As Shein continues to skyrocket in popularity, people are curious if it’s a legit site due to its super cheap prices. If you’re looking to snag yourself some new clothes, but aren’t sure if Shein can be trusted, keep reading for everything you need to know about this fast apparel company.

Let’s get right to it, yes, Shein is a legitimate business and website.

They employ nearly 10,000 employees worldwide and sell to over 150 countries.

While the company started with humble beginnings in 2012, it is now considered the largest online-only fashion company in the world, having earned an estimated $10 billion in revenue in 2020.

Shein Is Located In China

While Shein’s head office is located in China, they have several factories worldwide and countless relationships with external manufacturers and suppliers.

PRO TIP: BEWARE OF SCAMS

There is a $750 Shein reward scam going around on Instagram and TikTok. They target shoppers by offering a $750 shopping credit with Shein…it is a SCAM.

Never click on an email or advertisement claiming this “reward” as it is NOT affiliated with Shein and simply trying to gain access to your personal information.

When I asked my 17 year old daughter about this scam, she knew all about it and has seen it posted on social media multiple times.

This leads me to believe that your teenager has probably also seen it, so it might be smart to talk to them if they’re big Shein shoppers and give them a heads-up.

See Also: 15 Smart Ways to Save BIG Bucks at American Eagle

The Clothing Quality Is What You Would Expect

You’re buying cheap, fast fashion, and the overall quality is going to be crap, way worse than mall stores like Old Navy.

With that said, it’s helpful to look at each item’s reviews to better understand the quality of each item as the picture does not always reflect what’s received.

Because the quality of Shein clothing is a bit questionable, it’s smart to think about EXACTLY what you’re buying from them.

In other words, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy the foundation pieces of your wardrobe at Shein because you’ll be replacing them fairly quickly.

Instead, think of Shein clothing as a good place to buy trendy clothing that might only last a season, which is fine because it’ll probably be out of style next year anyways.

See Also: 13 Brilliant Old Navy Shopping Hacks That’ll Save You Money

Delivery Is As Slow as Molasses in Wintertime

Expect 1-3 weeks for delivery to the United States.

This depends on a number of factors such as shipping method and where the buyer is located.

It’s also common to receive items from a single order on different days given that different stock is kept at various warehouses.

Their Return Policy is 30 Days

Surprisingly enough, Shein has a straightforward return policy of 30 days from date of delivery.

If you return clothing items from a single order in one package, the return is free of charge.

All you have to do is note the items you’re returning, print the return label and ship it.

It’s important to note that Shein does NOT accept returns for the following items:

– Bodysuits

– Lingerie

– Jewelry

– Beauty items

– Party supplies

– DIY supplies

– Pet products

– Cosmetics (if the hygiene seal is broken)

– Items marked non-returnable

If you’re having trouble making a return at Shein, check out our detailed article on their return policy.

Be sure to check out the comments as well as MANY return questions get answered by our readers.

PRO TIP: SHEIN RETURNS NOW AVAILABLE AT FOREVER 21

All return in the contiguous U.S. can now be taken to any Forever 21 store and they’ll process your return within 30 days of your delivery date.

They promise a 24 hour turnaround for processing your approved items.

See Also: 8 Highly Clever Tricks to Save Money at Athleta

The BIG Question…Does Shein Use Child Labor?

While Shein has been accused of using child labor, they vehemently deny this claim.

It has, however, been found that some of Shein supplier’s workers have been forced to work 75-hour weeks by Swiss advocacy group, Public Eye.

Given that they are a poster child for what’s known as “fast fashion”, they have faced scrutiny over their supply chains and worker conditions.

Shein is not BBB accredited in the least.

This leads some shoppers to believe they might not be a legitimate company.

But they are legit, just not based in the U.S., so they have no need to seek accreditation.

Shein Reviews Are Mixed As You Would Expect

They currently have a Trustpilot rating of 4.1/5 stars (based on 265,260 reviews).

While some people have had success with clothing from Shein, others have not.

While not officially BBB Accredited, the BBB has issued an official alert noting that Shein is taking orders and processing payment but not delivering the merchandise or providing refunds.

If you’re not sure what to expect when placing an order, here are a few reviews taken from Trustpilot for reference:

“I love SHEIN. I’ve never had a problem with my order and the price is fantastic” – Charlotte Steadman

“Honestly I like Shein for very convenient shopping but the quality of the products are not 100% satisfying.” – Mary Joy

“I made an order and received the wrong items. I was told I had to send back the incorrect items before they would re-ship the items I originally ordered. I also paid for express delivery and have not even been offered a refund for my inconvenience. I will not be using them again.” – Rebecca Patrick

“Shein is unethical. They treat their workers very badly and their workers get paid a very small wage (not enough to live on). The materials are so cheap, unsustainable and just generally not nice to wear.” – Anonymous

You Can Find Their Clothing on Amazon

You absolutely can purchase clothing from Shein directly from their store on Amazon.

While the pricing found on Amazon is slightly higher than their website, it is still considered low and affordable.

Similar to their website, most of the clothing purchased from Amazon directly still takes 1-3 weeks to arrive even though it’s advertised as FREE Prime Shipping.

But upon further research, there are many Shein items that will deliver in 2-5 days.

Also, the majority of Shein clothing sold on Amazon (via their direct shop) is eligible for return, refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

PRO TIP: TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

If you’re a Prime member, be sure to check out the Amazon Try Before You Buy program as it allows you to buy hundreds of Shein styles and try them on at home and only pay for the items you decide to keep.

If you don’t like it, you just send it back for free and you’ll never be charged.

Makes for a GREAT way to test out their product quality, sizing, and styles with ZERO risk.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever purchased clothing items from Shein? What was the process like for you?

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)