16 Questions About the Shein Return Policy Answered…Finally
Moment of truth…I had never heard of Shein until a few weeks ago when I saw my teenage daughter shopping for clothes on their website. Turns out she’s a huge fan of their affordable, trendy styles. She especially loves their dresses, swimwear, and tops. But with all online clothes shopping, there comes a time when you need to make a return because something doesn’t fit right or just isn’t what you thought it would be. So when this happened to my daughter I walked her through the Shein return policy and the idea for this article was born. Here’s exactly how their return policy currently works.
1. How Many Return Days Does Shein Allow?
30 days.
Shein gives you exactly 30 days (down from 35 days) from your “delivery date” to initiate a return.
2. How Do I Initiate the Return Online?
You’ll want to login to your SHEIN account and go to “My Orders”.
Next, simply click on the “Return Item” button and select the items you want to return.
Then you’ll select your “Return Method” (UPS or USPS) and following the instructions.
See Also: Zara Return Policy: Here’s How to Make Returns Easy
PRO TIP: FREE SHEIN RETURNS NOW ACCEPTED AT FOREVER 21
When initiating your return on the Shein website, you’ll want to select Forever 21 Stores as your Return Method. You’ll then be given a QR Code which you’ll take with you to Forever 21. Make sure all of items you’re returning are in their Shein polybags, no box or shipping bag required. Take everything to a Forever 21 location and they’ll take care of the rest. BONUS: Forever 21 will give you a 30% off coupon for anything in their store when you drop off your return.
3. How Do I Access My Return Shipping Label?
Next you’ll want to print the return label provided and tape that bad-boy to the outside of your box.
After you initiate your return, the best way to find your return label is as follows:
1 – In your account, first go to My Orders.
2- Then click on Order Details.
3- Next, click on Return & Refund Record and select method of return.
4- Lastly, click View to download and print your return label.
Then just drop it off at a UPS access point, your local post office, or arrange a USPS pickup from your house.
4. Do I Get a Free Return on Each Order or Only My First Return?
This was a question I was getting a lot as their policy is confusing.
To clarify, you get one free return per order, and it can even be for MULTIPLE items in the same order.
It all just needs to be returned at once, in the same package or box.
Thanks to commenter Julianna for clearing this one up.
See Also: Is Shein a Legit Company? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
5. Who Pays The Return Shipping Charge?
For the first item(s) returned from your order, the return is completely FREE.
Once you’ve initially returned items from an order, you’ll have to pay $7.99 to return any additional items.
SHEIN will also let you use your own shipping method at your own cost if you’d rather make your return that way.
6. Is There Anything I Can’t Return?
Yes, there are several clothing items that CANNOT be returned.
– Bodysuits
– Lingerie/Underwear
– Jewelry
– Beauty Items
– Party Supplies
– DIY Supplies
– Pet Products
– Cosmetics – You can’t return cosmetics if you break the hygiene seal.
– Stuff Marked Non-Returnable or Final Sale
See Also: American Eagle Return Policy: Time to Fully Understand It
PRO TIP: BE CAREFUL WITH CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS
Surprisingly, Shien has a large section on their site dedicated to customized products. Clothing, jewelry, home decor, and even backpacks and duffel bags that can customized with your name or custom text. Be careful ordering these and double check your spelling as these items are ALL final sale and no return will be accepted. It’s also save to assume that if the mistake is on Shein’s end, it will be hard to get them to fix or exchange the customized items.
7. Do I Need My Receipt to Make a Return?
Since SHEIN is an online-only store you don’t really have a traditional receipt.
You simply login to your account and start your return…NO receipt required.
8. What If I Removed the Tag?
Their official stance is the tag needs to be attached.
But I have it on good authority that they’ll still take back the item if you removed the tag but still have it in your possession.
Just throw it in the bag with your item(s) and you should be fine.
9. How Easy Is It To Make an Exchange?
Not super easy.
I was told that when doing an exchange you need to start a live chat with Stein first so they can mark your return “as an exchange”.
They’ll then process the exchange once they receive the return package.
Your first exchange from an order is completely free, after that you’re on the hook for the return shipping charges.
10. Can I Wear Items and Still Return Them?
No.
You can obviously try them on, but if you wear them out to dinner or work (or something like that) they say they won’t take them back.
11. What Happens If I Wash an Item, Then Decide I Don’t Like It?
It depends.
If the reason you don’t like the item is because of damage from the wash, you need to contact SHEIN directly as you stand a good chance of getting a refund.
See Also: Abercrombie & Fitch Return Policy: Here’s the Real Deal on How It Works
12. Can I Return Clearance or Sale Items to Shein?
Yes.
Unless the “On Sale” or “Clearance” item is marked online as “non-returnable” you can return it without a problem.
13. How Long Will It Take to Get My Refund?
10-15 days.
Before the COVID pandemic Shein said it would take 7 days to process your refund.
They now say it will take an additional 3-5 days making for a long 10-15 day wait.
The refund will come to you in whatever way you request.
