In the big world of online retail, Cider popped up out of nowhere and gained worldwide fame. But is Cider legit? Find out the answer right here!
From the late 90s to the early 2000s, the internet was slowly becoming more and more popular and influential.
People were chatting online, playing games, and making lifetime connections.
But it wasn’t until 2010 that the world of e-commerce boomed, and people were selling and buying numerous stuff online.
Ever since then, we’ve seen an influx of businesses that hopped on the bandwagon, like, most recently, Cider.
Cider is another online store that focuses on selling various products such as clothes, shoes, and accessories for women.
Though with the many new businesses in the market, such as Shein and Poshmark, we’re left with an important question: is Cider legit?
Today we’ll be answering that question for you as well as diving into everything you need to know about Cider and its history.
Cider started in 2020 because a couple of friends wanted to build a fashion brand, celebrating the normal and mundane in life. In essence, it was a small clothing business from home idea.
Because of that, they named their brand after a regular drink that’s sweet, bubbly, and perfect for almost all fun occasions—Cider!
They began selling clothing online in September 2020 and got loads of orders on the following Black Friday.
Due to shipping issues, they faced a lot of complaints from their customers initially.
But within less than a year, they struck a deal with DHL and continued their successful campaign.
One factor that makes Cider unique is its separation from one city or culture. The brand doesn’t solely rely on the fashion industry and its trends but taps into the personal lifestyle of its customers.
They take inspiration from the various styles adorning the streets of New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Seoul, and more.
Then, the brand creates something that transcends fashion limitations and relates to everyone worldwide.
They don’t “gatekeep” their products either and cater to all sizes from XXS to 4XXL!
Also, Cider doesn’t specialize exclusively in clothes. They sell anything from hats and socks to phone cases and jewelry.
The way Cider operates helps the brand stay on top while simultaneously supporting the environment. How do they do that; we hear you asking?
Unlike most fashion names, Cider production isn’t merely about mass-producing clothes or accessories. They follow a different approach called “smart fashion.”
This strategy allows them to only produce what their customers want at the time.
And as time passes, they update these clothes according to their client’s feedback. By doing that, they avoid producing many products that end up in the trash.
This approach left Cider competing with famous names such as Shein, and people started viewing it as a better alternative to Poshmark.
Plus, they can focus more on their sustainability plans. Cider focuses on adopting and using recycled materials, respectable supply chains, and biodegradable packaging.
All you have to do to purchase anything is head to their site, pick out the items you like, and head to the cart to confirm your purchase.
Before we answer this article’s central question, it’s best to understand how Cider works through these common questions.
Fast fashion describes a type of clothing that’s cheap, produced quickly, and mimics high-end fashion trends.
Of course, following that description, you could promptly call Cider a fast fashion brand.
But the problem with fast fashion clothing is that it creates far more issues than benefits. For instance, fast fashion uses cheap materials and encourages inadequate workmanship.
Fast fashion also contributes to pollution and increased waste. This is primarily due to the manufacturing methods and the synthetic materials that can’t be recycled most of the time.
Yet, if you look at Cider’s policies and methods, you’ll notice that they’re strong advocates for sustainability.
Cider clothing supposedly follows strict rules regarding using recyclable materials, healthy work environments, and fair labor practices.
The company’s stance makes it hard to call them fast fashion, but there are some aspects they can improve on.
We understand why some people would compare Cider with Shein. After all, while Shein has been around since 2012, Cider showed up two years ago and swept the market!
But does that mean they’re better than Shein? Apparently, not really. Both retailers offer their clients a variety of products with sizes ranging from XXS to 4XL.
The clothes’ quality may be better at Cider’s, but that’s not to say the Shein lacks quality. It’s only that the reviews are mostly mixed with some clients loving the clothes’ quality and others hating it.
The main reason Cider is now head-to-head with Shein is that it follows a similar work plan. They sell trendy pieces at affordable prices to a wide range of customers.
