AliExpress shopper left stunned after receiving a paper picture of a drill instead of the real thing

Sylvester Franklin believed he had purchased amazing tools at a ridiculously low cost. The drill was priced along with the pressure washer for $40 which turned out to be an incredible deal. When his package showed up, it introduced him to one of the most unexpected surprises he had ever experienced through online shopping.

Franklin received two items from his order which included a wrinkled drill picture along with just one screw.

The unanticipated package offered a performance-quality craft which would have made great art.

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The incident: When a deal becomes a dud

(Image via X/ @lorrainemking)

According to the NY Post, Franklin chose AliExpress in November 2024 to place his order from Georgia, expecting to get useful tools for his DIY projects.

A few weeks later, his excitement declined, when the package finally arrived in December. He peeled it open, to be confronted with the world's most exasperating optical illusion: a printed picture of a drill.

He responded to the issue by saying:

“I paid around $40 — all I got given was a picture of the drill and a screw. I was very upset. I contacted them for a refund straight away.”

“I was very upset when I opened the box.”

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The customer service marathon (or lack thereof)

Still holding on to the hope that this was some kind of mix-up, Franklin immediately reached out to AliExpress customer service. Surely, someone would realize how ridiculous this was and get it right. Right? Wrong.

His attempts to secure a refund were met with responses that could not possibly be described as appropriate for customer service.

When AliExpress had nothing much to do in his favor, Franklin went to his bank hoping for a chargeback.

Well, his banking institution was equally unmoved by his plight and he was left with nothing but an expensive lesson in online shopping skepticism.

"They haven't called me back. I am retired. They took advantage of me. They have to pay for what I have done."

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The bigger picture: Online shopping's dark side

The scenario in which Franklin received worthless merchandise belongs to a growing archive of unfortunate online shopping tales.

AliExpress had reportedly received a D-rating from the Better Business Bureau, as a result of similar prior experiences of the customers.

The U.S. Trade Representative added AliExpress to its Notorious Piracy Markets list in 2021 due to suspicion regarding counterfeits and pirated content.

The Consumer Protection Division of Georgia has received numerous complaints regarding packages that go missing or the use of bogus tracking numbers thus demonstrating Franklin's common dilemma.

So, if a deal looks too good to be true, there might be a solid chance it comes with a printed photo instead of an actual product.

It's wise to do your own research. And maybe—just maybe—skip the $40 power tool deal unless you’re actively collecting pictures of drills.