Scores reflect the Overall AI Score for each category
Based on recent customer reviews, Aliexpress is described by South African shoppers as a high risk marketplace. Customers consistently report parcels that never arrive, courier partners such as Speedaf, Meili, iMile and MailAmericas that cannot be reached, and customs charges that were never disclosed at checkout. A recurring theme is refund requests refused for insufficient evidence despite photos and video being supplied.
Top Strengths:
- •Product Quality & Value: A small number of shoppers say listings are clearer than rival platforms and that goods arrive quickly, and headline prices look attractive. Most reviewers, however, describe items that fail early or differ from the advertised description.
TrustIndex
1.7
NPS Score
-94
Recommended: Unlikely
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Aliexpress
What do customers say about Aliexpress?
Based on recent customer reviews, Aliexpress is described by South African shoppers as a high risk marketplace. Customers consistently report parcels that never arrive, courier partners such as Speedaf, Meili, iMile and MailAmericas that cannot be reached, and customs charges that were never disclosed at checkout. A recurring theme is refund requests refused for insufficient evidence despite photos and video being supplied.
What is Aliexpress's biggest strength?
Aliexpress's biggest strength, according to Hellopeter's AI analysis, is Product Quality & Value. A small number of shoppers say listings are clearer than rival platforms and that goods arrive quickly, and headline prices look attractive. Most reviewers, however, describe items that fail early or differ from the advertised description.
What are the most common complaints about Aliexpress?
The most common complaint about Aliexpress, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Customer Service & Support. Shoppers describe chatbots and automated replies instead of people, support inboxes that bounce or sit full, and escalations that vanish. First line chat agents are sometimes polite, but customers say promises of follow up are rarely honoured.
Is Aliexpress trustworthy?
Aliexpress has a TrustIndex of 1.7 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 98 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked Aliexpress across 506 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (98)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Dec 2024
shocking
Ali Express is definately NOT a institution to purchase from. Iterms can be purchased locally cheaper. Unlike TEMU where the price you see is the price you pay. With Ali Express you pay for the item and you pay for packaging and then when the item arrives you pay duties. Stay away from Ali Express
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2024
shocking
Ali Express is definately NOT a institution to purchase from. Iterms can be purchased locally cheaper. Unlike TEMU where the price you see is the price you pay. With Ali Express you pay for the item and you pay for packaging and then when the item arrives you pay duties. Stay away from Ali Express
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2026
Bad experience
I ordered 2026 NEW Bob Wig Frontal Lace #1 12inches 180% but received wrong item. Order ID ***. I have attached pictures showing the wrong item but they reject my request .I also paid 148.5 ZAR customs to Speedaf for this wrong item. Please intervene . I want full refund R261.73 + customs.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2026
Bad experience
I ordered 2026 NEW Bob Wig Frontal Lace #1 12inches 180% but received wrong item. Order ID ***. I have attached pictures showing the wrong item but they reject my request .I also paid 148.5 ZAR customs to Speedaf for this wrong item. Please intervene . I want full refund R261.73 + customs.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
Broken Product Bad quality
I've ordered a product It came and it was broken It does not work Know they don't want to take it back I've send 2 x video's to proof it is not working ,*** and still they don't want to help me They want more proof So... 2 x video's is not enough I won't ever buy something from them I've told them i just want to exchange it for something else that is working but still nothing If you want to loose your money then buy from them
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
Broken Product Bad quality
I've ordered a product It came and it was broken It does not work Know they don't want to take it back I've send 2 x video's to proof it is not working ,*** and still they don't want to help me They want more proof So... 2 x video's is not enough I won't ever buy something from them I've told them i just want to exchange it for something else that is working but still nothing If you want to loose your money then buy from them
1 reviews | Active since May 2018
*****, *******, cheats!
BUY AT YOUR PERIL. I found a new central locking unit, consisting of a pump, pc board and case, for my car on AliExpress. I contacted the seller and he confirmed (in writing) that all three components were included. I ordered and paid, including the "delivery charges". About 10 days later I had messages from *** logistics demanding "Taxes and other Fees". I paid. A week later this box arrived by *** with an obviously scrap pump, no pc board and no case. I complained, sent pictures and full details to AliExpress insisting on a refund. The seller acknowledged an error in his listing but insisted that I must return the scrap and he would issue a refund IF the pump was found to be in good condition. He suggested that I might sell the scrap! AliExpress finally offered me a refund of about 15% of the price I paid, "because there was value in the part delivered to me". No discussion, no comment on the obvious *****. You MUST avoid any contact with AliExpress, *** Logistics and *** couriers.
1 reviews | Active since May 2018
*****, *******, cheats!
BUY AT YOUR PERIL. I found a new central locking unit, consisting of a pump, pc board and case, for my car on AliExpress. I contacted the seller and he confirmed (in writing) that all three components were included. I ordered and paid, including the "delivery charges". About 10 days later I had messages from *** logistics demanding "Taxes and other Fees". I paid. A week later this box arrived by *** with an obviously scrap pump, no pc board and no case. I complained, sent pictures and full details to AliExpress insisting on a refund. The seller acknowledged an error in his listing but insisted that I must return the scrap and he would issue a refund IF the pump was found to be in good condition. He suggested that I might sell the scrap! AliExpress finally offered me a refund of about 15% of the price I paid, "because there was value in the part delivered to me". No discussion, no comment on the obvious *****. You MUST avoid any contact with AliExpress, *** Logistics and *** couriers.
