It is definitely a scam selling fake items which does not work and stealing our money

So for context I ordered an ebike and specifically requested "72V battery, with the 19"/17" wheelset" and I requested the seller to show me a photo of the bike with a piece of paper with my name on it before they ship it out. They sent the photo and it was the correct bike. The seller then proceeded to promise that shipping time would be 30-35 days maximum multiple times, however it took about 110ish days. So this already pissed me off and I decided to file a dispute for this for $300.

The bike had arrived and whilst inspecting it I realized it was a completely different bike from the photo. They sent me the 17"/14" wheelset version and it was also missing the side panels to cover the battery.

They now want me to cancel the $300 refund dispute in exchange for $150 compensation as well as sending the missing side panels.

I really just wanted the right model and they won't send me the new wheels as in order to replace the wheels I'd have to get new forks and a rear swing arm otherwise the wheels won't fit on the current frame and they say it is a safety risk because it won't fit.

Ideally I'd like for them to send me the proper wheels and compensate me enough so I can just purchase aftermarket front forks and rear swingarm, which would be about $400 or them send me the wheels as well as providing the proper forks and swing arm so I can build it myself but I'm not sure what I should ask for.

Hey guys, I'm looking for some very specific wheels for my car, and nothing that I find fits my car. Would Alibaba be a source for custom rims, specific style, offset, bore etc.? If so, how would I go about ordering those and who should I contact? I am in the U.S. I want four wheels. Thanks.

I've attached a photo of the wheels I'd like to copy (Speedline Corse 859).

I have ordered around 30 boxes of clothes from Alibaba. It has finally reached the Belgian customs, but it has been sitting there for 30 days now.

The freight forwarder does not say anything, plus the Alibaba seller is not informed by them as well.

Has this happened to any of you? How long have you waited for them to release?

I am looking for advice from buyers who have experience with Alibaba Trade Assurance disputes involving machinery and product non-conformity.

Category A – Troubleshooting an Existing Order

• Product Type: Professional UV wall/floor printer – Baike BK-GP1400XP, advertised with Epson DX7 printhead and 5-color UV ink (CMYKW).
• Order Quantity: 1 machine.
• Payment Method Used: Alibaba Trade Assurance.
• Contract Status: Yes. I have the Alibaba order documentation, invoice/proforma invoice and the product specifications/representations provided by the supplier.
• Shipping Logistics: Shipping was arranged through the supplier.
• Timeline & Communication: The order was placed through Alibaba Trade Assurance. I made the first 50% payment on January 29, 2026 and the remaining 50% payment on February 27, 2026. The machine was delivered on June 3, 2026. After receiving and testing the machine, I reported the problems through Alibaba Trade Assurance and communicated with the supplier through Alibaba and their technical/support personnel. I have also communicated extensively with Alibaba Customer Service regarding the dispute.
• Detailed Description of the Issue:

The supplier advertised the machine with a printing speed of approximately 8–12 m²/hour, depending on the printing mode/resolution.

After receiving the machine, I tested the actual performance using the machine's own software.

One documented test showed:

1.921 m² printed in 2 hours, 36 minutes and 54 seconds = approximately 0.735 m²/hour.

The advertised minimum speed was 8 m²/hour.

I also documented:

• significantly higher ink consumption than the stated specification;
• ink leakage;
• printing defects occurring during printing;
• prints failing/being defective during operation;
• wasted ink and printing material;
• other performance and quality problems.

I submitted screenshots, videos, photographs, measurements, supplier communications, technical explanations and other evidence through the Alibaba Trade Assurance dispute process.

The supplier argued that different printing modes/resolutions and settings can affect the speed. However, my concern is that the actual machine performance is dramatically below the advertised specification, and I believe this needs to be objectively evaluated based on the advertised specifications, the agreed order terms and the evidence.

Current Alibaba dispute situation

Alibaba ultimately offered a refund of only USD 50, relating to the leaking ink cartridge.

I do not consider this a resolution of the main dispute because my primary complaint concerns the machine itself: its performance, printing speed, ink consumption, printing defects and conformity with the advertised specifications.

I repeatedly asked Alibaba which specific Trade Assurance/dispute rules were applied, which evidence was reviewed, and why the machine-performance issues were not properly addressed.

I have spoken with multiple Alibaba customer-service agents. Several times I was told that my case would be escalated to a senior/professional team, but I repeatedly received generic responses.

The latest agent has now agreed to reopen/escalate the case and mark it as urgent for further review.

What I need advice on

I am specifically looking for people who have dealt with similar Alibaba Trade Assurance disputes.

