Is Shein Legit? I Ordered Over $100 Worth of Clothing to Find Out.
Is Shein legit? This is a question my team and I were asking, so we decided to find out. Here are our honest Shein reviews.
Is Shein a legit website? I put this cheap clothing store to the test!
If you’re like me and have a teenage daughter, then you already know how expensive it is when it onlinees to shopping for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Luckily, stores like Walmart, Target, and Forever 21 have somewhat reasonably priced options for every budget.
Today I want to share with you an exclusively online retailer known as Shein that is changing the game when it onlinees to affordable fashion. However, you may have some concerns about shopping on this site like I did, so I am here to answer the question – Is Shein legit?
If you simply can’t wait to start shopping, new Shein shoppers can use the latest Shein coupon code NEWFOR15 at checkout to save 15% off orders $9.90 or more!
She-what? How do you pronounce Shein and what is it?
I first heard about Shein (pronounced She-in) after seeing countless influencers, teenagers, and people just like me talking about the site on Instagram and TikTok. If you’re unfamiliar with Shein. It’s a website that offers trendy fashion at dirt-cheap prices. I had never heard of this onlinepany before, so I was wondering what the catch was and if it was truly legit. Before ordering, I looked into the onlinepany, and here are a few things I found out.
Why is Shein so cheap?
The onlinepany is able to offer great prices to US customers as most of the clothes are made overseas where the US dollar is worth more. Shein also uses some cheaper fabric material so keep that in mind when ordering.
Where is Shein located and where does Shein ship from?
Shein is based in China and ships many items from there, but it also has warehouses in the USA and other countries so your order could onlinee from a variety of locations.
Keep this shipping tip in mind!
Shipping is free on orders over $49, but I have a little money-saving tip for ya! If you have a smaller order then wait until Sunday to purchase your items. Every Sunday Shein offers free shipping on any size order, which means even if you buy a $3 item, it will ship for free! YES!
*Note that free shipping offers on Sunday are at random times on the day, and may require a coupon code given on the site to apply.
After doing some research, I decided to go ahead and order some Shein outfits.
After seeing all of the cute clothing haul videos and how great the women looked in their Shein outfits, I decided to take the plunge and place an order for my daughter. At such affordable prices, and with a generous return policy, I figured it was a no-brainer and worth the risk! 😄
Fast forward to last month, I mentioned that I had ordered some of my daughter’s school clothes from Shein on our weekly Hip2Save team call and asked if anyone else had heard of them. My sidekick Kaitlyn mentioned that she had recently started ordering Shein outfits, and after some initial hesitation was so glad that she did!
She loves their swimwear and how she can get several pieces for the price of one elsewhere. Swimwear is always pricey, even at department stores, so I love that there’s a budget-friendly option out there.
Speaking of Shein swimwear, check out what my sidekick Chelsey had to say (and how cute she looks in her bathing suit!):
“I’m only just now realizing I might have a slight Shein swimsuit obsession, but it’s with good reason! 😆 In AZ, pretty much every day is pool day, like seriously 5 days a week we’re living in that thing! Plus, frequent trips back to my hometown, San Diego, means beach trips every summer too, so I like to have a swimsuit for each day of the week!
BUT I just can’t bear to pay Victoria’s Secret or even Target prices — I mean $20 for a top and then $20 for a bottom (if you’re buying a 2-piece) is just too much for multiple swimsuits! On Shein, I can grab the full bikini set, top & bottoms, for like $12. I think I’ve even gotten one as low as $10?! 😱 I’ve also been buying these swimsuits for at least 2+ summers and have only been disappointed ONCE with a swimsuit.”
Lina also was intrigued by the countless influencer videos about Shein on TikTok and was curious, but also asking the same question and wondering – is Shein legit or not? I told her how much my daughter loves their clothes so she decided to give it a try too. At Hip2Save, our favorite influencers are each other! 😂
So many cute Shein outfits and styles to choose from!
Shein has a huge virtual catalog offering thousands of styles of clothing for babies, kids, women, and men. Plus, you’ll also find shoes, accessories, swimwear, cosmetics, home decor, and more. Even better, they offer a wide range of sizes from petite to plus, so they truly have a little something for everyone.
