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Shein Review 2022: Why We Avoid Shopping Shein Clothing (And You Should, Too)

  • Kara
  • July 10, 2021
  • 24 minute read
  • Contains Affiliate Links

So, you’ve seen all the influencers flaunting Shein fits on TikTok, or maybe have been bombarded with ads for the Shein website. Hey, the pieces are always cute and incredibly cheap. 

But is Shein legit or a scam? Like, do they actually make good clothes? Do they ship fast or have a nice customer service team? I spent over $300 on few couple large hauls to really try Shein clothing to the test and bring you detailed & honest Shein reviews (totally unsponsored!)

Yellow Dress in Joshua Tree
Strip Dress in Palm Springs
This is part of my Saw It On Social Series where I review Instagram-famous brands and give you the real tea. Find more reviews here.

My Honest Shein Review 2022 – Are They Legit Or A Scam?

I constructed this blog post review after multiple orders from Shein over a couple of years, instead of ordering once and making my decision on that single order. I’ve also consulted with friends who have ordered items to basically crowd-source this deep dive for ya.

The first time I ordered from Shein, everything was too small on me. At that time, I was wearing a 10-12, and the Larges couldn’t fit at all. So the next couple of times I ordered, I made sure to size up… and it still didn’t help. So many pieces were still totally missized so I couldn’t easily fit into them. I quickly learned they have terrible size charts and really, if you curvy like I am, they just don’t fit well in general. (More on that later.)

After months and months of seeing ads for Shein online shopping, I finally broke down and placed a huge order one morning before a trip I had planned. Shein shopping is low-key addictive since there is just such a huge inventory. I figured spending $100 to stock up on literally days worth of new outfits for a vacation was a great deal. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t, but more on that later in this post.)

Items I Bought From Shein

I didn’t take photos of all the items I got over the years or even from one order, but these are the pieces I am highlighting and wearing from the Shein store for this review:

  • Yellow Dress 
  • Strip Dress
  • Floral Swimsuit
  • Scallop bathing suit
  • Bag
  • Bird Earrings
  • Red Earrings
  • Tan Earrings
  • Pink Earrings

I knew from my prior Shein haul that the clothing was meh, but after months and months of seeing ads for Shein online shopping, I finally broke down and placed another huge order one morning before a trip I had planned. Shein shopping is low-key addictive since there is just such a huge inventory.

I figured spending $300 to stock up on literally days worth of new outfits for a vacation to Joshua Tree was a great deal. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t, but more on that later in this post.)

Road to Hana
Vibrant floral bikini on the beaches of Maui
Maui

A Look At Some Of The Shien Clothing I Bought

Stripe Dress: This is nautical heaven! As a curvy gal, I love big flowy dresses that are comfy as heck. Plus it has pockets! I was sure it would be the perfect dress to bring to so many seaside trips… until the buttons started falling apart and coming undone after a few wears. The clothing quality was just not there. 

Yellow Dress: I had high hopes for this yellow dress. It’s my favorite color and I have a soft spot midi dress like this. When I put it on, the sleeves were a little bit tight around my shoulders but nothing I couldn’t work with.

I took both these Shein dresses with me to a conference in Palm Springs and also to Joshua Tree, I even wore the yellow one for the first time inside the national park (seen here.) But, that same week when I wore it to a dinner in Palm Springs, one of the pockets started forming a hole…. and it all went downhill from there.

Scallop Bathing Suit: I didn’t wear this one until my trip to Maui. I wore it on our day exploring the Road To Hana and I made the mistake of actually getting it wet. It stained the bottom of our car seat blue!! YIKES. Bathing suits aren’t supposed to do that.

Floral Swimsuit: This is another swimsuit that I brought to Maui. It didn’t stain anything thank goodness, and it actually held up alright. I wasn’t expecting a random bikini to be the best quality thing I bought from Shien.

Straw Bag: Guess how many times I got to use this before a giant hole formed at the bottom rendering it useless? One. One time. Turns out this bag is not swen together but instead held together with a glue.

