I was scammed through a Trade Assurance order on Alibaba (Order No. 208830750501020274), and I am extremely disappointed in how the platform handled it.I purchased a used excavator for $14,749, advertised as a 2-year-old Kubota machine. What I received was a machine with a different engine (Caterpillar instead of Kubota), a broken alternator, oil and diesel leaks, and serious internal damage. The screen doesn't even work to check hours of use. The serial number didn’t match, and the machine clearly was not the one shown in the seller’s listing.On top of that, the poor condition of the machine caused over €3,000 in extra shipping and customs costs due to oil contamination of the container. I provided clear photo and video evidence, emails from the shipping company, and a repair estimate. The damage was NOT due to transport — it was pre-existing.Despite all this, Alibaba closed the case and offered me no compensation or partial credit. The seller simply denied all issues and took no responsibility.I’ve used Alibaba for years and never expected such poor buyer protection. This wasn’t a minor technical defect — it was a case of misrepresentation and fraud. The platform failed to enforce its own Trade Assurance terms and sided with a dishonest seller.If you're considering buying high-value equipment through Alibaba, be extremely careful. The dispute system offers little real protection, even with strong evidence. I am now stuck with a machine I can’t use and thousands of euros lost.I’ve filed a complaint with Alibaba’s integrity team and will take legal action if necessary. I expected much better from a company that claims to protect buyers.
