AliExpress US$1.99 Deals Not Available?

CheapAzChips on 27/11/2023 - 22:57
Last edited 27/11/2023 - 23:07 by 1 other user

I must have missed something here, but I cannot work out why AliExpress continues to advertise the "Pick three for $1.99" deals (like this) to me but each time I try and add an item I get the message "Sorry, this item's currently unavailable in your location". This is using the website, not the app. I've tried many times with many different products, tried changing the shipping address, but nothing will let me get through to the checkout with the items still intact.

Does anyone else have this issue? Do you have to use the app for it to work?

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  Nil Einne on 29/11/2023 - 22:28

  I've used both the Android app and website for the $1.99 deals recently without issue. The items I've ordered have been USB-C cables and NVMe to PCIe adapters and a USB-C to 3.5mm, a car charger and a mount for phones for the car in two separate orders both shipped to Auckland.

  Have you used your account to order anything before? Are you using a VPN? Have you done anything which might have made AliExpress restrict your account e.g. use an Android emulator, done the new user deals multiple times?

  In any case, using the app in a non emulator may help, as I know it's helped me before in cases were AliExpress has restricted me for 'security' reasons. I would not try in an emulator, it may just make things worse

  How are you accessing the deals? I think the URL should be something like https://www.aliexpress.com/gcp/300000512/nnmixupdatev3

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    Nil Einne on 29/11/2023 - 23:18

    Other suggestions make sure you're logged in completely before you open the $1.99 order system. By completely I mean you should be able to check your order history etc.

    Also you are using the $1.99 system right? This has its own 'cart' of sorts etc you can add items to. Dunno the limit but you can only buy 10 at once so if you add more it says you need to remove items. Items in your $1.99 cart don't show up in your main cart etc. You need to check out from within the $1.99 system, and need to add the 3 minimum before it lets you check out.

    While it's possible to share $1.99 items, I don't think you can use the $1.99 system this way. The only thing you can do is open the items and hope they then start to appear in your $1.99 items.

    AFAIK, it's not possible to use the $1.99 system in any other way. You cannot combine $1.99 orders with other orders or anything like that. (In theory AliExpress doesn't care if your orders are separate, they may still combine them if they're sent at about the same time. But I think they possibly never do that for the $1.99.)

    • 

      CheapAzChips on 29/11/2023 - 23:38

      Other suggestions make sure you're logged in completely before you open the $1.99 order system.

      Yep, completely logged in, I can click to see my orders, but I can't add any of the deal items on the $1.99 page.

      Also you are using the $1.99 system right? This has its own 'cart' of sorts etc you can add items to.

      I know you're just making sure, but yes, I'm definitely on the right page. I tried clicking the link you have above, same deal.

      Even if it only let me add some items but not others that would make more sense. I think my next move is to try creating another account and see if that helps. Thanks again for trying to help out, it's really appreciated.

  • 

    CheapAzChips on 29/11/2023 - 23:33

    Thanks for trying to help. It's the weirdest thing.

    Have you used your account to order anything before?

    Plenty of times, going back probably 10 years now. But I've never been able to do one of these since they started appearing.

    Are you using a VPN?

    Nope, just stock Chrome browser on Android, as I've done many times with the rest of their site.

    Have you done anything which might have made AliExpress restrict your account e.g. use an Android emulator, done the new user deals multiple times?

    Nope, never. Always played by the rules.

    How are you accessing the deals? I think the URL should be something like https://www.aliexpress.com/gcp/300000512/nnmixupdatev3

    Yep, that's the one. No luck.

    • 

      Nil Einne on 30/11/2023 - 08:03

      Looking a bit it seems ad blockers can also cause problems, so if you have a Pi hole or anything turn that off.

      I would try the app if it still doesn't work.

      if it still doesn't work or you're not willing to use the app, the only thing I can think of is trying a different browser and a different connection. If your using your home Wifi, try mobile data if you have that; or vice versa. If you don't have mobile data or home Wifi, you could try Wifi somewhere else if you're willing e.g. the library, McDonald's or Pak'nSave.

      I should note I've only ever used desktop browsers never mobile ones for the $1.99. (Or AliExpress at all for a long time.) I would also try a desktop browser if possible even if it's the same connection.

      • 

        ace310 on 30/11/2023 - 09:16

        All good & valid things to try.

        Just tested this on browser and it works for me. Also, I have pihole and no issues either, unless he has blacklisted aliexpress.

