to none. Especially with the new in-house delivery services that significantly reduce waiting times.
Finally, remember that our website has a tutorial section where you can find articles as interesting as our comprehensive guide to AliExpress. It’s highly recommended reading if you’re just starting to buy on this famous Chinese online shopping site.
