Is SHEIN good quality? Is SHEIN reliable? All the answers to your SHEIN questions answered – from sizing to shipping times. I’m sharing my honest SHEIN review with all the pros & cons. Along with my experience of shopping there over the last few years with tips for what to buy and what not to buy!
The question we’re all here for – is SHEIN legit? And yes, SHEIN is legit! They are a legitimate retailer that sells affordable and fashion-forward women clothing.
SHEIN is an online megastore that with a huge selection of clothing and apparel for women, including dresses, tops, bottoms, plus size, shoes, bags and accessories.
What makes SHEIN so popular is their affordable price point, stylish clothes and enormous selection.
But how is SHEIN’s quality?
The quality of SHEIN‘s clothing is similar to what you would find at H&M or Zara. It’s not made to last, but will get you through the season in style.
Read my 8 pro-tips to shopping at SHEIN to get the insider scoop on how to shop smarter at SHEIN and get exactly what you want!
More shopping and fashion posts:
- Websites like SHEIN for Affordable and Stylish Clothes
- Best Online Shopping Sites You Wish You Knew About Sooner
- Best Places to Shop for Summer Dresses Online
My Honest SHEIN Review
I’ll be completely open with you, I have both worked with SHEIN and made my own clothing purchases at SHEIN.
If you’ve followed my blog for awhile, you’ll know I have a LOT of clothes from SHEIN. I shop there quite often and work with them few times a year as well.
After wearing their clothes for the last few years I’ve gotten to know the quality and fit of their clothing pretty well and how to shop for good pieces.
It’s pretty safe to say I’m a fan, but let me tell you all the pros and cons to shopping at SHEIN…
“Is SHEIN legit?” is probably one of the more frequently asked questions. I’ve been shopping at SHEIN for over 5+ years now, and I’ve had my share of hits and misses, but I have to say many of them are hits.
If you’re buying a a $5 shirt, you can expect that the quality will be $5. But if you’re spending $20 for a sweater or for a dress, the quality is just a comparable as Gap or American Eagle.
I try to balance my wardrobe between well-made quality staples and fast fashion pieces. And my clothes from SHEIN definitely fall in the latter category.
SHEIN great for getting those on-trend clothing pieces and of-the-moment styles of the current season.
SHEIN also has a massive selection of shoes, accessories, and even home wares and lifestyle products, so you can outfit your whole life on a budget.
Some of my favourite items to purchase there dresses (particularly summer dresses), trendy pieces, sweaters, and loungewear.
I share my best SHEIN buys here in this post for my top 10 SHEIN finds.
On the flip side, the cons to shopping at SHEIN…
SHEIN clothes can be cheaply made. But as I mentioned earlier, you get what you pay for, so keep that in mind when you see a cute top that’s only $3.99!
Another thing to watch out for is sizing. Sizing can be inconsistent at times. I’ve found if you look at the detailed measurements of the clothing, you will get a much better idea of the fit than going by the labelled size. I will wear anything from an XS to a M, and usually being small the majority of the time.
SHOPPING TIP: Reading reviews and looking at the uploaded pictures are also very helpful when it comes to determining the size and quality of the item. So make sure you’re on the lookout for those when shopping at SHEIN.
I’ve read about many issues are related to returns, exchanges or shipping delays, which is a regular part the hassle to online shopping anyway. And amplified by overseas shipping etc., they process can get quite drawn out and understandably frustrating.
I’ve only personally only returned one item which were a pair of shoes, and the process wasn’t terrible. Your first return is free by the way! I use the prepaid label they sent me and just dropped it off at the post office. I received my money back in about 2 weeks.
Most of the time if something doesn’t fit, I just donate it or give it away as I’ll be too lazy to bother with the return.
Like many fast fashion retailers, there have been questions asked about SHEIN’s ethical work practices and the well being of their workers. These bargain prices come at a cost for both ethical practices and environmental sustainability and that’s something to keep in mind as well.
SHEIN shipping times are typically take about 1 week for me here in Canada. But lately with the global situation, SHEIN shipping has been a little slower around 2+ weeks or so. So if you’re planning to get something for a special occasion, make sure to plan ahead!
Here’s haul video of a few tops I recently got from SHEIN:
Like any fast growing company, SHEIN has had its share growing pains. Over the years, I’ve seen improvement in their quality of clothing, sizing, shipping, as well as customer relations.
Overall, I do love shopping at SHEIN. Their affordable prices paired with their massive selection of clothing makes it hard to resist for me.
For me, I like wear a mix of affordable fast fashion pieces along with quality pieces. I think it’s important to have a balance. I’m happy to splurge on sustainable and well made pieces that I know will last, but supplementing them with trendy pieces from SHEIN helps to fill in the gaps in my wardrobe.
Shop SHEIN on Amazon
If you’re still on the fence about shopping at SHEIN, Amazon Fashion carries SHEIN clothing at well.
