Everyone loves a bargain these days, which means that online shops are making a financial killing. It also means that their mobile apps are getting downloaded at a fast clip, and lots of money is changing hands every minute. One of those booming shopping sites is called Shein. But is Shein safe to buy from? And how can you stay safe while using it?
What is Shein?
Shein is a fast fashion retailer founded in China in 2008. It has since risen to become the largest fashion retailer in the world. Currently headquartered in Singapore, the company was valued at $100 billion in 2022.
A fast fashion retailer is one who notices the latest catwalk fashion trends and then quickly mass-manufactures them, getting them online and available for purchase while buying demand is high.
Unlike most businesses, the 2020 pandemic was good for Shein, as everyone stayed at home and did a vast amount of shopping online. This was a major reason why Shein rocketed to the status it now has and why it is about to go public on the stock exchange.
Is Shein legit, or is it a scam?
Shein is a perfectly legitimate company to buy from. However, you have to remember that since it is a fast fashion retailer, Shein does cut a few corners, resulting in some shortcomings.
There’s a reason why Shein is able to sell you a T-shirt for only a couple of dollars. Since speed is their business model, the product quality may not be the best in terms of materials used or overall lifespan.
In addition, Shein has some ethical, moral, and legal baggage, which we will cover in the next section.
Why does Shein have a bad reputation?
Shein is severely lacking when it comes to ethical and moral business practices. That said, Shein has gone to great lengths recently to clean up its act in preparation for going public. It’s definitely something to think about before you click that buy button.
Here are some of the things they have been accused of in the past:
- Child labor and sweatshops in China and elsewhere
- Environmental concerns due to their business model of cheap products
- Intellectual property theft, with many designers accusing Shein of stealing their designs, leading to US federal charges
- Suing competitors for things they themselves have been accused of
Is Shein safe to order from?
Shein is generally considered to be safe to order from, even though there have been some privacy and security incidents in the past (we will cover that later in the article).
Remember the following about Shein:
- Their business model is “fast” and “cheap.” Products you buy may not meet the highest quality standards and/or resemble what was shown on the website.
- The company is based in Asia. Therefore, returning items for a refund will most likely prove not to be worth it if you are in the United States or Europe.
- Your country of residence will most likely charge you taxes for the item to enter the country.
Is the Shein website secure?
The Shein website is secure, with SSL technology ensuring that all payments are made and transmitted securely.
However, no website in the world is immune to security breaches, so use caution, just as you would with any other online shopping experience.
Is the Shein app safe?
The Shein app is also considered to be safe, as it uses the same SSL technology as the website, and it is downloaded and installed either from the iOS App Store or the Google Play store. Therefore, the app has to pass strict standards to be listed there.
How safe is your data and payment info with Shein?
Although Shein uses SSL technology on their site and app, there have been some incidents in the past that raised red flags:
- There were some reported incidents where users accused Shein of sharing their personal information with third parties, leading to spam emails.
- In 2022, Shein was hit by an almost $2 million fine by the New York State Attorney General. The data breach exposed the personal details of millions of customers, but Shein was accused of not doing what was required to repair the breach and inform customers that their details were potentially out in the wild.
The potential risks of shopping on Shein
Shein may be ready to give you the fashion deal of the century, but before you whip out that credit card and buy 10 of everything, take a moment to consider the risks of shopping there. We don’t mean risks regarding your user details. We mean other risks.
Lack of transparency
As we have stated a couple of times, Shein’s motto seems to be, “Faster… And then, even faster.” Their business model relies on finding new products, mass-producing them extremely quickly, selling them as fast as possible, and then moving on to the next thing.
This has led to critics — some of them senior US politicians — accusing Shein of shady business practices and lack of transparency regarding their manufacturing processes and working conditions.
Environmental concerns
As earlier stated, Shein’s product quality is, at times, questionable. Along with “fast and faster” comes “cheap and cheaper.” Materials are of low quality and disposable by nature. In fact, Shein’s habit of fast production and fast sales has led to accusations of contributing to the world’s environmental problems.
Shein has tried to throw the critics a bone by using recycled materials and cutting down on packaging. But these actions are merely band-aids to cover the wound.
And if all that wasn’t bad enough, some of Shein’s products have been found to have harmful chemicals in them, leading to customers becoming sick.
How to shop safely on Shein
By this point in the article, you may be backing away slowly from Shein and looking for the nearest exit. However, you may still want that $1 nose-warmer enough not to take our warnings seriously.
If you’re determined to get a deal and live life on the edge, at least follow these tips.
Read the reviews
Of course, you should read the product reviews on the Shein website. However, you don’t know if that 5-star review was written by a genuine customer or by Shein themselves.
Instead, focus more on third-party sites such as Yelp, Trustpilot, and even Reddit. You will likely get some very different opinions on these platforms than you would on the Shein website. The thing to really look out for is how Shein responds to these comments.
Use a secure payment method
One of the upsides of Shein is that they offer secure payment methods, such as PayPal. This means that your payment information is not put on their server and, therefore, isn’t where it can be hacked and stolen.
The other good thing about PayPal is that they have buyer protection insurance. If you feel you have been scammed or misled by Shein, you can apply to get your money back. Just be sure to keep all supporting evidence, such as receipts and emails.
Consider using a disposable credit card
If PayPal isn’t your thing, some banks offer disposable credit cards. These are virtual credit card numbers designed to be used once or twice and then deactivated. Consequently, if the credit card number appears in a data breach, that number is useless.
One bank that offers virtual cards is Wise. Check with your bank to see if they offer them, or check out Privacy.
Set up a throwaway email address or email alias
When buying from a service with a checkered past, it is better to set up a throwaway email address specifically for that transaction. That way, if the email is exposed in a data breach, then no biggie.
Once you have received your thermal pinkie finger sock, you can pitch the email account.
Don’t give any unnecessary user information
When you are setting up a new customer account, some of the information they ask for can be quite intrusive. Let’s face it, all they need is your name, address, and email. Anything other than that is just plain unnecessary.
Why do they need to know your mobile number? Why do they need your date of birth? Don’t give them anything they don’t need.
The internet has been good for breaking down international barriers and making it easier to shop in other countries. But some companies — in their pursuit of the almighty dollar — are content to cut corners, bend the rules, and even cheat if it means they’ll get ahead. And if a company is located in another country, there is likely little you can do about it.
That’s why you must always think before buying something online. There’s a reason why that handbag is only $10. What do they want in return? How much will that cheap handbag really cost you? Always keep your wits about you when shopping online, and follow best practices when it comes to privacy and security.