        Secondly, try clearing your browser cache or use private window. I thing I know might trigger this is the payment profile. Do you have a default payment method set & it's not expired? I believe this deals are considered as fast checkout or 1-click payment type so if no payment method (credit card not saved) it might trigger this.

      • 

        CheapAzChips on 30/11/2023 - 11:22

        Yeah, I do use ad blockers, so I'll give that a try. Thanks.

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  ace310 on 30/11/2023 - 06:59

  Why not try the app? I have ordered a nvme heatsink, nvme pcie dual adapter and a pendrive recently without issues.

  • 

    CheapAzChips on 30/11/2023 - 11:23

    Thanks, I'd rather not install the app if i can avoid it.

    • 

      Alan6984 on 30/11/2023 - 12:43

      Totally agree - I pretty much never install random apps from third parties - I need my phone to be secure and trustworthy (I have my banking app installed so that alone means not taking any unnecessary risks), so I have to limit my risk to big apps that are really truly important to me.

      Also, pretty crappy for a business to have an app, but not a functional website - it smacks of lacking in technical chops, which just makes me even less inclined to risk their app.

      Each to their own of course :-)

      • 

        Nil Einne on 30/11/2023 - 22:58

        I don't like everyone trying to force you to use their app but more because I don't want 50 millions apps.

        If this is Android we're talking about, you could install it in the guest account, or another user account and either way delete the account once your done with it. In theory stuff on the guest account could break into your main account with bugs, but IMO if you're worried about that level you really should consider if your threat model is correct. I think there's a fair chance the browser running on your main account is more likely to be compromised. And potentially some of the apps you did decide to trust especially if any of these apps have ads. There's also the question of how often your phone receives security updates since frankly unless you're using a Pixel the situation often isn't that good even with current flagships.

        In this case since it works for me I don't think it's a problem with their website per se. It could be only on mobile browsers but I suspect that isn't the case either. Frankly I find their app buggier than their website at times.

        However as I mentioned above, from my experience AliExpress does use the app as a security measure. Since it's harder for you to just fake everything with the app, and it's easier for them to detect if you're trying unless you put in a lot of efforts, if your account has been limited they can force you to use the app. To be fair, when they do so the message is normally clearer so I don't think it's so simple but I'd imagine it's still possible something in the OP's config AliExpress doesn't like that the app will bypass. It's sort of a tradeof, they require you to meet certain requirements if you want their best deals etc.

        In fact in the past they used to require you to use the app for certain deals and gave like a 1% extra discount on some listings when using the app. I think this applied to the $1.99 in the past but I could be remembering wrong. IIRC they also provided coupons for installing the app at one stage, Amazon also did in the past.

        Even now there's still some limited stuff, e.g. some of their games are only available on the app. Unless you like the games, the reward/time tradeoff on these in the developed world and frankly I think even for many in the developing world aren't worth it, still they're one example.

        I'm fairly sure these app only limitations and deals aren't because of incompetence in their web development team but intentional marketing decisions. They're more because AliExpress can try and send notifications and also find people using the app are more likely to make impulse buys or at least spend more.

        While it might not be mobile limited now, the $1.99 deal thing definitely still seems to be targeting impulse buyers who might get stuff they may not really need or wouldn't have bought otherwise. I mean while you can view the item details the system is sort of designed for you to just add items without looking into that. I'm fairly sure the inability to search and way it randomly shows you stuff they offer based on your history isn't because their website team couldn't figure out how to do it properly but rather they don't want you searching and instead just buying stuff they show you.

        P.S. Although I do find some weird display stuff with their app especially on tablets hence my comment on the app being more buggy, I remember now that for the $1.99 deals their web portion is somewhat buggy at least on my desktop Firefox. The item type selection is hidden by a scroll bar so can't really see the labels. That's definitely just poor design I'm sure.

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  CheapAzChips on 30/11/2023 - 23:46

  Ok, thanks @Nil Einne and @ace310, I found out what the issue was:

  I tried adding items tonight from an Incognito window and rather than signing in I began signing up again. On the sign in box there is a Location dropdown which defaulted to United States. I chose New Zealand, but as soon as I did I got this popup:

  Your current IP address is United States but you registered your account in New Zealand. Do you want to change your registration location to United States?

  I'm definitely not using a VPN so I think it's a janky Chinese IP geolocation lookup - I'm on Starlink, so it's not completely surprising that they're a few years behind with the correct geolocation for Starlink IP addresses (which all used to be assigned to locations in the US). Anyway, it seems I've only ever tried this at home - as soon as I tried on my phone on 4G it worked fine.