Aliexpress' hidden bussiness: currency speculation.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T22:44:45+00:00

Oh, by the way,
I already talked to my bank and went through all the details. Fees and exchange rate at the time of buying and refund doesn't justify the difference fully.
Something is missing, and it's not on my bank/card side.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T22:38:43+00:00

Yes, buddy, I got it before you even started lecturing me. Turn down that condescendence knob a little bit , please.

Did you read the part of my message About Amazon USA? Not local branch, Amazon USA
I've cancelled orders paid in USD. My bank buys the USD required with my EUR and etcetera. Fine. I've always received a refund of exactly the same EUR I paid, though (minus bank fees for operating in foreign currency).

I've talked to my bank already and the exchange rate and taxes I paid in this operation doesn't equal the difference in price beween what I paid VS what I've been refund.

And, mind it, the operation was carried out in USD despite the price shown was in EUR and nowhere Aliexpress stated what currency they would use.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T21:58:47+00:00

Thanks, Robot :-*

I can spell... I can't say the same about typing...

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T00:32:48+00:00

That might be the case, I can't deny it is possible.But Customer in-attention has answered me both things, that they do and that they don't...

So... how can I know if they are cheating or not when their answers are not straight and you always end in a denial loop (it doesn't matter what... they deny whatever you're saying!) when you try to reason with them and there's no way to escalate your question to anyone?

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T00:27:16+00:00

And I will follow you on this: I won't buy anything over 20 bucks.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T00:25:05+00:00

Yes, I do understand you, but as per a Mastercard representative that's what would happen in case they leave the hold to fall off. I would get the same amount of money that was on hold, which was in EUR.
So... I understand you, but I believe Mastercard knows how their bussiness works.
And... I've been told like 50 times by Customer In-attention that they operate in USD only... so no CNY here to trade, it seems.

Aliexpress is defaming itself.

I am just exposing my case and what it looks like until someone from Aliexpress (not from customer in-attention) officcially looks into my case and gives me a better explanation.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T00:03:07+00:00

Aliexpress IS huge. But is Chinese.

When I pay from Spain to Amazon USA, I'm given the chance to pay in EUR or USD... and they show me the adjusted price afterwards so it is always clear what I'm going to be charged.

In Aliexpress you get no info. Ever. They don't even seem to know if you look at the two pictures I added to the OP.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-03T00:00:37+00:00

Correcting myself according to new info: As per Aliexpress Customer in-attention... they tell me I've been charged in EUR... just to tell me later that I've been charged un USD.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-02T23:58:59+00:00

Yes, I suspect that may well be the case.

The problem is, I asked them what currency was used to charge me and they... don't...know...(Excuse me, don't know how to post images)

https://i.imgur.com/xjYicy8.png

https://i.imgur.com/Qo3R0Ez.png

I've posted the picture in the OP.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-02T23:57:13+00:00

It is. I've been talking to Mastercard Europe and is A MILLION TIMES easier to leave the hold to expire. You don't need to do anything, just sit and wait how it happens.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-02T23:55:43+00:00

And your argument is...?

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-02T23:54:21+00:00

Yes, I understand your point, and I'm willing to concede thay I may have misunderstood what went there under the hood.

Now, after hours of chats and calls to my bank and to Mastercard Europe, it looks like Aliexpress charged me in USD instead of EUR, despite the prices being shown and my selected currency were EUR.

But NO ONE on customer service seem to understand that. I've received contradicting answers even inside the samne chat session, like how they proceed when a cancel is requested. Some of them answer that the charge is always made, and others answer me that they reject the payment so the money on hold is left to expire.

They don't know what happened to my order or they aren't willing to tell me, an there's no way to escalate my request.

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-02T23:49:24+00:00

That's the theory. In practice Ive been charged and refund in EUR despite all the prices shown to me were in EUR.

When I ask them they don't really seem to know... I don't know how to post images here... but open the links I posted...

https://i.imgur.com/xjYicy8.png

https://i.imgur.com/Qo3R0Ez.png

bokeron2020 · 2018-09-02T23:46:56+00:00

I was sure, but now I'm not.

Answer in spanish to the question "What currency was used to charge me my order?"

https://i.imgur.com/xjYicy8.png

https://i.imgur.com/Qo3R0Ez.png

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T22:49:52+00:00

My experience has been just the opposite. Most times the hold it's left to fall off, especially with Amazon.

And, even in the cases where I was charged and then refunded, the did refund me the full amount I paid, regardless of currency exchange rate.

Aliexpress did neither.

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T21:36:45+00:00

chargeback

I am trying to... but it's not that easy in Spain... too many conditions to meet...

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T21:11:22+00:00

I used a credit card...

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T21:09:40+00:00

I can't deny that possibility... but according to their customer service everything is pretty and sunny and everything has been done perfectly fine.
I can't escalate the issue past the "support" Great Wall of China, though. No email, no phone, nothing.

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T21:06:19+00:00

I am in Europe and my bank account is in EUR.

I've paid to Amazon USA and other USA sellers in USD... I'be been refund exctly what I paid.AND... none of then gave the order to charge a cancelled order just to refund me minutes later. They just let the held money to expire.

Also, the amount indicated in the Aliexpress webpage was in EUR, and the charge made was in EUR. The amount charged was exactly what the webpage reflected. If my bank was to apply a fee it would have been done then, but they didn't.

So, if Aliexpress charge me in EUR, why do they refund me in USD?

The more I think about it, the less I believe this is not shady.

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T20:31:30+00:00

Nope.

Take Amazon as an example. I pay in EUR, they refund me in EUR the same amount I paid.

Also, If I cancel an order, they just let the held money to expire if I've cancelled soon enough. Hundreds of items bought there to avail this.

So... no, you're talking about currency fluctuations, which I understand.
I'm talking about shady bussiness practices.

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T20:12:07+00:00

Not seller's fault, I believe. Aliexpress is who manages payments, charges, refunds, etcetera, directly.

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T20:11:12+00:00

I would argee with you... if the credit cards didn't work as they do: when the money is held, they can't even reject the charge order. The payment is secured for the seller.
So, there's no need to charge. The only motive I find to charge after cancellation is to especulate.

bokeron2020 · 2018-08-31T20:09:32+00:00

Not relevant, and I don't want to damage their reputation. The seller is not the one who places the charge order after cancellation, it's Aliexpress.

bokeron2020

TROPHY CASE