How Fast Can You Really Get AliExpress Shipping?
AliExpress is beloved by deal-seekers around the world for its unbeatable prices on a wide variety of products. However, savvy shoppers know that rock-bottom prices often come with a trade-off: slow shipping times. So how long does AliExpress shipping really take?
The short answer is standard AliExpress delivery takes 15-45 days on average. However, with the right shipping method and seller selection, your orders could arrive in as little as 7 days.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore all aspects of AliExpress shipping times including:
- Overview of typical AliExpress delivery speeds
- Common AliExpress shipping methods and timeframes
- Why faster shipping matters for your online store
- 6 tips to get faster delivery from AliExpress
- Key takeaways on improving AliExpress shipping times
Let’s dive in!
Overview of Typical AliExpress Shipping Times
As an online marketplace with mostly China-based sellers, AliExpress shipping is inherently slow compared to domestic retailers. Packages need to travel across oceans and clear customs before reaching the destination country.
Standard AliExpress delivery times range from:
- 15-45 days on average
- 60+ days in some cases
However, delivery can be as fast as 12 days with premium shipping options or ePacket.
Major factors impacting shipping speed include:
- Shipping method selected
- Delivery location
- Accessibility
- Holidays or peak periods
Sellers also have different processing times before dispatching orders, which affects overall delivery timeframes.
Now let’s look at the most common shipping methods available on AliExpress and their typical delivery speeds.
Common AliExpress Shipping Methods and Speeds
AliExpress offers a variety of shipping methods catering to different delivery timeframes and budgets.
AliExpress Standard Shipping
- Cost: Free or low-cost
- Time: 15-45 days
- Notes: Most affordable option, offers tracking
As the name implies, AliExpress Standard Shipping is the baseline delivery method store sellers use.
It’s cost-effective, usually free or very cheap, making it popular for maximizing profit margins. Delivery takes 15-45 days on average based on the seller’s location.
AliExpress Standard Shipping also provides a tracking number so you can follow your order status. It’s essentially the same as ePacket shipping but renamed.
AliExpress Premium Shipping
- Cost: Expensive
- Time: 7-15 days
- Notes: Fastest free option
For quicker delivery, many sellers offer AliExpress Premium Shipping. It leverages Cainiao logistics networks for faster handling.
You’ll pay more compared to standard shipping, but your orders will arrive in 7-15 days instead of 15-45. So it’s the best balance of speed and affordability.
AliExpress Premium Shipping also enables real-time package tracking and status updates.
ePacket
- Cost: Affordable
- Time: Fast but discontinued
- Notes: Previously go-to choice
Formerly one of the fastest affordable shipping options, ePacket delivery is no more. AliExpress discontinued its special agreement with USPS for this shipping method in February 2022.
When it was available, ePacket only took 7-20 days on average and was very reliable. Many sellers offered it as their de facto shipping choice given the solid delivery speeds.
If your preferred AliExpress sellers still seem to offer ePacket shipping, double check where they are actually shipping from. They may source and ship products from within your country, in which case domestic shipping rules would apply.
Major Couriers
- Cost: Expensive ($20-$60+)
- Time: 7-20 days
- Notes: Best for urgent delivery
To achieve the fastest AliExpress shipping times, look for sellers offering major couriers like:
- DHL
- FedEx
- UPS
These global logistics leaders can deliver your orders from China in 7-15 days typically. Some even offer overnight and 2-day shipping, but costs will be prohibitive.
Expect to pay at least $20-30 for basic courier delivery, going up to $60+ for expedited services. Cost varies based on shipment weight, speed, and destination.
Use couriers only if you need urgent delivery. Otherwise standard methods are more cost-effective.
Why Faster Shipping Matters for Your Online Store?
Before diving into tips for faster AliExpress delivery, let’s discuss why shipping speed should matter to online sellers:
Improves Customer Experience
Two-thirds of online shoppers consider quick delivery important when buying products. Waiting weeks for AliExpress items frustrates customers.
Faster shipping improves overall buying experience and satisfaction. Customers appreciate getting orders sooner than expected.
Reduces Cart Abandonment
Lengthy delivery timeframes cause buyers to abandon carts more often. When shipping speed is too slow, customers will find alternative sellers delivering products quicker.
On average, over 75% of online orders are abandoned when consumers face inconveniences. Ensuring faster dispatch and delivery helps minimize this.
