You want to buy products from DHgate because of the significantly lower price compared to Amazon, eBay, and similar sites but are not entirely sure about its legitimacy.
If this is the case, you’ve come to the right place!
When shopping online, being safe is much easier than when going out in public. There are thousands of businesses out there who want to steal your credit card information and run off with it; but not at DHgate! As a customer service-oriented company, we make sure that every person who shops on our website enjoys their experience here with us – no matter if they’re buying electronics or clothes for themselves or even gifts for friends and family back home!
- Is DHgate Legit?
- Can You Get Scammed on DHgate?
- How To Avoid Getting Scammed on DHgate?
- Is DHgate Safe To Buy From?
- How Long Does DHgate Take To Ship?
- Does DHgate Provide Tracking Number?
- Why Is DHgate So Cheap?
- What About DHgate’s Quality of Goods?
- Is DHgate Good For Buying Branded Stuff?
- Everything About DHgate Refund & Return Process
- More FAQs
Firstly, let’s begin with the main question.
Is DHgate Legit?
DHgate is an online marketplace where you can buy items at a reduced price. However, there are many sellers on DHgate who may not be authentic; instead they are just resellers trying to make money off of other people’s hard work. Before buying anything from any seller on DHgate, you need to do some research first – otherwise, you might end up purchasing something from someone who isn’t trustworthy or respectable enough for you.
As a merchant, what we do at DHgate is act as a middleman between buyers and sellers. We are similar to eBay or Aliexpress but restricted to those in China. The seller lists an item, takes pictures of it, and posts the information about the product on our website so people can buy from them.
They decide what price they want for their goods, how much it will cost for shipping if necessary (we offer free international shipping), and where they will ship internationally too if you need something quick. Once someone places an order for whatever goods they want, dhgate will hold onto their money until the seller delivers said items to them as well as confirm that they have been delivered successfully (before you pay!).
DHgate utilizes Escrow for these transactions, a well-respected and efficient platform designed specifically to protect both buyers and sellers from potential mishaps. Therefore, if there are any issues with either party during the process of completing a purchase, DHgate will offer a full or partial refund to whichever party is requesting it – as long as they request it rightfully so.
For instance, you should never ask for a refund after receiving an item that was described correctly but just didn’t suit your needs; instead save yourself time and energy by returning the item.
However, if the item is found not as described or returns will be given for any justifiable reasoning then it would be best to ask for a refund (more on this later). Hopefully, if all goes well between the buyer and seller and the customer confirms the delivery then payment is released to the seller and Dhgate receives their standard 3% service fee from the seller. Upon completion of a transaction, both buyers and sellers are given feedback about what went wrong during that particular purchase process.
Can You Get Scammed on DHgate?
Yes, you can get scammed on DHgate, just like on other marketplaces like eBay, Aliexpress and others. Unfortunately there are scammers on DHgate too but this does not mean that the platform is a scam. As I said earlier, DHgate does not sell its own goods; instead, it deals with sellers who post their products on the website – so make sure to thoroughly research the seller before committing to any purchase, or else you could find yourself getting ripped off in no time!
Scammers exist everywhere and while there are many rules in place for protection for both buyers and sellers alike, it’s also your responsibility as a buyer not to do anything that puts you at risk of being defrauded- take note of these tips below before committing any transactions
Following these tips, it is unlikely for someone to be scammed when purchasing products from DHgate.
6 Tips To Avoid Getting Scammed on DHgate
If you want to buy products off of DHgate but don’t want to get ripped off, then here are six tips that will protect you from scams.
1. Check Customer’s Reviews & Feedback Before Buying
The easiest way to steer clear of scams when shopping online is to check the reviews and feedback left by other customers on the seller’s product page. This also helps make ordering through DHgate less intimidating because you know what kind of quality you’re getting for your money. Your chances of having bad things happen go down significantly if there are thousands upon thousands of satisfied customers who have done business with this person in the past who leave nothing but stellar reviews all over the internet.
I recommend you to always buy from sellers with:
- At least 200 reviews.
- A star rating of at least 4.7 out of 5 on their product page.
Additionally, you can look at the uploaded photos from other customers for a better idea of what the product will actually look like.
