ALIEXPRESS imports

G

gelson azevedo junior

Joined
Feb 20, 2025
Messages
1
Points
3
Dear friends I'm not really a model ship builder. But I've been a hobbist woodworker for 25 years and have a complete woodshop.
Recently I decided to design and built a Black Pearl model for my grand kids. Not a complete kit from the shelf like ZHl offers. So I started the project and realized that some small parts I'd better buy them than making them. So I've ordered through ALIEXPRESS a couple of itens from a seller by the name ZJCN Model Co. The first buy came normally without complains . But the second is retained in Customs since January 22nd. When that happens is usually due to inproper paperwork and is very rare to clear from Customs. Moreover they never gave me a Brazil tracking number so I just can't realize what the problem was once the iten is not recognizedd in Customs site and in Brazil mail service site.So the solution is that I'll have to wait the ALIEXPRESS protection time of 50 days after my complain to get a refund.
Well, it could be just bad luck and so, i bougth another item from same store ZJCN Model Co..Them I got the part in the wrong size. I sent ALIEXPRESS a photo having a scale adjacent to the item to show the error . ALIEXPRESS gave me two options :
Option 1- I will be reimbursed the value of the item only and I would not receive the value paid for transport and Custom clearance.
Option 2- I would receive full reimbursement but I woul have to go to a post office and ship it back to China and pay for the transport.
Then when the seller receive the wrong part I'd be reimbursed by ALIEXPRESS the full amount of the purchace plus the shipment to China.

The reason why I'm telling this exprirence is that I've seen in the "SHIP OF SCALE SITE" some friends very happy informing that those parts from , ZJ CN Model.Co ,China, could be bougth from ALIEXPRESS site , so be carefull. Like I said it could have been just bad luck in two cases with same seller but I think you should know about it.
 
I have had items stuck in customs on one end or the other for over a month, due to holidays, strikes or paperwork.

You may give it time to clear, as the time to get refund may take longer.
 
Never had any trouble with Aliexpress, in fact I find them fast, efficient and informative. Not to mention great value for money. For example I just bought a kit for half the price it would cost in the UK. It arrived in perfect condition after just six days, China to Northern Ireland!

Cheers JJ..
 
I’ve bought many items on Aliexpress and generally had no problems with delivery or refunds. However, I limit my purchases to lower priced items since I have had a few bad experiences over the years. While they have gotten better on refunds for wrong or damaged items you can still get burned.
 
I buy a LOT of "stuff" via AliExpress (or back during the COVID days, Ali-not so Express)... I've had very, very few issues over the years. Then again, most of what I buy from them are parts for electronics projects, LED bulbs for my vehicles, and knock-off Lego kits. Copper hull plating tape, blocks, and anchors are the only ship building items I've bought through them. Again, zero issues. But I've also never bought a full ship kit from them, so that could be similar to the LEGO MOC kits. Not all third party LEGO kits makers produce products at the same level of quality.

Certainly there's a lot of caveat emptor involved, as you'll find the same item listed by a hundred different sellers, all with varying prices, but typically coming out the same once you combine the two scenarios... a) lower price but a cost for shipping, or b) higher price and free shipping. You certainly want to avoid returns, because in my case, what they send to me and costs a few dollars to ship will cost ten times that if I have to engage Canada Post to return it to China or Hong Kong. But in the big picture, they're certainly far better to deal with than TEMU.... IMHO.
 
If the item you purchased was wooden, then there could be a customs issue.
Down here in Australia we have very strict customs declarations to fill in when ordering timber.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top