Aliexpress is a fantastic platform for beginners to start dropshipping since it’s accessible to test-winning products it’s simple to use. In addition, it has a large number of products and vendors, and it processes orders quickly. However, when it comes to growing your business, Aliexpress does not appear to be the best option; this will be detailed later in this article.
What does CJDropshipping offer as an Aliexpress competitor? This essay will compare Aliexpress and CJ Dropshipping in terms of products, services, shipping, and other factors. Then, to have a thorough understanding of these two drop shipping services, you can determine whether to go with one of them based on your demands.
Fundamental Difference
There are many distinctions between Aliexpress and CJDropshipping, but the fundamental difference between the two platforms is the source of most of these discrepancies.
Aliexpress is an international retail platform where suppliers may create a store and sell to buyers worldwide. Because the majority of the vendors and products are from China, they have a price advantage. Aliexpress is not involved in the fulfillment of the orders because other suppliers process them.
CJDropshipping is a product sourcing, order processing, and shipping fulfillment platform. Dropshippers list or connect products on CJ to their stores, and CJ then draws orders from their stores and takes care of them, similar to Aliexpress and Oberlo. In addition, warehouse services, photo/video services, POD, COD, affiliate and API support, and other similar services are all accessible. It is a one-stop service platform that offers all dropshipping-related services.
Product Listing
On Aliexpress, there are almost 2.5 billion product listings, but CJ has only about 215,000, significantly below Aliexpress. Why are the figures so different? According to Aliexpress’s annual report for 2019, there are more than 8.7 million vendors on the platform, and all of the products are listed and maintained by the sellers. On the other hand, the effects on CJ are all posted by the CJ team; they have limited employees, so they have to pick trendy things to publish and source products based on user demands.
Aliexpress has a significant advantage over CJ Dropshipping in this regard, so Aliexpress is unquestionably a fantastic platform for finding winning products and placing test orders at the start of your business.
However, once you’ve discovered a successful product and want to expand, Aliexpress is no longer the best option. Many e-Commerce entrepreneurs started with Aliexpress and then moved on to CJ Dropshipping as their business grew.
There are various causes for this, which will be discussed more in this article.
CJ creates a sourcing service for users to post sourcing requests once they have winning products to compensate for the weakness of product listing. In addition, CJ is developing a supplier program, which implies that suppliers will soon list their items on CJ. As more suppliers join, CJ’s product listings may become competitive with Aliexpress.
Easiness of using the system
Aliexpress has a simple structure because it is primarily a platform for users to find and purchase things. It’s as if you set up an account on Amazon or eBay and start shopping. As a result, getting started on Aliexpress is quite simple.
On the other hand, CJ’s system is far more complex, as it integrates the operations of Aliexpress and Oberlo and goes beyond what they can achieve.
However, you can save time and energy once you’ve put the features you need in place. They’ve created a lesson video for each part to make things easier for new users (here). CJ will also rebuild its system to make it more user-friendly.
Cost of purchasing product
There is no setup or monthly cost with Aliexpress or CJDropshipping. However, for the identical item, the pricing on CJ is frequently lower than on Aliexpress. Why is CJ able to offer lower pricing than the competition? Because the majority of Aliexpress stores are run by individuals, couples, or brothers who lack access to a primary supply of merchandise. Those producers can offer the most competitive pricing, but only to retail or native people or to sellers on Alibaba, a popular B2B site. As a result, Aliexpress sellers must purchase goods from manufacturers or dealers to earn from arbitrage. They must also pay the annual fee, the showcase charge, and the cost of advertising on Aliexpress if they want their products or store to be noticed by more people. All of these variables raise the price of things on Aliexpress.
Unlike Aliexpress, CJDropshipping is handled entirely by the CJ team, from platform maintenance through product delivery. They oversee every aspect of the operation to reduce costs. As a result, they can offer customers a more competitive price.
Shipping time & costs
One of the most significant aspects of dropshipping is shipping, which is a critical issue that can make or destroy your business.
The shipping prices shown on Aliexpress are frequently substantially lower than those shown on CJ Dropshipping, and some even offer free shipping. The shipping cost is included in the product price, which is another reason why Aliexpress consistently outperforms CJ Dropshipping in terms of pricing. By comparing the delivery costs between the two platforms for the same knife sharpener. The charges of the first two carriers are more minor than the CJ packet, which is CJ’s best shipping option. However, if you look at the expected arrival time, you’ll notice that it could take more than a month, whereas CJ packets take 6-15 days.
Thus, when it comes to speedier delivery, the fees are significantly more than on CJ.
Parcels That customers Received
In general, you will not sell a single thing in your store. The majority of dropshippers target a specific niche and sell tens to hundreds of products. What happens if a customer purchases at your store and orders three things, all of which are from three different Aliexpress vendors? Your consumers will receive three packages, each arriving at an additional time. Your customer may be dissatisfied if they place a single bulk order, but the products come in multiple shipments and on different dates. They’ll file a challenge as soon as they receive the initial order since they may believe it’s been shortened.
On the other hand, CJ aggregates orders for you and packs multiple items into a single package. It will save you time, money on delivery and make your customers happy. In addition, you won’t have to contact many suppliers if you have an issue with an order because CJ is the only after-sale party you’ll have to deal with.
Furthermore, CJ may create bespoke packages for you by having your orders packed in a one-of-a-kind package with your logo, image, or text printed on it. You can also write a sentence or a desire for your buyer in the mailbag, which will set you apart from other suppliers. This is an excellent method to make a lasting impression on your clients. And there is no MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) for this service; CJ can perform it for you on any order.
Payment Methods
When you check out on CJ, you’ll see eight different payment options covering more than 200 countries. In addition, for authorized consumers, CJ now offers COD (Cash on Delivery).
Because you are paying directly to sellers on Aliexpress, payment options vary from store to store. Many don’t accept PayPal, which is increasingly a popular payment method in Western countries.
When you place a large number of orders, Aliexpress may reject your payment for security reasons or a system error. There’s no need to go into detail about how much this can annoy you, bring your business to a halt, and result in refund claims from angry consumers.
Product Details
Aliexpress, without a doubt, performed a lot better job of enriching the product details. This is because CJ has a restricted number of employees who can add to the product data. However, if clients want it, CJ will provide more details to certain things. To make up for the shortfall, CJ offers another service: video and photo photography. You can make a request for one-of-a-kind movies or images for your product, which could help you stand out from the competition.
Warehouses
Most Aliexpress vendors do not have warehouses and store their products in their homes, resulting in low inventory. Some large suppliers may have warehouses, but they are insignificant in comparison.
CJ Dropshipping has two warehouses in China, two in the United States, one in Thailand, one in Germany, and one in Indonesia. In addition, warehouses are about to open in the United Kingdom and France.
Consider a US warehouse: if you purchase a product from one, it may be delivered to your consumer within 2-5 days using USPS+. You can also acquire private inventory to our warehouse if you have winning products in hand, which implies faster processing time and a guaranteed list, as well as no storage fees.
Final words
Aliexpress and CJ Dropshipping each have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to running a business, it’s critical to make informed judgments, especially when it comes to platform selection if you want to grow up in the long run. The good news is that both integrate seamlessly with Shopify and make it simple for merchants to launch a successful dropshipping business.