To get a better understanding of reliable sellers, here are a few examples:
You should never buy from sellers with less than fifty reviews for their products unless you know the people personally or are purchasing a used item. However, one thing I forgot to mention was that it can be difficult to see when reviews were posted so make sure you check the date too.
If recent reviews are overwhelmingly positive, then it’s safe to assume that this is a good product and the seller is reputable.
2. Check Seller’s Profile Before Buying
Similar to checking reviews and feedback before buying a specific product of the seller you’re interested in purchasing, it is also important for buyers to check the profile of each potential seller.
You should look for 4 things in the seller’s profile:
- Total feedback score must be 95% or above
- Review score
- Service score
- Establishment year of the seller
Apart from these, I recommend purchasing items from reputable merchants such as Top Merchant or Premium Merchant retailers to ensure you are getting the best service and quality of the product.
It’s not necessary to buy from sellers who have a Top Merchant or Premium Merchant badge, but it’s preferred because these badges are only given out by DHgate if the seller provides excellent customer service and high-quality products.
If you want to look at the four most important aspects of a seller’s profile, here are some tips for doing it:
This seller has a total feedback score of over 99% and is established for six years. They also boast an impressive customer review score, as well as being one of the best merchants around. It would be very rare if they were ever scammers because people who have high scores like this are likely reputable sellers.
3. Do Not Confirm Delivery Before Receiving The Order
As we all know, DHgate does not release payment to sellers until the buyer has checked the order and confirmed it has been delivered.
As such, before confirming your order delivery through your DHgate account, make sure you have either received it or contacted the seller about an issue with the description of their product. If the item is not as described and/or you did not receive it then you can contact both the seller for assistance or start a dispute against them if they do not satisfactorily address your complaint.
However, if you confirm the order before delivering or even ordering your item then it can be difficult to get a refund from the seller. Payment has been transferred to the seller by DHgate at this point and they won’t take responsibility for mistakes made after an order has been finalized.
4. Never Deal with Seller Outside DHgate
If an individual requests that you pay them directly as opposed to DHgate, this is a clear indication that the individual may attempt to scam you. This is also in violation of DHgate’s guidelines and regulations for transactions, which explicitly stated that individuals who do not use DHgate services forfeit any claim to its buyer protection policies.
5. Watch Out for Misleading Descriptions
When one buys items for sale, one is tempted to rely solely on pictures and reviews in the listings. But typically, this neglects the descriptions of these things. Sometimes fraudsters use ambiguous or confusing language to describe their products – such as an Xbox being listed at a dirt-cheap price without specifying that it’s just a box inside.
When someone complains about getting an item not as described back from DHgate later on, any dispute won’t be considered because there was nothing wrong with the description! It may not be blatant scamming, but when something seems too good to be true… well you get the idea! One way to avoid scams would be to read through descriptions thoroughly and look at all aspects of what is being sold before purchasing anything impulsively.
6. Don’t Make a Large Order At First
The last piece of advice I can give is to always make a small order when buying from someone for the first time, even if they have many reviews. You want to see what the quality of their work is like before purchasing anything big- this way if you’re unhappy with it there will be no regret later on.
Is DHgate Safe?
DHgate is one of the safest and most reliable sites for online shopping. You can purchase whatever you need without having to worry about getting scammed or ripped off due to DHgate’s strict guidelines and encryption system which protects buyers from fraudsters.
And, Is DHgate Secure? Can I trust DHgate with my credit card information?
DHgate is absolutely secure and you can definitely trust it with your credit card information as it’s PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant. For those of you who want to know if DHgate will protect them from fraudsters, I did some research on the internet for complaints against its payment method’s security and privacy but found not even a single complaint. In order to stay safe while purchasing items on DHgate, read these tips I shared earlier so that you won’t fall victim or get scammed by any sellers looking to take advantage of this marketplace.
How Long Does DHgate Take To Ship?
It usually takes between 20-45 days for a shipment to arrive at its destination using DHgate Standard Shipping. However, the length of time it will take can depend on various factors – such as where the buyer is located, what shipping method they chose, and which supplier they’re purchasing from. Usually, items are shipped out by either ePacket or China Post; though if buyers want faster delivery options they may need to spend extra money more often than they initially planned on spending when they made their purchase.
