I am not sure if AliExpress is ideal for this, at least they don't seem to have anything like the Ebay Global Shipping program which means that one has to deal with customs themselves (which is my big pain point here).
On the other hand, AliExpress has a facility that some of the sellers use: regional stores. For example, if the seller provides an "EU Store" option and a European customer orders from that store, the customer won't have to deal with customs in their (EU) countries because the seller imports the product into one of the EU countries on their own and then ships within the EU directly to the postal address to the customer (no further customs processing within EU borders). Prices are always more expensive in the "EU Store" than in the "China Store" because of the EU customs fees and processing but that is fine since the customer willingly chooses this to avoid customs hassle.
I regularly buy small, cheap electronic components from AliExpress because they go through customs (for value <24 EUR there is no customs processing in the EU) but I only buy more expensive things if the seller provides an "EU Store" since otherwise it is usually easier to find a seller on Ebay with the Global Shipping Program or even Amazon US.
So, Aliexpress is a good solution only if they are willing use regional stores. Ebay GSP sounds easier to me (I don't know about their fees).
On the other hand, AliExpress has a facility that some of the sellers use: regional stores. For example, if the seller provides an "EU Store" option and a European customer orders from that store, the customer won't have to deal with customs in their (EU) countries because the seller imports the product into one of the EU countries on their own and then ships within the EU directly to the postal address to the customer (no further customs processing within EU borders). Prices are always more expensive in the "EU Store" than in the "China Store" because of the EU customs fees and processing but that is fine since the customer willingly chooses this to avoid customs hassle.
I regularly buy small, cheap electronic components from AliExpress because they go through customs (for value <24 EUR there is no customs processing in the EU) but I only buy more expensive things if the seller provides an "EU Store" since otherwise it is usually easier to find a seller on Ebay with the Global Shipping Program or even Amazon US.
So, Aliexpress is a good solution only if they are willing use regional stores. Ebay GSP sounds easier to me (I don't know about their fees).
