Slow order processing from Aliexpress

[precaud]

I've been buying China-sourced items exclusively thru eBay until this year. I decided to give Aliexpress a try, with their "AliExpress Standard Shipping".

The first order was shipped and processed reasonably quickly, 19 days from order to delivery.

Since then it's been molasses. The sellers are shipping the orders, they are sent to an Aliexpress consolidation warehouse, where they sit for days. I have two orders now that have been sitting there since Feb 25. The sellers both say, there is nothing they can do.

Four days later I made two orders from eBay vendors in China; one by Speedpak, which is managed by UPS and is very good, and the other by some unnamed global economy method. Both were shipped and processed without delay, and have already been processed thru US customs.

I like the selection and prices on Aliexpress. But the waiting times are proving not to be worth it.

Is your experience (to USA) similar?

[SilverSolder]

I've been buying China-sourced items exclusively thru eBay until this year. I decided to give Aliexpress a try, with their "AliExpress Standard Shipping".

The first order was shipped and processed reasonably quickly, 19 days from order to delivery.

Since then it's been molasses. The sellers are shipping the orders, they are sent to an Aliexpress consolidation warehouse, where they sit for days. I have two orders now that have been sitting there since Feb 25. The sellers both say, there is nothing they can do.

Four days later I made two orders from eBay vendors in China; one by Speedpak, which is managed by UPS and is very good, and the other by some unnamed global economy method. Both were shipped and processed without delay, and have already been processed thru US customs.

I like the selection and prices on Aliexpress. But the waiting times are proving not to be worth it.

Is your experience (to USA) similar?

I have used Aliexpress a few times, and found the delivery times to be "within reason", but that was a year or so ago.

Something seems terribly wrong with shipping via USPS in general at the moment.  I bought a small item in Oregon - via eBay - on Feb 16, and it still hasn't arrived... 16 days later. (USPS in low temperature molasses mode, sender shipped promptly).

Stuff I buy from neighbouring states that normally arrives next day via USPS is now taking 2-5 days to arrive... 

[precaud]

I've not had any issues with USPS, outgoing or incoming. Except for mailbox thievery which has been rampant around here lately.

[BrokenYugo]

The two things this year I had shipped with that option both came in three weeks. Speekpak is usually about two for me and ideally the only way I buy from China on ebay. I made those orders before Chinese New Year though, I imagine that's probably the issue here, they're probably still getting caught up.

Just be glad it isn't the bad old days when a lot of the cheap shipping went untracked ocean freight that took so long you forgot what you ordered when it finally arrived.

[rsjsouza]

All packages from Aliexpress arrived within reason but still slower than previous years. Only one package where the Aneng official store goofed up and did not send the package. Three months later Aliexpress stepped up and refunded me the package.

[t0m]

I have found "CAINAIO Super Economy Global" shipping especially variable to the US. Sometimes 3 weeks, sometimes 3 months.

[SilverSolder]

I have found "CAINAIO Super Economy Global" shipping especially variable to the US. Sometimes 3 weeks, sometimes 3 months.

Some of these shippers work on the principle of filling a container, then sending it over by ship.   So you can get lucky or not in two ways:  how long to fill the container with customer orders? - and then, how long to get a ride on a container ship with a spare slot at a rock bottom price?

I'm OK with that if what I'm buying is stupid cheap.  It's not so good if you are paying full price!

[nctnico]

I've been buying China-sourced items exclusively thru eBay until this year. I decided to give Aliexpress a try, with their "AliExpress Standard Shipping".

The first order was shipped and processed reasonably quickly, 19 days from order to delivery.

Since then it's been molasses. The sellers are shipping the orders, they are sent to an Aliexpress consolidation warehouse, where they sit for days. I have two orders now that have been sitting there since Feb 25. The sellers both say, there is nothing they can do.

3 letters: CNY (Chinese New Year). China grinds to a halt for about 2 weeks or so. After that they need to catch up. This year CNY started on the 12th of Februari so it makes sense an order from the 25th is delayed.

Besides that delivery times from China are allover the place. Sometimes 9 days sometimes 8 weeks. Given the volume of packages from China I don't think filling a container slowly is the issue. Whether a parcel travels by ship, train or airplane is more likely to make a difference.

[precaud]

CNY was Feb 12. I ordered these items after receiving a promo email from one of the vendors saying they were "back".

The items shipped on Feb 25 are still siting in Aliexpress's consoldation warehouse.

Whereas an order I placed on Mar 1 got processed immediately and left China on Friday.

So I agree to the "all over the map" characterization.

[SilverSolder]

CNY was Feb 12. I ordered these items after receiving a promo email from one of the vendors saying they were "back".

The items shipped on Feb 25 are still siting in Aliexpress's consoldation warehouse.

Whereas an order I placed on Mar 1 got processed immediately and left China on Friday.

So I agree to the "all over the map" characterization.

Chinese new year is definitely a "thing", though.  A Chinese friend explained that it is like Christmas and several birthdays worth of celebration rolled into one huge orgy of family visits that can last 3-4 weeks.   She also said that many workers go home from the cities where they live and work, out to the countryside where they came from, and many of them don't return! - having found something better to do over the break.   So business has to deal with hiring and training immediately when they start up after the break!   Basically, there is no real equivalent in the West,  the Chinese really know how to party! 

[t0m]

My take is that the tariff war was screwing things up. Some vendors started reshipping through third countries and it took a while to straighten out the various issues.

[precaud]

Update: the two orders shipped 22 Feb still show as "Inbound in sorting center", where they have been since 25 Feb. i.e., they are sitting in an Aliexpress consolidation warehouse.

The one shipped 1 Mar arrived in USA 6 Mar, passed thru customs yesderday, has left LA and is on its way here.

This is remarkably different order procesing. These were all ordered with "AliExpress Standard Shipping".

[chickenHeadKnob]

For China to US containers there is a record backlog occurring right now, apparently. Ships are anchored outside Long Beach waiting to unload.
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/62-ships-at-anchor-in-san-pedro-bay-on-wednesday
https://www.latimes.com/la-fi-port-container-ships-pg-photogallery.html

[precaud]

Interesting, thanks. That would also then explain why "Speedpak" shipments are moving at their normal speed. UPS handles them and they have their own transport and processing.

[AntiProtonBoy]

Everything is slow via AliExpress, some take a month or two to arrive. I've bought quite a few things there, and everything arrived eventually. You just need to be patient.

[precaud]

Well I can't explain it, but both Aliexpress packages arrived in my mailbox today. The tracking says they are still in China! Bizzarre. Ordered on Feb 21, delivered Mar 10, it's not too bad.

[SilverSolder]

I have also noticed that the tracking seems to be a little random.  That applies within the US as well...  stuff can disappear off the radar for days or weeks, then suddenly reappear magically somewhere...