AliExpress review: Scam customer service protecting scam sellers

At one point, I was spending $1,000 per month there, with occasional screw ups and problems, more or less resolved reasonably. About a year ago, I initiated a dispute for a defective item. During the opaque dispute process, it was acknowledged that the item was defective, and the seller was *required* to pay return shipping. The seller refused to pay return shipping, and customer service advised that I *NOT* return the item. The dispute finished, and no refund was issued, because I did not return the item. This was followed by an appeal, and then hours, days, weeks, and months back and forth with “customer service” (ha!) who only wasted my time. Eventually I got a credit-card charge-back, but this is why I refuse to shop there anymore.