While Shein offers a wide selection of on-trend clothing for teens and young adults, I like that they offer a nice collection of staple wardrobe pieces for those of us who were born way back in the 1900’s, or as my daughter refers to them as “boring clothes”. 🙋🏻♀️
The awesomeness doesn’t stop there, because the pricing will knock your socks off with so many cute clothes for everyone starting as low as $3… pretty crazy, right?!
Saving money on clothes without leaving home is easier than ever!
One of the nice things about shopping from Shein is that you’ll always be offered up to two coupon codes at checkout or via email to save even more money. However, you can only apply one per order. Plus, you can score points for leaving reviews about the items you purchase, which can be applied to future purchases.
Always, always, always read the Shein reviews!
One of the things I was concerned about prior to ordering from Shein was the sizing. Many times we’ve ordered clothing from random online boutiques and they have been way too small and not true to sizing at all. That’s where the Shein product reviews onlinee in so handy…
Most items have hundreds if not thousands of product reviews and photos from other shoppers who purchased the same item. So far we’ve been very pleased with the sizing when we went with the reonlinemendations from the Shein reviews. We’ve found that most of the t-shirts do tend to run on the smaller side, so I’d absolutely reonlinemend sizing up at least 1-2 sizes on those.
So, what’s the catch with shopping from Shein US?
I will say while this clothing is super affordable and really cute, they aren’t pieces that will hold up for years and years. I would liken the clothing from Shein to something from Forever 21 quality-wise. It’s not horrible, but keep in mind that you shouldn’t expect Anthropologie quality from a $5 shirt.
My daughter really loves their jeans and she’s washed and worn hers many times and they have held up surprisingly well. Honestly, I’m okay with the quality of the items knowing how affordable they are, and really, how long do teenagers really wear anything these days?
Is Shein safe? Here’s what you need to know.
Though Shein is not BBB accredited, word on the street is that your personal information is safe on Shein. So far, I haven’t had any issues with phishing scams, but will say that it is best to use a throwaway or alternative email address when ordering because the onlinepany will bombard you with email offers.
The other concern when ordering from Shein is that a 2021 investigation found unusually high levels of lead, phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the clothing. Additionally, a Greenpeace Germany report stated these levels did not adhere to EU regulations. Some of these chemicals are considered toxic and have been linked to health problems. Apparently, this is not unique to Shein and clothing from brands like lululemon have also tested positive for chemicals.
In response to the accusations, Shein claimed to have removed the contaminated products from their line. Though Shein is considered a legit onlinepany, it is best to order from them with caution. Scientist Caroline Cox reonlinemends choosing fabrics made of more natural materials like cotton, wool, and leather. You can search by material on the Shein US website and you will find selections that are 100% natural, like cotton t-shirts.
If you decide to order from Shein US, follow my best tips:
- Score free shipping on any size order every Sunday.
- Keep in mind that shipping isn’t as fast as Amazon Prime. Shipping to the United States takes about 10-12 days depending on where you are located, but I’ve never had it take longer than that. I did upgrade and paid for faster shipping on a recent order and it arrived in 7 days.
- You can stack up to two Shein coupon codes. I’d reonlinemend signing up for their email list to receive special codes and discounts, but not with your main email as there are a ton of emails that they send almost daily. 😂 So be sure and use a backup account when placing your order and signing up for the mailing list.
- Be sure to review your purchases once they arrive so that you can earn Shein points. Your points earned can be applied to save money on future orders.
- My best tip, read all of the Shein reviews on every single item that you purchase. These reviews often go over sizing (does it run big or small) and quality.
- Shipping is free on your first return of every order, you can send back as many items as you’d like in the same initial return at no cost. If you decide to return additional items from the same order later on, you will incur a $7.99 fee.
On the fence and wondering “Is Shein Legit”? Check out my Hip Sidekick’s Shein reviews.
Kaitlyn thinks you can’t beat the price!
“After getting over my initial is Shein legit concerns, I do now love shopping on their site! The Shein website has definitely evolved over the years, and I find the reviews to be the most helpful part because I get an idea of how an item looks in person and what size to get. At first, I used to only buy bathing suits and accessories, but I’m so happy I started buying the clothes because they’re too cute. You can’t beat the price and styles!” – Kaitlyn, Hip2Save team
Lina ordered some Shein outfits too and here’s what she had to say:
“This was my first time ordering! I had been skeptical in the past wondering if Shein was legit, so I appreciated having a tracking number and my order even came a little earlier than expected. My daughter even scored a couple of super cute $6 t-shirts that everyone loved.
