AliExpress has posted new Terms of Use that take effect on September 26, 2026. For US shoppers, the most noticeable change is not a new delivery promise or return window. It is a much more detailed process for formal disputes that move beyond the normal order-level support system.
The new text requires a written Notice of Dispute with specific account, order and evidence details. It then provides time for AliExpress to review the notice and attempt a resolution before a claim can proceed to arbitration. The update also adds an individual-claims waiver and a small-claims-court exception.
Important: this article is general consumer information, not legal advice. The ordinary Return/refunds process inside an AliExpress order is different from the formal legal-dispute procedure described below.
What changes on September 26?
The previous Terms of Use, effective July 1, 2026, described an amicable consultation followed by arbitration if the dispute remained unresolved after 30 days. The new version replaces that short description with a structured notice-and-resolution process.
| Step | What the new terms say | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Written notice | The claimant must send a formal Notice of Dispute with contact and account information, a detailed description, the requested remedy and relevant order details. | A general complaint may not satisfy the formal process. |
| Order evidence | The notice must include supporting documents. At minimum, the terms request an unedited screenshot or PDF export of the order-detail page generated within the previous 30 days. | Keeping a clean order record becomes especially important. |
| Completeness review | AliExpress has 14 calendar days to review the notice for missing information. A claimant then has 30 days to correct an incomplete notice. | The formal timeline does not fully start until the notice is complete. |
| Resolution period | After acknowledging a complete notice, the parties enter a 60-day good-faith resolution period. | Arbitration is not meant to be the first step. |
| Next forum | An unresolved individual dispute may proceed under the arbitration clause. A qualifying individual claim may instead be brought in small claims court. | The available route depends on the claim and the court's jurisdiction. |
Does the update apply to US shoppers?
Yes, the dispute section names the entities used for United States users. The same Terms of Use state that a US buyer or visitor contracts with AliExpress E-Commerce One Pte. Ltd., while a US seller contracts with AliExpress International (United States) Corporation. Both are included in the updated dispute-resolution language.
The new version continues to use Hong Kong law for those entities and provides for arbitration administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre when the required informal process is completed and no other exception applies.
Class actions and small claims
The September 26 version says disputes must be brought on an individual basis to the maximum extent allowed by applicable law, rather than as class, collective, consolidated or representative proceedings. It separately preserves an exception for an individual case filed in a small claims court that has authority over the amount and subject matter.
The terms also contain a statutory-rights reservation: the dispute provisions are not intended to waive rights that cannot legally be limited. What that means for a specific person or claim can depend on the applicable law, so legal advice may be appropriate for a serious dispute.
This does not replace the normal return process
Most shoppers with a missing, damaged or incorrect item should still begin inside the affected order by using the available Return/refunds option and following its deadline. The formal notice described in the new Terms of Use is a later legal-dispute mechanism, not a new button that every customer must use for an ordinary refund request.
Free Return also remains an order-level program for participating products and eligible buyers. A label on one listing does not prove that every product has the same window, return address or prepaid-shipping option. Our AliExpress returns and refunds guide for US shoppers explains the everyday order workflow in detail.
What should buyers save now?
You do not need to build a legal file for every inexpensive order. For a valuable, fragile or time-sensitive purchase, however, a small evidence folder can prevent confusion later:
- the order-detail page showing the order number, date, product, amount and status;
- the exact listing and selected variant at the time of purchase;
- the delivery estimate, warehouse and protection labels shown before payment;
- the outer shipping label and original packaging;
- clear photos or video of damage, missing parts or a product that differs from the listing;
- carrier tracking and any return drop-off receipt;
- messages and resolutions recorded inside the AliExpress order.
If delivery is the issue, compare the latest scan with the promised window before acting. Our guide to AliExpress shipping, tracking and delays in the US explains what to check first.
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Frequently asked questions
When do the new AliExpress terms take effect?
AliExpress labels the new version as updated August 26, 2026 and effective September 26, 2026. The prior version remains displayed on the same official page for comparison.
Do I need a formal Notice of Dispute to request a refund?
Not for the ordinary order-level process described here. Start with the return or refund options available in the order and meet the displayed deadline. The formal notice applies to the contractual dispute path described in section 12 of the Terms of Use.
What evidence does the formal notice require?
The terms list account and contact information, the disputed transaction, the requested relief, order numbers or dates, supporting documents and a signed personal declaration. They specifically name a recent unedited screenshot or PDF export of the order-detail page as minimum documentary evidence.
Can a US shopper still use small claims court?
The new terms include an exception for an individual claim that fits a small claims court's monetary and subject-matter jurisdiction. They do not turn a coordinated or class filing into a small-claims case.
Bottom line
The September 26 update makes AliExpress's formal dispute process more specific and more document-heavy. The practical lesson for US buyers is simple: keep the exact order page, listing, tracking and evidence for purchases where a dispute would matter. For ordinary problems, use the order's return or refund workflow first and do not let its deadline expire while waiting on an informal promise.
Sources reviewed
- AliExpress.com Terms of Use, new version effective September 26, 2026 and old version effective July 1, 2026.
- AliExpress Free Return Terms and Conditions, reviewed to distinguish the order-level return service from the formal legal-dispute process.
Information checked September 15, 2026. AliExpress may update its terms, services and order-level conditions after publication.