Earrings: I can laugh now about how poorly made these earrings were, but I was really sad when they broke on my ear after just hours of putting them on out in the world. The bird earrings never made it that far – they were literally pieces of felt held together by superglue and looked like a children’s craft project. 

Wearing a red and white stripe dress amongst the palm trees in Oceanside, Ca
Two piece baby blue swimsuit paired with this great red skirt on the Road to Hana
Road To Hana

Everything Fell Apart

I had first tried Shein clothes in 2015 and thought it was all a scam because nothing looked like it did on the site, the Shein shipping took forever and nothing fit (even after reading Shein reviews from other customers to try and get a good sizing fit!)But I had friends tell me they have gotten better and I should try it again. So I did and I was surprised and not surprised at the same time at the pieces I brought with me to Joshua Tree and Maui. 

At first I was pleased. My Shein dresses review was going to be A+, I loved my yellow dress and other pieces. But then…

As you saw me talk about in my video and above, almost everything fell apart after 1-2 wears. I’m updating this post about a year after writing it and I don’t own a single item of clothing that I bought from Shein anymore because it all was trash that I ended up tossing. So before you shop Shein, you have to realize it’s not going to last.

You CAN’T return items like swimsuits, bags and accessories to Shein. I learned that the hard way. 

That purse? Fell apart by day 2. Buttons on dresses popped off or the seams simply ripped. Earrings literally fell apart while wearing them, which wasn’t surprising since my earrings were all barely held together with cheap hot glue when they arrived. All in all, I was really disappointed with my whole order and wondering how the heck does this company stay in business anyway? Talk about being incredibly unethical fashion. 

Part of my wants to file my post under Funny Shein Reviews because once I got over the money I wasted shopping Shein, I did laugh. I mean, it’s all so bad!! Shein quality is just trash and doesn’t fit bodies that curvy or plus size, so at some point I had to laugh at myself wiggling into these tiny swimsuits that were marketed as a size XL. 

Vibrant floral bikini on the beaches of Maui
Kihei

Shein Sizing Is Awful &

Their sizing chart is all wrong and isn’t consistent item to item. A lot of Shein size reviews report this.  

This makes it really hard to shop because it’s unclear if the Large is actualy a Large, or if it’s a Medium. I did find that looking carefully at all the past customer reviews was helpful. If a gal says she’s an XL and the XL fit her, I know I’m good to go.

I learned that if there are no reviews, I don’t want to be the first to risk the item. Because I have done that before, were I risked it and learned the hard way! Messed up size charts are actually normal for fast fashion brands but it’s still annoying. They aren’t as bad as Zaful though. 

Oh – and Shein is the same company as Romwe. They just have a separate “brand” so they can trick customers and get a bigger profit. STAY WOKE. 
Woman standing in front of one of the Orange Beach rentals in Oceanside, Ca
On a whale watching tour in Oceanside, Ca

A Deeper Look At Shein Clothing Company & Services

Shein Curve

Here’s the thing – shopping online as a plus size woman sucks. It really size. Most brands aren’t size-inclusive and trying to find clothes that are stylish but affordable is really hard. I think it’s unethical to shop from Shein, but if you are a size 4X gal just trying to find something trendy and in your budget, and Shein Curve has it, go for it.

I understand if you opt for Shein shopping online on plus-size items. Just make sure to also read all the Shein Curve reviews from past customers before you buy to make sure they will fit you. Because as a size 12 + 14, a lot of their XL doesn’t fit my body. I can’t imagine how flawed the Plus options are. If you are plus size and have shopped Shein Curve, please drop a comment below and let me know how it went! 

Where Is Shein Located?

Shein is a Chinese fast fashion company. They are not based in the United States. They are also the exact same company as Romwe and sometimes if you order from Romwe you’ll get Shein packaging. (Read more about that in my Romwe Review Post).

Shein Shipping

Free shipping to anywhere in the United States on orders over $49. Free express shipping on orders over $150. But, note this all comes from China so it does still take a while. 

Shein Return Policy

They won’t send you a return label so there are no free returns – you have to pay out of pocket for shipping and it ships to China, so the fee is high and it takes forever. Many people have left reviews on BBB saying it’s not uncommon for Shein to ignore your return or really drag their feet to process it. They basically make it as hard as possible to return things so you won’t. 