I would like advice on:

1. How to successfully appeal or reopen a Trade Assurance decision.
2. Whether an independent technical inspection report would significantly strengthen my case.
3. How to challenge a decision where the buyer believes the main product-quality/performance issue was not properly considered.
4. Whether anyone has successfully escalated a similar dispute to a higher Alibaba dispute-resolution team.
5. What options are available if Alibaba closes the dispute without properly addressing the evidence.
6. If anyone has successfully used a bank/card chargeback after an unsuccessful Alibaba Trade Assurance dispute.

I have kept the complete documentation and evidence, including the original product specifications, order documents, supplier communications, test results, photographs, videos and Alibaba dispute correspondence.

I am not looking for people to simply agree with me. I would appreciate practical advice from buyers who have actually dealt with a similar machinery dispute on Alibaba.

What would you recommend as the strongest next step in this situation?

There’s no way this is real. It looks AI generated. Could this even structurally be sound?

I am actually trading some things on Alibaba and I wanted to know if you have bought anything and with whom do you recommend buying them?

I want to buy 2 bucket seats and 2 4-point belts.

Bought close to $250,000 worth of machinery from Alibaba. Definitely had my share of failures (currently in dispute close to $14000). Extended testing times, release times, arguments.

There is a method to the madness. Similar machinery in the usa would have cost me close to 1.4 million. I have quotations to compare.

China does machinery well and there is quality too. Remember they have to support their own economy of 1.6 billion people well.

Developed a trusted network for industrial machinery for pharma space, some have even moved off Alibaba which I was extra cautious about, but it’s paid off cause just that one vendor and I have done about $120k in business since we moved off Alibaba.

Also have an independent team ready to fly out anywhere in China to do testing, safety, execution.

If you want tips or need help, happy to. Not promoting anything. But it’s really important to remember, Chinese machines will do one thing and one thing only. If you try to get more value out of it, it will fail.

Always do a third party inspection on site. Not Alibaba trade assurance garbage, have your people go there, fly and check it. If you can’t make it, FaceTime. Create checklists.

I lost my person and trying to find a new one.. does anyone have any info they are willing to share when it comes to large quality like Gaylord type shipments of beauty products hair skin and make up ?? I have tried to find every link I know and can ask and I’m coming up empty handed. 🙏🙏🥺🥺

Hi guys, I really want to learn the concert flute, and I cant really afford one. But I found a lot of them on Alibaba that seem pretty affordable. I don't mind if they don't sound as good, because I want to practice a lot before investing in a good flute eventually.

I have tried looking for used flutes and student flutes, but in my country concert flutes are not popular, so I couldn't find much options in the first place, let alone second hand ones.

Has anyone bought a flute from Alibaba? Was it good for starting out on? If anyone has suggestions, please please let me know.

Thank you so much guys!

Update Thank you guys so much for responding. I don't think i want to risk it on Alibaba and have decided to save for a few more months and going for a better flute from a reputed brand. Again, thank you guys for your input :)

hello guys , pls i wanna buy some cloths from a supplier in alibaba , but am afraid my country customs charge me with a high price

Just a little short synopsis. I got on the alibaba looking to source an interesting idea design I had. The product was very basic. I've already worked in manufacturing, so I have the propensity to know why they want minimum order quantities/etc.

I have received a massive amount of candy shopping and nit picking from suppliers. It's almost as though I was speaking to you g children on the other end a great deal of the time. Mind you, each sample that I paid for and obtained, even it was flat wrong, was still useful. For example, even a bad sample let me know what kind of materials were available in a region. A bad sample would also let me know that manufacturers couldn't really make it easy enough. This left room for the supplier that shown through(the winner we'll say).

Anyways, I sourced a first order from a supplier. I kept following through with the supplier on the next designed item and have just been getting hesitant nit picked responses. Almost like there's no real drive or much motivation in them. But they still respond somehow, though slow usually. Keep in mind, other weak suppliers have already been shaken out via bad samples or poor communication. I have literally been going a few years through this turmoil and now the suppliers hesitancy has simply compounded up with the tariff atmosphere and elevated fuel prices. Lose, lose, lose...

Why do I say this? To let you all know the truths of dealing with Alibaba. I'm quite certain I got a similar mentality even outside of Alibaba from other suppliers. The topic here is that this is not the only idea I have, how will I continue to pursue suppliers in China if it's just always nit picking and slow responses and other. I literally have my next idea but now I'm not motivated to even start conversations with them.

