It happened to me on a random Tuesday afternoon.
I was refreshing my tracking page like a kid waiting for Santa — except this Santa was flying in from China, riding international ePacket logistics, and carrying a discounted gadget that I had been eyeing for weeks.
Then, there it was.
In bold letters, staring me down like a lie that knows it can’t be challenged:
“Delivered.”
Except it wasn’t.
Not to my mailbox.
Not to my doorstep.
Not even tossed into the neighbor’s bush like some rogue courier stunt.
Just… “Delivered.” No package. No explanation.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck in the same digital purgatory. You ordered something from AliExpress, waited patiently through the endless shipping updates from obscure carriers, and now you’re looking around wondering if your package entered another dimension.
Let me explain what’s going on — and more importantly, what you can actually do about it.
The Silent Epidemic of False “Delivered” Statuses on AliExpress
At first, I thought it was just me. A glitch. A mistake. Maybe even theft?
But as I dug deeper, through forums, buyer groups, and AliExpress subreddit threads that read like conspiracy exposés, it became painfully clear:
AliExpress has a tracking status problem. A big one.
Over the last year, a surge of users worldwide have reported a disturbing pattern: packages marked as “Delivered” that simply never arrived. No signature. No delivery photo. No trace. Just a ghost delivery followed by an expiration of your buyer protection window.
And the kicker?
AliExpress sellers often lean on that fake “Delivered” status as proof you received the item, denying refunds, denying disputes, and forcing you into a dead end. The funny bit is that they said “Delivered” when the tracking page, as attached, showed “Out for delivery”. What a joke!
But why is this happening?
The Truth Behind the “Delivered” Issue (And It’s Not Always the Seller)
Here’s where it gets messy.
Not all AliExpress sellers are scammers. In fact, many are just as frustrated as we are. The issue often lies between the seller and you, with the third-party logistics companies they use.
AliExpress ships items through a tangled web of postal services, subcontracted couriers, and data-sharing agreements with local postal authorities. Sometimes, the tracking systems mark a package as “Delivered” when:
- It’s only arrived in the country, not your home.
- It was handed to a local carrier, and they never followed through.
- A tracking number was reused from a completely unrelated order (yes, this happens).
- Or worse: the tracking was manually marked “Delivered” to close the logistics loop and avoid penalties or fees on the seller’s end.
It’s a dirty trick. And you’re the casualty.
What You Must Do When AliExpress Says “Delivered” — But It’s Not
Now comes the survival guide.
I’ve been through this multiple times, and I’ve learned exactly how to navigate the system, beat the bots, and protect my money.
1. Screenshot Everything Immediately
Before the tracking status mysteriously “updates” or disappears, grab screenshots:
- Full tracking history
- Order page
- Shipping details
- Seller communication (if any)
2. File a Dispute — Fast
Don’t wait. Once that tracking says “Delivered,” your countdown clock begins. Open a dispute through AliExpress with this in your message:
“Tracking shows delivered but no package was received. No signature, no delivery photo, and nothing in my mailbox. Possible tracking error or misuse. Please investigate.”
Attach your screenshots.
3. Reject the Seller’s Excuses
They may reply with, “Tracking says it’s delivered. Please check with your neighbors or post office.” That’s code for: “We’re hoping you give up.”
Push back. Politely, but firmly. Insist that delivery must be proven. In most countries, the burden of proof lies with the seller.
4. Elevate to Customer Service (If Needed)
If the dispute drags on or is closed unfairly, escalate it. Use the AliExpress app chat or support page to request a review. Explain clearly that you never received the item, and proof of delivery was never provided.
Sometimes this is what it takes to get an actual human involved.
5. Report Patterns
If this happened to you more than once, or to others with the same seller, report the seller. Use the “Report this Store” option. Enough reports can trigger internal reviews.
Will You Get Your Money Back?
Honestly? It depends.
If you act fast, document everything, and escalate when necessary, AliExpress can side with you. I’ve had refunds issued days after explaining the situation clearly and showing that there was no real delivery.
But if you wait too long, or let the dispute close automatically, your money could vanish into the digital ether.
This is why I’ve now made it a policy:
If a package is getting close to the estimated delivery deadline and hasn’t arrived, I open a dispute before it hits “Delivered.” You can always cancel it if the package magically appears. But once that “Delivered” tag sticks, your leverage weakens.
Why This Needs to Stop — And Why I’m Writing This
I never thought I’d write a full article about missing phone cases and budget headphones. But this is bigger than lost packages.
It’s about consumer trust in global platforms. It’s about a system that quietly erodes that trust, one fake tracking update at a time.
AliExpress has the scale and resources to fix this. Whether through stricter penalties for false deliveries, mandatory delivery proof, or better logistics partners, the solutions are there.
Until they act, the burden is on us.
To be vigilant. To speak up.
And to help each other not get scammed by a simple word: “Delivered.”
Because in e-commerce, that one word carries weight.
And sometimes, it’s just a lie.