Shein Custom Service

Customer service was awful – super slow and poor communication. I went in circles trying to get answers to my questions. Plus, since I ordered a lot of swimsuits and earrings thing this order, I wasn’t able to return a lot of it. So, I ended up taking the hit and not trying to fight too hard to return things.

Romwe earrings

Is Shein Worth It? Is Shein Bad?

As you can probably tell, my honest review is not positive. I do not love Shein, in fact I hate this company with a firey passion and actively discourage friends and followers from supporting this literal trash fast-fashion company.

Shein Culturally Appropriates & ​Steals From Other Brands

Since first writing this article circa 2016, the Shein shop has been getting more and more negative buzz for culturally appropriating things (like selling Muslim prayer rugs as home decor.) They are also known to steal designs from small businesses and big stores alike.

Sometimes they’ll even use those store’s product photos to sell their cheap knock-off version. So, as a customer, you think you’re getting a good piece but when it arrives, it’ll look nothing alike. Since it wasn’t the same thing to begin with. 

It’s not just me – Shein reviews BBB are full of terrible reviews on Shein shirts, dresses and other clothing.

Tweet from @cxffeinatxd

Shein Uses Unsafe Working Conditions & Unethical Supply Chain

 This is famous for being really shady when it comes to their factory and supply chain. We know their factories are unsafe for the workers, and it’s also rumored that Shein uses child labor.

Additionally, supporting Shein is super awful to the environment. Again, they don’t disclose much of their factory conditions but it’s safe to assume that’s because they are doing dumping. They claim to use good practices. In a statement, they said “When selecting materials, we do our best to source recycled fabric.” But they don’t disclose what that means, so it’s all a lie.  Doing your best doesn’t mean you are actually doing it.

And, since the clothes aren’t made well, by buying them you are literally just contributing to the landfills. If you’re wondering “why is Shein so cheap?” this is why. 

To further prove this, they are rated extremely poorly on goodforyou.eco, a website that rates brands on how ethical they are. Spoiler alert: shien is rated as “we try to avoid” because it’s that bad. 

But Why Are All Shein Reviews 5 Stars On The Website?

Notice how so many times, the product listings are given 5 starts on the Shein website? It’s because the company deletes negative reviews. Mine were never approved to go public-facing. I’ve also heard from fellow influencers that Shein tells them that in order to work together, they have to leave positive Shein website reviews.

But Shein Cares – I Saw Their Campaigns!

Anyone else notices Shein doing a lot of Pr work this year? I got served HARD on ads this summer on TikTok all about how “Shein Cares” with videos featuring tons of Black women looking really happy. There’s another campaign with promises of donating to an animal charity.  I think they even did a competition where you could win a gift card. 

If Shein cared, they would disclose their factory working conditions, stop making clothes that fall apart and go right into the landfill, start offering better returns and customer service, stop stealing ideas from small businesses and stop culturally appropriating. Don’t get fooled by this ad campaign. 

via shein.com
To sum it up: Is Shein reliable? Hell no. Are Shein clothes high quality that will last you more than a few wears? NOPE. Is Ordering from Shein a smart way to use your money. No no no. Does Shein fake reviews to trick customers in shopping? Totally.

For real guys, I don’t care if your favorite influencer says Shein is just fine, they are lying to you. This is not an ethical fashion company to shop from and you’ll end up wearing things 1-2 times before they go into a trash bin. If you need a cheap place to shop, just go to Target. Their sale rack is always full of cute things under $10. Or thrift!

Tips For Buying From Shein 

If  this post hasn’t scared you off and you insist on still buying from Shein, here are my tips for having the best order experience:

  • Use a credit card to shop so you can get your order refunded by the credit card if anything goes wrong with Shein and their customer service doesn’t help you. 
  • ONLY buy items that have previous reviews by past customers. Shein customer reviews are usually pretty accurate for sizing. 
  • Carefully look at what the clothing is made out of to make sure the fabric isn’t totally terrible. 
  • Skip the jewelry and bags, they’ll fall apart asap. I don’t care what other reviews of Shein say, the earrings aren’t it. 
  • When in doubt, size up. Especially on Shein tops, they usually run small. 
Crop sweater over sequin skirt

If you found this helpful, please share this Shein clothing reviews post to your friends. Shien is a scam and we need to stop supporting them. My recommendation is to skip shopping at Shein. 

