Is DHgate Legit or a Scam? Read Before You Buy

Picture this: While you’re browsing online, looking for a new gadget, maybe a cool phone case or trendy shoes. Your eyes fall on the exact item you want but at an unbelievably lower price than anywhere else.

You click the link, only to find yourself on DHgate. It sounds great for a while, but then, a little voice inside your head whispers, “Wait a second, is this too good to be true? Can I trust DHgate?”

You’re not alone if you’ve found yourself in such a situation. I’ve been there, and I bet you’ve heard a story maybe from your friend or seen a review that makes you pause and wonder, “Is DHgate legit?”

Let me help you clear up any confusion you have. I will provide you with the most possible information and analytics you might need to know about the platform.

So, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to decide whether you will trust DHgate or take your shopping elsewhere.

First, let’s know what is DHgate exactly.

What is DHgate?

DHgate is one of the popular Chinese online marketplaces much like Alibaba or AliExpress. It was started in 2004 by Diane Wang and can be accessed through their App or at dhgate.com. The company is all about connecting buyers with sellers, that mostly based in China (over 90%). It is based in Beijing and has offices worldwide, including in the United States, UK, and more.

A screenshot of the DHgate Homepage

On DHgate, you can find almost anything you need, from electronics, and clothes to home goods, beauty products, and more, and of course at very low prices. According to DHgate itself, it has over 30 million products across 26 categories.

What’s cool about DHgate is that it works as a B2B (business-to-business) and also as a B2C (business-to-consumer) business model. This is what makes it perfect for small businesses that looking to buy products in bulk and resell them. At the same time, it helps you to shop directly as an individual and get great prices.

The story behind the name “DHgate,” which combines “Dunhuang” with “Gate,” is that it’s inspired by the historic Silk Road city of Dunhuang. This ancient city was a key link between China and the rest of the world. This shows DHgate’s mission which is to be a modern gateway for global trade.

Unlike other platforms like Alibaba, DHgate focuses on small wholesale orders, which makes it easier for you to get what you need without huge quantities. Most products are in stock, and you can buy just one piece of some high-value items.

As Diane Wang, the founder, says, “Our top priority is the safety of our clients and their assets.” So, you can shop with peace of mind, knowing DHgate is committed to making your experience secure and reliable.

This is what leads us to think if is DHgate a legit company that will let us shop with peace of mind for real, as Diane Wang said.

Let’s see

Is DHgate a legitimate company?

And here we are in the biggest question probably on your mind right now, right? Well, based on my experience and digging into what others say, yes—DHgate is legit. But, of course, just saying that is not enough, what proves that? OK, let me break it down for you.

First, when rating a company whether is legit, it’s important to consider factors like its track record and global presence.

And when it comes to DHgate, it is like other marketplaces (eBay, Amazon, or Etsy) that host third-party sellers. This means that the legitimacy comes down to the individual sellers, not the platform itself.

Read Also: Temu vs DHgate: Which One Better?

But when we talk about DHgate as a company, it’s the real deal. It has been around for over 20 years, which speaks volumes about its reliability.

It means that’s nearly two decades of business, since 2004. So, if it was a scam, it wouldn’t have lasted this long, right? A site with shady practices will not stay all this time, especially when dealing with millions of buyers and sellers worldwide.

As of December 2022, DHgate served more than 59.6 M registered buyers from 225 countries and regions, connecting them to over 2.54 M sellers globally. (source: PR Newswire)

On top of that, according to an article published by Business Insider in 2018, DHgate records one transaction every 3 seconds.

Of course, not every transaction goes perfectly, but these sheer numbers show that customers are satisfied and that DHgate offers a solid platform for finding affordable products.

With this massive user base, you might be wondering, how many people really use DHgate?

You’d be surprised to know how many people use DHgate monthly.

check this out: According to Similarweb, their website only receives over 15.5 million visitors monthly.

Also according to AppMagic, the DHgate application had over 20 million downloads lifetime in both the App Store and Play Store. More than 10 million downloads are from the United States only.

These impressive download numbers show that more and more people are discovering the platform day after day. This can be seen as a strong indicator that DHgate is a legitimate and trusted platform. Let’s take you for example, after reading this article, if you’re convinced that DHgate is legit, you might decide to download the app, which will increase its popularity.

