Sylvester Franklin, a 68-year-old man from Georgia, was left perplexed after ordering a drill and a pressure washer from the Chinese online marketplace AliExpress, only to receive a printed photo of the drill instead of the actual product.

Franklin placed his $40 order in November, thinking he had scored a good deal.

However, upon receiving the package in December, he was taken aback to find it contained merely a picture of the drill along with a screw.

He quickly reached out to the retailer for a refund but reported experiencing little to no effective communication or resolution.

The incident has gained traction on social media, with many either sharing similar encounters or ridiculing him for placing trust in a questionable platform.

AliExpress, a part of Alibaba, often faces criticism for the dubious practices of some of its third-party vendors.

The platform, which serves a vast global audience, has attracted numerous complaints concerning substandard products and scams.

The Better Business Bureau has awarded AliExpress a D-rating due to 1,131 unresolved grievances.

In spite of its extensive inventory, AliExpress remains a focal point of controversy regarding consumer complaints about product quality and shipping problems.