The whole online space could be a bit scary when you consider the level of scam activities happening every day online. For this ultimate reason, many are scared of buying, paying and carrying out other money-related activities online. Today, I will show you how to shop on AliExpress from Nigeria and get it delivered to your doorstep or the nearest post office in your LGA. To those who want to know how to import goods from China to Nigeria, this guide you’ve been looking for. I’m going to help you scale through the hurdle of buying things online directly on AliExpress. These steps are quite simple, all you need to do is, follow my step-by-step directional guide on how to successfully purchase products or goods from one of the biggest online stores in China. Before we continue, I’m going to answer a few AliExpress-related questions. This will help you properly understand the China-owned online store, how it works and how you can truly benefit from it.
When was AliExpress founded?
Launched in 2010, AliExpress.com is an online retail service made up of mostly small Chinese businesses offering products to international online buyers. It is owned by Alibaba. Similar to eBay, sellers on AliExpress could either be companies or individuals.
Does AliExpress have an office in Nigeria?
AliExpress does not have an office in Nigeria. It doesn’t matter which part of Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt, Owerri, Kano, Enugu, Ibadan etc.) you reside, AliExpress is located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China and does not have a physical presence or branch in Nigeria.
Do they deliver to your doorstep like Jumia and Konga?
AliExpress delivery to Nigeria doesn’t work like Jumia or Konga delivery method. There are various shipping methods and the cheapest which appears to be AliExpress standard shipping charge less but most times, they don’t ship goods directly to your house address, they will drop your orders at the nearest post office in your LGA/town/city in Nigeria. You can either send someone to pick it up or preferably, you can go and pick up your package yourself. If you’re lucky enough, a delivery man from the post office can get these products down to your house. ‘Just hold small change for pocket’. A friend paid N500 naira for an earphone he ordered… funny right? Nevertheless, delivery companies like DHL would ship down to your doorstep but at a higher cost compared to AliExpress standard shipping.
Does AliExpress offer Pay-On-Delivery or Cash-On-Delivery?
AliExpress does not offer Pay-On-Delivery (POD) or Cash-On-Delivery (COD) payment option. And that’s because AliExpress is situated in China with a global reach for customers, so it’s impossible to offer such services when items are sent overseas (outside China). However, you can opt for these pay-on-delivery shopping sites in Nigeria to enjoy this service if you so desire.
Why should I buy from AliExpress?
A lot of people don’t know the benefits they could get when they buy things from AliExpress. Apart from buying things very cheaply, AliExpress shopping store has some really nice benefits;
They have over 100 million products. You can review and read the user’s reviews before buying things. Secure payment. They offer buyer’s protection so you can shop with confidence. Round-the-clock customer assistance. It is safe to order goods on AliExpress. You can contact suppliers. Goods get delivered to Nigeria in less than 30 days. You can shop on the go with their mobile application on Android and iOS.
What should I do if the item shipped but wasn’t received?
It’s recommended that you contact the seller first if you have any form of issues with the item bought. If you can’t reach an agreement with the seller, then you can open a dispute to process a refund of your money.
To do that, navigate to “My Orders” > then select “Contact Seller”, this should launch the instant messaging to chat with the seller.
What should I do if the seller cancels my order?
This is a common problem with some fraudulent sellers or merchants on AliExpress. First of all, I will advise that you contact the seller to know why your order was cancelled, if there’s no tangible explanation, then don’t worry, AliExpress will automatically close the order, generate a refund and share the reason why the order was closed by them. Check out the screenshots below of something similar that I experienced. Upon finding out that the order was cancelled by the seller, I reached out to them:
About three days later, AliExpress cancelled the order and generated a refund on my behalf. Here’s their reason, “To ensure the security of your funds, this order has been closed and refunded due to an invalid tracking number provided by the seller. Your refund will be received within 3-20 business days. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and the seller will be warned according to platform regulation.”