Now, let’s talk about reviews. Like any marketplace, reviews on DHgate are mixed. According to Trustpilot, it holds an average rating of 1.6 out of 5 from over 32,465 reviews. About 52% of users report their positive experiences, while 32% express dissatisfaction.

However, if you look at negative reviews, most of them come from buyers who had bad experiences with individual sellers, not DHgate itself.

I have filtered the reviews to see the most recent ones, so, as you can see in the picture below, the latest one was posted an hour ago and it is positive with a 5-star rating. But 3 hours ago, a customer gave the company a negative review with 1 star, he reported that he got scammed.

Also, while I was searching for DHgate’s legitimacy, I came across posts on the PayPal community and Reddit. On the PayPal community, someone was asking if DHgate was legit because he bought super cheap iPhones.

He worried about getting fake ones and asked if PayPal could help him if something went wrong. The responses to this question were mixed. Some people had positive experiences, while others got fake stuff or things that weren’t as descriptive.

Or also another post on Reddit where another person confirmed based on his experience that DHgate is a huge scam and warns people to spend money on it.

Overall, your experience on DHgate seems to depend on the individual seller, which is common for marketplaces.

Read Also: Is Temu Legit or a Scam? Read Before You Buy

Another thing to note is that while DHgate is legit, their Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile shows they are not BBB accredited. Their rating isn’t great (F), but it’s important to remember that most of the complaints mostly about product quality and shipping delays.

DHgate does its best to help out, but it’s always a good idea to be cautious when shopping online.

So, generally, DHgate is legit. But I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you also that there are some red flags as reviews of customers say. You might encounter counterfeit items, slow shipping, or miscommunication with sellers.

It’s not that DHgate encourages shady sellers, it’s just that, as a massive platform, it’s harder to control what every seller does.

Some sellers may not live up to their promises, which is why doing your homework before buying is so important.

Ok, but does this mean that DHgate is safe to buy from? Let’s see.

Is DHgate Safe to Buy From?

Look, if you are searching for a fast answer then yes DHgate is a safe company you can use or buy from. However, you still need to know how to navigate it safely. Let’s dive into this.

Ok, when it comes to DHgate itself, I think it does its best to ensure you get the best shopping experience possible. But how is this?

The first thing is that DHgate offers different buyer protection services. It has a Buyer Protection program which is considered also as a significant factor in establishing its legitimacy.

This program ensures that you get a full refund if your product doesn’t arrive, damaged, or if it is not as described.

Read Also: Temu vs AliExpress: Which Is Cheaper and Safer?

Is this all? Of course not.

In case there was a dispute between you and the seller the company will act as an intermediary to help resolve it. This is amazing because it will ensure that you receive your orders as promised or get your money back.

Not only that, but DHgate also has a special service called “Escrow service“. with this service, the company acts as a trusted third party between you and the sellers.

But what exactly does?

It makes sure that the seller gets paid only after you receive your orders and say, ‘I got my stuff and it’s great’.

What exactly this service does is that it tracks the shipped products to make sure they get to you safely. So, you don’t have to worry about getting scammed.

Of course not only for buyers but also for sellers. It confirms when the buyers get their stuff and holds the money until everything is good to go.

This is actually great. Because this will add an extra layer of protection to make your shopping on the platform more trustworthy.

While talking about Escrow service which is one of the secure payment methods DHgate uses.

It is important to mention that DHgate also works with reputable payment gateways like PayPal, Alipay, and credit card processors. This will offer you different payment methods and make your shopping more secure. Maybe you wondering how.

Well, these gateways have their security measures in place. so you can rest assured that your payment information is safe. For example, they use encryption to protect your data and they have also fraud detection systems to identify suspicious activity.

And let’s not forget about the SSL encryption that DHgate uses. This will protect the data transmitted between your computer and its servers. So, you will ensure that your personal and financial information is transmitted securely.

However, does this mean you should do nothing on your side, Of course not

So,

How to buy from DHGate safely?

