Absolute Nightmare – No Real Tracking, Endless Delays, and Insulting Customer Service!
I placed an order for a generator from seller Eva Chen-NPC Ltd, on May 20, 2025, paying in full upfront (I was nice to her since she asked if I did it would help her greatly with her job). I asked the seller nicely to see about getting it done sooner so we have time to set it up long before winter settles in but-waiting for engine-to then not shipping immediately after built when I was told 10-20 days to do so, thus making me wait to the very last minute!! to ship it! What followed was months of frustration, lies, and incompetence that has left me questioning if Alibaba is just a platform for scams. The seller dragged their feet with excuses about waiting for parts, then marked it "shipped" around their deadline -not the one I was told-without any proof. Despite dozens of requests, they refused to provide basic details like the Bill of Lading (BOL), container number, vessel IMO, or real tracking info-only a vessel name. They gave vague assurances like "don't worry" and "mid-August delivery," but nothing verifiable. I even had to verify the vessel name myself on VesselFinder because they couldn't be bothered! Alibaba's "support" was even worse – generic, copy-paste emails telling me to "check the shipping details" (which are empty) or "contact the seller" (done endlessly). Chat reps stalled with insults to my intelligence, looping advice while ignoring my escalations. Emails from July 16, 17, and 22 went unanswered for days! They claim Trade Assurance protects buyers, but when sellers violate rules (no on-time shipment proof, potential address misrouting from Oregon to my remote Wisconsin spot), Alibaba does nothing but suggest extending time or refunds as a "last resort." Living in a rural area ( WI), I needed advance details to arrange heavy machinery for unloading – without them, delivery could fail, costing me more in fees or rentals than the generator itself. This unnecessary stress has been outrageous, and I've demanded compensation (at least 10% of order value), but crickets. Avoid Alibaba if you value your time, money, or sanity – it's full of unreliable sellers and a platform that sides with them. I'm opening a dispute for a full refund + compensation, and warning everyone: Shop elsewhere! By the way, on the live Chat with Alibaba, if the agent delays on responding after 120 seconds, you will get cut off and you will need to start over, another waste of customer's precious time!