AliExpress dropshipping: how it works, delivery, buyer protection and customs duty
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AliExpress is where most people start dropshipping: registration is free, there is no monthly fee, there are millions of products, and you can order one unit at a time. For the same reasons it is also where most disappointments happen: the product travels for a long time, the quality is unpredictable, and it is you who answers to the buyer, not a seller in China.
This part of the guide covers how AliExpress dropshipping works technically, how to check a seller, what the platform’s buyer protection actually covers, and how much customs duty and VAT add to the price.
In short
- On AliExpress the buyer is you, not your customer: the platform’s protection applies to you, and you answer to the customer for everything yourself.
- A dispute over a product that was not received or is not as it should be can be opened only within a limited time – if you miss the deadline, the platform will no longer refund the money.
- From 1 July 2026, parcels from non-EU countries are subject to a 3 € customs duty per type of goods, plus import VAT.
- Before selling any product, order it for yourself.
How it works
- In your shop you list a product you found on AliExpress, with your own price and description.
- The buyer orders and pays you.
- You order the same product on AliExpress and enter the buyer’s address as the delivery address.
- The seller ships the product straight to the buyer, and you pass the parcel tracking number on to them.
The third step can be automated with apps that pass orders from the shop to AliExpress. But automation does not change the essence: between your buyer and the product there is a seller whom you do not know and do not control.
How to check a seller
Before adding a product to your shop
- The shop’s age and ratings. Look not just at the stars but at reviews with buyers’ photos and at how the seller responds to bad ones.
- The number of orders for this particular product, not for the whole shop.
- Where it ships from. Some products have warehouses in Europe – then delivery is faster and no customs duty applies.
- The delivery time to Lithuania, stated specifically for your country, and whether the parcel is tracked.
- A test order for yourself. Only this way will you find out the real quality, packaging and delivery time. Check whether the parcel contains the seller’s advertising and the price.
- Response speed. Send the seller a question before ordering – that is how they will respond when a problem arises, too.
Delivery times
There is no single delivery time: it depends on the seller, the warehouse and the chosen shipping method, and the exact guaranteed delivery period is shown on the order page. Some listings promise a refund if the parcel is not delivered within the stated number of days. As mentioned in the part of the guide on suppliers, a product from China often travels for 1–3 weeks or longer.
A buyer in Lithuania is used to receiving a parcel within a few days. So state the delivery time in your shop honestly and in a visible place – next to the product, not only in the terms and conditions. A concealed long delivery ends in “where is my parcel” enquiries, cancellations and payment disputes.
What AliExpress buyer protection covers
The AliExpress buyer protection page states that the money is refunded if the product does not arrive within the guaranteed delivery period, arrives damaged or does not match the description.
| Situation | What AliExpress states |
|---|---|
| The product does not match the description, is damaged or a part is missing | Make a claim within 15 days of receiving the product |
| The product did not arrive or went missing | The money is refunded if it is not delivered within the guaranteed period shown on the order page |
| When a dispute can be opened | Usually from the 11th day after shipping until the 15th day after the delivery deadline ends or receipt is confirmed |
| When the money reaches your account | Usually within 3–20 working days after AliExpress processes the refund – depends on the bank |
Two things beginners miss
- The protection applies to you, not to your customer. The customer bought from your shop, so it is you who refunds them – without waiting for AliExpress to resolve your dispute with the seller.
- Deadlines are counted from the AliExpress order. If the customer reports a problem after your dispute deadline has passed, the loss stays with you. So it is worth checking the condition of received parcels yourself – by asking the buyer.
Customs duty and VAT
When a product is shipped to the buyer directly from a non-EU country, import rules apply. The Customs Department (Muitinės departamentas) states that from 1 July 2026 each type of goods in a parcel with a value of up to 150 € is subject to a 3 € customs duty, with import VAT added on top. Different goods in one parcel are counted separately.
For a cheap product that is a lot: a 3 € duty and VAT are added to an item worth a few euros. If you do not include these amounts in the price and the buyer has to pay them on delivery, some buyers will simply not collect the parcel. How IOSS works and who pays the VAT is explained in the part of the guide on taxes.
The quality risk
- The same photo – different products. Several sellers use the same photos but ship items of different quality.
- Batches differ. A test order shows the quality today, but not in three months’ time.
- Brand counterfeits. A well-known brand’s product at a tenth of the price is almost always a counterfeit, and you are responsible for selling it.
- EU requirements. Electronics, toys and other regulated goods need conformity documents and labelling. To an EU buyer, the seller is you, not the manufacturer in China.
Payments: real cases from police reports
The platform’s protection works only when you pay through the platform itself. When a seller offers to settle “more cheaply” directly – by bank transfer or cryptocurrency – the protection is gone.
- Vilnius district, October 2026. A man transferred 199 900 € to the crypto wallets of a supposed seller for two cars being bought in Slovakia and did not receive the cars.
- Trakai district, October 2026. A company received forged account details of its foreign partners by email and transferred 54 374 €.
If you become a victim, first call your bank, then report it to the police via epolicija.lt or by calling 112.
Who AliExpress suits and who it does not
| Suitable | Not suitable |
|---|---|
| Testing whether a product interests buyers at all, without buying stock | Building a shop that buyers come back to |
| Cheap, light, unbreakable products | Electronics, cosmetics, products for children |
| Buyers for whom delivery time does not matter | Gifts and “need it this week” products |
If the test succeeds, the next step is usually a supplier with a warehouse in Europe or a wholesale order.
Frequently asked questions
Is AliExpress dropshipping legal?
Yes, reselling products is legal. But it is trade: the activity has to be formalised, taxes paid, and consumer rights and product safety requirements observed.
Who refunds the money if the product does not arrive?
To your customer – you. You can recover the money from AliExpress yourself if you open a dispute within the deadline set by the platform.
Will the buyer see that the product is from AliExpress?
They may – from the packaging, the sender or the labels. You will only verify this by ordering the product for yourself.
Do you have to pay customs duty on a product from China?
From 1 July 2026, parcels worth up to 150 € from non-EU countries are subject to a 3 € customs duty per type of goods and import VAT.
Sources
- AliExpress. Buyer Protection
https://www.aliexpress.com/s/buyerprotection-s/index - AliExpress Help Center. Opening a dispute
https://service.aliexpress.com/page/knowledge?pageId=82&knowledge=1060015227&language=en - AliExpress Help Center. When will I get my refund?
https://service.aliexpress.com/page/knowledge?pageId=82&knowledge=1060015230&language=en - Muitinės departamentas. Nuo 2026 m. liepos 1 d. mažos vertės siuntoms iš ne Europos šalių bus taikomas muitas
https://muitine.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/nuo-2026-m-liepos-1-d-mazos-vertes-siuntoms-is-ne-es-saliu-bus-taikomas-muitas-qx4/ - Lietuvos policija. Paros įvykių suvestinės
https://policija.lrv.lt/lt/ivykiu-suvestines/
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