Unfortunately, the short answer here is no. While Cider promises sustainability and fair and healthy work environments, the reality isn’t as it seems.
According to Good On You, Cider received mainly poor ratings regarding its shady labor conditions and environmental impact.
In short, Cider is another fast fashion name to the core.
Because of its quick rise to fame, many people wondered whether Cider was a legit company.
Thankfully, due to the overwhelming evidence from many people online and the company’s solid reputation, it’s safe to say it’s a legit clothing company.
They don’t send bogus items, steal your cash, or scam you. Some of the main reasons why Cider is a legit company includes:
If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable clothing brand, Cider is a great option to consider. They offer a wide range of sizes from XXS to 4XL, so there’s always something for everyone.
You can also shop according to your mood! They have a whole dropdown menu where you can choose between “unbothered,” “fancy,” “grunge,” and so much more.
What’s more, they don’t take too long to deliver their items. It usually takes around 5–8, sometimes even less, to get your package.
Finally, if you don’t like an item and want to return it, there’s no need to worry. You can return the items you didn’t like within two weeks of purchase and get your money back.
All of these benefits make the service convenient to use and reliable.
The answer here can be confusing, as the safe can have various definitions. From a consumers perspective, Cider is a safe company because of the following:
From an environmental standpoint, though, Cider mightn’t be so safe. Though the company claims it’s eco-friendly and encourages safe work environments, little proof or evidence supports that statement.
The easiest way to learn about a brand is through the consumers themselves! That’s why we gathered some feedback about Cider clients from various platforms.
As you can tell by its name, Trustpilot is here to help users figure out which brands are the best. According to more than 4,000 on Cider, here’s what they like:
Besides Trustpilot, we also examined what people say about Cider on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
We summarized their opinions in the following three points:
Of course, no brand is perfect, and Cider is no exception. Some things about its products left people wondering if buying from the company is worth it.
For instance, here’s what Trustpioltes reviews and social media users said about Cider.
Among those 4,000 reviews, several users had consumers worried about the points below:
When it comes to other social media users, they focused on different aspects, including:
Cider tries its best to provide clients with 100% satisfaction. To do this, they offer a period of 14 days, allowing customers to return any items they didn’t like. The only trick here is to ensure none of the tags or labels are missing or torn to get your refund.
Do keep in mind that if you paid through Store Credit, your purchase wouldn’t be eligible for a return or refund.
Other than that, the company doesn’t provide any other explicit guarantees. It also doesn’t offer exchange options if you want to trade your items for something else.
Cider’s customer service is a bit of a mixed bag. The reviews regarding what customer service can offer are sometimes good.
You’ll find customers saying they didn’t encounter any issues with the agents or they were happy with the service overall.
In complete contrast, a couple of buyers took to the online platforms to complain about the service or the company’s lack of response.
Due to this odd, inconsistent pattern of reviews, it’s tough to determine whether Cider’s customer service is good or not.
Please, don’t let this deter you from reaching out to Cider if you have any problems or want to inquire about something. Your experience could be among the positive ones!
According to Cider’s site, you can mainly contact them through email, and they’ll respond within one business day. Sadly, there’s no live chat option or phone number listed.
This is a shame considering that many thriving businesses offer live chat and even make it available 24/7.
After carefully researching Cider and its selection of cute clothes, we’re confident that Cider is a legitimate clothing retailer!
Thousands of reviews online from influencers and regular individuals indicate the brand is legit.
We also found various trustworthy publications that featured Cider in their articles, discussing the new brand and its future.
Another piece of evidence that Cider is legit is their acceptance of trusted payment methods such as PayPal and credit cards.
The company also offers a refund for any product you don’t like once you return it within 14 days to keep its clients happy.
Lastly, many celebrities, including Willow Smith, Will Smith’s daughter, wore Cider clothing.
There are many more companies like Cider that people are wondering about. If you’re interested, here are a few similar businesses that are worth reading about:
Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.
