As the shopping industry is transforming, many e-commerce sites are coming into existence. One such online shopping platform is Shein. But, there is an ongoing debate on whether the site is safe to use or not. Follow us closely as we put the Shein-narrative in the right perspective. You’ll also learn safety measures to avoid potential risks while shopping on the website.
It’s almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t love discounts. However, there are some online stores like Shein that offer deals that seem rather too good to be true.
The truth is, people have mixed reviews about this site, which raises questions about its safety. So, before you buy from Shein, make sure you have the right knowledge about this platform so that you don’t get scammed.
What is Shein?
Shein is an online fashion retailer famous for its cheap clothes and accessories. It was founded by an entrepreneur, Chris Xu, in Nanjing, China in October 2008. However, the brand is currently based in Singapore.
One thing that has contributed to the site’s popularity is its vast collection of items that are available at bargain basement pricing (remarkably low costs). From stylish clothing to jewelry to beauty products and homeware, you can find everything on Shein.
The platform initially started as a small-scale drop-shipping company and has now grown to be a global e-commerce site, especially after the pandemic. Shein’s target customers are budget-conscious people who want to keep up with fashion trends.
The platform operates on a fast fashion business model, which means Shein offers trendy clothes to its customers at cheaper prices long before they are available in the regular local retail stores. How? Because it has an effective supply chain that makes it possible to shift products to the store shelves within weeks.
Is Shein Legit or a Scam?
Shein is a legitimate retail brand to shop online. However, there are numerous ethical opinions surrounding its legality and business practices.
Truthfully, at first glance, Shein appears to be a bit suspicious. For one, the website has a lot of pop-ups, the layout of the site is not that exceptional, and the goods sold are unbelievably cheap. How cheap exactly? Imagine buying an item you’d buy from your regular store at one-tenth of the price. That’s how low the prices of Shein goods are.
In addition to these concerns, other controversial claims like forced labor conditions, tax evasion, and environmental damage like waste and overproduction have been made against the platform. The brand fails to meet ethical standards, emitting excessive amounts of CO2 every year. Also, Shein promotes overconsumption by producing over 10,000 new units a day with its cheap labor and materials.
Nonetheless, there have also been positive reviews about the company. So, if you don’t mind getting affordable clothes, accessories, and other household items, you’re not breaking any law by checking out this site.
Is Shein Safe?
Shein seems to be safe to use because it appears to be trusted by numerous users across different parts of the world, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. The company is trusted by many people worldwide, having a large user base of around 80 million users. According to the TrustPilot review rating, 66% of Shein users gave the company a 5-star rating, 8% gave it a 4-star, and 20% gave it a 1-star.
It’s important to note that just like any other online shop, Shein has some security risks. While it uses industry-standard payment options, you still have to be vigilant when using it. In 2018, Shein’s parent company, Zoetop, was fined $1.9 million by the state of New York for mishandling the data of 39 million potential users.
Additionally, the site is not accredited by BBB (Better Business Bureau) because it does not have solid customer support. This means that if you are not satisfied with your orders from Shein, there really is nobody you can hold accountable for a resolution. All these downsides are things you might want to consider before using the store.
Is the Shein Website Safe?
The Shein website is generally safe because there aren’t issues of your financial details being stolen for phishing scams or your identity being used by the company. The website uses industry-standard security protocols like HTTPS to protect user data. As such, you can rest assured that your card details are safe while shopping at Shein.
Is the Shein App Safe?
Shein also offers an app version for its customers. You can safely use the app to shop because of its SSL encryption. The platform incorporates safe online payment systems like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal to securely process your orders without storing any data. This can remove the risk of your payment information getting into the wrong hands.
It’s best to update your app regularly so you are using the latest version of the app to minimize potential security risks.
Are Shein Clothes of Good Quality?
The product quality of Shein may vary. This is probably why many people think that one of the trade-offs of the platform’s low prices is probably in their quality. While some customer reviews seem to be satisfied with their Shein purchases, others have reported issues like low-quality material, irregular sizing, and online misrepresentation of the actual product.
Some commentaries about the quality of Shein goods are that because of the quantity of products made by the company, the quality of the craftsmanship usually varies. Also, the low quality materials used can contain harmful chemicals.
If you prefer high-grade clothing as opposed to clothes made from acrylic, polyester, and rayon, then you might not find Shein’s clothes to be satisfactory. However, if you love a fast-fashion brand with minimal focus on quality, the platform might serve you well.
Shein Payment Options Available in the United States
The service has numerous payment options like every other online shop. For users in the U.S, here are the available Shein payment options:
- Affirm
- AfterPay
- American Express
- Cash App Pay
- Diners Club
- Discover Network
- Klarna
- PayPal
- Maestro
- Mastercard
- Venmo
- Visa
- Zip
Reasons People Believe Shein Is a Scam
The narrative about Shein being a scam is prevalent. And as they say, there is no smoke without fire. Let’s examine why people think Shein to be a scam.
