I speak for all online sellers in that we all dream of waking up to find hundreds, if not thousands, of orders in our email inbox! It’s only fair to dream big and aspire for your online store to expand its reach.
But in order to get there, you have to make an important decision: the online shopping platform you use to set up your store.
So, how do you choose? And where do you start?
When it comes to the e-commerce game, there are two big names out there: eBay vs Aliexpress.
These websites offer a limitless array of products imaginable – from video games to consumer electronics to beauty and clothing. You name it, you’ll find them on these websites.
If you’re just getting started, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially as both sites have their respective advantages.
Worry no more because I put together this guide to help simplify your search for the best online shopping platform as an online seller.
Keep reading to find out and help you make the right decision to put your business on the right path…
Article Overview
What is Aliexpress?
About the eBay Marketplace
eBay vs Aliexpress: Comparison
Vendor Categories
Pricing
Product Categories
Buyer Protection
Shipping Times
Shipping Cost
Service
Convenience
Promotions and Discounts
Conclusion
FAQs
What is Aliexpress?
Aliexpress is an online trading platform based in Mainland China. Today, it is one of the most popular shopping platforms because of the products sold at cheaper prices.
Aliexpress offers the cheapest prices among many supplier websites for Chinese sellers and online sellers globally.
Aliexpress focuses on the B2C model and is serving customers worldwide, including the US, Canada, and EU countries.
Ironically, the website does not sell to mainland China even though the majority of the retail manufacturers are based in China.
As of the end of the March 2020 fiscal year, Aliexpress has generated $1 trillion in gross merchandise value.
It is a huge feat for any ecommerce website, which also demonstrates that Aliexpress is a viable option for any seller who wants to outdo the fierce competition in setting up their online shop.
The lower prices are one of the main selling points for online store owners because you can find the same product on Aliexpress at unbeatable prices.
Therefore, ecommerce business owners utilize Aliexpress to find suppliers for items they can sell online, as it gives them a potentially huge profit margin.
But aside from the access to cheaper products, Aliexpress is also a suitable shopping platform for online sellers because it connects sellers to potential buyers worldwide.
This platform has over 150 million active buyers, making it a good platform for selling if you want to reach a much wider customer base. It means you have more opportunities to make money selling online.
The low cost of entry is another advantage to selling on Aliexpress. It differs from other shopping platforms, like eBay, since it does not charge sellers a monthly subscription or listing fees.
You can set up a free account on the website and list your products from your free account. Therefore, you don’t have to consider upfront costs when setting up an online store through Aliexpress.
It is an ideal option for an individual seller or small business since you can leverage the traffic on the website to make money without investing a large amount as capital.
But selling on Aliexpress is not without drawbacks. Since it is a Chinese-based e-commerce platform, the language and cultural barrier is a significant factors to consider.
It is also a global platform, which means you will be dealing with buyers who speak different languages, and not all of them can speak English. Communication and dealing with various cultural norms will factor in your decision to choose Aliexpress.
Finally, the main warehouse of Aliexpress is located in mainland China. If you are choosing suppliers for your shop from China and have customers in the US or UK, you can expect longer delivery time.
It is best to choose your suppliers carefully and make sure that you get your items shipped directly from the nearest warehouse (as they do have warehouses in various parts of the world).
Since shipping is integral to the overall shopping experience of your customers, you have to consider shipping times with Aliexpress.
As long as you can figure out how to overcome delivery time issues, such as offering discounts and daily deals, you can attract more buyers to your store.
About the eBay Marketplace
You can’t talk about the top online marketplaces without mentioning eBay! eBay is the world’s largest marketplace, with over 180 million buyers and sellers.
Therefore, it is a great place to build an online store for anyone who aspires to make money selling online.
The massive audience is the biggest appeal for an online seller to choose eBay to sell online as a business.
While competition is stiff with many eBay stores from various sellers, there are also plenty of opportunities as millions of people visit the site looking for products to buy.
If you are able to optimize your listing for the products, you could potentially make more sales and increase your profit margin.
The auction-style format listing is another advantage of choosing eBay as an online selling platform. With the auction, sellers can set their own prices for items listed.
It gives you the opportunity to earn more from this marketplace, especially if you list rare items and collectibles. In addition to auction listings, eBay offers various listing formats, including fixed price listings and the Best Offer option.
The various listing styles on eBay allow you to tailor your selling preferences to meet your online store goals.
If you choose to sell via eBay, you have access to tools and resources that enable you to succeed with your eBay seller account. The eBay seller hub offers a centralized location wherein you can manage your listings in one place.
You can also use the seller hub to track sales performance and other metrics. You can use this data to inform your sales strategy and optimize sales on your eBay stores.
eBay is a smart choice for newbies or those starting out in the online business scene. They have a seller protection program that protects eBay store owners against fraudulent activities, claims, and other illegal transactions.
Thus, you can have peace of mind knowing that eBay’s policies will ensure you won’t lose money to scams and other similar activities.
If you choose to sell via the eBay marketplace, you can take advantage of the SEO capabilities on its search engine. It helps you optimize your listings so that you can hack your way into the algorithm and help your products reach the top of the search engines for a relevant search.