Don’t worry, every item on DHgate comes with an estimate of when it will arrive, and there are several ways to pick up your purchase – from how fast you need it, all the way down to how much is left in your budget.
Apart from the shipping time, most retailers include when you will receive your order at checkout and if it doesn’t arrive within this set time frame, then you are able to ask for a refund.
Does DHgate Provide Tracking Number?
After your order has been shipped, the seller is responsible for providing you with a tracking number. It’s important to research which carriers offer this service before purchasing an item so that you can feel confident about what will happen if there are any delays in delivery.
Please note, in most cases, it may take up to ten days before the shipping carrier will allow you access to the tracking information of your package. If you are unable to track your order after ten days of waiting time, please contact the seller and ask them to reach out to the carrier company so they can obtain this information for you themselves. However, if they do not reply or give an invalid tracking number – then by all means file a dispute through DHgate.
Why Is DHgate So Cheap?
When you browse through the items on DHgate, you’ll most likely take notice right away that many of these prices are lower than what they would be at other markets.
I think the main question most people (including you) ask about DHgate is whether or not it’s safe. Sure, there are many negative reviews online but who cares when the items there can all be bought for dirt-cheap prices! There are five very important reasons why we’re able to purchase items at such low prices from DHgate:
- You’re buying directly from the manufacturer: One of the key benefits of purchasing from DHgate is being able to buy straight from a manufacturer without having to worry about inflated prices thanks to retailers. This ultimately lowers the cost for us, so we can provide you with quality goods at low prices.
- Sell and buy in bulk: Sellers often buy large quantities of goods at once, which drastically lowers their own costs in turn. This means they will then sell the items for less than a normal price too – so it benefits both sides! Besides, there are many sellers on DHgate who specialize in selling only in bulk to lower profit margins while charging less per order (and still taking advantage of economies of scale) and this saves buyers money when purchasing larger quantities.
- You’re looking at counterfeit products: Of course, not every product on DHgate can be trusted. If you see something that is suspiciously affordable then the probability of it being fake or counterfeit becomes very likely – in other words, if something sounds too good to be true then there’s a high chance it is. Always do your research when shopping online so that you know what company to trust with your money and buy items accordingly.
- Lower production cost: Since DHgate operates within China, most of its sellers are also from China. These sellers find it much easier to make items in their home country because the cost of production or manufacturing is lower there than in other parts of the world.
- Low taxes in China: Along with being inexpensive to produce in, China also has low taxes since they have a business-friendly environment.
For this reason, the manufacturer or seller on DHgate sells their items at a low price.
What About DHgate’s Quality of Goods?
The quality of goods from DHgate will depend on the seller you’re buying from, so there is no one-fit answer to this question. Sometimes you may find yourself happy with the product and sometimes not, it all depends on the seller you choose. Before buying any product, kindly go through the seller’s ratings and take a look at multiple product photos uploaded by other customers in the reviews to get an idea of what kind of quality to expect before making your decision. In summary, DHgate offers some excellent deals with great product quality; however, not every item they sell is legitimate or high-quality – there are also counterfeit products too.
So, first of all, it’s your responsibility to buy only high-quality products and reliable sellers – following these tips will prevent you from falling victim to scams. But remember that you also need to know what you’re purchasing! You won’t get the iphone 12 pros just because you bought an iPhone 6 at a different price point.
Is DHgate Good For Buying Branded Stuff?
Clearly, no! DHgate isn’t the best place to buy branded goods. In fact, I would say it is the absolute worst of all possible places to purchase branded items.
Why?
Because the majority of items listed on DHgate are fakes – replicas of real, popular brands. People are often fooled by these low prices because it makes them question how cheaply these things could actually be sold for. For example, seeing a Gucci belt sold for $50 instead of its typical price of $500 would make them wonder why it would cost so little.
Apart from this, also remember that there are no authorized stores of many well-known brands on DHgate and those who’re selling branded goods with the company’s name or logo are most likely scammers or the product might be fake. In conclusion, never buy branded products from DHgate, Aliexpress, or any other similar marketplace. However, if you’re thinking about buying replicas then you should do so but before purchasing them make sure the seller is trustable.
