So Aliexpress returns are a scam

I know, "duh". I've read a lot of posts saying to never return anything but I did it anyway because the item was completely useless to me. It went like this:

• Messaged a seller with a question about an item. Seller confirms item is like that.
• Item arrives, seller lied. Item useless in this form.
• Seller says to return it back for refund and use "item not as described" as a reason.
• I do start the return procedure and it says "seller pays shipping back", nice.
• I get no label or anything, I message the seller and he says he can't provide one and to contact Aliexpress.
• Aliexpress agent says they can't provide shipping label in my country and to ship it back at my expense and send them the receipt when item arrives.
• I send the item back, it arrives a month later, seller confirms and I get my refund. All that is left is to get my shipping reimbursement back.
• I contact Aliexpress, send them the shipping receipt and agent thanks me and says I will get my refund.
• Next day I get an email from Aliexpress where they concluded shipping back was on ME and they closed the case.
• I contact Aliexpress again, agent says sorry, don't worry send the receipt again and you will get your money.

Never heard from them again.

And still when I check the order, return info says seller is responsible for shipping. Somehow they can bend the rules with no explanation whatsoever. Basically a literal scam.

I am still glad I did it because at least I got half of my money back. Half went to shipping the useless item back. I guess I was lucky that it did actually arrive back in China and that seller accepted it.