I hope you’ve found this honest clothing review helpful!  What are your thoughts on Shein shopping? Do you have any more Shein fashion reviews to add? I’d love to hear them below! 

Other Posts You May Like

  • Honest Madewell Jeans Review For Curvy Gals
  • Rothy’s Review After One Year Of Wear
  • Chicwish Review: Shop or Skip?
  • Are Cupshe Swimsuits actually curvy-friendly?

Parker Hotel

Vibrant floral bikini on the beaches of Maui

Shein Review 2019 Haul Transcript (For Hard Of Hearing Readers!)

Kara: Is Shein still crappy? Will it all fall apart on you in four seconds? Let’s find out with my honest review!

Kara: Hi, guys. Welcome back to my channel. It’s been a hot minute since I have a done a haul for you, and I just ordered a whole bunch of stuff from Shein, and I thought that was the perfect company to dive back into some hauls for you guys.

Kara: Real quick, before we get started, make sure to subscribe to my channel. You can also follow me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul, I’m going to pop it down here below.

Kara: Anyways, I’m here today to talk about Shein. So, I think we can all agree that we all know Shein has crappy products. Just overall, the company is one of those fast fashion Chinese companies where things are super cheap and not always made the best. My impression has always been that they’re really crappy, and I’m just going to stay away from them in geneal.

Kara: I had an experience shopping about three years ago where they actually sent me some product, and I couldn’t fit into any of it, you guys. I wear, back then I was like a size large, and I couldn’t even fit into the larges, they’re easily definitely a small in US sizes, and everything was so poorly made, and I was so disappointed in the process that I’ve been kind of boycotting them since.

Kara: Then a friend of mine ordered a bunch of stuff from Shein. She ordered a sweater that I never would have guessed was Shein. She also told me that they updated their Shein return policy, so now I can actually return things, because it used to be if you buy it, it’s yours forever, and you can’t return it. It’s always really disappointing, because it’s such a hit or miss on that store.

Kara: I thought I had to give it a try, so I can come back and report to you guys on is Shein worth it? Are they better now? I’m here to tell you.

Kara: Okay, so I have all my stuff over here. It all came in this bag. Where is Shein shipped from? Not sure, I think China. So I woke up randomly at 5:30 in the morning a couple weeks ago, and I saw that Shein was having this mega St. Patrick’s day sale, so I got a lot of stuff on super sale. I think in total I spent about $100. They had free shipping to the United States, and I got a lot of stuff. You can see it all over here.

Kara: So, I guess real quick, also before I start, usually when I do these hauls, I’m opening the box with you guys and trying things on for the first time with you, and just basing my thoughts on that, but I actual got Shein clothing and then I went to Palm Springs for a week, and I took all this stuff with me, and I was wearing it around. I’m really happy that I did, because it got me to really experience wearing Shein out in the real world, and I learned some things, and I realize it’s still not made that well. We’re going to get started, I’ll show you why.

Kara: My favorite thing that came in this order, I’m going to start off with that, is this gorgeous yellow dress. I’m going to put a photo of it right here for you. I wore this all the time I’m Palm Springs. I love this color, this color is my favorite color. It has pockets, it’s this gorgeous dress. It was $18 on sale, so I was like, “Got to have this.” What I love about this dress, we’ll start there. The color is great, the fit’s pretty great. I love that it has pockets, focusing on women’s needs,and it’s affordable. I got so many compliments on it.

Kara: What is bad though, is that the second time I wore it, the seam started falling apart here. So do you see this giant ass seam that I’m going to have to sew up now? So Shein still doesn’t sew their products very well. So, when I sit down, the buttons kid of pull apart here to the side, and pop up. Do you see what I mean right here? Got a little bit of flash there. I don’t have the biggest boobs, so it’s not a huge issue, but they do kind of pull apart, and I am worried when I wear this that it’s just going to pull apart.