Everything About DHgate Refund & Return Process
You can only make a refund request if you have any legitimate reasons, for example:
- Item not received
- Item not as described
- Invalid tracking number
Besides, you may not get the refund if:
1. The seller’s “promise” time frame has expired
If the seller’s return promise time has expired then you won’t receive a refund. Make sure that you are asking for a refund before the seller’s return promise time expires because it is up to them when they want to give back your money if it goes past that date. The return policy is usually 3-days, 7-days, 15 days, or 30 days from the day an item was received. If you click on View Policies on the product page (next to where it says Add To Cart), you will be able to see what date marks those dates and whether or not the buyer pays return shipping costs.
However, most often, the buyer must also cover the cost for returning an item.
2. You confirmed the delivery before asking for help from DHgate
If you ask for help from DHgate before confirming the delivery of an order, then chances are you will not receive a refund since payment has already been released to the seller. That is why I have advised that after receiving and examining your purchase thoroughly, please confirm if it is delivered or not.
3. Sellers didn’t set up any return policy “promise” on the product page
If the seller did not set up a return promise on their product page, then you cannot request a refund as seen above. This seller did not have a return policy:
Therefore, you should always buy from a seller who has clearly established a return policy for items purchased.
How To Get Refund on DHgate
If you have a good reason to ask for a refund – such as the item never arrived or there was nothing wrong with it – make sure you contact the seller. If they refuse, complain to us and we’ll help you out
Here’s how you can open a dispute to get the refund:
- From your DHgate account, please go to the My Orders section.
- To open a dispute, click on File an Issue.
3. Select a Reason for opening a dispute and upload the dispute evidence. If it is as advertised then include an image of the product when uploaded.
4. If you are ready to confirm and submit your proposal, please click the submit button below.
Now, you need to patiently await for assistance from DHgate. Once your dispute is approved by DHgate then you’ll have to send the item back to the seller in most circumstances. However, one of the biggest disadvantages of DHgate when it comes to returning an item to the seller is that sometimes they charge too much in fees when they mention this in their own return policy.
Shipping items back to China is usually quite costly – sometimes even more so than what was initially spent on the item, which isn’t reimbursed. As such, I would advise against requesting refunds when the shipping cost exceeds the initial price of an item most of the time. However, if an expensive product has been ordered from DHgate then it may be worth it to request a refund; but proceed with caution because this generally isn’t advisable for products that are inexpensive or moderately priced.
FAQs About Is Dhgate Safe?
How To Cancel A DHGate Order?
To cancel your order before it has been processed, go to your order page and select the Cancel Order button. Within two hours of placing an order you must Request a Refund from the Seller who will either approve or deny this request. If the Seller does not respond within seven days then you will be refunded automatically.
Does Dhgate accept Paypal?
Yes, you can use PayPal as your payment method. When using this service, you will be transferred to the website for completing a purchase. With an existing PayPal account – which many people possess – they are able to check the status of their transaction at any time.
What to avoid buy from Dhgate?
It is perfectly legal for individuals to buy branded items and then try to resell them. It is prudent for buyers to be wary when purchasing goods that concern the safety of the customer. There may also be fraudulent sellers out there, so it’s important to carefully inspect products before buying anything. Another thing to note is that while quality standards of the best merchants on DHGate may vary from those of your local retailer or traditional physical store, they are still high in quality (even if they’re lower).
Why are products on Dhgate so cheap?
China, as we all know an enormous place that is home to many people, is also a ‘global factory’ of sorts. Sellers here are mostly from China and offer goods at affordable prices to entice buyers from around the world. As an example of this globalism you could visit sites such as DHgate which sells products similar to those found on Amazon for cheaper prices than what you would pay for if you were buying them in America.
Conclusion
Although they do have buyer protection in place, you’re still susceptible to getting scammed if you don’t know the right steps to take before making a purchase. But overall, DHgate is an excellent option for purchasing items at lower prices. Just make sure that you understand this point: refunds on low priced items will most likely cost more than what was actually paid for the product itself due to fees associated with return shipping. I wouldn’t recommend buying anything expensive or in bulk from a seller unless you are absolutely certain that they’re trustworthy and authentic since refunds can be costly if something goes wrong.