The version I got:
Dear buyer,
sorry .we just got the information the parcel will been returned to us due to Crucial Defectives of the elements and function .
we need to return all of these items back to theirs factory for a Security Inspection until the issue solved.
in order to protect your right ,could you please tell us your paypal to get the refund back
or would you like to choose other item as replace in our store ?
sorry for the trouble again and waiting for quickly reply ,
nice day
Dear buyer,
sorry .we just got the information the parcel will been returned to us due to Crucial Defectives of the elements and function
we need to return all of these items back to theirs factory for a Security Inspection until the issue solved...
and also the right to comment on sellers feedback.
It’s possible that Ali caches the calculation and feedback for some period of time for performance reasons. (I’m guessing Ali’s site is optimized to handle a little more traffic and prioritize that over up to the instant discussion as might be typical for a forum.)
Also possible that there’s a review process for feedback (this is the case at Amazon for sure and I think for google reviews as well).
Give it until end of week before concluding it’s rigged.
Chinese seller:
1- can't deliver (warehouse out of stock, maybe warehouse also overstated stock)
2- tries to keep customer and market platform happy
3- enters tracking ID of another delivery to simulate normal processing (meant for the platform)
4- asks customer to choose some other product and also offers refund via PayPal (invisible to platform)
5- platform sees standard processing and customer gets refund or other product
6- no harm done and not losing face
7- no minus points for the social score?
Hrm, that looks suspiciously familiar, and while I was composing the message the tracking was updated to delivered. Which of course it hasn't been.
A clash of cultures
Westener about Chinese seller:
- sells product not in stock
- lists tracking ID for other delivery (must be fraud)
- lies about product not being in stock
- offers other product or refund via PayPal preventing negative feedback (yeah, scammer)
- tries to gain a few cents by miscalculating PayPal fees (200% sure he's a dirty little scammer)
Chinese seller:
- can't deliver (warehouse out of stock, maybe warehouse also overstated stock)
- tries to keep customer and market platform happy
- enters tracking ID of another delivery to simulate normal processing (meant for the platform)
- asks customer to choose some other product and also offers refund via PayPal (invisible to platform)
- platform sees standard processing and customer gets refund or other product
- no harm done and not losing face
- no minus points for the social score?
Dear friend,
sorry to make you wait so long, we just got the information from the logistics company and your parcel was lost,maybe there is something wrong with your address or other reason we don't know .Even though,we still apologize for that.we want to resend,but we have no stock now ,how about we refund you ?
refund:do you have PayPal account to get the money?
OR you can choose other items from us ,ok?
if you don't have paypal account,please contact us first.
which is better for you? we hope we can try our best to make you satisfied .
waiting for reply
nice day"
My reply ...
I'm expecting twice the compensation value, take it of leave it.
I got the "failed security check" BS reason the the shipment was cancelled. They had listed AliExpress Standard Shipping, so when I opened a dispute with AliExpress, it was decided in my favor within 5 minutes. I had my refund credited (I paid with PayPal) in less than an hour....
For some reason I can’t choose PayPal when purchasing at AliExpress. They give a decent number of options here, but for Belgian customers seem to exclude PP.
For some reason I can’t choose PayPal when purchasing at AliExpress. They give a decent number of options here, but for Belgian customers seem to exclude PP.AliExpress used to offer PayPal, but PayPal became an eBay subsidary 2002 to 2014. AliExpress is eBay's biggest competitor, and eBay decided to ban AliExpress from using PayPal.
I do not know if AliExpress could go back to PayPal now if it wanted to, but they had to develop their own alternatives and perhaps they do not want to let PayPal back in. eBay still has a very close contractual relationship to PayPal and that expires in 2020. After this, eBay will still support PayPal, but eBay will cease to give PayPal preference over other credit cards, and PayPal will no longer process credit card purchases for eBay.
For some reason I can’t choose PayPal when purchasing at AliExpress. They give a decent number of options here, but for Belgian customers seem to exclude PP.AliExpress used to offer PayPal, but PayPal became an eBay subsidary 2002 to 2014. AliExpress is eBay's biggest competitor, and eBay decided to ban AliExpress from using PayPal.
I do not know if AliExpress could go back to PayPal now if it wanted to, but they had to develop their own alternatives and perhaps they do not want to let PayPal back in. eBay still has a very close contractual relationship to PayPal and that expires in 2020. After this, eBay will still support PayPal, but eBay will cease to give PayPal preference over other credit cards, and PayPal will no longer process credit card purchases for eBay.
I pay all my purchases on Aliexpress through PayPal.