AliExpress has officially joined my blacklist. After the garbage experience I just had, I’ll never order from them again, and I’d recommend anyone with an ounce of sanity to stay far away.
Let me start with the FX-AUDIO DAC-X6 I ordered from AliExpress. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong. The so-called “official driver” from FX-AUDIO’s website doesn’t even include the VID/PID for this DAC. Forcing the driver install doesn’t fix a damn thing—ASIO HD-Bravo Control Panel still doesn’t detect it. On top of that, the DAC constantly disconnects every few hours, and the only “solution” is to crawl behind the unit, yank the USB cable, and plug it back in like it’s 2004.
When I confronted the seller, they swore up and down that the driver they sent me was newer and came “directly from the manufacturer.” Total lie. I ran Beyond Compare on both their driver and the one from the official site. Same files. Same structure. Identical down to the byte. These people are scam artists in cheap suits.
And then comes the cherry on top: AliExpress sided with the seller. The seller dangled a “return option” in front of me, saying he’d pay for the shipping label—but only after I agreed to his terms. Here’s the catch: I’d have to ship the damn thing internationally out of my own pocket first, pray it arrives, and then trust them to maybe refund me. Translation? I risk losing the DAC, the refund, and the return fees. A triple whammy screw job.
This isn’t a one-off either. My Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle order got stuck in customs for three weeks. Did anyone reach out? Moroccan customs? Nope. AliExpress? Also nope. Instead, the tracking status magically updated to “Clearance Exception—Unable to Reach the Buyer.” On AliExpress, it said, “Recipient is uncontactable.” Are you kidding me? I checked the damn tracking page every single day and even contacted SpeedAF twice. But somehow, it’s my fault? What proof do they expect me to provide? A selfie of me holding nothing? This is pure incompetence mixed with scammy tactics.
AliExpress is a cesspool of fake goods, mistranslations that look like they were spat out by a broken AI, and homepages plastered with soft-porn garbage. I deleted my Jumia account years ago for the same reasons, and AliExpress is next. This whole platform is a scam circus, and it’s a disgrace they still operate like this.
Meanwhile, over at Amazon? Total night and day difference. Sure, you might pay a little extra for shipping or import fees, but Amazon will always have your back. They don’t play these shady games. They don’t accuse customers of being “uncontactable” when you’re literally checking your order status daily.
I’ve already moved on and ordered a much better DAC—iFi Zen Air DAC—and a solid Zigbee dongle—SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle—both from Amazon. Better quality, real drivers, and zero bullshit.
Good riddance, AliExpress.
AliExpress FAQ
Is AliExpress safe?
No. AliExpress is loaded with fake products, lying sellers, and terrible customer support. You might save a few bucks, but the risk of scams isn’t worth it.
Does AliExpress sell fake products?
Yes. Fake electronics and knockoffs are everywhere on AliExpress. Sellers often lie about product specs, send drivers that don’t work, or ship items that break fast.
Why not to use AliExpress?
Because AliExpress sides with sellers, not buyers. If your order fails, you’ll likely lose money, time, and patience while fighting bots and useless support.
Is Amazon better than AliExpress?
Absolutely. Amazon has strong buyer protection and real customer support. Even with higher prices or import fees, Amazon is far safer than AliExpress.