A Georgia man was left in disbelief after ordering a drill and receiving nothing but a printed photograph of the tool instead. According to a report by the New York Post, Sylvester Franklin, 68, had purchased a drill along with a pressure washer for $40 from the Chinese online marketplace AliExpress in November, believing he had found an unbeatable bargain.
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However, when his package arrived in December, Franklin was stunned to find that instead of the actual drill, the retailer had sent him a folded-up picture of the item along with a single screw.
"I paid around $40 – all I got was a picture of the drill and a screw. I was very upset. I contacted them for a refund straight away," Franklin told the media.
A frustrating battle for a refund
Franklin attempted to reach out to the retailer for a resolution but has so far had no success in securing a refund. Expressing his disappointment, he said, "This is not good. This is real bad. All this is bad, you know what I mean?"
The 68-year-old urged online sellers to act with integrity, stating, "Don't scam nobody. I don't like to get scammed because if you spend your money, you want to get what you paid for."
Social media outrage
{{/usCountry}}The 68-year-old urged online sellers to act with integrity, stating, "Don't scam nobody. I don't like to get scammed because if you spend your money, you want to get what you paid for."
Social media outrage
{{/usCountry}}As the bizarre incident gained traction online, netizens flooded social media with their reactions.
One user sarcastically commented, "At least they sent a screw – maybe they expect him to build the drill himself!"
Another quipped, "AliExpress be like: ‘What more do you want? We sent the full drill… in 2D.’"
Some sympathised with Franklin, with one person writing, "This is why I never buy from these shady online marketplaces. Lesson learned!"
Another frustrated user shared their own experience: "Happened to me once, but I got a picture of a handbag instead. These sellers need to be held accountable."
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Meanwhile, a user joked, "Maybe if he prints out a picture of money, he can get a refund?"
AliExpress’ track record
AliExpress, a subsidiary of Alibaba and often referred to as the "Amazon of China," has long faced criticism over questionable business practices. Despite offering an extensive range of products, the platform has a reputation for unreliable sellers and subpar customer service.
According to the Better Business Bureau, AliExpress holds a D-rating and has failed to respond to over 1,131 consumer complaints, reinforcing concerns about the risks of shopping on the platform.