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2015
ITEM NOT AS ADVERTISED AND THE MONEY ******! BE VERY CARE FULL OF ALIEXPRESS
So I bought a radio replacement screen on Ali Express, I double checked all the advertised code to be sure that the unit is 100% correct - The unit came and low and behold the unit did not work at all. So I logged on the website for a refund. The refund was rejected with no comments or proper feedback - just rejected. Now keep in mind the item is brand now, I attached all the pictures as I installed and supplied it with the reason for refund request, but no feedback accept declined. Then I logged an appeal as I feel the product was not as advertised and sold - just to once again only get declined - no reasons nothing - I feel that AliExpress is simply catching us by taking our money for items that does not work and they know it, thus the reason for not giving us a refund or even giving us feedback on why it is rejected. PLEASE PLEASE BE VERY VERY CARE FULL BEFORE PURCHASING ANYTHING FROM ALIEXRESS!
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2015
ITEM NOT AS ADVERTISED AND THE MONEY ******! BE VERY CARE FULL OF ALIEXPRESS
So I bought a radio replacement screen on Ali Express, I double checked all the advertised code to be sure that the unit is 100% correct - The unit came and low and behold the unit did not work at all. So I logged on the website for a refund. The refund was rejected with no comments or proper feedback - just rejected. Now keep in mind the item is brand now, I attached all the pictures as I installed and supplied it with the reason for refund request, but no feedback accept declined. Then I logged an appeal as I feel the product was not as advertised and sold - just to once again only get declined - no reasons nothing - I feel that AliExpress is simply catching us by taking our money for items that does not work and they know it, thus the reason for not giving us a refund or even giving us feedback on why it is rejected. PLEASE PLEASE BE VERY VERY CARE FULL BEFORE PURCHASING ANYTHING FROM ALIEXRESS!
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
Disgusting!!
I am very dissatisfied!!! Description was saying human hair but only received synthetic and they are refusing with my full refund after providing all the proof!
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2026
Disgusting!!
I am very dissatisfied!!! Description was saying human hair but only received synthetic and they are refusing with my full refund after providing all the proof!
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2022
Not Happy
Good day, I paid for full shipment and customs is charging me almost R600 to release my package at the local airport. The items costed me R355.00 and I paid 346.00 for shipping. There is no way I can pay R946.00 for something that cost me R355.00. All together an amount of R1301.00. Something is very wrong here, please rectify this matter ASAP. I will never refer someone and I will never use this Aliexpress ever again
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2022
Not Happy
Good day, I paid for full shipment and customs is charging me almost R600 to release my package at the local airport. The items costed me R355.00 and I paid 346.00 for shipping. There is no way I can pay R946.00 for something that cost me R355.00. All together an amount of R1301.00. Something is very wrong here, please rectify this matter ASAP. I will never refer someone and I will never use this Aliexpress ever again
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2021
**** **** Double Customs Payment due to split orders
AliExpress and SpeedAF: The Worst Online Shopping Experience! AliExpress and SpeedAF have given me one of the worst online shopping experiences I have ever had. I placed an order for three simple items: a T-shirt, a baseball cap, and a cellphone case. To my surprise, my order was split into separate shipments without my approval. I was asked to pay R182.52 in customs charges, which I assumed covered my order. Only afterwards did I discover that this payment was for the baseball cap and cellphone case. Two days later, SpeedAF contacted me demanding another R234.01 for the T-shirt, which cost only R270! How does this make any sense? Why would an order weighing less than a kilogram need to be split into separate shipments? More importantly, why are customers not informed and given the opportunity to approve or decline the split before the items are shipped? Customers should be allowed to make an informed decision before being hit with unexpected additional charges. The customer service experience has been just as disappointing. The responses I received felt automated and pre-recorded, with no real effort to address my actual concerns. I am tired of receiving generic responses instead of meaningful assistance. To make matters worse, AliExpress refuses to refund me because the item has already left their facility, while SpeedAF is demanding more money because they have my parcel. I never requested separate shipments, yet I am now expected to pay additional charges because of a decision I did not approve. This is unacceptable. Customers should not be left trapped between a seller and a courier, forced to pay unexpected fees for a shipping arrangement they never agreed to. I am extremely disappointed with both AliExpress and SpeedAF. Transparency, proper communication, and customer service should be the bare minimum. I would not recommend this experience to anyone. I will certainly think twice before shopping through AliExpress again.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2021
**** **** Double Customs Payment due to split orders
AliExpress and SpeedAF: The Worst Online Shopping Experience! AliExpress and SpeedAF have given me one of the worst online shopping experiences I have ever had. I placed an order for three simple items: a T-shirt, a baseball cap, and a cellphone case. To my surprise, my order was split into separate shipments without my approval. I was asked to pay R182.52 in customs charges, which I assumed covered my order. Only afterwards did I discover that this payment was for the baseball cap and cellphone case. Two days later, SpeedAF contacted me demanding another R234.01 for the T-shirt, which cost only R270! How does this make any sense? Why would an order weighing less than a kilogram need to be split into separate shipments? More importantly, why are customers not informed and given the opportunity to approve or decline the split before the items are shipped? Customers should be allowed to make an informed decision before being hit with unexpected additional charges. The customer service experience has been just as disappointing. The responses I received felt automated and pre-recorded, with no real effort to address my actual concerns. I am tired of receiving generic responses instead of meaningful assistance. To make matters worse, AliExpress refuses to refund me because the item has already left their facility, while SpeedAF is demanding more money because they have my parcel. I never requested separate shipments, yet I am now expected to pay additional charges because of a decision I did not approve. This is unacceptable. Customers should not be left trapped between a seller and a courier, forced to pay unexpected fees for a shipping arrangement they never agreed to. I am extremely disappointed with both AliExpress and SpeedAF. Transparency, proper communication, and customer service should be the bare minimum. I would not recommend this experience to anyone. I will certainly think twice before shopping through AliExpress again.