How to change the currency from dollar to naira on AliExpress
To fully understand how to shop on AliExpress from Nigeria, you have to change their default currency from dollars to naira. Prices of items on AliExpress are fixed at US dollars making it difficult to know the exact cost of the items you want to buy. Changing this currency to the Nigerian Naira is very simple, here’s how… Navigate to the top bar, select ‘Currency’ option from the menu as seen in the picture above, navigate to currency then scroll down and select NGN – Nigerian naira to convert all currency to naira.
What is the International Spending Limit on AliExpress?
As a matter of fact, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has placed a maximum International Spending Limit of $20 on your Naira card monthly. This implies that you won’t be able to spend more than $20 USD (per month) on your Naira Master card and VISA card. To bypass the $20 limit for AliExpress shopping, the solution is to open a domiciliary account and get a Dollar Master Card instead of the Naira counterpart. You may also check out this article on how to bypass the international spending limit in Nigeria.
How can I order goods from AliExpress?
It’s very easy to buy goods on AliExpress. The guide on how to shop on AliExpress from Nigeria is just all you need. See the step-by-step shopper’s guide on Naijaknowhow below;
AliExpress Buyer’s Guide: How to Shop on AliExpress From Nigeria (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Choose buying option and register
You have two options for shopping on AliExpress, you can shop by directly accessing their site at http://aliexpress.com or downloading the Aliexpress application from the app store for free. Of course like other online shopping sites, the first thing you should do is create your account on the platform.
Step 2: Search for a product
Browse the site, search by categories or by typing keywords associated with the specific item you are planning to buy.
Step 3: Select Item
Click the item you are buying to be redirected to the product page. Check the product details to see if it conforms to your specifications. What details would you see on the product page?
Step 4: Check the seller’s credibility
Check the seller’s credibility to know if it is safe to buy from your prospective seller. Before placing an order, make sure to do a background check on the seller you are buying from to make sure you are actually getting what you are expecting to. To do this you may want to check the detailed seller rating. Here’s how: What is Detailed Seller Ratings? Detailed Seller Ratings are completely anonymous ratings left by the buyer after transactions have been completed. These ratings provide a complete picture of the seller’s performance. Detailed Seller Ratings are a part of the site’s overall feedback system, which has three detailed options for buyers to evaluate a seller’s service and items. The Detailed Seller Ratings are based on a one- to five-star scale. Five stars are the highest rating, and one star is the lowest rating. How to check Detailed Seller Ratings?
When you view the product page or the seller’s store page, you can find information about the detailed seller rating just below the seller’s overall positive feedback. You can also find more detailed information by clicking the “Feedback Score” button located in the navigation bar of the seller’s store page. Under feedback, you may also check the comments of other customers who have bought the same item you are eyeing. Sometimes other buyers attached real photos of the item, check those to see its actual appearance.
Step 5: Select a shipping method
Choose the shipping method you wish to go ahead with. There are items that offer free shipping but this would normally take a lot of time before your order will arrive. Or you may opt to choose the method that will cost you extra cost but will take your order delivery faster and delivered to your doorstep. If you opt to choose free shipping normally your items will be delivered to your nearest post office.
If You’ll Select Aliexpress Standard Shipping: Normally No Custom Duty Or Less Chance of Custom Duty. If You’ll Select China/Hong Kong/Singapore Post: Normally No Custom Duty Or Less Chance of Custom Duty. If You’ll Select DHL Or FedEx: 100% Chance of Custom Duty Because DHL Or FedEx Pays Custom From Your Side and Also Handles All The Custom Procedure. And Deliver Product To You, Only If You’ll Pay All The Custom Charge To DHL or FedEx.
Step 6: Place order
Next, click Buy Now, but before placing your order verifies your shipping address first, the quantity of your order and the shipping company you’ve chosen. NOTE: One of the reasons people doubt the legitimacy of AliExpress is when they don’t receive their orders, most times, this is because they enter the wrong ZIP or postal code. When filling in your address, bear in mind that the wrong postal code can affect the delivery of your item. For example, if you live in Lagos and you mistakenly enter an Owerri postal/ZIP code, just know that your package would be shipped to Owerri instead of Lagos. Most times, it’s safer to enter the default postal code for Lagos (100001) which means your item would be shipped straight to GPO Ikeja (the headquarter of post offices in Lagos) before packages would be sent to their local branches and then delivered to you. However, you can refer to the image uploaded above, and then choose the right postal code to help your packages get delivered straight to your local post office.