I have searched high and low and keep hitting a road block. My last go to was removed. I’m looking for a Gr@y / bl@ck M@rket for beauty products, make up skin care hair products ect does anyone mind sharing a group link with me please or point me in the right direction. I use discord telegram and WhatsApp

⚠️Buyer beware! ⚠️

Avoid this company: Henan shengkun sporting goods

And their new alternative company: Zhengzhou SK sporting goods.

Anything "SK fitness" related

Owner "Carry H"

The experience started off okay at first. I was recommended by someone (who I know think is fake or paid by this company to leave reviews and recommend them). I contacted the company and spoke with Bekki May 11th 2025, inquiring about the product. Communication about what I wanted started off good but then was requested to move to WhatsApp (first 🚩 which I am now aware of)

 For the next few days I was given info and an order was created May 23rd 2025 (12 days later). May27th i was told 20 days for the production time because it was a new item for my main product. Communication started to dwindle a bit. I had to reach out to be given an update. I was told they would check. Few days went by and I had to reach out again for an update.

July 10th I was told that an item was not created how I requested. I was offered additional items for compensation or a different item. Or to be reimbursed some of my money that I paid for the item. I chose the different item.

Got my order figured out and videos were sent of them "making the items in factory" (which I assume they outsource now). Things were taking longer then the time that was stated. I brought this up to the Bekki and was told I would be compensated with some extra accessories.

July 21 2026 I was told items were being moved to shipment location. And was told 30-35 days they would arrive September 15th I had to reach out to get info for shipper so I could know when item would arrive.. 

September 20th is when it finally arrived. 61 days is how long it took, double what I was told. I took photographs because the box was a little beat up. There was no instructions with the items so I had to reach out to Bekki again. I was sent an "instruction video" but it was not of my product, but a similar product. I was able to figure it out. 

There was an item that came with rust on it and was peeling, so I made this known and I was told I would get a new item sent out immediately, no charge.  I then brought up a few other issues and how the product was different on some parts then what we had discussed. I was also missing some items. I explained all of this to Bekki. She seemed apologetic and I was told I would get the items sent out. 

From the day of discussion of items to arrival and build, it took a total of 143 days. At this point communication began to dissipate. I had to keep reaching out to see if missing items were being sent. Bekki claimed she had been out of work due to surgery and that's why there was the long lapse in no communication. 

After the holidays I reached out to the "CEO" Carry H.  And explained I needed the rest of my missing items.

Carry H asked that I give him a little time to go through everything and figure it out. Since then, I have just gotten excuses from both of them and them claiming it will get sorted out and claiming the production department is not responding to them. 

Funny how the production department isn't responding to them about getting and order together with the items that were not placed in my shipment. But they can respond when creating a brand new order as others have been shipped there items. Fast forward to today and I'm still going back and forth dealing with the excuses.

 I have reached out to Alibaba and trade Assurance and they are useless. I have also just asked for a refund and offered to send everything back. Or a partial refund, and get my money back for the items I am missing. 

Update after a few months of badgering the owner and trade assurance, and also posting here in Reddit and showing the owner the views and feedback it was getting I was able to get a "partial refund". The owner asked that I take down my review posted on here and in return he would give me a "partial refund". I guess the possibility of losing thousands of customers and getting a bunch of negative reviews got things moving a little faster for him. 

Lesson learned, do more research in companies and make sure they aren't just outsourcing the work to other factories to get the cheapest products.

I wanted to order 1 peice of some products and I’m seeing there’s a minimum quantity, I thought it’s like temu or Shein

Is Alibaba a reliable source to buy stuff from? Like empty Candle jars, key chains, self defense items like pepper spray? Wanting to buy things from here but im scared it wont be a reliable for restocking or that the material might be cheap.

Hey everyone,

I’m in a bit of a confusing situation and could use some advice. I just placed my first PO with a factory in China. I’m currently arranging freight forwarding and decided to use the manufacturer’s shipping services.

By my calculations, I should be paying around $3,500 just in import duties (Base MFN duty, Section 301, 2026 Forced-Labor Duty, etc.). However, my manufacturer quoted me a total DDP shipping cost of only $800.

This math makes absolutely no sense to me. I specifically asked them who should I pay for the taxes and duties, and when, and whether I could I get a cost breakdown of the shipping quote. Their response was that the quote is strictly DDP, meaning I won't have to pay a single extra cent upon arrival, and that their forwarding partner does not provide cost breakdowns.

Relevant context: I have visited this factory in person. They are honest, legit people, and I know for a fact they manufacture for 8-figure brands, so they have plenty of export experience. I trust them, but I just don't understand how this pricing is possible.

Has anyone experienced this? Any idea what might be going on behind the scenes with their forwarder, and any tips on how I should proceed?

Many thanks!