Kara: Also, as you might be able to see, if I zoom in real quick, some of these buttons, they are fraying, and I’m personally not very convinced that these buttons are not going to stay on very long. That being said, and minus the hole in the side, I do really like this dress, and I’m hoping that I can figure out how to keep it together, because this is my new favorite dress.

Kara: Okay, so I also got a second shein dresses, which is this very long, sort of like candy stipe dress. It’s a maxi dress. I really like this dress as well. It actually still has the same problems that the other dress does, where the buttons up here on my chest area, when I sit they kind of stretch and pull apart, and the threads aren’t … It’s not sewn together very well. It’s starting to fray in some places, though this is made much better than the yellow dress, because I think the material is slightly nicer. This one also has pockets, which is great. The fit is great. I got a large, I think, and it fits just like a large should fit. It’s a lot of fun, and I think it makes a really great vacation dress, but still has the issues that I think the buttons are going to fall off pretty soon.

Kara: So, I also got a few swimsuits, and normally I don’t get swimsuits from places like this, because I’m a very curvy woman and I just don’t trust that some Chinese company is going to be able to make a swimsuit that can cover my butt. This is a bikini, and it is not the best material. It does, on this top, kind of … It doesn’t fully adhere to your body. That’s a weird way of saying that. It just doesn’t hug your curves like a normal swimsuit would. That being said, I got a large and I was able to fit into a large, and it was pretty affordable. I got this for our trip to Hawaii. I don’t own a bikini, so this should be fun to wear.

Kara: Okay, so I got a second swimsuit. I think I’m going to be keeping this first one. I won’t be keeping the second one, unfortunately. So, it is also a bikini, and it has this gorgeous little scallop pattern, and it looked really nice online. It’s a bit too small, I got a large in this as well. But, the main issue is, as you can see, I’m going to put this on for you real quick. The cup issue is really weird. It has these inserts and I just can’t straighten them out, and it looks like my boobs are all over the place, which is a little disappointing, because I thought that the shape and the design of this was super original, and I was really excited to wear this in Hawaii.

Kara: It’s not made well. You can tell that it’s probably knocked off of a design for someone else’s beautiful expensive swimsuit and they just didn’t construct it very well. The cups are all weird, the bottoms are also really tight, so it hugs me here, as you can see, you can’t see the scallops with I have it on me, and that’s kind of the whole point of the suit is that it has a scallop trim that’s super dainty and fun. I’m trying to think of, maybe a Mara Hoffman design. It kind of reminds me of a little knock off of that, but for $12 instead of $300.

 

Kara: This bag, I fell in love with this bag, you guys, and I was really surprised by it. Then also very disappointed. So, I got this again for Hawaii, ’cause I thought it’d be a really nice bag to carry around. It has this great open top here, so you can easily throw your stuff in it, take it out, it’s quite roomy. It also has this strap, so if I wanted to be hands free, look it, I’m magically hands free. I just thought it was really cute, and again, I think it was $15, so it’s very affordable. I started using it when I was in Palm Springs in Joshua Tree, and I was using it every single day, carrying my wallet and stuff, everything in it. Then, about half way through, which side is it? Ahh, it started falling apart. So right there.

Kara: Yeah, I don’t know. I was very disappointed in it. It happened very quickly and it’s on the bottom, so obviously, everything’s going to be falling out on it. Here, I don’t know if you can see this. This is kind of like the string that this entire bag is sewn together with. So again, I was super pleased, and then super disappointed by this Shein bag. 

Kara: Then finally, I got earrings, which I honestly had the same experience with the dresses and the bags, is that I was super excited about them, and then kind of really disappointed about them. So let me show them to you real quick. So Shein’s earrings are really affordable. So, I am someone … I think I got them. Yeah.

Kara: I am someone who I really love statement earrings, I think a good statement earring, like these which are from Shein, they just add fun to any outfit. The only problem is earrings can get crazy expensive, and I don’t know, I always lose them, or they’re just not my style in a year, and I just can’t justify spending more than $20 or $30 on a pair of earrings. I was really excited to see that Shein’s earrings are really affordable. I am talking like most pairs are under $2, at the most, $4, and you can get really fun earrings. Of course, on the flip side, because they’re so cheap and made in China, they’re not made that well. Reviews on Shein say the same thing. I have friends who says it was ok but it’s not. 

