There's a real difference between messaging a seller before you buy and messaging one after something's gone wrong — different goal, different tone, and at a certain point, a different tool entirely.
Before you buy
Look for a chat or message icon on the product listing page, usually near the store name at the top of the page or beside the seller's shop link. This opens a direct chat, good for questions the listing itself doesn't clearly answer — exact measurements, whether a specific variant ships via a faster line, or clearing up a spec that seems inconsistent between the title and the description. Sellers respond better to a specific, answerable question than a vague "is this good quality" — something they can't meaningfully answer either.
After you've received something wrong
Still worth a message first, since a lot of issues are genuine mistakes a seller will happily fix — a wrong variant sent, a missing accessory. Be specific and include a photo. But keep an eye on your buyer protection deadline while you do this (see our buying guide) — messaging shouldn't eat into the window you'd need for a formal dispute if the seller doesn't resolve it.
When to stop messaging and open a dispute
Three signals it's time to stop trying to resolve things by chat: the seller goes silent, they keep stalling without actually fixing anything, or they ask you to do something that undermines your buyer protection — cancelling the order, cancelling an open dispute, or paying more outside the platform (all covered in our seller red flags guide). At that point, continuing to message just burns time against your deadline. Open a dispute instead — see our returns and refunds guide for exactly how.
Frequently asked questions
How do I message a seller before buying on AliExpress?
On the product listing page, look for a chat or message icon near the store name — usually at the top of the page or next to the seller's shop link. This opens a direct chat where you can ask about sizing, variants, or shipping specifics before you commit to an order.
What should I ask an AliExpress seller before buying?
Anything the listing itself doesn't clearly answer: exact measurements for clothing, which shipping line a specific variant qualifies for, or confirmation of a spec that seems inconsistent between the title and description. Avoid asking them to confirm something you could verify yourself from reviews — sellers are more responsive to specific questions than general ones.
When should I stop messaging a seller and open a dispute instead?
If a seller stops responding, gives you the runaround, or asks you to do something that undermines buyer protection — like cancelling an order or a dispute — that's the point to stop messaging and let AliExpress's dispute system take over instead. Continuing to message a seller who isn't engaging in good faith just burns time against your buyer protection deadline.
Worth saying: most conversations with sellers happen because a listing was ambiguous or a seller was marginal. Items with deep review histories rarely need the message button at all — that filter is what our under-$15 finds list is for.