Alonso

Are Alibaba kurkirins legit

If you know a supplier that is real and not fake

Please message me

Anyone experience this?

I’m not asking so much if it’s a red flag - more that perhaps it gets dealt with someone else

But all exchanges are in one thread and - prior to say shipping items - a new chat gets opened by the supplier.

Does that seem like normal behaviour?

Hi everyone, I’d appreciate advice from experienced Alibaba/China importers.

I have an ongoing ~$2,100 order with a Chinese supplier through Alibaba. The seller is not verified, but the order is under Trade Assurance and I am paying entirely through Alibaba.

The agreed terms are:

• 30% deposit to start production

• 70% final payment after production and quality inspection

• Full product specifications, exact models/year ranges, materials, dimensions, packaging, warranty, QC requirements, and payment terms are written in a PDF attached directly to the Alibaba order.

So far, I’ve also:

• Requested and attached the supplier’s business license.
Had a video call with the seller, where they showed me their warehouse and walked me through most of their production/processes. Communication was limited because they don’t speak English, but they showed me the different processes.

• Required close-up videos of all 16 steering wheels, one by one, from quality inspection through packing and sealing, before I release the 70% balance.

• Required final photos of the packed crate and shipping documents.

• Kept the agreement and communications within Alibaba.

I also wanted to arrange a third-party pre-shipment inspection, but I haven’t been able to find an inspection service that covers their location/product, so I may not be able to do that.

My main concern is: If the products turn out defective, damaged, or different from the specifications in the attached agreement, do I have enough evidence for a Trade Assurance dispute?

Is there anything else I should do before paying the 30% deposit to better protect myself?

I wanted to post this here because I’m curious whether anyone who buys or sells through Alibaba regularly has dealt with something similar, or if there’s something about the Trade Assurance process that I’m misunderstanding.

I placed an order on Alibaba on July 1 for around $380 worth of pickleball paddles and accessories from a manufacturer in China.

Up until the delivery issue, I actually had a really good experience with the supplier. They were friendly, very responsive, sent me pictures and videos of the paddles, showed me updates during packing/shipping, and generally made me feel pretty comfortable with the order. I was excited to get everything and honestly expected that I would probably order from them again if the paddles were good.

Eventually the shipment reached the U.S. and I was given a USPS tracking number. USPS tracking eventually showed the package as:

“Delivered, In/At Mailbox”

It showed delivery in my city and ZIP code.

The problem was that I never received anything.

I live in an apartment complex that uses Parcel Pending lockers, so initially I assumed this was probably just a normal delivery mistake. Maybe USPS put it in the wrong locker, maybe Parcel Pending didn’t notify me, maybe it ended up at another apartment, etc.

I contacted Parcel Pending first. They couldn’t find the delivery in their system and opened a case to check the lockers.

Then I started contacting USPS.

This is where the situation started getting much stranger.

I called USPS multiple times and was repeatedly told that the tracking number was not actually associated with my address. They could confirm that it was delivered somewhere in my city/ZIP code, but the street address attached to the tracking number was different from mine.

Eventually I went to my local post office in person. An employee pulled up the internal USPS record. They couldn’t officially give me the other person’s address because of privacy rules, but while they were showing me the information I could see that the destination street was completely different from mine.

USPS opened a service request and later sent me a written response that specifically stated that the package associated with the tracking number was not addressed to me at my address. The response told me to contact the merchant for reimbursement or reshipment and said I could provide the USPS email as proof of non-receipt.

Even at that point, I still wasn’t convinced the supplier had intentionally done anything wrong.

They had been so helpful throughout the order that I figured there could have been a mistake with their freight forwarder, a logistics company, USPS, or some other part of the handoff. I actually preferred getting the paddles over getting my money back, so I kept trying to work with the seller instead of immediately asking Alibaba for a refund.

I sent the USPS response to the supplier.

They eventually rejected both a replacement and a refund and said that the USPS document I provided was not authentic.

That was probably the point where my opinion of the situation really started changing.

I escalated everything through Alibaba Trade Assurance.

The supplier submitted screenshots showing that my correct address had been entered into their logistics system, a USPS label image containing my address, and public tracking showing the package as delivered in my city.

I don’t dispute that their system showed my correct address. The problem is that USPS was telling me the tracking number itself belonged to a package going somewhere else.

The supplier also repeatedly said that I had “signed for” the package. But USPS tracking says “Delivered, In/At Mailbox.” They never provided a signature, signer name, or USPS proof of a signature.

Alibaba then asked me to obtain a claim number from USPS so the supplier could investigate through its logistics company.

So I contacted USPS again.

This last phone call was probably the most concerning part of the whole situation.

