Is Shein Legit? Pros, Cons & Our Unbiased Thoughts
Join us as we ask 'Is Shein legit?' We dissect user experiences, evaluate pros and cons, and give you the lowdown on this online fashion retailer.
Join us as we ask 'Is Shein legit?' We dissect user experiences, evaluate pros and cons, and give you the lowdown on this online fashion retailer.
If you’re looking for affordable clothing, you probably have come across Shein.
The clothing brand has taken the fashion world by storm. It sells everything, from basics to near-identical luxury brand replicas. This begs the question: Is Shein legit?
Many customers are hesitant to shop at Shein for good reason. You can’t guarantee the items you’re receiving, and it’s difficult to trust a foreign online store with thousands of products.
Shein has millions of customers who left positive reviews regarding everything about the brand.
So, you don’t need to wonder about Shein’s clothing quality or shipping time any longer!
Shein is a Chinese online fashion retailer based in Singapore. The company was founded in 2008 by Chinese entrepreneur Chris Xu.
It’s the biggest ultra-fast fashion brand in the world, and the company is worth a whopping $100 billion.
The online store gained unprecedented popularity starting in 2020. This surge in sales was particularly due to the rise of microtrends and TikTok!
Shein was one of the first companies to take note of viral products, replicate them at a low price point, then promote them through TikTok and social media influencers. Then, everyone, especially Gen Z, flocked to the e-retailer for the latest fashion.
Yet, Shein doesn’t only sell clothing and fashion supplies. The e-retailer expanded in the past couple of years. You can now purchase makeup and beauty supplies, home decor, and even electronics from Shein!
Shopping from Shein is a distinct experience. That’s because of all the brands that Shein houses.
While Shein has their Shein-branded clothing line, the e-retailer is home to hundreds of manufacturers based in China. Accordingly, there are millions of different products on the website that suit all tastes.
That’s not all. Shein also frequently collaborates with designers worldwide to create even more unique designs.
Shein ships to over 150 countries. Though, most of their warehouses are based in China. Still, the shipping process takes almost no time.
Naturally, there are a lot of questions and speculations about Shein, since it’s such a huge online shopping brand. Here are the answers to some of them:
Shein’s main marketing strategy is competitive pricing. You can find items identical to designer brands that cost a fraction!
The reasons behind the cheap value of Shein products are simple: mass production, online model, and cheaper materials.
To start, Shein outsources their labor to cheap factories and other countries. At first, the factories were based only in China, but as Shein expanded, they began partnering with manufacturers worldwide.
Shein products aren’t unique. They’re made in bulk. Accordingly, you can’t expect their items to cost the same as limited editions in other stores.
Shein sells directly to consumers via their application. There are no physical stores. So, there isn’t any cost of rent, upkeep, or additional labor. In contrast, the online model is cost-efficient.
Shein even encourages buyers to model the products in the reviews, cutting any additional photography and modeling costs!
Lastly, Shein isn’t a luxury brand. While the brand might produce similar styles to your favorite fashion houses, the materials can’t compare.
You can’t expect garments that cost a couple of dollars to be high-quality and last for years. However, many Shein clothes are of decent quality.
On the other hand, many buyers had some regretful Shein purchases. These range from low-quality materials to awkward fits.
Still, Shein is continuously evolving. For example, Shein MOTF is a sub-brand from Shein that offers premium quality and construction.
Simply put, Shein products are hit-or-miss. Since you can’t physically see the items before purchasing, your best course of action is to check customer reviews.
Shein doesn’t own certain clothing factories. Instead, they outsource the labor to over 6,000 factories in China.
This doesn’t include independent brands that sell their clothing via Shein, such as:
Though there might be a lot of campaigns against Shein as a fast fashion pioneer, it’s a legit brand.
After all, the company is worth billions of dollars with millions of satisfied customers.
Here are all the reasons why Shein is legit:
Shein is trying to cater to the customer’s needs every day. This includes evolving to a more reliable business model.