DHgate on its side does its best to make your shopping experience safe. However, to avoid getting scammed or your personal information getting stolen here’s what you need to do:

• Check Seller Profiles: Always remember to look for sellers with high ratings, positive feedback (95%+), and badges like “Sponsored Supplier” or “High-Quality Seller.” A strong reputation and lots of experience are good signs.
• Read the Return & Refund Policy: Make sure you understand the seller’s return and refund policy. This will help you know your options if the product isn’t what you expected.
• Read Reviews: Reviews are another strong sign because they can reveal the item’s true quality and performance. Watch out for fake reviews or lots of similar reviews but at the same time, a few complaints don’t necessarily mean the product is bad.
• Examine Storefronts: Examine Storefronts: Well-designed storefronts often indicate a serious business. Look for detailed “About Us” sections, high-quality photos, and professionally designed advertisements.
• Watch Out for Too-Good-to-Be-True Prices: If a deal seems too good to be true, verify the product description, and checkout details carefully.
• Start with Cheap Items: Before purchasing an expensive item, think about ordering something cheap. This will help you to check the quality and delivery times, before ordering something big.
• Wait to Confirm Delivery: Don’t confirm delivery until you receive and check your order. DHgate can help you resolve any issues before the payment is completed.
• Avoid Off-Site Deals: Remember to make your transactions inside DHgate. If the seller asks you to move outside he might be trying to scam you.
• Take advantage of the Purchase Protection program: To guarantee getting a refund if you are not satisfied with your products.
• Check Out as a Guest: If necessary don’t create an account to cut the risk of your information being compromised in a data breach. Check out as a guest to protect your details.
• Don’t link your bank account or debit card directly to DHgate: Instead, use safer options like PayPal.

Why is DHgate so Cheap?

When you come across shockingly low prices on DHgate, it’s easy to feel skeptical. After all, we’re used to the idea that if something is cheaper, there must be a catch, right? But here’s the thing, low prices don’t always mean something shady is going on.

Actually, you might find that DHgate’s pricing makes sense once you understand the way the platform works. Let’s take a closer look at that.

First, why do you think popular brands are so expensive?

Simply, because when you shop at a luxury brand, you’re not just paying for the product or item you get. You’re paying for the brand name, the pretty packaging, and even the rent for that shiny storefront.

But when it comes to DHgate, it’s totally different.

This means it skips all the extra stuff and goes straight to the source. To make it even clearer, It connects you directly to manufacturers and wholesalers, that are mostly based in China. And as you know China is where tons of the world’s products are made.

Since there are fewer middlemen, the prices are way lower.

Read Also: Is AliExpress Legit? A Guide for Savvy Shoppers 2024

In fact, a lot of the stuff comes from the same factories that produce items for big-name brands, just without the fancy logo. That’s why you can find deals that are 30-50% cheaper than what you’d pay at a regular store.

And if you’re buying in bulk, prices drop even more. Take something like phone accessories, when you buy larger quantities, you might find them for $1-2 per item. Even if you’re just buying one or two things, the prices are still very competitive.

Another reason DHgate is so cheap is that labor and materials in China are much cheaper than in the US or Europe. As IndustryWeek says, China’s lower prices are due to cheap labor, mass production, etc… Why is China cheaper? So that $20-30 T-shirt in a store could be $5-10 on DHgate because you’re not paying for all the extra markups.

Of course, with low prices, be sure to follow the tips we discussed above to avoid getting scammed.

So, DHgate is cheap because you’re buying directly from the factories that make these products, with no middlemen and no extra costs. It’s like cutting out the middleman and getting the savings.

Is DHgate legal?

So you’re wondering is DHgate legal? The short answer is yes—DHgate itself is legal and legitimate. It’s one of China’s biggest B2B e-commerce sites, connecting buyers outside of China with sellers.

But on the other side, here’s the full story. The U.S. Trade Representative’s 2022 review mentions DHgate as being linked to counterfeits. The report states that DHgate is a well-known marketplace for bulk counterfeits which sometimes end up being resold on other platforms.

What about counterfeits? Essentially these are fake or imitation products that copy real brands. This can support illegal activities and harm legitimate businesses. Plus counterfeits may not meet safety standards.

However, here’s the good news.

According to the report itself, DHgate is working to improve things. They’ve improved seller vetting and are using advanced (AI) to detect counterfeits better.

