Aliexpress / Oein Dropshipping Store — Goods returned according to a dispute decision. No money refund & postal fee compensation

Website:

oeindropshipping.aliexpress.com/store/1102247304?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.59.21ef1802EOgDnC

A Hoodies Women Streetwear ordered from OEIN Dropshipping Store at AleExpress.com platform under the number [protected] for the price of € 23, 83 on 22.01.2023 (Invoice no: NL011032023012200022082 from 22.01.2023).
The order was received safely on 14.02.2023, but it didn't match the seller's description.

On 18.02.2023 at 23:18 CET, I opened a dispute at AliExpress.com regarding this.
On 19.02.2023 at 14:07 CET AliExpress confirmed the nonconformity of the product received and, without any negotiation, it made a unilateral decision, - I quote: "Return goods, full refund 23.83 EUR (seller pays the return shipping fee)".
Nevertheless, this solution involves 1) obtaining a return postal address from the seller; 2) agreeing with the seller on the minimum postage costs for the return (in this case € 21, 25); 3) Submitting the shipment track & trace number to AliExpress within next 10 days.

The seller took his time in responding and clearly waited until my time set by AliExpress for the return shipment expires.
AliExpress closed the dispute on 1.3.2023 at 14:07 CET with the following comment: "Your return is closed as you didn't provide the return tracking details timely. You may contact the seller directly to negotiate."

My return shipment was posted on 1.3.2023 at 14:24 CET.
Providing the terms of EU legislation regarding buyer's right to a minimum 2-year legal conformity guarantee from the seller, confirmed by AliExpress/Alibaba Singapore Terms and Conditions for platform transactions by EU/EEA/ UK Consumers, I deemed it nessary to return the goods at any time within this legitimate warranty period.
(This document reads: "Your main EU/EEA/UK statutory rights include, among others, (i) withdrawal rights within 14 days; (ii) minimum 2-year legal conformity guarantee right; and (iii) the right to terminate the contract if the seller fails to deliver the goods within the additional period of time appropriate to the circumstances after the initial delivery term.")

My appeal to AliExpress decision from 01.03.2023 was rejected on 02.03.2023 ("Your appeal request was closed. As per AliExpress policy, you must return the item and fill in the tracking details within the specified time in your request.")

According to track & trace RT[protected]NL information, my return package was delivered against receipt to the seller on 16.03.2023.

Further negotiations with the seller regarding the order refund and postal fees compensation, which lasted until 25.03.2023, did not lead to anything, since he/she constantly pretended hearing about my request for the first time and changed his point of view.

When I tryed to apply for VAT refund on returned goods via AliExpress bot, my request was rejected a few times followed by the unusual message "Sorry, the system was busy. Please try again later, thank you."

So, my total damage now is € 45, 08. And I can't any guarantees that the same won't happen in the future.

Contacting AliExpress and getting any assistance is completely impossible. They do everything they can to avoid contact with customers.
Furthermore, in case of dissatisfaction with AliExpress/Alibaba determination a customer may apply to Hong Kong Arbitration Center (“HKIAC”) for arbitration (AliExpress Transaction Services Agreement for EU consumers, art. 10.3). The only problem is that a minimum fee for such appeal is above 3.000 euro.

So, this is how I understood that the famous AliExpress "buyer protection program" finally turned into a seller/AliExpress protection program.