1. Ridiculously Cheap Products
When consumers see cheap prices, there is the perception that it is either an inferior product or there is someone else suffering the consequences. It has also been heard that the workers behind the supply chain of Shein products receive unfair wages. Moreover, cheap clothing items may pose a safety hazard for younger children.
2. Quality Issues
While some Shein products meet user expectations, others fall significantly below quality. In short, getting decent quality items would always be a hit or miss situation. There are also instances where the delivered product looks different from what’s being promised. So, while you might be getting a seemingly fantastic deal on prices, you are likely to end up with something that will fall apart very quickly.
3. Chinese Product
There is a prevalent stereotype in the Western world that products from China are generally of lower quality. People are also concerned about the ethical implications of their purchase considering the manufacturing and labor practices in China. All these biases affect how people view the site’s legitimacy.
Also, there’s the mindset that Chinese websites have secret malware designed to provide unauthorized access to user data.
4. Copyright Issues
Websites like Shein and Temu have been accused of intellectual property theft so many times. Many people say that Shein copies the artworks of other creators and online fast-fashion retailers without their consent.
For example, in 2023, a nail artist Yan Tee found his designs used by the company on its press-on nail products. This action raises legal and ethical concerns and paints the company in a negative and untrusted light.
5. Poor Customer Support
Many people reported that Shein’s customer service has failed to resolve their issues regarding refunds or exchange complaints. These bad experiences leave other people feeling frustrated and scammed.
6. It Became Popular When Online Scams Was Rampant
One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was an increase in online fraud. During this period and beyond, instead of cutting down costs and saving money, Shein invested massively in advertising their products. The fact that they were pushing their marketing at a time when many people were broke seemed like an attempt to lure people into spending the little money they had to manage to survive.
How to Stay Safe When Shopping on Shein
As we discussed earlier about the security of the platform, it’s necessary for every shopper to adopt some safety measures. Here are the tips for shopping securely on Shein.
1. Check Reviews
Before going ahead to pay for any product on the platform, take some time to read the Shein reviews about the product. Pay attention to both the positive and negative comments to have a holistic idea of what to expect. You can also look out for customer-uploaded pictures to have a more realistic view of how a product actually looks like.
2. Don’t Shop for Staples
For basic and critical items like jeans and jackets that you are more likely to wear repeatedly, it’s best to shop from more established brands. Nonetheless, Shein is a great place to get trendy, and unique fashion pieces that you don’t plan to wear as often.
3. Go by Measurement, Not Size
The sizes of products on Shein usually vary across different regions. As such, it is better to determine your size by measurement instead of through sizing. Simply take measurements of your body and compare them with the size chart to make a more accurate pick of an item that will best fit you.
4. Protect Your Account
It’s a great security practice to use a complex and unique password for your account to prevent unauthorized access. If you don’t know how to create strong login credentials for yourself, try ExtremeVPN’s password generator tool. You can also put in the extra effort to update your password regularly to minimize cybersecurity risks.
5. Use Two-factor Authentication if Possible
Activating the two-factor authentication (2FA) option on your Shein account adds an extra layer of security to it. The 2FA usually involves you providing two forms of identification to access your data when needed.
6. Be Informed of Shein’s Privacy Policy
Take your time to read their privacy policy to understand how Shein collects, uses, and protects your data. You should also familiarize yourself with their return policy. For example, it’s important to note that some items like underwear, lingerie, bodysuits, and jewelry are not eligible for return. The other items eligible for return must be unworn, with their tag, and returned within 35 days of purchase.
Before you make a purchase using Shein, check the products page to know whether an item can be returned or not. While Shein has a return policy, the process is rather cumbersome, and you will have to exercise a lot of patience to go through it.
7. Secure Your Wi-Fi Usage
You shouldn’t log in to your Shein account when connected to a public network. Instead, make use of a secure private connection. If you must use public Wi-Fi, then consider solutions a high-quality VPN like ExtremeVPN to encrypt your data and protect your online activity.
8. Update Your Shein App Regularly
When apps are updated, they usually include security patches and other new features that will boost your safety. As much as possible, update your app so you don’t miss out on important updates that would make your shopping experience more secure.
Conclusion
There’s no way we can shut down the negative perception going around about Shein. While the site employs security standards and provides a large number of decent products at reasonable prices, the decision to shop with the company is totally up to you. However, we believe you will make a better decision with our review of the platform and all the concerns surrounding its use.
If you do decide to shop on Shien, we recommend that you start with making small orders to have a real-life experience of how their products are. You can then work your way up to making larger orders. Also, consider using a trusted VPN like ExtremeVPN to provide ultimate online security for yourself.
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