AliExpress is a popular online market place where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods. It is known to promote a large variety of goods for sale. From baby items, cosmetics, home furniture to gadgets. Any kind of product can be bought from this online platform at a very cheap price.
It is popular in Nigeria as lots of its citizens purchase items from AliExpress. However, paying for your purchases can be a little tricky if you’re not familiar with the process, especially with the laws of paying in foreign currencies with your local bank account. Many people wonder how they can pay on AliExpress from Nigeria and today we will be revealing to you the means to do that.
Before we discuss the mode of payment on AliExpress, let us first discuss a bit about the company for those who know nothing about it.
What Is AliExpress
AliExpress is an online retail company that connects buyers and sellers. It is based in China and was launched in 2010 by Alibaba Group. This online shop offers different variety of products to international buyers.
Due to its versatility, lots of its sellers feature their products on the site from all over the world. It uses its website to connect buyers to sellers. Buyers just need to select any product of their choice and they can purchase it on the site.
One way for buyers to purchase this items featured is by clicking on the preferred item and adding it to their cart. Once these items are selected and paid for, sellers will have to waybill these items to buyer’s location. Buyers are charged fee for this waybill and sometimes some sellers offer free delivery promo to their buyers.
AliExpress offers different means of payment for goods bought on their site. This is because they have customers from different parts of the world and try to make payment easy for them. The transaction means on their site is easy making it a preferred platform to shop online.
One reason why people from different parts of the world prefer to shop on AliExpress is because most of the goods sold there are very cheap. Buyers can get a large variety of products for a very cheap price. There is also security when transacting on their platform, making sure customers are not scammed or their information hacked.
AliExpress is the 10th most popular website in Brazil. It is the most visited e-commerce website in Russia and the largest B2C E-commerce markets in Nigeria and South Africa.
How To Make Payment On AliExpress From Nigeria
AliExpress offers a large range of payment method for its customers. But for Nigeria some of this payment method might not be applicable, this is due to CBN’s policy on cash transfer. Below are the acceptable payment method you can use on AliExpress as a Nigerian.
PSTNET
This is a modern service providing international virtual cards for global purchases of goods, services, and advertising campaigns. Cards in USD and EUR, with swift account setup. The first card requires no documentation (verification needed for subsequent cards and expenditure limits).
PSTNET has Low top-up fees starting at 2%. Funding options include USDT TRC-20/BTC cryptocurrencies, Swift/Sepa bank transfers, Visa/Mastercard bank cards. 3DS secure cards available for safe transactions. With BINs from 25+ US and European banks, payment rejection risks are minimal. These cards are accepted for payments on platforms like AliExpress, Ebay, Steam, Spotify, Netflix, Patreon, Unity 3D, Google Store, Apple Store, Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Epic Games Store, and more.
1. Visa and Mastercard Debit Cards
Nigerians can make use of their Naira visa and Mastercard to pay on AliExpress. However due to CBN’s regulation card holders cannot spend more than $20 in a month with their naira card. This means you cannot make a purchase of more than $20 in a month on the platform.
If you have made a purchase of $20 or below you can pay by simply selecting the “credit or debit card” option at checkout, enter your naira card details, and follow the on-screen instructions. It is however important to note that some Nigerian banks may block international transactions by default, so you may need to contact your bank to enable international transactions on your card.
However this payment option is no longer possible for most naira card users in Nigeria as CBN has blocked the option of using your naira card to pay for goods and services bought with foreign currencies. Therefore you might want to consider the other options below.
2. Dollar Card
The use of the dollar card is the easiest means a Nigerian can pay for products on AliExpress. This is because there is no restriction on the dollar card therefore you can purchase as much as you like. If you have a domiciliary account with your bank you should apply for a dollar card.
Once you have the card you can make payment by selecting the credit or debit card option at checkout and enter your card details. Then click on “Pay Now” a prompt will be shown on your screen which you should follow to complete the payment.
3. Bank Transfer
This is another payment method that is available to Nigerians on AliExpress. To make use of this payment method all you have to do is select the item you want to purchase, click on check out and select bank transfer as your means of payment.
You will be required to generate an invoice, you should follow the instruction on how to generate it. Once this is done you can proceed to your bank to make the payment using the invoice details generated.
After you have made the payment you can continue the transaction by confirming your payment in the AliExpress check out portal. Once this is confirmed your payment will be accepted and your goods waybill to you.
4. Payoneer
Payoneer is another popular payment solution that allows you to receive and withdraw payments from global marketplaces like AliExpress. To use Payoneer, you will need to sign up for an account and link your Payoneer account to your AliExpress account.
Once linked, you can use Payoneer to pay for your purchases on AliExpress. Note that Payoneer may charge fees for transactions and currency conversions.
5. Virtual Dollar Card
Making use of a virtual dollar card is another way you can pay for your goods on AliExpress. A virtual dollar card is a type of prepaid card that can be used to make online payments. In order for you to be able to use this card you will have to create it and this can be done from platform like Chipper cash and others .
Once you have created this virtual card you can easily use it to purchase your good from AliExpress. The thing to note about this card is that you will have to load the card with money before you can make use of it. In order to load the card you will have to transfer naira into the account which will be converted to dollar using exchange rate.
In most cases the exchange rate is usually high therefore expect much charges. But if you have dollar in your domiciliary account, you can easily use it to load the card.
What Currency Can I Use To Make Payment On AliExpress?
AliExpress is a foreign online company and therefore their products are listed in dollars for Nigerian users. Although you can get to see the products in naira since you are in Nigeria but you will be charged the dollar equivalent when you are making payment.
Buyers can use their naira card and transfer option to pay for their AliExpress product but they will be charged the dollar equivalent. This charge is determined by their bank’s exchange rate.
Security Measures To Note When Using AliExpress
If you are making payment on AliExpress, it is important to consider security. Here are a few security tips you should carry out.
1. Use a Secure Internet Connection
When making payments online, always use a secure internet connection. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks, as they may not be secure and could be intercepted by hackers.
2. Check The seller’s Review
Before making a purchase, check the seller’s reputation on AliExpress. Look for sellers with high ratings and positive reviews from other customers.
3. Use a Secure Payment Method
Choose a secure payment method like debit card or Payoneer to ensure that your payment details are protected.
4. Keep your Personal Information Secure
Make sure you never share your personal information, like your password or debit card details, with anyone. AliExpress will never ask you to share this information via email or over the phone.
Carrying out purchase can be easy once you know how to pay on AliExpress from Nigeria. It is important to choose a secure payment method and take precautions to protect your personal information. Also remember to shop wisely.