Read Also: Amazon Refund Trick: Why You Should Avoid It in 2024

Even so, it’s still a bit of a challenge because sellers keep finding new ways to hide fake items. This is what makes trademark and copyright owners, concerned about how successfully DHgate systems stop repeat violators

In short, DHgate is legit and working on counterfeits but be an informed buyer. Check seller reviews, verify product authenticity, and be cautious of deals that are too good to be true.

How Does DHgate Shipping Work?

Ok, it’s shipping time now. DHgate actually offers a bunch of different shipping options to suit your needs.

So, After you place your order, it will take the seller from 3 to 15 days to process it. Once he is done, your shipping method will determine how fast you get your items. In this case, DHgate offers you Air freight, which is a good option and generally takes about 5 to 14 days. It’s a bit pricier but worth it if you’re eager to get your hands on your purchase quickly.

For a more budget-friendly option, think about the sea freight. However, while it is cheaper it is also slower, taking around 30 to 40 days. It can be a great choice for you if you’re buying in bulk and not in a hurry. This option will cost you around $4000 to $5000 for a 20ft container, depending on your shipment size and destination.

But if you need your items to arrive super fast, think about using the express shipping option which is available with companies like DHL, FedEx, or UPS is the way to go. It will take only from 3 to 5 days but is also more expensive. Here are the delivery times and costs of each method:

• DHL: Delivers in 1 to 3 weeks, usually with a higher price tag.
• FedEx: Takes about 1 to 7 days, with prices varying based on speed and destination.
• UPS: Generally delivers in 3 to 14 days, with costs depending on urgency.
• China Post: Takes 4 to 6 weeks, often at a lower cost.

How to get free shipping on DHgate?

Here are some tips that can help you to get free shipping on DHgate without much effort.

• It would be wise to look for an item that has a “Free Shipping” sticker. You can also apply the “Free Shipping” filter in the search if you want to find those awesome discounts.
• If you are a wholesale buyer or simply in a rather experimental mood, do not be afraid to approach the seller and inquire whether they can give you free shipping.

Also: Amazon Prime Day 2024: Everything you need to know

But here’s a special tip: by using the DHgate coupon codes you can usually get free shipping. All you need to do is copy and paste the code at the checkout and it may be magical, those shipping charges may just disappear.

Sometimes, the company offers some promotions and coupons that can help cover the shipping costs. And if you are a frequent customer some of the sellers will do free shipping as a bonus for being loyal. With these tricks up your sleeves, you will be able to get free shipping in no time.

How to track your DHgate package?

To track your DHgate package simply follow this quick guide:

• Log In: Start by logging into your DHgate account.
• My Orders: Navigate to the “My Orders” section.
• Order Details: Select the order you want to track and view its details.
• Tracking Number: Copy the tracking number provided by the seller.
• Track Your Order: Paste the tracking number into the DHgate search bar or use a third-party service like 17Track.

keep in mind your tracking number is unique to each order and may vary in format. So, If you didn’t get it or if it seems invalid, contact the seller or DHgate customer service for help.

3 Best DHgate Alternatives for 2024

If you are not satisfied with what you found at DHgate, then, don’t worry because several other stores are there which you can check out. Below are the top 3 options of DHgate for 2024.

#1. Temu

Despite the recent successes of Temu in terms of offering very low prices and a rather vast array of products. Similar to DHgate, it originated in China and actually most of its products are manufactured there, but what makes it stand out is the element of an exciting gameplay that makes shopping even more entertaining. However, the delivery time may take long longer because of distance and the cost of the products is relatively cheap despite the fact that the quality of the products depends on the seller.

#2. AliExpress

Another giant of inexpensive online shopping stores is AliExpress. It is another B2B marketplace to sell Chinese suppliers’ products, which is quite similar to DHgate. Having a myriad of stocks and by and large cheaper than Amazon, it is ideal for anyone looking to order from a variety of choices. However, delivery can take a long time and as far as quality is concerned, it is worth reading the buyer reviews to realize that quality can be very different between different sellers.

#3. Amazon

First of all, it is necessary to note that, probably, there is no person who is unfamiliar with Amazon. It is the biggest shopping hub of the world where shoppers are assured of quick delivery, good customer relations, and a huge choice of commodities. However, these conveniences are usually costly, and thus may not be an ideal platform for bargain hunters in the DHgate type. However, for the people who put importance on speed and security, Amazon is rather good.

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