My Honest Shein Review: Is The Site Legit Or A Scam?
Is Shein legit?
I mean, with their insanely low prices, how can someone NOT wonder if the clothes are complete garbage?
Today I’m sharing my personal experience shopping at Shein, my thoughts on some of the Shein products I’ve received, and whether or not it’s worth it to shop on the Shein website.
I had a TON of questions myself prior to ordering through the site, so I thought it would be helpful to do a review to share what I’ve learned since going through the process.
If you love online shopping but you’re not about that wasting-money life, let’s get into this 100% honest Shein review.
My Honest Shein Review
What is Shein?
Shein is a fast fashion retailer that sells trendy clothing, on-trend pieces, shoes, and accessories at extremely low prices.
If you’re on social media then chances are you’ve seen Shein ads before.
While Shein has recently added men’s apparel, home decor, kitchen and dining products, bath accessories, storage/organizing items, bedding, and even lighting, women’s clothing is still the bulk of the brand’s site.
Grey Dress | Hooded Plaid Coat | Ribbed Shorts Set | Batwing Cardigan
Since Shein is known for their incredibly low prices on clothing, it leads most people to wonder… is Shein legit?
Is Shein Legit?
My answer to this is yes….as long as you shop the site a certain way.
Later in this post, I’ll share my top 5 tips for shopping on the Shein site to ensure you have a positive shopping experience.
For now, I want to share some details about Shein itself, thoughts on my last Shein order, and what you can expect when shopping on the site.
Jacket (Wearing a small)
How is the Shein clothing quality?
I got this jacket for $21 so I wasn’t really expecting this to be the finest coat in my closet, but the quality does match the price tag.
Even though it’s not the absolute highest quality coat I’ve ever owned, I would still 100% recommend it.
I’ve definitely seen other retailers offering similar style coats for much much more.
This coat is soft, fits true to size, the price is incredibly affordable, and it goes with just about anything.
I wear it with leggings like the above, but I’ve also worn it with jeans and booties. It looks great either way.
And just in case you haven’t clicked that link above yet for the jacket, I’ll tell ya – it’s also available on Amazon via another seller, which leads me to my next topic.
Why Is Shein So Cheap?
Since Shein is a Chinese company and the clothing isn’t made in the United States, there really is no way to know what the working conditions are like for the employees and if labor laws are being followed.
The wages could also be far less than what we would consider acceptable in the US, and therefore, Shein is able to keep its prices extremely low.
This is quite common among fast fashion brands and many online retailers. Shein is literally the exact opposite of sustainable fashion.
Many Shein items are available on Amazon
Many Shein items are actually available on Amazon. Shocker, I know. Amazon sells everything.
This is the best way to get around having to potentially pay to ship an item back to Shein if you order directly from their site.
Most Shein items on Amazon ship prime with free return shipping.
However, Amazon doesn’t have EVERY item that you’ll be able to find on the Shein site. This is one of the only negatives to shopping Shein on Amazon.
Here’s how to find Shein clothing on Amazon
Head over to Amazon and make sure the drop-down is either set to “All” or “Clothing, shoes & jewelry”.
Once you’ve made sure the drop-down is set correctly, just type in Shein + the name of the item you’re looking for.
Alternatively, you can just type in “Shein” and when the page loads, hover over to the left-hand side where it says “brands” and check off where it say’s “Shein”. All Shein items that are available on Amazon will load.
From here you can narrow down your search by Amazon prime, department, clothing type, and average customer review.
Women’s Jacket (Wearing a small) | Kids Jacket (Fit true to size)
Here are 2 more jackets I’ve purchased from Shein in the last year or so. Obviously, as you can tell from the photo, Shein also sells some kid’s apparel.
Both jackets fit true to size and are extremely soft.
While they aren’t exact matches, we love being able to have jackets with a similar look.
The kid’s jacket is very warm, the adult style isn’t as insulating.
If you’re looking for something to keep you really warm, this probably isn’t it, but they are really good quality.
Shein Review FAQ’s
Where is Shein Located?