Kara: So first up are these earrings here, which it’s really just like a cotton puff ball on a little piece of wire that I paid $2 for. So it probably cost them like six cents to make this. That being said, I really like these, and I think these are actually the ones that are going to hold together the best over the years. Next up I got these really fun statement earrings, which are just like how fun are these? These are really great, but when I got them, I realized that, I’m going to see if I can get the camera to focus on it.

Kara: … Not felt, but it’s material that like a little bit harder than felt, like a step up. It’s just two layers of that, and then stuff loosely glued on it. Same with the back, this is just loosely glued on the back, so wouldn’t trust getting this wet at all, ’cause I think it would fall apart. I also had a huge issue with how they’re both facing the same way. So, it looks great with I put it on this ear, because it’s facing out. But, when I put it on this ear, it’s just hitting my cheek so it ends up this sits like this, and this one’s like this. It’s just like this whole awkward, awkward mess.

Kara: Someone didn’t take the time to realize that they should be opposite directions. I think though for these, I am going to cut this beak off, and glue it on the other side to kind of get that effect of mirroring birds. But, isn’t it kind of ridiculous, if you want to wear these, you have to heavily modify them in order to be able to wear them? So I got a few other pairs of earrings too. I personally have been very into these tortoise shell geometric shapes. So these ones are pretty good so far, but again, everything is just kind of glued together.

Kara: So, this is kind of glued on here, so I will have to be careful that they don’t fall. But these held up pretty decently during my trip. Again, this was like $3. The ones that didn’t hold up are these earrings. I thought these were gorgeous, and I accidentally dropped one taking it out of the bag, and the end immediately fell off. I do think I can super glue this back on, but again, you can just tell that these aren’t made very well, because things fall apart. I also got these earrings, which so far have been holding up. Then lastly, I got these which looked really big on the internet, and they’re actually really, really small, so I don’t think that I’m going to keep these. But, they’re fun, and again, they’re just a couple of dollars.

Kara: I am still very torn about Shein. So, I personally think that they have come a really long way since three years ago when I first tried them. They’re products are a little bit better made, and they definitely have larger sizes now. So a large is actually a large, it’s not a small and as a size 12 woman, I can actually buy clothes and fit into them, which is a really great thing. That being said, I think all their products are just like hit and misses. I think they’re kind of made just long enough to get you past that 30 day return date.

Kara: … Found the most disappointing though is how when you first get them and you try them on, it feels like it’s all made decently, you know, like a little better than you thought it was going to be, more on like a Forever 21 level, where it’s not perfect, but it’s fine for $12. But then as you start wearing them, they quickly fall apart. So I remember my yellow dress, that’s the second time I wore it, it started ripping and that bag took three of four days of using it, and then it started falling apart.

Kara: These earrings started falling apart after I started using them. So I think it’s more of just it’s a if it will fall apart, but when it will fall apart, and you have to know that’s coming, and be comfortable knowing that your clothes and your products aren’t going to last very long.

Kara: Would I buy from Shein again? I have been asking myself that question, and I go back and fourth. I think as the start of my vacation, I was like, “Hell, yeah. I’m going to get this again.” Every time we were going somewhere that the weather’s weird, or just want a new dress, or a new skirt, or a new bag or whatever for a trip or an event or something, sure. But then as I started wearing these pieces, and they started, one by one, falling apart on it, it was just the idea of buying from them again just felt really crappy. You’re just literally throwing your money away.

Kara: At the end of the day, I think you’re just better buying from sites like Forever 21, or H&M, or Target that are still similar price points, but they’re making their products a little bit better, enough where you can actually wear it more than twice without it falling apart. If you want to buy, look at the shein website reviews to see what other shein clothing reviews say about the item.

