Many of you have asked us for our opinion about Shein (formerly known as Sheinside), the famous clothing and accessories store.
In this article we will analyze it in depth and tell you everything you need to know.
Warning: with this trick you can get unlimited Shein coupons. Click here to find out more.
What is Shein?
Shein has brought a revolution to the world of online fashion. It has in its catalog more than 2 million items (and every day 500 new models arrive); everything at very affordable prices.
Shein became known through AliExpress, but some time ago it abandoned the platform to sell exclusively through its own website and app, where it already has more than 10 million registered users.
Shein's success is due to these factors:
- Its designs are modern and attractive, it is like Zara or Asos but with lower prices.
- Shipping costs are low or almost free.
- Although their clothes are Chinese, their quality is very high.
- Returns are free up to 45 days after the date of purchase.
If you go to their website you will see that they have clothes for women, men and children, plus a plus size section called Shein Curve and a fashion line of emerging designers called SheinX.
But they also sell shoes, handbags, cosmetics, jewelry, home decor and even pet products.
Shein or AliExpress? These are the differences
Both sites work similarly, but the main difference is that Shein is a store that sells its own brand, while AliExpress is a multi-category marketplace, where clothing is only a small part of the catalog.
That means that on AliExpress there are hundreds of thousands of sellers, and therefore there are quality differences between them. That is why on AliExpress it is essential to take a good look at the ratings and comments from other buyers. Although we are protected by the dispute mechanism, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
On the other hand, buying clothes on Shein is a safer bet: despite its large catalog, the quality level of all their garments is much more balanced. You are less likely to be disappointed.
However, when you visit Shein it is still advisable to look at the reviews of other buyers to make sure that the quality and finishes will meet your expectations.
Shein review
Since you have asked us for our opinion on certain aspects of the site, we are going to address them one by one.
Payment
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (excellent)
You can pay with any VISA or MasterCard credit card or through PayPal, the most popular and reliable payment methods for online shopping.
Shein does not accept cash on delivery but this is something that usually happens in most online sites.
Shipping
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (remarkable)
Shein orders take 7-10 business days with standard shipping and 5-8 business days with express shipping. As a general rule, we have found that your clothes will arrive at home in approximately 15 days, as delivery does not include the 1-3 days that the package is being processed.
United States
| Shipping Method | Shipping Time | Costs |
| STANDARD SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 5-10 working days. |
US$3.99
Free – orders over US$49.00
|
| EXPRESS SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 3-5 working days. |
US$12.90
|
Australia
| Shipping Method | Shipping Time | Costs |
| STANDARD SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 3-5 working days. |
US$5.81—spend below US$65.04
US$3.62—Over US$65.04
|
Canada
| Shipping Method | Shipping Time | Costs |
| STANDARD SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered on 5-10 working days. |
US$5.50
Free – orders over US$38.75
|
| EXPRESS SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 3-5 working days. |
US$20.56
Free – orders over US$102.03
|
United Kingdom
| Shipping Method | Shipping Time | Costs |
| ECONOMIC SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 20-25 working days. |
US$2.76
|
| STANDARD SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 10-15 days. |
US$5.52
Free – orders over US$48.27
|
| EXPRESS SHIPPING | Estimated to be delivered in 3-5 days max. |
US$16.55
Free – orders over US$137.91
|
Shein's website indicates: “Shipping time is estimated and commences from the date of shipping, rather than the date of order, and can take longer than expected date due to invalid address, customs clearance procedures or other causes.”
If you want more information about Shein's delivery time, click here. When you select the garment, you can see the approximate delivery time directly to your country.
In short, Shein's shipments are cheap and arrive fairly quickly, and thanks to the collection points, it is easier to buy even if we are not at home much.
Sizes and variety
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (excellent)
Main article: Shein sizes
In the last few years Shein has made a great effort to make buying cheap clothing easy from anywhere in the world.
However, the best thing to do before buying, is to check the size of the product, because it might not be the same as the clothing you're used to buying in normal stores. Luckily, Shein has many size charts and you can also see photos and opinions from other buyers.
Also, in recent years it has become one of the favorite brands of curvy fashion with its new collection. You can find current style clothing in larger sizes by clicking here.
The variety of products is incredible and Shein is adding more and more products and collections, even making collaborations with new fashion designers to bring even more stylish and affordable clothing.
Returns and refunds
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (excellent)
Shein indicates that you have up to 30 days to return a product if it wasn't what you expected, whatever your reasons may be.
Before you do so, you must contact their Customer Service and indicate what you'd like to return and the reasoning behind your choice. After this, they will give you a set of instructions that you must follow very carefully to avoid any issues.
Once you do, re-package the items in their original packaging, bring them to your local post office or the courier of your preference. Most returns are processed within 5 business days after they receive your package.
Shein will issue the refund to your wallet unless indicared otherwise. Once your refund has been issued, you will receive a confirmation email.
According to their page, these are Shein's return conditions:
- You have 30 days to decide if an item is right for you, if you would like to return or exchange the item please contact us within 30 days of delivery.