Shein is located in China. However, Shein has warehouses in the USA, Europe, and China.
Where does Shein ship from?
Shein shipments may come from any one of the locations mentioned above.
How long does Shein shipping take?
Shein shipping time can be unpredictable. It can ship immediately or it could also take several weeks.
Currently, I have items in my cart with standard shipping and the estimated arrival date is over 3 weeks away.
If I upgrade to express shipping ($12.90) it says it will be delivered 3 days sooner….not worth it in my opinion, especially since there is no guarantee.
However, I have ordered items from Shein and received them within a week. You just never know.
Shein does offer a tracking number for orders, but packages are still not always easy to track because of the carrier they use.
If you need something for a special occasion or a certain date, I highly recommend purchasing the items way in advance.
Dress (no longer available)
This dress is hands down one of the best Shein finds I’ve ever received. It’s great quality, very comfortable, and fits true to size. It is meant to be oversized so I was happy to find that it was oversized without somehow swallowing my whole body.
This is one of the best Shein dresses but sadly, it’s no longer available. I linked some similar ones below. This dress is another perfect example of a high quality outfit purchase I made on Amazon.
Drop Shoulder Tee Dress | Mock Neck Bodycon Sweater Dress | Drop Shoulder Sweater Dress
Is Shein good quality?
I’ve personally had good experiences in terms of quality when shopping at Shein but honestly, I think it’s just a gamble.
Let me be clear – you are not going to get top-of-the-line fabrics here.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend getting your bridal shower dress at Shein (though that’s totally up to you) or a gown for a formal event, but if we’re talking about everyday casual wear, a casual black dress, basics, etc., even a holiday party, the quality is just fine.
Below is a dress I grabbed for Easter a few years back. It’s adorable and still available on the site so my guess is that it’s a pretty hot seller.
It has an (almost) perfect 5-star rating from 530 reviewers. I’m big on customer reviews so that holds a lot of weight for me.
Lace Dress (Wearing XS – it runs large)
If you need a holiday dress at a reasonable price, this dress was only $12. You likely won’t find a good quality dress for $12 anywhere else. The details are adorable and it’s held up great.
Even if you need some alterations you’re still paying far less than you would at just about any other retailer. Again, another one of the best dresses on Shein.
What is Shein’s return policy?
Understanding the Shein return policy is important. Shein only offers free returns on your FIRST ORDER.
Any returns on orders made after that require you to pay the $7.99 return shipping fee.
Now, this is of course totally up to you, but I refuse to pay return shipping. Like ever.
And I know of lot of people feel the same way.
This is another reason I highly recommend looking for Shein items through Amazon before ordering directly from the Shein site.
Shein used to have a shipping insurance option where you could return anything if you paid a $1.99 insurance fee, but that doesn’t seem to be available anymore.
It was a really great feature and I’m bummed it doesn’t seem to be available anymore. I can only imagine it was being used a LOT.
Although not all free, Shein does make returns easy by having a return label right in your account from where you ordered your item.
You just have to go to “my orders” and then “return items”. Here you’ll find a label that you can print out and use to ship your item back.
Is Shein ethical?
I don’t know anyone who directly works for the company so, unfortunately, I’m not sure.
Is Shein true to size?
I couldn’t complete this Shein review without talking about the sizing inconsistencies. Personally, I’ve found about 90% of Shein clothing to run small.
The pink lace dress in this post is definitely the 1 exception where I’ve had an article of their clothing actually run big. I always recommend reading the reviews especially when it comes to sizing while also taking note of the sizing guide for a particular item.
Even if you are normally an XS and the Shein measurements say to get an XL, get the XL. Chances are, it runs as small as the measurements say it does.
Is Shein a reliable site?
I would say for the most part yes, Shein is reliable.
But again, I highly recommend searching for Shein clothing on Amazon first. If you cannot find it on Amazon, then head to the Shein site and follow the tips below.
Here’s another Shein item that I ordered from Amazon. It fits true to size, is super cozy, and arrived in just a few days.
Is It Safe To Order From Shein?