Kara: All right, so that is my big Shein haul for you. I tried dresses, swimsuits, earrings, bags and I hope this helped you figure out if you should buy from Shein. Yes, or no? I would love you hear your thoughts on it, if you think that they’re just as bad as they used to be, or if they’re better, do you shop from them? Have you ever wanted to? I’d love to hear your thoughts below, so drop a comment below. Let’s get this discussion going. Maybe I just got some bad luck on a few bad items, and I should try them again. I do like the price points, that’s the key right there. The price points are great.

Kara: Anyways, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel. Follow whimsysoul on Instagram. Have a good day, you guys.

Also, I didn’t realize this on the website but wanted to share as I though it was useful to know. You can’t return swimsuits and acessories, even bags. So I was stuck with the clothing that didn’t fit. This was frustrating because the sizing was wrong but I couldnt return it. Wanted to notify you on that policy! Is it Shein scam? Kinda feels like it.

will have to be careful that they don’t fall. But these held up pretty decently during my trip. Again, this was like $3. The ones that didn’t hold up are these earrings. I thought these were gorgeous, and I accidentally dropped one taking it out of the bag, and the end immediately fell off. I do think I can super glue this back on, but again, you can just tell that these aren’t made very well, because things fall apart. I also got these earrings, which so far have been holding up. Then lastly, I got these which looked really big on the internet, and they’re actually really, really small, so I don’t think that I’m going to keep these. But, they’re fun, and again, they’re just a couple of dollars.

Kara: I am still very torn about Shein. So, I personally think that they have come a really long way since three years ago when I first tried them. They’re products are a little bit better made, and they definitely have larger sizes now. So a large is actually a large, it’s not a small and as a size 12 woman, I can actually buy clothes and fit into them, which is a really great thing. That being said, I think all their products are just like hit and misses. I think they’re kind of made just long enough to get you past that 30 day return date.

Kara: … Found the most disappointing though is how when you first get them and you try them on, it feels like it’s all made decently, you know, like a little better than you thought it was going to be, more on like a Forever 21 level, where it’s not perfect, but it’s fine for $12. But then as you start wearing them, they quickly fall apart. So I remember my yellow dress, that’s the second time I wore it, it started ripping and that bag took three of four days of using it, and then it started falling apart.

Kara: These earrings started falling apart after I started using them. So I think it’s more of just it’s a if it will fall apart, but when it will fall apart, and you have to know that’s coming, and be comfortable knowing that your clothes and your products aren’t going to last very long.

Kara: Would I buy from Shein again? I have been asking myself that question, and I go back and fourth. I think as the start of my vacation, I was like, “Hell, yeah. I’m going to get this again.” Every time we were going somewhere that the weather’s weird, or just want a new dress, or a new skirt, or a new bag or whatever for a trip or an event or something, sure. But then as I started wearing these pieces, and they started, one by one, falling apart on it, it was just the idea of buying from them again just felt really crappy. You’re just literally throwing your money away.

Kara: At the end of the day, I think you’re just better buying from places like Forever 21, or H&M, or Target that are still similar price points, but they’re making their products a little bit better, enough where you can actually wear it more than twice without it falling apart.

Kara: All right, so that is my big Shein haul for you. I tried dresses, swimsuits, earrings, bags and I hope this helped you figure out if you should buy from Shein. Yes, or no? I would love you hear your thoughts on it, if you think that they’re just as bad as they used to be, or if they’re better, do you shop from them? Have you ever wanted to? I’d love to hear your thoughts below, so drop a comment below. Let’s get this discussion going. Maybe I just got some bad luck on a few bad items, and I should try them again. I do like the price points, that’s the key right there. The price points are great.

Also, I didn’t realize this on the website but wanted to share as I though it was useful to know. You can’t return swimsuits and accessories even bags. So I was stuck with the clothing that didn’t fit. This was frustrating because the sizing was wrong but I couldn’t return it. Wanted to notify you on that policy! Is it Shein scam? Kinda feels like it.

Kara: Anyways, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel. Follow whimsysoul on Instagram. Have a good day, you guys.