As Shein doesn’t have any physical stores, it can be hard to trust the brand. However, here are all the different reasons that make Shein reliable:
Shopping from Shein is safe. Shein is an international brand that values its customers above all. There are over 40 million Shein customers across the globe, none of which have experienced safety issues.
Naturally, Shein goes to great lengths to protect its customer’s private information and provide a safe shopping experience.
Before purchasing from Shein, it’s crucial to understand how the application works as well as what the products are like.
Luckily, there are millions of comprehensive reviews about Shein. What’s more is that you can find reviews of each item you’re looking to buy on the Shein app.
Here’s what different platforms think about Shein:
Multiple Google users have expressed their opinions about Shein on the Google App Store. The main positive points were the following:
Since Shein originally blew up on Social Media, it’s only natural to find thousands of users reviewing the products on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
Here are the key takeaways that social media users pointed out about Shein:
Nothing is perfect. While Shein garnered thousands of positive reviews, there are some worrisome aspects about the e-retailer.
From Shein’s customer service to the lack of trust in products, here are what users had to say about Shein:
Users from the Google App Store raised some interesting points regarding navigating the application, including:
There are thousands of Shein unboxing videos across social media. Yet, these are the main worrisome points that social media users agreed on:
Shein’s clothing quality is on par with their price. That’s what makes Shein great for shopping for large quantities of trendy items.
That said, you can find some great quality items in their premium selection.
The bottom line is that to ensure you get the best quality, you need to check the product’s ratings. Avoid buying clothing that has zero reviews.
If there’s any problem with your purchase, you can ship it back to Shein in 35 days. Just make sure the products are unworn, and have the original tag and hygiene label.
The customer service at Shein is somewhat frustrating. For starters, reaching a customer service agent is a lengthy process.
Instead, you can only speak to a bot through Shein’s live chat. If you manage to reach an agent, there’s usually a language barrier.
The customer service agents are available from 6 A.M. to 9 P.M. PST every day.
Shein’s customer service options are limited. There isn’t a dedicated customer service number or email. Instead, you can only contact Shein through their live chat feature.
The live chat allows you to put in your inquiry or complaint. Depending on the content, you might get an automated reply or get transferred to a customer service agent.
If you have a substantial issue, you can submit a ticket on Shein’s help page.
For media inquiries, you can contact Shein through media@sheingroup.com.
You might also contact Shein through their social media. Though, it’s unclear how long it’ll take to hear back.
Yes, Shein is a legit online retailer and clothing brand. You might be confused by the thousands of products on the website and their cheap price.
However, you don’t have to worry about the safety of your information, scamming, or receiving faulty products.
In fact, Shein is perfect if you’re shopping on a budget. It offers numerous coupons and promo codes, not to mention daily flash sales.
The main issue when it comes to shopping from Shein is assessing the quality of the products. There are no physical Shein stores, and most online product pictures are heavily edited.
So, you need to check customer reviews before checking out!
Now that you know everything about Shein as a company and a brand, you might still have some questions about the shopping experience.
Here are the answers to the most common questions about Shein products:
Shein houses numerous brands, aside from the company’s brand. Each one has a different sizing system. Therefore, finding your best fit can be difficult.
The sizes tend to run small, so it’s best to size up if you’re in between sizes. You can also check reviews from other buyers, as more often than not, they’ll include their size, measurements, and whether the garment fits them.
One of the main criticisms against Shein is their close association with sweatshops and child labor. However, there’s no way to confirm for sure if Shein factories have child workers.
That said, it’s estimated that over 10 million children work in China’s factories. Since Shein and most of its affiliated brands are based in China, we will let you draw your own conclusions on the matter.
There’s no doubt that Shein is a great place to shop for all your needs from the comfort of your home. It’s cheap, reliable, and offers quick shipping.
Still, if you’re still skeptical, here are some similar online retailers to consider:
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.
