Vetting Suppliers on AliExpress vs. CJDropshipping
How to compare suppliers on reliability, delivery time, and communication — and when paying more per unit is the smarter move.
AliExpress: huge selection, variable reliability
AliExpress gives you access to thousands of sellers, often with the lowest unit prices. Quality and shipping times vary wildly between stores selling what looks like the same item.
Filter for stores with 95%+ positive feedback, at least a year of history, and recent reviews with customer photos.
CJDropshipping: sourcing agent built in
CJ can source products on request, offer custom packaging, and fulfil from US or EU warehouses for many items. Unit prices are sometimes higher, but delivery in 3–7 days instead of 10–20 changes how customers perceive your store.
Compare the landed cost (product + shipping) and delivery time side by side — not just the product price.
Your sample checklist
When samples arrive: time how long delivery took, photograph the packaging, test the product for a week, and compare it against listing photos. If anything surprises you, it will surprise customers too.