Step 7: Fill in card payment details
On the checkout page, choose the credit card you want to use and complete the required details then click Pay My Order. Your payment will be held securely by Escrow and is only released to the supplier after you confirm satisfactory receipt of your order. Also, as a Nigerian, you should understand that the Central Bank of Nigeria placed a spending limit on your cards which means you can’t spend more than $20 monthly, so how then do you pay for an item worth more than $20? The answer is getting a domiciliary account or perhaps, a Virtual Dollar Card! In this article on Naijaknowhow, you’ll discover the best Virtual Dollar Cards and how to apply for them.
Step 8: Await shipping
Click Back to Order to see your order details. Wait for the supplier to ship your order; you can opt to contact the supplier for more information.
Step 9: Track order and confirm receipt
After the supplier has shipped your order, click Tracking to track your order. Once you have received the full shipment of your order, inspect all items carefully. If you are satisfied with your order, click Confirm Receipt (web) / Confirm Order Received (mobile app) but if not click Open Dispute. Right after confirming receiving your item, courtesy demands that you drop feedback of the package just confirmed. This feedback will most likely help prospective buyers learn more about the item which you just ordered. You can also click the banner below to get a FREE COUPON CODE!
Conclusion (Shop on AliExpress from Nigeria):
That’s basically everything you need to know when buying and shipping goods from China’s AliExpress from Nigeria (remember to click the link » http://aliexpress.com to start buying gadgets at an affordable price), perhaps you might want to check out the tips to remember when buying from AliExpress. Have you started shipping goods from China? Have you previously bought something online from AliExpress? Do you have helpful tips for people who are new to AliExpress online shopping? If you have answers to these questions, I’d be glad if you will take a few secs to help others learn more about how to shop on AliExpress from Nigeria through the comment box below. Related Posts:
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Can I use my AliExpress account to order products for someone with his or own master or Visa card? Can a state zip or postal code cover every other streets address? Looking forward to your feedback. Also, thanks for reading! Please hope no problem with that “There is a part in the article where I explained how to change your currency from USD to Naira, I expect that you follow that step to reverse the currency change. However, I doubt if it has anything to do with that. You can as well try paying with other accepted cards if you have.” Did the tracking reveal that the item is in Nigeria already? Did you enter the right ZIP code? Which shipping company did you use? If it’s AliExpress Standard, the Post Office is your go-to place. If it’s DHL or other premium shipping line, then you should get it directly delivered to your doorstep. Have you contacted/visited the PO nearest to you? Has the item’s delivery period expired? You can apply for a refund, you know? Another question is, can I use a post office box as my collection point! I have a p.o box and don’t know if it’s more convenient just using it as my shipping address than entering long string of information – my house address. Please reply, I’m confused. Regarding address, to be honest, I haven’t tried the P.O thing before, but when filling your address, make sure you enter the correct ZIP code of your area, items shipped will be delivered directly to the nearest post office in your locality especially when using ALiExpress Standard Shipping option, make sure you visit the post office one the item arrives or better still, the postman will bring it to your home address once it drops. If you are going to be using a premium shipping platform such as DHL, they will deliver it straight to your doorstep with detailed tracking feature. I hope this is helpful enough? Good luck The last item I ordered from the AliExpress was delivered to my address by the postman, he called to notify me of my items and when will be the best time to bring them to me. I had to pay him N200 on every item. In some instances, I paid N500. When the delivery period has elapsed on AliExpress but still haven’t got a call from the post office, kindly visit and confirm if it’s arrived. I hope this helps? Anyway , I need help. I ordered some things from AliExpress last month and I just got to know that the only thing correct in my shipping address is my phone number and state. Please it’s my first time ordering things online and I don’t know if I’m to be worried or all is good.. According to DHL, they claimed to pay these clearance fees for you when it arrives