The selection is smaller, but there is still quite a lot of variety of the clothing. And it can give you the opportunity to order their clothes with less hassle and more assurance.
Your order will be shipped by Amazon, so you can feel more comfortable with being able try SHEIN’s clothing, while still being able to easily exchange or return them if you don’t find them to your liking. Plus, being able to read the reviews on Amazon are great as well!
SHEIN products on Amazon
Frequently asked questions about SHEIN
Some frequently asked questions about SHEIN include: Is SHEIN safe? Is SHEIN reliable? Is SHEIN good quality? Why is SHEIN so cheap? Is SHEIN from China? How much is SHEIN shipping? Is SHEIN legit? All the answers to your SHEIN FAQ’s are right here:
Does SHEIN sizing run small?
No, SHEIN sizing is true to North American sizing. Years ago they were Asian sized and smaller fitting, but in their current sizing has been updated to North American standards.
To ensure you get a good fit, make sure you check the clothing measurements. Also make sure to read the reviews to get more insight.
Is SHEIN trustworthy? Is SHEIN a scam? Is SHEIN reliable? Is SHEIN safe to order from?
Yes, SHEIN is legit and trustworthy, and not a scam. I ordered dozens of times from them and have found SHEIN reliable in always having my package delivered.
SHEIN is safe to shop at and they’ve become an established online retailer that rivals Amazon with their selection and pricing.
Over the years, SHEIN has improved both the quality of their clothing and as well as their commitment to customer service.
Is SHEIN good quality?
Overall the quality of SHEIN clothing fair to good. Keep in mind you get what you pay for, so if something is $5, it will likely be $5 quality.
Their clothing won’t compare to premium brands, but their clothing is good quality for the affordable price tag. SHEIN’s quality is comparable to brands like Topshop and H&M, where you can find good pieces at affordable prices.
Why is SHEIN so cheap?
SHEIN is so cheap because they produce and manufacture their own products, cutting out the middle man.
Labour and supplies are also cheaper in China which allows them to produce clothing much cheaper than other places in the world.
This does come at a price though, it can be in the form of less durable materials, as well as the welfare and working conditions of their workers.
What should you buy at SHEIN?
SHEIN is great for buying trendy of the moment pieces, seasonal pieces, and designer dupes.
It’s also a great place to shop for trends you feel unsure of to test out styles you feel unsure about.
I wouldn’t recommend long wearing wardrobe staples, though I do have a few sweaters that have stood the test of time.
I also love buying dresses there, particularly their summer dresses!
What should you NOT buy at SHEIN?
If you’re looking for daily wardrobe staples that will take a lot of wear and tear, it will be better to go else where. Though the quality of their clothing has improved, at the end of the day they’re a fast fashion retailer and their clothing is not meant to stand the test of time.
How long does shipping from SHEIN take?
On average, SHEIN shipping takes about a week, but with due to the current global situation there have been shipping delays and orders may take 2+ weeks to arrive. During the December Christmas rush took a little more than 2 weeks to arrive.
How much is SHEIN shipping?
SHEIN typically has free shipping for orders over $29, but will often have sales with SHEIN free shipping codes on their website as well.
Does SHEIN have order tracking?
Yes, SHEIN order tracking is provided on their website. You can track your order with a shipping code to find it’s estimated arrival time.
Do you have a SHEIN coupon code?
Yes! You can get an additional 15% off at SHEIN with code YESMISSY15. SHEIN also typically has coupon codes on their website more discounts as well.
Where is SHEIN located?
SHEIN is an online based retailer based out of China.
What is SHEIN’s return policy?
SHEIN has a flexible return policy that allows you to return or exchange any unworn items with tags in 45 days from purchase date. Due to the current global situation this has been extended to 75 days to accommodate for shipping delays.
If you paid the $1.99 for the return guarantee, the first return of your items will be free. (This is a great option if you’re unsure about sizing or fit.)
How do SHEIN points work?
You can collect SHEIN points for every purchase. Every 100 points = $1. You can use your SHEIN points to deduct up to 70% of the total amount of products when you place your order (only the total price of products is supported, excluding postage, insurance and taxes).
Have any other questions about shopping at SHEIN?
Let me know in the comments below!
More style and shopping posts:
- Websites like Fashion Nova for Cheap & Chic Clothes
- Best Places to Shop for Shoes Online
- Best Places to Buy for Jeans Online
Virginia
October 23, 2021I just got my first order from Shein and I was surprisingly Amazed! I am small so it is very hard for me to find clothing that fits but I took a chance and ordered 3 tops in xsmall. They all fit, sleeves a little long but otherwise great. 2 of the three were $8.00 They don’t look like $8.00 blouses. They look like I bought them in a high priced store. The 3rd was a shirt and the quality on the the same, great. This will be my new “Go To Store”
Eileen
October 24, 2021Amazing! So happy you found some great items there!
jenniferpickering22gmailcom
December 31, 2020I’ve never ordered from Shein before but they have cute clothes!
Jennifer
Curated By Jennifer