What Is Alibaba Trade Assurance?
Trade Assurance is Alibaba's payment protection service that holds your payment in escrow until you confirm delivery. If the supplier fails to meet agreed terms, you can file for a refund.
Key points:
- Free service for buyers
- Payment held until you release it
- Covers on-time shipping and product quality disputes
- Maximum coverage varies by supplier
What Trade Assurance Covers
| Protection Type | What's Covered |
|---|---|
| Shipping delay | Refund if goods ship after agreed date |
| Quality issues | Refund if products don't match contract specs |
| Non-delivery | Full refund if goods never arrive |
Coverage limits:
- Each supplier has a maximum coverage amount (shown on their profile)
- Coverage is per order, not per item
- Disputes must be filed within the protection period
What Trade Assurance Doesn't Cover
Trade Assurance has significant limitations:
- Payments outside the platform (bank transfer, PayPal, etc.)
- Quality issues without documented specs in the order
- Claims filed after protection period expires
- Disputes over subjective quality (you need measurable specs)
- Shipping damage after delivery
- Orders below $5,000 may have limited mediation support
How to File a Claim
- Document everything before receiving goods (photos, specs, chat records)
- Inspect upon delivery and photograph any issues immediately
- Open a dispute within the protection window (usually 30-60 days)
- Provide evidence - photos, specs from order, chat agreements
- Wait for mediation - Alibaba reviews and makes a decision
Pro tip: Trade Assurance is a safety net, not a guarantee. For orders over $5,000, consider third-party inspection before shipping - it's more reliable than trying to get refunds after the fact.