How to get a refund on AliExpress and what to do if it does not arrive

The refund arrived, but we almost missed it. After winning a dispute, we waited 12 days and saw nothing in our bank account. Turns out the refund was posted on the same date as the original purchase, buried weeks back in our statement. We only found it after the bank pointed us to the exact transaction.

This guide covers how to request refunds at every stage of an order, how to track them, and what to do when the money does not show up where you expect it.

How to request a refund: by order stage

The refund process depends on whether your order has shipped or not.

Order status	What you can do
Just placed (payment processing)	Cancel immediately for full refund
Payment confirmed, not shipped	Request cancellation (seller must approve)
Shipped	Open a dispute
Delivered	Open a dispute within 15 days of order completion

Canceling an order before it ships

If you change your mind right after ordering, you can often cancel before the seller ships.

1. Go to My Orders in your AliExpress account
2. Find the order and click Cancel Order
3. Select a reason

If you act within minutes of placing the order, cancellation is usually instant. Once payment has been confirmed and the seller has seen the order, they must approve your cancellation request.

Tip: Message the seller explaining why you want to cancel. A polite message increases the chance they accept quickly. We have had cancellations approved within an hour when we explained the reason.

Requesting a refund after the order has shipped

Once the item is in transit, you cannot cancel. You need to open a dispute.

Item not received

If your order has not arrived and the buyer protection period is ending:

1. Check the tracking to see where the package is
2. Message the seller asking for an update
3. If no resolution, go to My Orders and click Open Dispute
4. Select “Item not received” and request a full refund

Do not wait until the last day. We open disputes about 5 days before buyer protection expires if tracking shows no progress.

Item received but not as described

If the product arrived but is damaged, wrong color, wrong size, missing parts, or different from what was advertised:

1. Take photos and video of the problem before opening a dispute
2. Go to My Orders and click Open Dispute
3. Select the reason that matches your issue (damaged, wrong item, etc.)
4. Upload your evidence
5. Choose your refund amount

Full refund vs partial refund: how to decide

AliExpress offers two refund options:

Option	When to use it
Full refund without return	Item is significantly flawed, dangerous, or completely unusable
Full refund with return	High-value item where return shipping cost is justified
Partial refund	Minor issues (small defect, missing accessory, slight color difference)

When to request full refund without return

This is usually the best first option for items under $30 with significant problems. Return shipping to China often costs more than the item itself. AliExpress frequently approves full refunds without requiring returns for low-value items that are clearly defective.

We request full refund without return for items under $20 that have obvious defects. For items over $50, we consider whether return shipping makes financial sense.

When to accept partial refund

If the item is usable but has a minor flaw, a partial refund lets you keep the product and get some money back. This is common for:

• Color slightly different from photos
• One small part missing
• Minor cosmetic damage

We have negotiated partial refunds of 30-50% on items with minor issues. The seller avoids a negative review, and we avoid the hassle of a full dispute.

Gathering evidence for your dispute

Strong evidence increases your chances of winning. Before opening a dispute, collect:

Evidence type	Why it matters
Photos of the defect	Shows the actual problem
Video of the item	Proves the defect is real, not edited
Screenshot of the listing	Shows what was promised
Tracking screenshot	Proves delivery status
Ruler or measuring tape	Proves size discrepancy

We always record a short video when opening packages from AliExpress. If something is wrong, we have proof from the moment of unboxing.

How long does a refund take

Stage	Timeframe
Dispute opened	Seller has 5-15 days to respond
Dispute resolved	AliExpress processes refund within 1-3 days
Refund reaches your account	3-20 business days after processing

The 3-20 day window depends on your bank and payment method. PayPal refunds usually arrive faster than credit card refunds.

How to track your refund status

1. Go to My Orders
2. Click on the order you are waiting on
3. Look for the Payment or Finance tab
4. Check the refund timeline

You will see stages like:

• Refund Requested – Dispute resolved in your favor
• Refund Processing – AliExpress is sending the money
• Refund Complete – Money has left AliExpress

The 3-20 day countdown starts when the status shows Refund Complete, not when the dispute ends.

What to do if your refund does not arrive

If 20 business days have passed since “Refund Complete” and you still do not see the money:

Step 1: Check the original purchase date

Banks sometimes post refunds as reversals on the same date as the original transaction, not as new credits. If you bought an item on March 5 and got a refund on April 10, the refund may appear on your March 5 statement.

Check your full statement history, not just recent transactions. We have found refunds this way three times.

Step 2: Find your ARN (Acquirer Reference Number)

The ARN is a 23-digit tracking code for your refund as it moves through the banking system. It is generated after AliExpress processes the refund.

Where to find it:

• Go to My Orders
• Click on the refunded order
• Open the Payment or Finance tab
• Look for the ARN under the refund details

The ARN only appears for Visa and Mastercard transactions, and only after the refund has been processed for at least 20 business days.

Step 3: Contact your bank with the ARN

Call your bank and provide the ARN. The chargebacks or disputes department can trace the exact status of the refund. They can see if:

• The refund is still in transit between banks
• The refund has been posted but you missed it
• There is a delay on their end

We have resolved two missing refunds this way. The bank found the money within 24 hours of receiving the ARN.

Step 4: Contact AliExpress customer service

If your bank cannot find the transaction even with the ARN, or if no ARN was generated, contact AliExpress directly.

1. Open the AliExpress app or website
2. Go to Help Center or Customer Service
3. Start with the chatbot Eva
4. Type “live agent” or “talk to human” repeatedly until you are connected to a real person

Provide your order number and explain the situation. They can check if the refund was actually processed and resend payment details if needed.

Why your refund amount may be less than expected

If you received slightly less than you paid, the most common reason is currency conversion fees.

Cause	What happened
Currency conversion on purchase	Your bank converted your local currency to USD and charged a fee
Currency conversion on refund	Your bank converted USD back to your local currency
Exchange rate fluctuation	The rate changed between purchase and refund

AliExpress processes transactions in USD or EUR. Your bank converts on both ends and keeps any conversion fees. The refund returns the product price in USD, but your bank does not refund the conversion fee.

To verify the exact refund amount, request a transaction breakdown from your bank.

Where does the refund go

Refunds return to your original payment method.

Payment method	Where refund goes
Credit card	Back to your card balance
Debit card	Back to your bank account
PayPal	Back to your PayPal balance
Alipay	Back to your Alipay Wallet balance

If your card has expired or been canceled, contact your bank. The funds are usually rerouted to the associated bank account.

What happens if the seller does not respond

If you open a dispute and the seller does not respond within the allotted time (usually 5-15 days depending on the dispute type), AliExpress automatically rules in your favor and processes the refund.

We have had this happen four times. The seller went silent, and AliExpress refunded us without requiring any additional action.

Buyer protection period and dispute deadlines

Deadline	What it means
Buyer protection period	Usually 60 days from shipping (varies by seller)
Dispute window	15 days after order is marked complete
Extension	You can request to extend buyer protection if needed

If buyer protection expires and you have not received your item or opened a dispute, you lose the ability to get a refund through AliExpress. Watch your protection countdown and act before it runs out.

Final thoughts

Most AliExpress refunds go smoothly. The issues happen when you do not track the process or miss where the money landed. Check your full bank statement going back to the original purchase date. Use the ARN if the refund seems stuck. And always gather evidence before opening a dispute.

The worst outcome is letting buyer protection expire without action. A dispute that takes 2 weeks to resolve is better than losing your money entirely.

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