If you have SEO experience, you can use that to your advantage so you can put your products in front of more potential buyers. You can also use the seller feedback and rating system to win more customers.
Choose your suppliers wisely, deliver good customer service, and ensure accurate delivery time estimates for your products to keep your customers happy and your rating up!
There are clear advantages to choosing the eBay marketplace to set up your online business. Explore these advantages to help your business get to the next level.
eBay vs Aliexpress: Comparison
How does eBay compare to Aliexpress? This detailed comparison looks at the key differences between the two sites to help you decide on the best platform.
Vendor Categories
Aliexpress has retail manufacturers and suppliers based in China. It is a good option for business owners looking for the cheapest prices to sell online and make a huge profit.
On the other hand, eBay is home to manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers from around the globe.
Therefore, you have more options from eBay whether you are looking for a wholesale supplier or retail manufacturer for your business.
Pricing
Aliexpress offers the cheapest prices among online shopping platforms. The low prices are based on the cheap manufacturing costs in China and the lack of middlemen.
Therefore, you can get cheap products to sell online.
eBay offers higher prices than products you would find on Aliexpress.
But when it comes to eBay vs Aliexpress on pricing and costs, you might be able to compensate for any savings you can make buying from Aliexpress regarding shipping costs.
The high shipping fees from Aliexpress might be higher since the products are shipped from China.
Product Categories
Both eBay and Aliexpress offer various product categories. The comprehensive product range enables you to find the products to sell online in your store.
Whether you want to sell electronic devices, women’s clothing, or pet supplies, you are going to find the product from these two sites.
Buyer Protection
Both Aliexpress and eBay offer a buyer protection program.
Therefore, choosing any of these two platforms will be beneficial to your business since your customers will be confident to shop from you knowing their purchase is protected.
Shipping Times
eBay shipping for domestic addresses takes an average of seven days. The shipping for international addresses varies based on the exact location, but it could take up to 20 days.
With Aliexpress, international shipping can take longer since the main warehouse is in China.
The approximate delivery time could take up to 45 days. It is important to communicate with your customers properly about the delivery time before they decide to shop from you and to help them manage their expectations.
Shipping Cost
Aliexpress can offer free shipping to their customers, and you can also pass that on to your customers if you choose suppliers from Aliexpress.
However, shipping costs for international addresses can also vary.
With eBay shipping, the costs can vary from seller to seller. But when shipping within the US, it is usually free.
As a seller, it is important to consider the shipping costs with eBay vs Aliexpress, as it can take a huge chunk off your profits.
Service
Disputes about defective products and orders can be managed between the buyer and manufacturer. But it is relatively easy to process refunds and returns in Aliexpress.
They can usually process refunds within a day or two.
The same goes for eBay. They also have good service when it comes to handling disputes and order concerns from their customers.
The initial stage of the dispute involves the buyer and the supplier. But if it isn’t resolved between the two parties, eBay steps in to offer a resolution.
In addition, the two sites offer plenty of resources for their customers and online store owners to get support when needed.
For example, both sites have an FAQ section that provides answers to common concerns and issues that users deal with on the website. It is also easy to open a dispute as a buyer or seller on these platforms.
Convenience
Aliexpress and eBay offer convenient shopping methods with their streamlined order processing and various payment methods, such as Paypal and debit or credit cards.
Aliexpress and eBay also offer user-friendly website that is easy to navigate.
The main area where they differ would be in terms of shipping times since Aliexpress takes much longer to ship items.
Promotions and Discounts
When it comes to promotions, both eBay and Aliexpress offer daily deals and other discounts to customers. These ongoing sales offer the best opportunity to save on your purchase.
As an online seller, you can use these discount offers to convince them to buy products from your store.
Conclusion
Is eBay vs Aliexpress better?
There is no right or wrong answer because it depends on your personal preferences as a seller and your goal for your online business.
If you’re looking to grow your business fast, eBay is a fantastic option because it has a massive audience reach, and the reputation of eBay is built on customer trust.
It requires some investment if you want to subscribe to eBay stores to maximize your ability to list products on your store.
On the other hand, Aliexpress is a good place to start if you are testing out the online business landscape.
The cheaper prices and lack of upfront costs mean that you can optimize your earnings so you can slowly build your business until you can explore ways to grow your business.
The ecommerce landscape is always evolving. Therefore, it is best to keep an open mind about these two websites so you can pick the right platform and the best strategy to fast-track your way to achieving your business goals.
FAQs
Why are Aliexpress items so cheap?
The products in Aliexpress are manufactured in China, which has a lower manufacturing cost. The lower production costs enable manufacturers to set low prices on their items.
Is it risky to buy from Aliexpress?
No, buying from Aliexpress is 100% safe. They even have a buyer protection program, so your purchase is covered from end to end.
Is Aliexpress better than eBay?
eBay has some advantages over Aliexpress, such as faster shipping times and a variety of listing formats. But Aliexpress also has its share of advantages over eBay, so it depends on your business goals that will determine if one is better than the other.