Boosts Conversion Rates
Sites offering quicker shipping convert more traffic into sales compared to those with slower delivery time estimates. Customers prefer buying from stores shipping items faster.
Every 9% increase in delivery speed can raise conversion rates by 50%. Set proper shipping expectations and get products into buyers’ hands rapidly to sell more.
The bottom line is shipping speed advantages customer experience, conversions, and business growth.
Next let’s explore tips for reducing AliExpress shipping times…
6 Tips to Get Faster Shipping on AliExpress
Despite being inherently slow, it’s possible to receive AliExpress orders in under 2 weeks.
Here are 6 proven tips:
1. Choose Sellers Offering Fast, Affordable Shipping
Select AliExpress sellers providing the best blend of faster shipping speeds and low rates. Avoid sellers only offering slow free shipping – upgrade to faster delivery worth paying for.
Sellers indicate available shipping methods and delivery estimates on product listings. Review all options carefully as part of vendor selection.
AliExpress Premium Shipping balances cost and speed well for most dropshippers. If your margins allow, pay extra for major global couriers to expedite urgent deliveries.
2. Select Sellers with Local Warehouses
Source items from AliExpress sellers with warehouses located closer to your customers. Products already imported into regional distribution centers clear customs faster and ship quicker domestically.
You can filter AliExpress listings by “Ship From” location. Choose sellers delivering orders from local warehouses instead of China for reduced transit time.
Just ensure sellers reliably stock and fulfill orders from local facilities advertised instead of long-distance dropshipping. Ask for order samples to verify.
3. Prioritize Sellers with Shorter Processing Times
A seller’s order processing speed drastically affects shipping timeframes. Favor AliExpress sellers dispatching shipments within 1-3 days instead of 5-7 days.
Before ordering, request sellers to confirm average processing times. Review customer feedback noting sellers taking longer to fulfill orders. Refine choices filtering for vendors with faster handling capacity.
4. Order Test Products from Multiple Sellers
The best way to verify real delivery speeds is purchasing samples yourself. Test shipping times ordering the same niche products from a few different sellers.
See which sellers package and ship items quicker based on when you receive orders. Then shortlist sellers with fastest fulfillment cycles for long-term use fulfilling buyer purchases.
5. Find “VIP” Listings for Faster Handling
Some AliExpress sellers create special “VIP” listings for wholesale buyers that guarantee priority purchase handling and shipping.
Browse sellers’ storefronts checking for VIP wholesale sections boasting expedited processing and discounted shipping rates. Submit initial batch orders through these channels to trial seller performance.
6. Use an AliExpress Alternative
If you can’t reduce AliExpress shipping below 2 weeks, consider alternative Chinese suppliers. Or use a dropshipping agent providing both product sourcing and faster shipping from China.
Platforms like Dropified and ecomhunt allow you to easily manage sourcing, importing, and order fulfillment cycles. Investigate options to sustainably import and directly dispatch purchases stateside quicker.
Key Takeaways on Improving AliExpress Shipping Speed
Getting packages from customers to AliExpress buyers globally in less than 3 weeks requires strategy:
- Typical AliExpress delivery spans 15-45 days based on location and periods like holidays
- Upgrading shipping methods can reduce transit time to as little as 1 week
- Choose sellers wisely based on processing capacity, locations, and shipping options
- Order samples from sellers offering fastest fulfillment cycles
- Shift to same-country suppliers or fulfillment agents enabling domestic shipping
While bargain basement prices attract shoppers to AliExpress, properly setting shipping expectations is key.
Communicate possible delays, offer premium delivery upgrades, and shift inventory wherever possible. This balances consumer expectations with the realities of overseas commerce.
Conclusion
AliExpress provides unparalleled product selection and pricing, making it a top dropshipping source. Yet like most overseas marketplaces, delivery lag times can dampen customer satisfaction.
However as we explored here, the right seller selection strategies and shipping configurations makes reducing transit days possible.
Premium shipping methods can reliably deliver orders within 7-15 days instead of the average 15-45 day timeframes. Prices stay low enough to profit while providing customers faster fulfillment.
Achieving free express shipping with 2-5 day turnarounds using AliExpress remains far-fetched for now. Yet other emerging options like cross-border logistics networks and sourcing agents ease constraints.
Weigh the pros and cons of shipping speed vs product costs that makes most sense for your online business. Find ways to delight customers not just with bargains but also timely, reliable delivery.
