Let’s get straight to the point. Is shein.com (the clothing shop) a legit website? The short answer is yes, they are legitimate. I received my clothing order and successfully returned everything for a refund. Now the biggest question is, would I shop here again?
In this honest and detailed review, I will share my purchase and return experience, my thoughts on their clothing, brand information/research, and my final verdict/recommendation. Keep reading for more!
Table of Contents
About SHEIN
Is SHEIN sustainable?
While they follow a fast fashion model by keeping up with the trends (and therefore promoting overconsumption), they appear to follow some sustainable practices. According to their sustainability page, they started evoluSHEIN, which is a roadmap that focuses on sustainable growth, and have joined several organizations to help reduce carbon emissions and use more sustainable materials.
Here is a list of sustainability-related organizations/certifications they claim to be partnered with and/or have. For the ones I can confirm, I have linked to evidence.
- Apparel Impact Institute
- Textile Exchange
- The Mekong Club
- United Nations Global Compact
- World Circular Textiles Day
- American Apparel & Footwear Association
- California Chamber of Commerce
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Despite this, there is a lot of scrutiny regarding these claims and accusations that they use forced labor. See the ‘Similar Sites/Analysis’ section near the end of this review for more details.
Check out this article, 13 Easy Ways To Know If A Brand Is Fast Fashion by Panaprium, for tell-tale signs of a fast fashion company.
Where is SHEIN located?
According to their About page, they are headquartered in Singapore. Their business address is 112 Robinson Road #03-01.
They also have locations in the U.S., Brazil, Ireland, and southern China.
The U.S. business locations are at these addresses:
- 757 S. Alameda St., Suite 340, Los Angeles, CA 90021 (SHEIN Distribution Corporation)
- 777 S. Alameda St., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90021 (SHEIN US Services, LLC)
Where does SHEIN ship from?
My order was shipped to me from a warehouse/distribution center in Texas (United States).
Where are SHEIN clothes made?
All of the clothing in my order was made in China.
More Shop Details
Business Details
- According to the Internet Archive, they previously went by the name Sheinside.
- According to their Terms of Service page and my Order Confirmation email, they are affiliated with the following legal business names:
- SHEIN US Services, LLC
- SHEIN Distribution Corporation
- Read this List of Online Stores that are confirmed to be run by the same owners as SHEIN.
Statements & Press Details
- According to their Supply Chain Transparency Statement, they have conducted 2,425 audits on their manufacturers, covering about 84% of their product procurement value in 2022, to ensure compliance with their Supplier Code of Conduct. They used both internal and external auditors and established a feedback system for workers. They claim to be committed to fair wages, demonstrated by a salary investigation in South China, auditing 150 factories.
Policy & Program Details
- SHEIN runs a marketplace for third-party brands to sell their products.
- They offer a 15% student discount.
- They have their SHEIN VIP loyalty program where you can earn, redeem, and spend points.
- They offer free shipping over $29.
- Returns:
- They offer free returns within 35 days of the purchase date.
- The following items are not returnable: Bodysuits, lingerie, underwear, jewelry, accessories, cosmetics, pet products, and customized products.
Product Details
- They carry:
- Standard and plus sizes from XXS to 5XL
- Maternity sizes/options
- Tall and petite lengths
- They also sell their products on Amazon.
Domain Details
- The website shein.com was registered in January 1998.
SHEIN Review and Order Details
I ordered the below items on 1/31/2024 to my address in North Carolina (United States). I paid a total of $66.73 to SHEIN B2C MP via PayPal. The charge appears on my credit card statement as “PAYPAL *SHEINUSSERV”. – View Order Confirmation
1) Bell-Sleeve Sparkle Cocktail Party Dress
Brand Label: XUCTHHC
Color/Size/Cost: Black / M(6) / $35.22 (Sale Price)
Country: Made in China
Material: 100% Polyester
Expectation: It is exactly what I was expecting in terms of overall appearance.
Quality: In my opinion, the quality is decent. See my Quality Comparison & Rating Chart to know my current quality-rating standards.
Fit: I ordered based on the size guide provided, and it fits well. View my Body Measurements for size reference.
Keep or Return: I would keep this SHEIN sequin dress.
It is SO stunning! It is perfectly loose, flattering, roomy enough in the neck area, and has beautiful pointed bell sleeves. The dress has a soft inner lining, while the sleeves have a mesh one (this makes the arms feel slightly itchy). I also noticed a few sequins fell off, and one got caught on another when I brushed my arm against my side. These aren’t dealbreakers, but this type of garment needs to be treated carefully.
2) SXY One-Shoulder Cut-Out Knot Satin Bodycon Dress
Brand Label: SHEIN
Color/Size/Cost: Dark Green / L(8/10) / $11.57 (Sale Price)
Country: Made in China
Material: 95% Polyester / 5% Elastane
Expectation: It is exactly what I was expecting in terms of overall appearance.
Quality: In my opinion, the quality is okay. See my Quality Comparison & Rating Chart to know my current quality-rating standards.
Fit: I ordered based on the size guide provided, and it is the right size, but not the right fit for my body shape. The skirt part fits perfectly, but the bust area is 1-2 sizes too loose. View my Body Measurements for size reference.
Keep or Return: I would return this SHEIN one-shoulder dress.
Though the material is soft and smooth on the outside, it is thin and pretty ill-fitting. The waist and hips fit like a glove, while the entire top area is 1-2 sizes too loose. It doesn’t seem well made proportionally, but maybe it’s just me.
