Did you know you could shop from Aliexpress in Kenya? Alibaba is the biggest online shop in the world seconded by Amazon. It is known for connecting buyers to sellers and the vice versa. As such, buyers are able to negotiate deals with suppliers and make a favourable purchase.
Alibaba and Aliexpress are sister companies which are all virtual marketplaces. However, their difference is that Alibaba sells things on wholesale to buyers while Aliexpress is a retail marketplace similar to the renowned Amazon or Jumia.
If you have ever shopped from Jumia or KiliMall, you should not have any problem using Aliexpress since they are similar. However, Aliexpress has a customer base of millions of people around the world. It is also more stocked than the local Jumia and KiliMall online shops. For that reason, some people may find themselves purchasing items from Aliexpress since they are unavailable on Jumia.
Why Choose Aliexpress over Jumia or KiliMall?
The main advantage is that Aliexpress has a wide range of products going at a cheaper price compared to Kenyan online shops.
How to shop on Aliexpress in Kenya
Here is how to shop on Aliexpress while in Kenya:
12 March 2019 UPDATE: You can now shop and pay using M-Pesa on AliExpress
- Visit the online shop and create an account with them. It is a simple process
- Ensure that you include your shipping Address. E.g (Kenya, Nairobi, Roysambu, Lumumba-drive) Make your location as discreet as possible.
- Like on other sites, navigate to look for products you like. Also, take time to look at the reviews of the product. The last thing you want is a disappointment.
- Double check to ensure you have selected the right products (Color, size, model, version)
- Place the order
- Pay for your product
- Like Jumia does for shipped products, Aliexpress will email you a tracking Link that will show you where your product is until it is delivered to you.
How to import, ship from Aliexpress in Kenya
You could choose between Postal Address and DHL but DHL is by far the best option. If you chose Postal address, keep in mind that customs duty and handling fees will be on you.
TAKE NOTE: The delivery using posta may take from 20 days to 2 months to arrive. The longer the delivery time the cheaper the fee.
DHL takes about 4 to days to deliver but clearance at JKIA may take another 3 days. With DHL you must pay tax no matter how small your items are but with Posta, you may not pay any tax for small packages.
Paying for purchases from Aliexpress in Kenya
Aliexpress in Kenya offers a rather straightforward mode of payment for good purchased by international buyers. For Kenyan buyers, the following methods are most applicable.
- Visa
- Master Card
- Western Union
- Bank Transfer
- M-PESA
How to avoid losing your money to scams at Aliexpress
Aliexpress is a Chinese shop and over the years, there have been issues with fake products being sold on Alibaba and Aliexpress hence the cheap prices. Counterfeit goods are not illegal in China, unlike other countries where counterfeiting is a crime.
As such, it is important to go through the reviews on the product you want to buy. Good reviews show that people are pleased with the product while bad reviews will tell you the product is unreliable.
Read also: How to Shop on Amazon from Kenya
It best next to Amazon or Jumia.
But it takes long time to deliver and also your method of delivery is not convement .People do not like to up anddown to take an order .please tey to improve your sevice i door to doorto your cliant.
Thank your for your understanding
Assefa A.
From Nairobi
will i have to go toDHL offices to pick or they will bring it to me?
Hi Urban Kenya, If i use posta to buy something like a pair of shoes will i be changed any tax? TIA