What is Aliexpress?
AliExpress is an online retail service owned by the Alibaba Group, China's largest e-commerce company. It connects small Chinese businesses and manufacturers with buyers all over the world. AliExpress was launched in 2010 as part of Alibaba's global expansion efforts to allow small Chinese enterprises to sell directly to international online consumers.
AliExpress works as a platform that hosts thousands of Chinese manufacturers, wholesalers and trading companies. It offers affordable products across over 40 main categories including electronics, fashion, home & garden, toys, sports, auto parts etc. The sellers on AliExpress are generally small businesses and entrepreneurs in China looking to reach an international customer base.
For international shoppers, AliExpress provides access to a wide variety of low-cost products from China that are often difficult to find in other countries. The prices are generally cheaper than eBay or Amazon because there is no middleman involved. AliExpress combines wholesale pricing with retail convenience through its online model.
Some key features of shopping on AliExpress are price comparisons across sellers, buyer protection using escrow services, and payment systems support through Alipay, credit cards, wire transfer, PayPal etc. AliExpress also has a mobile app and offers shipping worldwide with options like expedited delivery through DHL, FedEx.
Overall, AliExpress bridges the gap between Chinese exporters and global consumers allowing the former to compete better internationally and the latter to source inexpensive Chinese goods with more confidence through its buyer protection policies.