in Nigeria and later asks for it when they communicate with you via email/phone. It has been like this for so long. It’s sad you have to go through this addition expenses. Sorry! HERE IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN BETTER ABOUT DHL CUSTOM CLEARANCE FEES Receiver’s Guide to Duties and Taxes Learn the fundamentals about duties and taxes to understand who pays and why. Goods Purchased Online for Personal Use You may be charged customs duties and taxes for something purchased online because: » Duties and taxes are most typically not included in the price of the goods you purchase online, and might not be included in the overall shipping costs you pay to the online retailer. » When purchasing goods online, some or all of these goods may not originate in the country you reside in, therefore are subject to a customs duty, which is a tariff or tax imposed on goods when transported across international borders. » When goods are not shipped domestically (within your country) or within a single customs union, such as the European Union, you are liable to pay any inbound duties and taxes which your local customs authority deems appropriate. » To ensure the DHL courier can deliver your goods in shortest possible time after entering your country or customs union, DHL pays the customs authority on your behalf for any duties and taxes that are due on the goods. » Once the duties and taxes are fully repaid to DHL the goods will be delivered to you » What is payable, if anything, depends on where the goods are sent from, the type of goods, their transactional value and the weight of the package When buying goods online, you should always check whether they are either being sent to your address from: » Your country » Another country » Outside your customs union country Gifts Bought Online A gift is defined as something sent directly by one private individual to another and such goods do not attract import tax if the value is below stated local thresholds. Ordering and paying for goods that originate outside of your country or customs territory for shipping to a person other than the purchaser, does not satisfy the customs definition of being a gift. Source: DHL Here is what a friend shared with me about these DHL custom fee when asked (see screenshot): So for those who are going to be shipping with DHL in the future, there you have it! i await your swift response. I await your swift response About getting the addresses of the post office nearest to you, kindly visit this link http://www.nipost.gov.ng/Postoffice_Addresses. On the other hand… just make sure you write your address correctly. For example… Address 1: 11, Naijaknowhow Street, Aguda Address 2: Around Post office Aguda/Police Station Aguda/Ozone Cinema Aguda (or any landmark if you have one) City: Surulere State: Lagos Country: Nigeria ZIP Code: 101283, not +23401 (If you don’t know it, search on Google. In my case, I’ll search by typing “Aguda Surulere Lagos ZIP Code”) Don’t forget to provide a working phone number as well and other required information. I hope this helps… Good luck and thanks for stopping by. I’m ordering some commodities for use from Aliexpress. They are about 20 different items from mainly different sellers and different shipping methods. The cost is about 50000 Naira Will I pay for it once? Will I have it sent as one package to the nearest post office? Will the post office be able to keep them together? Will I have to pay 500 for each of them at the point in NY of collection? Will they arrive at once? Is there a possibility of some of the items getting missing? Say I’m not available by the time it arrives, can someone collect it for me? if they don’t arrive at the same time will it still be well kept for me at the post office if I decide to let it all arrive before collection? I’m just thinking, I have friends abroad whom I can send my login details to, so the can initiate the order from their end and choose my Nigeria address for delivery. With this, I’m hoping the option would be available to then because I have plenty PayPal funds to shop with. Do you think this will work? I have always thought that if it is not Jumia or Konga, whatever is coming from oversea is purely scam. This article has actually got my mind back on track. I am placing my very first order and i’m gonna be back with pleasant feedback. You just made my mind coole 🙂 How do I combine orders for shipping? If you order different items from the same supplier with shopping cart, you can choose the same shipping method in each item, the system will combine the times into one order to save shipping costs. Please follow the below steps:
- Please choose items from the same suppliers and add them to your Shopping Cart. 2. Choose the same shipping method and these products will be combined automatically.
- Click the “Buy all from this seller” button.
