To contact a seller on AliExpress, open the product page or the seller's store and tap the message option next to the store name (it can read "Contact seller" or "Message", or show a chat icon). For an order you already placed, go to your orders, open the order details and choose "Contact Seller". Keep every order problem in that order thread: if the seller doesn't fix it, you open a dispute from the same page.
For Choice items, AliExpress itself handles delivery and after-sales service, so delivery and return problems go through the order page and AliExpress, not only through the seller.
Where is the contact option on AliExpress?
There are three entry points. Use the one that matches your question.
| Entry point | Where to find it | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Product page | Near the store name or seller panel; in the app the position can differ | Questions about one product: stock, variants, materials, processing time |
| Seller's store page | The store's profile area | Supplier questions: other products, volume pricing, repeat orders, packaging |
| Order details | Your orders → open the order → Contact Seller | Anything about an order: tracking, wrong item, damage, refund |
The official help steps for an order are short: open the order details, then tap Contact Seller to get a solution, or Open Dispute to ask for a refund (AliExpress Help Center). All your chats also appear in the Messages section of your account.
Button labels and positions change between app versions and countries. If you can't see the option on a listing, see the troubleshooting section below.
Desktop or app?
Both work. Desktop is easier for research: you can compare listings, copy links and write longer messages. The app is easier for keeping a conversation going, because you get notifications. Many dropshippers research on desktop and answer on the phone.
What changes with AliExpress Choice items?
AliExpress launched Choice on 1 March 2023. For Choice items, AliExpress sources products from merchants and factories and takes on "customer acquisition, pricing, delivery and after-sales service", according to Alibaba Group (February 2024).
In practice:
- For product questions before buying (materials, sizes, what's in the box), you can still message the seller.
- For delivery, returns and refunds on a Choice order, start from the order details, since AliExpress takes on after-sales service for these items.
- Alibaba Group said that in December 2023 shoppers in over 20 countries got free returns on Choice products and 23 countries had a delivery guarantee. Terms change by country, so check what your order page shows.
How to write a message that gets a useful reply
Sellers answer clear, specific messages first. A message that looks like a real order gets more attention than "hi friend, best price?".
Every message should have:
- The product link (or the order number).
- Your context: testing a product, planning repeat orders, or asking for volume pricing.
- One to three questions, each easy to answer.
- Details that change the answer: ship-to country, variant, quantity.
Message templates
Before your first order (supplier check)
Hi, I'm checking this product for possible repeat orders: [product link] Please confirm:
- Current stock for [colour/size] variants
- Processing time before shipping
- Can you ship without invoice or promotional material in the package? Ship-to country: [country]. Thank you.
Volume pricing
Hello, I may order this item in volume: [product link] Can you share the price for [quantity], the processing time for that quantity, and whether stock can stay stable for repeat orders over the next weeks?
Problem with an order
Hello, about order [order number]: the item arrived [damaged / in the wrong colour / with a missing part]. Photos attached. Can you send a replacement or a refund?
Follow-up (once only)
Hi, following up on my message about [product link / order number]. Could you confirm [the one thing you need]? Thank you.
What dropshippers should ask
- Real stock for the variants you plan to sell
- Processing time (days before shipping), not only shipping time
- Neutral packaging: no invoice, prices or other brands' flyers
- Whether variants stay the same between batches
- Volume pricing and how fast they can restock
What makes sellers ignore you
- No product link and no quantity
- Questions that are too broad ("tell me everything about shipping")
- Questions about six products in one message
- A long story about your brand before the question
- A follow-up one hour after the first message
How to read the reply
The first reply tells you a lot about the supplier.
| Reply | What to do |
|---|---|
| Clear answers to each question | Keep on your shortlist |
| Clear but slow | Fine for small tests, risky for scaling |
| Generic ("yes dear, no problem") with no details | Backup only |
| No reply after one follow-up | Move to another supplier |
Good communication doesn't need perfect English. It needs answers you can act on. If the product page, the message and the shipping settings say different things, ask the seller to confirm in writing in the chat.
What to do when something goes wrong after you buy
- Message the seller from the order details. Say the problem in one sentence and ask for one solution (replacement, refund, updated tracking).
- Add proof early. Photos, screenshots, tracking pages.
- Give a clear deadline in your own plan, and don't wait endlessly.
- Open a dispute from the order details if the problem isn't solved. You can keep talking with the seller while the dispute is open (AliExpress Help Center).
- Check the dates on your order page. The time window to open a dispute depends on the order, so don't rely on a number you read online.
Write the dispute like a report: what happened, what proof is attached, what you want.
Troubleshooting: no contact button
- Reload the page or reopen the app.
- Switch from the app to desktop, or the other way round.
- Open the seller's store page and look for the message option there.
- If you already bought, use the order details.
- Sign out and back in if parts of the page don't load.
If no contact option works anywhere, choose another supplier unless the product is unique.
How to do this with SearchTheTrend
SearchTheTrend doesn't cover AliExpress listings or suppliers. It helps with the step before you message anyone: checking that the product is worth sourcing.
- In Products, search the product to see the stores advertising it on Facebook and Instagram, an estimated monthly revenue range, store visits and market by country.
- Open the product to see all its ads with days running, so you know whether stores keep paying to sell it.
- Check the store price week by week to plan your own price before you ask the supplier for volume pricing.
For the full method, see our guides to product research for dropshipping and private label dropshipping, and the page for dropshippers.
FAQ
How do I message a seller on AliExpress before buying?
Open the product page or the seller's store and use the message option near the store name (it may read Contact seller, Message, or show a chat icon). Paste the product link and ask your questions in one message.
How do I contact a seller about an order?
Go to your orders, open the order details and choose Contact Seller. Keep everything about that order in this thread, so the record is complete if you need to open a dispute.
What if the AliExpress seller doesn't reply?
Send one short follow-up. Before buying, treat silence as a reason to pick another supplier. After buying, add photos and proof in the order thread and open a dispute from the order details if the problem is not solved.
Who do I contact about an AliExpress Choice item?
For Choice items, AliExpress itself handles delivery and after-sales service, according to Alibaba Group. Start from the order page, where you can contact the seller or open a dispute; AliExpress takes on after-sales service for Choice items.
Why is there no contact button on an AliExpress listing?
The page layout may hide it, or the app may not load it. Try the seller's store page, switch from the app to desktop, or, if you already bought, use the order details.