r/alibaba
Shipping question
User asks for advice on disputing a delayed shipment and unresponsive seller on the Alibaba platform.
Hi I recently purchased an item from a seller and paid via alibaba. The seller previously had said they would ship on 1 June and provide me with the tracking number. On 2 June I checked with them if they had shipped out and if I could get the tracking. The shipping is via FedEx.
I was told that they had shipped it out but no tracking number was available yet.
I then asked again the next day to see if a tracking was available and the seller got hostile.
On alibaba, the status of the item is "awaiting dispatch"
Since Ive lost my confidence in this seller, what should I do? Apply for refund? The item is still within the "guaranteed shipping period" but my issue is that the seller claims to have shipped the item with no tracking number provided by FedEx, which is hard to believe.
Will this be a difficult case to dispute?
Maybe they won't clear the customs, or the customs clearance information is filled in incorrectly. I think it's enough to place an order, which is a common thing
You’ve clearly never bought anything from china before. Tracking doesn’t automatically update and with most foreign shipping companies you only get told when it’s at the airport, and when it’s waiting for customs clearance.
Filing a dispute that fast, I’d say the seller dodged a bullet not having you as a customer
if the Alibaba order status still says "awaiting dispatch", that means FedEx hasn't picked up or scanned the package yet, so there's no legit tracking number. sellers sometimes claim they've shipped but can't provide tracking because the parcel hasn't actually left their facility. you can file a dispute before the guaranteed shipping period ends, and Alibaba usually sides with buyers if no tracking proof is uploaded.
Thanks! I filed a dispute and finally the seller sent me a shipment label. However using the tracking number on the label tells me that the package has not been picked up yet. I filed a dispute and now the seller is harassing me by calling me multiple times in a row and verbally insulting me through text, both via WhatsApp and thru the Alibaba chat..
While I didn't feel 100% happy about having to file a dispute, I'm now glad I did
This could be normal. The shipping segment from China to your destination country can only be tracked via the freight system. The FedEx tracking number provided will only show logistics updates once the shipment arrives locally, clears customs and is picked up by the courier.
Maybe just wait one more week if nothing still and then apply for refund