I found both to be equally safe and reliable for purchases but the process is different. DHGate, unlike AE, has an unlimited purchase protection (i.e. The seller does not set the PP time) but also unlike AE DHG does NOT penalize the crooked sellers as strictly. The complaint process on DHG is also different - if the seller rejects your claim, your complaint is rejected and you have to escalate it in a separate round. Bottom line is that I had several disputes on both (from over 100 purchases) and several AE issues had to be escalated before being resolved. On DHG the seller's will tell you what to put in the refund request and then agree to it.