I’ve always used my credit card when shopping at Shein and haven’t had any issues.
However, if you aren’t comfortable doing so, you can also use Paypal.
Paypal is pretty good about clearing up issues when shopping, even if it’s with a company based in another country (in the event a problem arises).
If you’re more concerned about just receiving your clothes, I don’t think you have to worry much, as long as you’re ok potentially waiting a couple weeks for items to arrive.
Are Shein Swimsuits good quality?
I JUST ordered a bunch of Shein swimsuits and you can check out my Shein Review {Bathing Suit Edition} right here!
What I like about the Shein swim selection is that almost all their suits come in several color options.
There are over 5,300 bathing suits on their site so their selection is extremely large.
None of the suits I received were of terrible quality but I did find that I needed a larger size in many of them.
Who is the Founder of Shein?
Chris Xu
Tips For Shopping Shein Clothing Online
Here are some tips to help you have a positive Shein shopping experience:
Read reviews
Reading reviews is key. Definitely look for reviews with images as you’ll get the most info from them.
But, be wary of super generic positive reviews.
Paid reviews are a thing these days, as pathetic as that sounds.
Stick to reviews that sound like someone genuinely wrote it for the sake of helping someone out.
Check size charts
Shein clothing sizing isn’t the same as US sizing.
Be sure to check the measurements on the sizing charts for every item as they vary from piece to piece.
Use a promo code
Shein is almost ALWAYS running some sort of promo. Usually, you’ll see it as a banner right at the top of the site when you visit their homepage.
Check the material info
Be sure to read the description to see what the fabric is made of. Itchy fabrics are a hard pass.
Shopping At Shein Pros & Cons
There are definitely pros and cons of Shein. Here are some of the most important to take into account.
Pros
Some of the pros to shopping at Shein are:
- The low cost – You can find many dresses, tops, handbags, etc. under $10.
- Free shipping
- Promo in addition to already low prices
- good deals in the Shein app
- they also carry kids apparel
I don’t like to spend a lot of money on my kid’s clothes because they get destroyed so quickly.
Shein is a great place to shop for them for this exact reason.
Shein’s website does carry quite a few items I wouldn’t have my daughter wear (lots of crop tops, etc.), but they also have plenty of items that are great for her.
From pajamas to bathing suits, loungewear, dresses, and more, there’s a huge selection.
Here’s a pair of sneakers we snagged for her that she absolutely loves.
They’re considered “boys” but they fit her true to size.
They’re really lightweight, and they were only $18. They’ve lasted her a really long time and they’re amazing quality.
Cons
The biggest cons of Shein are:
- Inconsistent sizing
- Inconsistent quality
- Shipping can take long
Shein Better Business Bureau Ratings
There are TONS of negative Shein reviews on the BBB website.
I took a peek through to read them for myself and many of them focused on the fact that Shein is nearly impossible to get ahold of.
Luckily, I haven’t had this problem as I’ve never had the need to contact Shein customer service.
However, if you’re concerned about a package getting lost in the mail (that’s what many of the reviews on the BBB are about), that’s something to think about.
Your best bet is to use Paypal to pay for your order as I’ve had great experiences with Paypal helping in these kinds of situations.
Final Thoughts
Is Shein bad?
Well, I wouldn’t recommend getting staple items like good white tees and jeans you’ll wear on repeat all year long from Shein.
Instead, I’d stick to trendy items you might wear here and there – like a tank top with pompom details, tassels, etc.
These items are in right now, but will they be in still next year? Who knows.
Shein is the right place to look for these kinds of items as their brand is fast-fashion.
Overall, if you’re looking for some cute and trendy clothes that you don’t expect to last you an eternity, I recommend giving Shein a try.
I would say that shopping at Shein clothing is just a gamble.
You can score some really great deals, but don’t be surprised if you also find a few duds that are poor quality.
Just be sure to follow the tips above for the best shopping experience
Other posts you might like
Shein Review – Bathing Suit Edition
What To Wear With Leggings + 10 Outfit Ideas
Brands Like GymShark That Won’t Break The Bank
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