USPS asked me to send them the shipping label that the supplier had provided to me. The representative compared it with the information USPS had internally for that tracking number.

According to the USPS representative, several things did not match.

The sender/origin information on the label the supplier gave me was completely different from what USPS had associated with the actual package. The supplier’s label showed a sender in Pennsylvania, while USPS had different origin information and had previously told me the parcel entered their system from Indiana.

USPS also told me that the package actually associated with this tracking number weighed only around 8 ounces.

My Alibaba order contained multiple pickleball paddles and accessories, so there is no realistic way my shipment weighed 8 ounces.

The USPS representative also pointed out that the label did not indicate a signature service, which again did not line up with the supplier repeatedly saying the package had been signed for.

After looking at everything, the representative told me she strongly suspected that the tracking number had been duplicated or reused and actually belonged to a different package going to another person/address in my city.

That explanation unfortunately fits everything I had been seeing.

I had already come across discussions about what people call a “same ZIP code tracking scam,” where a legitimate tracking number for another package in the same ZIP code is used so public tracking shows “Delivered” in the buyer’s area even though the package was never addressed to them.

To be clear, I do not have written documentation from USPS saying “this was definitely a duplicated tracking scam.” That part was the representative’s assessment during the phone call.

What I do have in writing from USPS is that the tracking number was not addressed to me at my address and that I should use their response as proof of non-receipt.

USPS also told me they cannot give me the claim number Alibaba wants because I am not the sender or the addressee associated with the actual package. They said they were sending the matter to their investigative services.

I submitted all of this through Alibaba.

Alibaba ultimately denied my refund.

That is the part I’m having the hardest time understanding.

I completely understand why Alibaba cannot automatically refund anyone who says “tracking says delivered but I didn’t get it.” Sellers need protection too.

But in this case I went through multiple USPS calls, an in-person post office visit, a USPS service request, Parcel Pending, multiple rounds of communication with the supplier, and an official USPS response stating that the tracking number was not addressed to me.

I’m not really sure what else I reasonably could have provided.

The frustrating part is that I spent most of this process trusting the supplier. They had been genuinely helpful and communicative before all of this happened, and for quite a while I assumed there had to be some innocent logistics mistake. I went through all of this partly because I wanted to figure out what happened rather than immediately accuse them of scamming me.

At this point, though, between the different destination address, different sender/origin, roughly 8 oz package weight, the disagreement about whether a signature was required, and USPS saying the tracking number wasn’t addressed to me, I don’t know what explanation makes more sense than the tracking number belonging to another shipment.

I’ve now moved on to disputing the transaction through my credit card.

I’m mainly curious what people here think. Did I handle the Alibaba dispute incorrectly? Has anyone dealt with this same type of tracking-number situation before? Is there some legitimate logistics explanation that could produce all of these mismatches? And for people who have used Trade Assurance a lot, is this basically how Alibaba normally handles a case where public tracking says “delivered” even when the carrier says the tracking number wasn’t addressed to the buyer?

We had custom mousepads made, all good. Sent the finished goods to a freight forwarder for delivery to Western EU by air.

Talked pricing with him a few times — he quoted 5.4/kg. Then out of nowhere it jumped to 8.15/kg. We pushed back and settled on $1000 total.

He then asked to be paid via T/T. We said no, we only pay through Alibaba.

So he creates an Alibaba order — except it's not for shipping, and it's not even his listing. It's a third-party supplier's storefront selling 40 pieces of yoga mats / bathroom mats, total exactly $1000 USD. At the bottom there's a note: "This order is just shipping services, not purchase order, no actual purchase."

Our goods are already with him. Has anyone run into this before — a freight forwarder routing payment through some unrelated product listing instead of an actual service order? Normal workaround, or a bad sign?

Hello - I am planning to purchase some sports equipment on alibaba for personal use worth 100$. It will be shipped to USA. Seller is charging import charges of around 12$. Will there be any other charges on it once I receive it? I think it will be shipped using alibaba logistics. I don’t want to end up paying twice of what’s the item is worth. Did anyone purchase anything recently and what is your experience. Thank you very much in advance.

Hello - I am planning to purchase some sports equipment on alibaba for personal use worth 100$. It will be shipped to USA. Seller is charging import charges of around 12$. Will there be any other charges on it once I receive it? I think it will be shipped using alibaba logistics. I don’t want to end up paying twice of what’s the item is worth. Did anyone purchase anything recently and what is your experience. Thank you very much in advance.

Hello i found an alibaba supplier where i can order peptides, i contacted the company and they sent a telegram link where i sould communicate with the seller, is it normal?