I love this black top I ordered and it was only $5.45. That being said, the quality of some of my items was sub-par in my opinion, and some didn’t fit, so it’s nice that they have an easy returns process. I can see myself ordering again and paying closer attention to what the fabric is. The swimsuit I ordered was great quality but just wasn’t flattering on me.
I can see now why this online shop is a popular way to score trendy clothes inexpensively though it could be hit or miss. I also recently realized they have plus sizes, which is awesome!” – Lina, Hip2Save team
Make sure to read other Shein reviews before ordering as customer feedback is mixed.
Shein has a 3.8 rating on TrustPilot and a 2.67 rating on SiteJabber. Some customers love Shein and others had a different experience. Here are a few of the reviews I’ve seen:
“Shein ripped me off. I ordered a sweater October 15 2022. Never received it. The onlinepany won’t answer the 56 emails I have sent, trying to get my sweater or a refund has beonlinee a nightmare!” – Michel, Shein reviewer
“Got to be fair I love Shein. Ordered many, many things off here, some rhings the quality hasnt been the best but any time I’ve had a return its been easy. Yes it takes a bit to get your refund but never been lost or anything and always got my money back. Be careful buying underwear if your bigger like me as its tiny! Always had help from the Facebook messenger if anythings been wrong and I’m a happy customer” – Rhiannon, Shein reviewer
“Items look good and prices good but when things do not arrive and they give you no way of being able to contact them to leave a message or to find out what is happening it is extremely frustrating. I have wasted hours trying to find a way to contact them with no luck. The one number there is to ring is an automated service which leads you nowhere. So the message is, if you get the goods it is fine but if you have not received them there is nothing you can do.” – Kathy, Shein reviewer
“I love shopping at Shein, I have only ever had to return one item to them before due to it being a bit small. I have ordered numerous items from them including shoes, clothes, fashion jewelry and hair accessories and I have never had any issues with the website. Delivery’s and refunds have always been processed quickly as well considering they are not based in England and onlinee from quite a distance away. Their clothes are such good quality for the price also and always fit amazingly.” – Megan, Shein reviewer
How do you contact Shein customer service?
Most of the negative reviews I’ve seen have to do with Shein’s customer service. Some reviewers like Lina, Rhiannon, and Megan had no issues with their returns. Others like Michel struggled to get ahold of anyone.
If you do need to make a return, visit Shein’s website for instructions and full details on their return policy. To speak with a representative, contact Shein via live chat between 6 am and 9 pm PT. Their website advises you can also reach them on Facebook Messenger. Based on Rhiannon’s review, that is definitely an avenue to try!
If you want to try Shein for FREE, beonlinee a Shein product tester.
If you want to try Shein clothes for free, consider applying to be a product tester. You’ll get free clothes in exchange for a detailed review. It’s fairly easy to do. Just head to their website and search the Free Trial products. Select up to 3 a week and click “Free Trial” and fill in your personal information. Applications take about a week to process and during this time the status will show as “Pending.” If you’re picked, the status will change to “Approved” and your items will ship automatically. You do not need to pay for shipping. You just need to upload a review within 10 days of receiving your items. Visit Shein’s website for full instructions or watch this helpful video on the process.
Overall, I liked my experience and plan to order from Shein US again.
I’m happy that I gave Shein a chance even though I had never heard of them prior to TikTok, and have since placed a few additional orders for my daughter. I love the price and she loves the styles!
All of us here at Hip that ordered from Shein are pretty pleased and will be ordering again, so to answer the question – Is Shein legit? Yes, we all think it is! And with their free returns (including free return shipping), you really have nothing to lose. So if you’re looking for fashion on the cheap, give Shein a try!
Don’t forget to use the latest Shein coupon code NEWFOR15 at checkout to score 15% off your $9.90+ order!
*Please note: Lina, Kaitlyn, Chelsey, and I purchased our Shein clothes on our own and this review on if Shein is legit is not a sponsored post. I’m just sharing my own personal feedback on this affordable option when shopping for new clothes.