Your 2 refund options are currently as follows:
– Original Payment Method
– Your SHEIN Wallet
14. Will Shein Let You Keep Items Instead of Returning Them?
Possibly, yes.
I have it on good authority that if your order reaches a minimum threshold, SHEIN will often tell you to keep the item and still refund you.
I have two friends that shop with them regularly and they’ve had this happen to them when their order total was just over $100.
This is worth knowing as Shein has joined the ranks of several other major retailers that are telling shoppers to keep certain items they try to return.
15. Is It Possible to Cancel a Return?
Yes.
If you need to cancel a return, and haven’t mailed it back yet, you can simply contact SHEIN customer service and they can help you out.
16. Do I Have to Pay a Fee for a New Size If I Want an Exchange?
No.
Your exchange is FREE as long as it’s your FIRST exchange/return on one corresponding order number.
Bonus Question #1: Will I Be Refunded on the Sales Tax?
According to Julia in the comments, tax is NOT refunded, only the full amount you pay for the item.
This seems really strange and not ethical, does anyone else have any experience with not getting refunded the sales tax?
Bonus Question #2: Will Shein Let Me Keep Some Items I Try to Return?
Yes.
According to several folks in the comments, when trying to make a return, have received an email from Shein stating “you can keep the product not withstanding any statutory rights to withdrawal.”
Followed by “consider it a gift from us.”
This is a very strange way of saying you can KEEP the item and still get your money back.
A commenter by the name of “Shan” had the best explanation for this, saying that some stuff just isn’t worth their time when trying to arrange a return, especially when the value of the item exceeds the return shipping costs.
Ask the Reader: Shein is fairly new to the eCommerce space so many are not very familiar with their return policy yet. With that said, what’s been your experience with their policy? Let me know in the comments.
By Kyle James
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)
Do you get a free return on each order or only the very first return with them overall? For example, if I return a shirt from one order then order a dress at a later date and I want to return it, do they both qualify for free returns since they are the first return of their individual orders? Or is only the shirt free to return since it was the first return and I need to pay $7.99 for the dress return?
hey! you get one free return per order. and it can even be multiple items in an order, it just all needs to be returned at once. but to clarify for your question, it is one free per order so in your scenario you could return both for free
How should I proof to the post office that I should return items for free. Today I went to post office to request for quotes to return items is too much. Kindly advice how to I go about returning items for free to Shein.
You don’t need to request for quote at the post office!!
If you follow step 2 and step 3 of the article, the post office will just scan the barcode of the return lable on your package and will take your package. That’s it, no payment is needed.
When does the Christmas return policy take effect?
Not sure yet, probably November 1st.
I’m returning a pair of shoes that just got delivered today, however when I submitted the application for return, this came up instead, and there is no return label like usual. What does this mean?
I read it to mean you get to keep the shoes AND you’ll still get a refund.
I cant figure out how to make a return if I purchased something as a guest. Does anyone know??
I asked a chat rep and they told me the following, “First of all, we would like to inform you that you couldn’t purchase as a guest in our system. Usually it is due to incorrect Email you used when purchasing the order”
Can you return your item in a different SHEIN package? I got multiple stuff from shein and got mixed up with the bags and didn’t know which bag belonged to what shein item?
I did the same thing. Put the item number from the bag in the Shein search bar and the item/picture should pop up. This allowed me to determine the correct package.
Do I have to pay a fee for the new size to be sent to me if I want to exchange an item?
I accidentally clicked return on shein before I got my clothes is that okay do I have to return them?
No, you should be fine.
Do the items have to be put back into the little zip bags they come in
No, but items need to have original tags/stickers still on them.
I purchased a few things from non-refundable items and some of them are damaged! Can I get a refund?
Absolutely! Start the return process and be prepared to submit photos of items clearly showing any damages, defects, etc.
I would like to return a dress I was planning to wear to a wedding because I found other dresses that were better suited. However I removed the tag off the dress and threw it away. Is there any chance they’d still refund if I haven’t worn or washed the dress?
Hmmm, not sure if they would take it back as it’s impossible to prove (without them looking at it) if you actually wore it or not. I’d contact them and ask: https://us.shein.com/contact-us.html
Im doing my first return at shein.
Do I just go to the post office and just ship back in those little zip bags they give us, or do I need to get a box from post office?
You need to provide your own box or shipping bag. If the little zip bags are what they mailed them in then you can use those. But I think those bags came in a different larger bag or box, right?
I purchased a few items for my daughters and they do not have any tags. Not one of them. One of the sweaters doesn’t even have a label( and it has a weird stench). If my daughters can’t fit something, can it be returned this way?
Yes, but I’d contact Shein to give them a heads up so you don’t run into any issues.
I made an order that came split into 2 different packages. I want to return a few items from each… how do I do this?? Do I just stick them all in one of the packages? Or do I have to send them back each in the package they originally came in?
I received two blouses as a christmas gift but they don’t work for me, can I return them for store credit if I have an account with SHEIN
Does SHEIN resell their returns? I got two items that weren’t in their branded ziplock bag. It was in clear sealed plastic bags with the barcode sticker.