3) Swim Vcay Smocked Bikini Top & Bottoms
Brand Label: Unknown
Color/Size/Cost:
- Top- Hot Pink / M(6) / $5.39 (Sale Price)
- Bottoms- Hot Pink / L(8/10) / $4.33 (Sale Price)
Country: Made in China
Material:
- Top- 95% Polyester / 5% Elastane
- Bottoms- 90% Polyester / 10% Elastane
Expectation: It is exactly what I was expecting in terms of overall appearance.
Quality: In my opinion, the quality is decent. See my Quality Comparison & Rating Chart to know my current quality-rating standards.
Fit: I ordered based on the size guides provided, and the top fits a bit loose (sizing down MIGHT be a bit snug), and the bottoms fit well. View my Body Measurements for size reference.
Keep or Return: I would keep the bikini bottoms and return the bikini top.
I like the wavy texture of the material, and the quality is similar to Walmart swimwear. It is entirely double-layered and the top has adjustable straps which is great. The bottoms fit like a glove, but the top is a bit loose (I am between sizes in the top, so sizing down would probably be a bit tight). So, I would keep the bottoms and return the top since they are separate.
4) Swim BAE Plain Contrast Mesh One-Shoulder One-Piece
Brand Label: Unknown
Color/Size/Cost: Black / L(8/10) / $10.22 (Sale Price)
Country: Made in China
Material: 80% Polyamide / 20% Elastane
Expectation: It is exactly what I was expecting in terms of overall appearance.
Quality: In my opinion, the quality is decent. See my Quality Comparison & Rating Chart to know my current quality-rating standards.
Fit: I ordered based on the size guide provided, and it is the right size, but not a good fit for my body shape. The torso length is good, however, it is too loose everywhere else, and the crotch area is very exposing. View my Body Measurements for size reference.
Keep or Return: I would return this SHEIN monokini.
It is entirely double-layered which is great and the quality isn’t bad, but it is ill-fitting. The torso length of the swimsuit is right with this current size, but everywhere else fits a size too big. The crotch area is also extremely exposing. Sizing down would be too short in the torso, and would potentially be even more exposing. I do like the mesh and solid material combo though.
Shipment Info
I received five items in one package at my address in North Carolina (United States). The package came from a warehouse/distribution center in the United States. I was provided tracking numbers through UPS.
Package Shipped From: 347 S. Stimson Ave., B Door 17, City of Industry, TX 91744 (United States)
Shipping Timeline:
- I placed my order on Wed, January 31st
- My order shipped on Tues, February 6th
- I received my package on Fri, February 9th
Total time of 9 days
Their shipping policy states an average of 10 days for delivery (including processing time) for standard U.S. shipping.
Return & Refund Info
I requested a return through their return portal on February 15th. My request was approved instantaneously, and I was provided with a prepaid return label. I mailed the package on February 22nd via USPS.
Provided Return Address: Parcel Returns Service, 56901, Washington D.C. (United States)
Return Instructions:
- Please print the attached return label and adhere it to the outside of the return parcel.
- Drop off at the chosen courier.
I received a full refund of $66.73 on February 29th. I received it 7 days after I mailed the package. – View Refund Receipt
Customer Service Experience
General Responsiveness
My experience was seamless, and I didn’t need to contact their support email for anything (including the return since it was done through their return portal). My return was approved and I was provided with the next steps instantaneously.
Return Details
They provided me with the following return/refund options:
- Return through UPS (prepaid label or QR code)
- Return through USPS (prepaid label or QR code)
Is SHEIN Legit or a Scam?
Similar Sites & Analysis
Reverse Image Search:
Based on my findings, there are MANY other small boutiques/online shops/marketplaces that appear to sell many of the same items as SHEIN.
Possible reasons for this include the use of the same suppliers, this shop operating as a wholesaler or marketplace, the same owner operating multiple stores and/or selling on multiple platforms, the use of stolen images, etc.
With that being said, I found several of the same products on Amazon, Temu, etc. for around the same price or more expensive. I believe these are identical or near-identical items offered at vastly different prices (as opposed to one being a cheap-quality version of the other).
I highly recommend doing Reverse Image Searches when shopping online for price and quality checking purposes. You might be surprised at what you find!
Website/Company Search:
Reports:
A congressional report showed that SHEIN dodges tariffs and may bypass U.S. laws against forced labor, specifically concerning the Uyghur population in China. They sell a massive volume of goods quickly by avoiding certain shipping fees and utilizing workers in harsh conditions. A U.S. law was passed to stop goods made with forced labor from Xinjiang, China, from entering the U.S. However, their use of a shipping loophole might let them skirt this rule. Check out this bluemarble article for more details.
Do I Recommend This Shop?
Based on my experience, they are a legitimate shop. I paid for my items, received them within the estimated time frame, successfully completed a return, and received a full refund.
With that being said, I personally would not shop here again.
Even though they have a low free-shipping threshold ($29 minimum), free and easy returns, a variety of size options (from plus to maternity to tall/petite lengths), low prices, and okay/decent-quality clothing, there is a major reason why I would not shop here.
Unfortunately, there is supporting evidence that they use forced/unethical labor and bypass import duty fees. I am not comfortable supporting a shop engaging in these illegal and unethical business practices.
Overall, my shopping experience was good, and the quality of the clothing in my order is fine. But with the overwhelming evidence and accusations surrounding the ethics of this shop, I would not buy from here again.
To wrap up this post, regardless of my experience, be sure to read as many customer reviews as possible. If you found this post helpful in your search for SHEIN reviews, please consider sharing this with your friends and commenting (via Reddit) below.
Thank you very much for your support and readership!
Take care,
– Noelle
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