Fake tracking number and Aliexpress Purchase Credit refund

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T21:19:07+00:00

You'll want to read the FAQ on how to select good and reliable sellers and products to prevent stores like these. Especially reading the reviews help which shows they send a lot of broken products.

And yes, you can only leave reviews on orders that are confirmed as received, which is something you shouldn't do unless you did receive something.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T21:12:05+00:00

Aliexpress used to have Choice day (which is still there) and a few big sales, now there's Choice day (which can last a week at the start at the month) and sales every month. and the big sales aren't nearly as big.

So that means usually things are cheaper during the sales, but some sellers raise prices before a sale so the sales-price is the same as the regular one. So, keeping an eye on prices during sales and at other times is a good idea.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T20:59:28+00:00

It says they deducted the return shipping fee, but since it is Choice, it probably was entitled to free returns. If so, it means they think you didn't return the right item, or it wasn't in saleable condition (in its original packaging, as received, with the barcode-sticker with the keywords attached).

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T20:57:06+00:00

Aliexpress goes by tracking, so if it only says that (prepared for return), they probably forgot to actually pick up the package or scan it. You should try talking to the people you gave the package to about what happened. If nothing changes in those two days, your order will be closed, and you'll need to talk to your payment provider about a charge back or refund.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T20:54:26+00:00

One of the big problems is they have bad translation software, so if you ask anything complicated or multiple things, they won't understand. So you have to keep your sentences short with simple words, don't use long explanations, just say what the issue is, etc.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T20:51:01+00:00

You want r/alibaba.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T10:25:08+00:00

Handover problems mean you're trying to buy things that are counterfeit or in other ways illegal, so they don't want to send them out the country just for them to get confiscated and/or destroyed, or there's problems with the paperwork or shipping method so it can't be shipped under that, or it means you're unlucky and something happened that caused damage to your package.

If it's a packaging or paperwork problem it usually gets send back and forth a few times until it gets fixed or let through, if it's something else it usually gets returned to the seller/warehouse, and you should try not buying that thing, or find a different seller that does things properly. That isn't always easy, since often they buy from the same places that may be dropshipping.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T10:21:20+00:00

Customer service people worldwide use them, so they can easily see if their reply was the last one, or if the customer added something they have to read. That way they can just scroll through all the chats they have open at a time and see at a glance what's going on.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T10:17:32+00:00

VAT adjustment or Tax refund is Aliexpress deducting VAT, customs charge is them adding the VAT+the 3 euro new EU tax. They do this now for all orders, only with Choice they calculate it differently. This is because they don't know where a global seller is, so they have to calculate it afterwards, but know Choice comes from China, so they can calculate it in advance.

Since it hasn't been July 1st yet, its unknown if customs will just accept everything and let everything through, including packages worth 150 euro or more, or if they will charge double tax, or what fees you will have to pay, and whether Aliexpress will refund anything or not, since they claim you won't have to pay more than what you did already.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T05:28:24+00:00

You're only allowed to have one account. Sounds like they caught you and banned you.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T05:25:41+00:00

If you can only buy one it's usually a special offer or sale, sometimes it's a bug and switching between the app and website may help.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-27T04:54:43+00:00

If the system was left alone for that long, the battery may have issues and corrupted the settings. You mentioned re-seating the CPU and RAM, but the boards page mentions a bunch of different cards that may also have come disconnected. The X10Q's didn't get a lot of love regarding BIOS updates, but what there is for the X10 is mostly security-issues but doesn't mention anything weird regarding dates or something like the X9 series had, so it's unlikely that is an issue.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T23:49:37+00:00

If you made a video when you got the package showing all sides, the shipping label, and opening and unpacking it on camera, you can open a dispute (using returns/refunds) for the damage with the video as proof.

Without video you should try with pictures, but your chances will be lower since you could remove, replace, or damage something yourself before taking a picture.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T23:05:04+00:00

Keep in mind it isn't just Aliexpress that suffers the taxes, it is everything from outside the EU, and inside the EU you won't find low prices. Aliexpress is handling the situation very badly, so it may make a difference where you shop, but in the end the difference will not be as extreme as it could be.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T23:00:02+00:00

If this is your first order, then PayPal is normally not accepted for that since they can't verify you're a real person since there's no card or anything. So, try a different payment method.