- The following items cannot be returned or exchanged: bodysuits, lingerie, swimwear, jewelry, underwear, event & party supplies, DIY supplies, pet supplies, beauty and accessories (except scarves, bags, and mermaid blankets).
- Returned items must be in their unused condition with the original packing. We do not accept a returned item that has been worn, damaged, washed, or altered in any way.
- Items with non-returnable marks and free gifts cannot be returned.
- We do not accept returned items that have been sent back without proper returns requests.
- We do not offer Freight To Collect (FTC) service for the packages returned to us. The returns will be made at your own cost.
- Please be sure to double-check your returns before shipping them out. We are not responsible for the return of non-SHEIN products.
Contact and customer service
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (remarkable)
To contact Shein's customer service center via message just click here. The Shein website offers several ways to contact Shein's customer service center:
- Phone: available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
- Contact message: active 24 hours a day.
- Chat: available from Monday to Sunday from 9am to 10pm.
However, as we have already said, unlike AliExpress, if we have a problem we will not have an intermediary since we are buying directly from a seller. But in Shein everything is designed to make the purchase a success (payment system, free returns, fast shipping…).
Shopping guide
Discounts and coupons
Getting clothes even cheaper at Shein is very easy because they have a section of sales and flash deals.
They do this because they have so much inventory that they need to get rid of clothes to make room for new arrivals. You could say that they liquidate stocks on a daily basis.
You can find shoes, skirts, jeans, jackets, t-shirts, dresses, etc… Discounts and coupons range from 35% to 80%. But here are some other tricks to save money.
By the way, new users always get exclusive discounts and coupons on their first order! You can find the on Shein's homepage by clicking on this link.
Warning: with this trick you can get unlimited Shein coupons. Click here to find out more.
Shein VIP
Thanks to Shein's VIP membership program you can get discounts on your purchases. Each time you upgrade your membership, you will earn rewards on your purchases, get premium access to events and receive exclusive promotions.
To see your membership level you can access your Shein account from the mobile app and click next to your username.
There are four levels: Level S0, S1, S2 and S3:
- Level S0: any registered member.
- Level S1: members with 1 order over 0,01€.
- Level S2: members with 2 orders of more than 0,01€ or who have spent 100€.
- Level S3: members with 6 orders of more than 0,01€ or who have spent 285€.
S3 level membership is affordable and offers great benefits: a voucher when you upgrade, faster refunds, access to the Shein magazine, and exclusive promotions and gifts.
Shein Bonus Points Program
With the points program for regular shoppers you can save money on your purchases. For every 100 points, you will get $1 off that can be used to pay up to 70% of the total purchase amount. In this link you can find more information about Shein points.
You can accumulate points by logging into your Shein account every day through the mobile app and leaving comments on the items you have already received.
Student discount
Students get a discount. If you have your student number, log in to the UniDays platform to find out how to get 15% off all your Shein purchases.
Shein Test Center
At the Shein free trial center any Shein shopper on the platform can get Shein products for free. The Shein free trial center is for shoppers from Spain, Mexico and any country Shein ships to. You can enter the Shein free trial center from this link.
To get your Shein free trial you have to select up to three items per week and add your delivery address. In case you win a free trial, the product will be processed and shipped automatically. The best trick to win, as with AliExpress freebies, is consistency.
Shein gift card
Another good way to save is to buy a gift card and use it on our own account. Gift cards can make you save between $5 and $15 depending on their amount, that is to say, a gift card of $200 actually only costs you $175, a direct discount assured. You can see all Shein gift cards by clicking here.
VAT and customs on Shein shipments
Paying customs for shipments really depends on your country of residence. For example, with the new EU customs regulations, any purchase made outside of Europe must pay taxes.
In the case of Shein and AliExpress, both sites have the IOSS system that allows the site to pay taxes for you on purchases up to 150€. From €150 and above, Shein's packages may be subject to the duties corresponding to the country of destination.
Official Shein information is available at this link.
Tracking Shein orders
Once shipped, you can track your Shein orders through their website by accessing the order list. In the “Status” column you will find the option to view the order tracking details. You will also receive an e-mail with the tracking number when the order has been shipped.
Shipping: who delivers Shein packages?
Shein's shipments can be delivered by different courier companies. The most common are the postal service of your country or GLS courier, but they can also arrive by CTT, not always the same. You can view the shipping details and order tracking through your Shein account.
Where is Shein? Shein physical stores
Shein is a chinese company. Currently, they don't own physical permanent stores, but from time to time they do open popup stores in strategic cities like Paris, Barcelona, New York, Arizona, City of Mexico…
What happens if a product is sold out?
If a Shein garment or product is sold out, it will most likely be back on sale in two weeks. After this period of time, there is little to no chances of the site restocking the product.
However, the brand itself has many similar garments, so we recommend you to dive deep into its catalog and see if you can find something similar.
Is it safe?
Absolutely yes. No doubt Shein is a reliable site whether you are shopping from UK, Canada, the United States or anywhere else in the world. This online clothing store accumulates thousands of sales and has already become one of the best cheap alternatives to stores like Zara, Uniqlo, H&M…
Warning: with this trick you can get unlimited Shein coupons. Click here to find out more.