What are the rules for buying on AliExpress?

Accessories, clothing, cell phones, computers, construction tools. All packed with promotional banners. It looks like the energy of 25 de Março, in São Paulo (SP), only on the internet. This is the shopping experience at AliExpress.

The site is one of those that seems to have it all — and with prices that are usually very inviting. But you need to know why prices are below average and what the conditions are for that. So, to help you navigate there, the showmetech prepared a list of the main rules for buying on AliExpress. Check it out below:

What is AliExpress?

O AliExpress is an e-commerce and marketplace (read: site where stores and sellers can use as a platform to market their items) for imported products. It's the same logic, for example, from Shopee and Amazon.

The site, founded in 2010, is present in more than 200 countries and belongs to the Alibaba, a giant in China. In fact, most AliExpress sellers are there. They buy directly from the manufacturers and sell on the website, so prices are often what make people want to buy from AliExpress.

The e-commerce also has sellers from Brazil. And it is precisely because the products are imported that delivery takes longer to happen.

How to buy on AliExpress?

The site has thousands of products for sale. If you are interested in buying on AliExpress, the first step is to create an account. The website asks for an email address, CPF (a requirement by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Department since January 1, 2020 for purchases from abroad) and a mobile number.

To browse the site, you can scroll down the homepage, choose the categories that interest you (both products and promotions) or use the search bar (where you can filter by price, free shipping, etc.).

At some point, you will find something that interests you. When that happens, it's good for you to know how to buy at AliExpress. Do like this:

• Click (or tap) on the product to access its page;
• Select the specifications that are available (color, model, etc);
• If you already want to complete the purchase and proceed with payment, click on “BUY NOW"; but if you want to add other products to your virtual cart before completing the purchase, click on “Add to cart";
• Click on "place the order";
• Fill in the form to add the delivery address;
• Choose the payment method (Pix, installments, credit card, boleto, PayPal and bank transfer);
• Click again on “Make a wish".

After that, the site will compute the order and send you an email confirmation. As for the products themselves, there are some tips to help you “buy better” on the site. Are they:

1. Consider the delivery time (which is usually longer than that of stores in Brazil);
2. Carefully read the product description (the photos are illustrative);
3. Compare the value of the product (with shipping included) to its price in Brazil;
4. Use discount coupons;
5. View buyer reviews;
6. Check the seller's profile.

What is the value to not be taxed on AliExpress?

By law, when the value of the product plus the cost of shipping is less than US$ 50 (R$ 270,50, at the current price) — and if the shipment is made by an individual — your package will not be taxed. Being taxed, in this case, means paying the import tax, charged by the Federal Revenue Service. But there is also the luck factor.

On average, 500 orders arrive in Brazil per day. As much as customs are automated, there are not enough hands and heads to inspect all orders. So, some of them end up not being taxed. In short, there is no formula for evading taxation. If you pass the limit value, it becomes a matter of luck.

In addition, the importation of books, newspapers, periods and medicines by individuals — that is, a purchase made using a CPF, instead of CNPJ — is not subject to taxation. However, in the case of medicines, the items must meet the requirements of Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).

How to buy on AliExpress in Real and other currencies?

To buy products in Real on AliExpress, the seller must be from Brazil. When you click on the “From Brazil” option (on the website and application homepage) or choose “Shipping from Brazil”, it filters the offers so that only those from national sellers appear.

You can also find offers from international sellers, where payments are made in other currencies (for example: dollar and euro). In this case, the Federal Revenue charges a tariff of R$ 15 for the dispatch of the product, made by the Post Office, and, when the purchase exceeds US$ 50, it charges an import tax of 60% on the value.

Another important point: for international purchases made using a credit card, a fee of 6,3% of the IOF (Tax on Financial Operations) is charged on the purchase price.

Is it safe to buy on AliExpress?

Yes, because the site has minimum security requirements to protect your data while shopping. But in the analysis made by the site "Reclame Aqui", in January 2022, AliExpress received a rating of 5,7/10, considered bad.

The bad note came from the fact that the platform is not responsible for the products it sells. In addition, this analysis found that 16.484 AliExpress-related complaints were made between July 1 and December 31, 2021.

See also:

AliExpress announces the opening of the platform to Brazilian retailers e How to shop on AliExpress

Sources: FazComex, delivery Brazil e Wise