How to shop on AliExpress with your Djamo card

AliExpress is the go-to site for bargains, with millions of products at low prices. The site, like Amazon and Alibaba, is hugely popular and lets you buy pretty much anything: clothes, smartphones, jewelry, baby products, home appliances, electronics, decor, makeup - you name it.

Unlike Alibaba, which focuses on wholesale, AliExpress is retail. The best part: you can use your Djamo card on AliExpress and pay with zero fees.

How to create an AliExpress account

Before ordering on AliExpress, create an account. You’ll need to download the AliExpress app - though you can also sign in from a computer. You’ll find the app on Play Store, App Store or App Gallery.

• After downloading the app, follow the instructions to create your account
• Switch the app’s language to French (or English)
• Click one of the sign-up options (Facebook, Email, etc.)
• Fill in your profile info - and your account is set up.

For the best AliExpress experience, use the app - the interface is simple and intuitive.

How to place your first order

AliExpress has millions of products, and it’s not always easy to find the right one or the right seller. Here are some tips.

• In the site’s search bar, type the name of the product you want
• To get the best results, filter by sorting by rating, free shipping/return, or by number of orders, rating, or relevance
• Take time to read the reviews and product details. This helps you gauge the product and feel confident before paying.

In the product info, you’ll see the price, what’s included, delivery time, and refund guarantee.

Discount coupons:

Coupons are one of the reasons shopping on AliExpress is so great. They’re discount vouchers that reduce the price of an item - offered by AliExpress (for new customers, for example) or by sellers themselves.

Using a coupon is easy: at checkout, pick a coupon from the list under “Discount”, or enter a discount code from a seller. These coupons can knock off a few percent - or up to 50% on the most generous ones.

How to chat with a seller

No matter how you searched, you can chat with the seller. During the chat, check on product quality, unit and total price, shipping fees, and parcel tracking through to final delivery. Before contacting the seller, do some research online to see if anyone has complaints about them.

To contact the seller, tap “Message” in the bottom menu of the app or, in your order details, tap “Chat”. You can ask about:

• Whether they offer samples in case you want to order in bulk
• The name of the shipping company
• Delivery time after payment
• Fees you’ll cover that aren’t paid through AliExpress (usually shipping is included in your AliExpress invoice, and you pay customs fees to the Côte d’Ivoire customs office)
• How the shipment will be sent (boat or plane)
• Parcel tracking (make sure you’ll be notified when it leaves the supplier’s country and arrives in Côte d’Ivoire)

How to save Djamo as a payment method

To save your Djamo card as a payment method:

• Go to “Account”
• In “Services”, click “Payment” then “My debit/credit cards”
• You’ll be sent to a payment form - click “Add”
• A payment form will appear asking for the following: the card number on the front, your first and last name as they appear in the “Cards” section of the Djamo app, the expiration date, and the 3-digit security code on the back.

Find a shipping service in Côte d’Ivoire

If you don’t want to deal with shipping headaches, contact a forwarder (Jexport, Easy Delivery, La Poste, DHL, Upela, UPS, etc.) - they’ll track your package and deliver it to your home or office, whether you’re in Abidjan or upcountry. Before paying on AliExpress, talk to a shipping service in Côte d’Ivoire to find out their rates, delivery methods and any other useful details.

On Jexport, you can calculate the shipping cost

On Easy Delivery, here’s how it works:

You simulate a product on their site to see how much shipping will cost.

Shipping terms and fees

Shipments go by boat or plane depending on the type of product. You pick up the package in person at the post office or customs, and pay customs clearance fees to the customs or postal service.

If you use a forwarder, they’ll give you their warehouse address in the supplier’s country (China). Enter that address in your profile. They’ll then handle tracking the shipment all the way to Côte d’Ivoire. In that case, you’ll pay all fees directly through the payment method they give you, and they handle the rest.

Add a shipping address

• Go to “Account”
• In “Services”, click “Delivery address” then “Add a new address”
• You’ll be sent to a form asking for: name, phone number, country, region, district and zip code

Confirm your order

Once you’ve got all the details, double-check item quality and quantity before confirming your order and paying. Here’s how:

• Go to your cart
• Select the products you want to pay for now. AliExpress lets you pay for some or all items in your cart.
• Choose the shipping address you saved earlier
• Choose the payment method you added earlier - your Djamo card
• Review your order details one more time, including delivery cost (as shown in the screenshot).
• Confirm by clicking Pay now

Going through with payment

You absolutely need to top up your card before adding it on AliExpress to avoid rejection fees. Also check the dollar exchange rate and the transaction fees AliExpress charges. After entering your card details, click “Pay now”.

If your card isn’t loaded, the payment will fail. You’ll get a confirmation email, and you can track your order in the app - you’ll be notified when the goods ship and when they arrive in Abidjan.