I had to pay a transaction fee on Alipay because I'm a foreigner. How can I avoid that next time?

Here's how you might be able to avoid them the next time:

• Make Use of Alipay Balance

Your friend can send money straight to your Alipay Balance if they have an Alipay account and a Chinese bank. By doing this, you can avoid the transaction fee that using a foreign credit card frequently entails.
Recall that you should select the "Balance" option on the payment QR code page rather than the credit card that is linked when making payments.

• Use caution when considering the Alipay Tour Card:

Foreigners can top off their Alipay wallets with the Alipay Tour Card, but each top-up comes with a 5% service charge.
In most situations, the Tour Card might not be the most affordable choice when considering the 3% transaction fee that applies to foreign credit card payments exceeding 200 RMB.

Feel free to contribute any further information or insights in the comments or file your complaint.