AliExpress can offer great deals, but it’s also very easy to get scammed, receive a cheap knock-off, or even end up with nothing at all. The search engine isn’t very helpful, often mixing reputable merchants with sketchy ones and real products with junk.
So far, I’ve found the AliUp extension, which seems fairly helpful. I wish there were third-party websites with independent reviews, but I haven’t found anything truly helpful or comprehensive yet.
So, what are your tips for buying on AliExpress or similar platforms?
Buying new, unreviewed products can save you money, since sellers often list things cheaper to get a few buyers and then increase the price.
If you’re buying something branded and it’s less than 1/2 of the US price, be prepared for it to be different than in the photos.