Bought from Aliexpress about fifty times in last several years. Zero monetary problems, with credit card. Always de-selected the "Save credit card" feature. PayPal is a choice too. Navigate carefully to learn their inner workings and options. Do not do lightheaded choices.
Found lately that buying items with the 'shopping cart' becomes more confusing. Individual transactions per item work better.
Something interesting was a 'Free shipping item' becomes not-free shipping if you buy more than quantity one. May be related to packet weight. So, pick your flavor.

Once the mailed item was incomplete, and the vendor promptly more than corrected their error. Once the item was non-working and the vendor replaced it promptly.
They seem to be very careful to keep things correct, protect customers and spank wrongly doing vendors. The delay in mailing often can be misinterpreted as poorly conducted business; but I suspect they have their reasons as they have an inexpensive method for delivery to your door.

Proper gentle behavior from buyer as reporting goods arrival and rating transactions seems to form a respectable relation. In doubt, start placing orders of small items to test their business. And do not sit by your mailbox waiting the delivery. If you live in a hurry, pay triple elsewhere.

 

A vendor cannot charge to your PayPal account without you authorizing the payment. Even if your Paypal account is hacked PP has a zero dollar liability if you report the transaction.

I normally use PP, but it seems Ali doesn't except PP. That's the why of this thread.

Probably good practice for any online purchase. Just load it with what you need then buy. But I have never done it. So darn inconvenient.

With a debit card, the vendor has access to your entire account. They can essentually take all of your money with a fraudulent transaction. You have to hope that the bank can recover the fraudulent funds.

With a credit card, the vendor can only ask the bank for the money. If you dispute the transaction, no money will leave your account until it is settled.

There are debit cards where you can load the card with what you want. If the item cost $100 then you load it with $100. The worst that happens is you lose $100. You then just toss the card. A lot better that trying to settle the matter with the card company of thousands of dollars. And there are cards with the same protection as a credit card. Essentially it is a pay ahead credit card.

Found out you have to watch what prepaid card you get. Most charge a fee (small) every month even if it isn't used. I see this purchase as a one time deal.

You talk about debit card account been drained.
Will it happen if the account link to the card is empty.
I transfer from my saving to Visa account when I buy things.

R!f@@, sounds like what you are using is what is called a prepaid card here in the US.

 

All-in-all, I am more than happy with my dealings with AliExpress vendors.

Not worried about the vendor Ali keeps them honest. It's the payment method that is my worry.

 

I normally use PP, but it seems Ali doesn't except PP. That's the why of this thread.

I couldn't find the PP option either. That's why I used a credit card.

 

My ATM card has access to my checking account and I think I set up checking overdraft protection from my savings account; it was decades ago and I don't recall. I don't like that. Maybe I'll change banks over that policy; providing other banks haven't done something similar

I think all of the banks around here link the ATM with a debit card now, at least in my area. My bank issued a new card a year ago for that. Didn't like it but wasn't able to opt out of the debit part.

 

Not worried about the vendor Ali keeps them honest. It's the payment method that is my worry.

AliExpress dispute resolution is a joke. In my case, whenever they got involved, they backed the Seller.

Fortunately, my largest dispute (for counterfeit microSD cards) was refunded by the Seller without involving AliExpress personnel.

 

I think all of the banks around here link the ATM with a debit card now, at least in my area. My bank issued a new card a year ago for that. Didn't like it but wasn't able to opt out of the debit part.

I'm not liking that. I keep a year or more of living expenses in checking/savings...

 

In our current banking system, with internet banking, we get a SMS regarding any transaction made from the card. Whether online or via ATM.
And to transfer from account to another account, bank send an OTP to your mobile via SMS to confirm the transfer. Once confirmed the transfer goes through

 

AliExpress dispute resolution is a joke. In my case, whenever they got involved, they backed the Seller.

Fortunately, my largest dispute (for counterfeit microSD cards) was refunded by the Seller without involving AliExpress personnel.

I get refund to all my disputes every time. But I need to provide evidence like picture or video.
Without proper evidence they will back up the seller.
It's not a joke to me at all

 

Without proper evidence they will back up the seller.
It's not a joke to me at all

I provided documentation showing the products were not as advertised and AliExpress still sided with the Sellers.

The products, in general, are low quality. If quality is good enough, can't beat their price or the free shipping on some items. If I want quality, I pay several times the price and purchase from a reputable supplier.

 

Most of the time I always message the seller that I will open dispute if the product is not as described or if seller sends something else.
I dunno wht happened to you but I always win

 

Most of the time I always message the seller that I will open dispute if the product is not as described or if seller sends something else.

When I was able to get the Seller to agree that the product wasn't as advertised, they issue the refund and AliExpress people don't get involved. If the Seller doesn't agree, it goes to AliExpress dispute resolution. They backed the Seller 100% of the time in my case.

My "loss" is still under $5. I have a USB voltage/current meter that can't measure current accurately and some jumpers with clips where the clips are useless without modification.

The microSD cards would have been a significantly larger loss, but I think the Seller already knew they were counterfeit. That transaction just reminded me that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. I got to keep the counterfeit product which work as a 1/8 labeled capacity devices and the USB adapters. The only problem is that devices still think they're 64GB and will start overwriting data if actual capacity is exceeded. I use them to transfer data from my smartphone and tablet to my computer.

 

I have had SD problems too. I did get refund on those too.

 

The seller has to program paypal option, not many due, Ive pointed out the banking fee theyre having. You ignore this information?

So simple english- some shops have PP option, most dont.

Btw also the seller doesnt process your card its done via Alipay.

 

The seller has to program paypal option, not many due, Ive pointed out the banking fee theyre having. You ignore this information?

So simple english- some shops have PP option, most dont.

Btw also the seller doesnt process your card its done via Alipay.

Not being ignored, it's just not even listed(PP) as a way to pay on Aliexpress's home page where they list all of the ways to pay. Maybe they did accept it at one time, like before they started Alipay, but not now. They do compete against Ebay, that's probably why since PP is an Ebay company. They list a lot of other ways but not PP. And I'm not about to send my bank information to Alipay for a $12 item no matter how much it's needed.

 

Not being ignored, it's just not even listed(PP) as a way to pay on Aliexpress's home page where they list all of the ways to pay. Maybe they did accept it at one time, like before they started Alipay, but not now. They do compete against Ebay, that's probably why since PP is an Ebay company. They list a lot of other ways but not PP. And I'm not about to send my bank information to Alipay for a $12 item no matter how much it's needed.

Some sellers take it but you need to change the payment information on the sale proceeds page. Its akward. And many infact don't take it. Just shop around you'll see some who take it.

Your bank information? It's just a card number and pretty standard worldwide you can call a hotline if there's suspicious transaction and they cancel it if not your bank is no good. Also get advice about cards you can have additional cards and set limits on them quite low.

 

Thanks to every one that answered in this thread.
For a possible one time only buy I have decided to do what this site is really about(most times). I'm going to do an electrical solution. The switch is available here in the states but not configured like the machine requires. Basically it's a 3 position selector switch, up for forward, middle for off and down for reverse. The off position is really not off, it has a normally close set of contacts that lets the main power contactor only start in that position. A type of 'safety interlock'. The normal switches that are available don't have the extra set of contacts and from what I have been able to find the extra set can't just be added. I'll just by pass this 'interlock' in the circuit and be good to go. At least till the correct switch can be found. Thanks again.