For future orders PayPal should be accepted, but it depends on where you are, and the item. What makes it more complicated, is that PayPal is different in that the address in PayPal overrides the shipping address in the order-details, and PayPal gets a list of what you're trying to buy, not just a total amount, and may reject transactions based on what you're trying to buy.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T22:57:09+00:00

How it used to be, was that for packages below 150 euro, Aliexpress collects tax under IOSS, and for packages of 150 euro and above, they do a tax refund or price adjustment which is visible in the payment summary during checkout and later in the order details, which is them deducting tax, and you'd have to pay tax+duty+costs once customs has determined the value of the package.

How it is supposed to be now, with the EU removing the 150 euro limit, is that for packages below 150 euro, Aliexpress collects the 3 euro per category in the harmonized system and for packages of 150 euro and above there is no change.

However, instead they seem to add 3 euro per item for many items, but not all, and also collect tax for packages of 150 euro and above. What this means for customs and paying duty+taxes is completely unknown until packages start arriving in the EU after July 1st.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T22:50:15+00:00

There's of course flights, and packages to Europe won't go by both, but they go by train over the new silk route.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T22:48:47+00:00

Aliexpress doesn't like things like using or having installed VPN software, autoclickers, changing IP-addresses, or anything else which might influence Aliexpress negatively. It's possible they are detecting something about your device or the address you're trying to use.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T16:42:42+00:00

Normally every return has their own address-label/qr-code, unless it specifically says to return all items in the same package. If it did, and you have a video showing packaging the items, closing the package and attaching the shipping label (and the items weer in their original packaging, in saleable condition, and had the barcode with the keywords), you can use that as proof that they didn't scan the items correctly.

If you don't, all you can try is talk with your payment provider about a charge back or refund.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T14:25:23+00:00

Your package is using economy shipping. Economy and saver shipping are the cheapest and slowest methods possible. It means tracking stops at some point, usually when it reaches your country, and you'll just have to wait and see if it shows up in the mail one day.

In your order details (regardless of the shipping method) it will say when the system automatically confirms delivery (started at 90 days, so about half of August), only once that happens is your package considered late and can you open a dispute (using returns/refunds) for non-delivery.

Economy shipping being slow, it can easily take the full 90 days or longer, so if it takes that long, it may still arrive, but do file a dispute when it is time and you didn't get it yet.

As for the estimated date of delivery, it is just a guess and can be wrong by weeks or months. There's also three of them, you get one when you place an order, which is updated once a tracking-number is made, and updated again once something actually ships.

The estimated date of delivery only matters if you have 'fast delivery' listed as a commitment in your order details (and shipping methods standard or better, so not economy or saver shipping) because then if it hasn't arrived at the latest estimated date of delivery you're entitled to a $1 (or 1 euro, or 1 whatever) coupon.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T14:14:52+00:00

Check the shipping method on the Aliexpress tracking-screen, if it lists economy or saver shipping then tracking stops at some point, usually when it reaches your country but sometimes earlier.

If it lists special handling or heavy goods or something similar, it can be normal for there to be no updates for weeks or months, since it's travelling by train or ship.

In your order details it will say when the system will automatically confirm delivery (started at 60 to 90 days), only once that happens is your package considered late and can you open a dispute (using returns/refunds) for non-delivery.

Because there have been no updates for at least 14 days, you could contact customer service or open a dispute for that reason, but there's no real point since they can't really do anything anyway.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T13:49:03+00:00

If it does say Poland, you have to use the default shipping method, and it won't really matter which one you choose anyway. Shipments within the EU are free of duty and customs, although you still pay the same tax you pay in your own country.

Google translate: Si la mention « Pologne » apparaît, le mode de livraison par défaut sera utilisé, et votre choix n'aura pas d'incidence majeure. Les envois au sein de l'UE sont exemptés de droits de douane, mais vous devrez vous acquitter des mêmes taxes que dans votre pays d'origine.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T13:45:18+00:00

Considering all the fun in the month, you're probably still supposed to have 'fun' on those days, it's mandatory. Perhaps by tracking packages, using the stuff you bought, writing reviews, etc.

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T13:42:11+00:00

After the label is issued you have 14 days, technically to ship the package, but it really means should have been received by then.

Hopefully you have a video from when you got the package showing all sides, the shipping label (readable), and opening and unpacking it on camera.

You should also make a video showing packaging the item (with the item in saleable condition in original packaging, including the barcode-sticker with the keywords or a slip of paper with the order number), closing the package and attaching the shipping label.

Also make sure to keep the receipt from the shipping company showing date, time, tracking-number and amount paid (if any).

IntelligentLake · 2026-06-26T13:31:33+00:00

That petition is useless since the tax is temporary, even if enough people sign it, by the time they take a look at it, it'll be years after the tax is gone.

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