 

Kara

I'm the founder of Whimsy Soul (this blog you're reading!) I'm a type 3 enneagram cat lady who lives in San Francisco and loves to find everyday magic to share with others. You can probably find me hunting down hot springs with girlfriends, kayaking, cooking with my husband, petting strangers' dogs or watching like, all the things on Netflix. Follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

55 comments
  1. Ashley says:
    August 3, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    Heey thanks for such an honest / sincere review! The others I’ve read are so obviously fake/paid and sing nothing but praises! Your photos are also helpful. And you look gorgeous!

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      August 4, 2019 at 3:28 pm

      Yeah, don’t trust anything that’s 100% positive about Shein! I do really like some of the things I got, but EVERYTHING I kept is falling apart. It’s cute stuff, but not really worth it for a long term investment. Happy to help!

      Reply
      1. Heather says:
        January 29, 2022 at 7:05 am

        Hi Kara. You’re adorable! I found you because I wanted to try SHEIN but was surprised that things only go up to a large. May I ask where you do like to shop?

  2. Anonymous says:
    September 21, 2019 at 1:27 pm

    Kara, I would like your report on Noracora. I just purchased on line but have not received the tops yet.

    Thank you,

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      September 22, 2019 at 6:36 pm

      Ohh! I have never heard of that company before, will have to add it to my list to check out!

      Reply
  3. Ama says:
    October 2, 2019 at 8:29 am

    Oh, boy. I am glad I came across this post. They just seemed to good to be true. I think I will avoid and will shop at H&M. I bought some pants from H&M years ago and they still look good.

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      October 2, 2019 at 10:13 am

      I know, the ads also ALMOST get me then I remember they are actual trash. H&M is for sure a better way to go!

      Reply
  4. Ani says:
    December 8, 2019 at 12:55 pm

    I found Shein, and was like, “Oh my God these look like super cute, and for a low price!”, but I started investigating, and soon realized it was a SCAM! They have such cut designs, I just wish they would put more effort into their quality 🙁 Thank You for saving my money! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Ani says:
    December 8, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    *cute

    Reply
  6. saveplusdeals9 says:
    December 23, 2019 at 11:20 pm

    Thanks for sharing the article, I usually search for the best design and style of clothing. At that moment I have come across Shine with fashionable stuff at a profoundly reasonable cost.

    Reply
  7. Loretta Fazari says:
    January 10, 2020 at 10:49 am

    This company Shein is the worst. Say goodbye to your money. I am reporting them to Consumer Canada. File is already opened. They are not going to give you a refund. All because the size didn’t fit me and I hurried and sent it back. They won’t email you back, no money back. Nothing. STAY AWAY.

    Reply
    1. Julie poulton says:
      July 10, 2021 at 6:39 am

      I ordered nearly 90 pounds worth of clothes for my daughter from shein beginning of May, still no sign of my order and you cant talk to anyone to complain. Tried to track it with hermes and just says shipped. Tried emailing just says its not an email address I’m absolutely fuming, being on minimum wage it was a big amount of money to lose

      Reply
  8. Beth says:
    January 14, 2020 at 9:33 am

    Would love a review on Chicwish! Their ads always come up on my social media too, and I’m so tempted to try them, but I’m nervous it’s too good to be true.

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      January 15, 2020 at 8:13 am

      Hi beth! I have one, actually!! Read it here: https://teamsandthemes.com/chicwish-review/

      Reply
      1. Anon says:
        May 22, 2021 at 9:42 pm

        Fake reviews on here nobody gets paid to do anything that’s definitely fake and false i have proof the word influencer are not real they don’t get paid to advertise nothing and they don’t items for free all lies.
        But i do agree shien is crap

      2. Kara says:
        May 23, 2021 at 3:41 pm

        Usually I delete comments that sound like drunk people wrote them, but this is too funny.
        Happy you agree shein is crap

  9. Kat says:
    January 14, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    All of the stuff is poorly made because children are making it. And returns to international locations should be banned. It’s a nightmare, economically and environmentally.

    Reply
  10. A Fashionable Babe says:
    February 19, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    Thank you Kara for the tips! I have had a few items in my cart for a few days and I just have been going back and forth about it, but always getting an uneasy feeling. This helped me know if its worth it or not. It sounds a lot like the app Wish so probably not a good idea haha.

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      February 21, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      Happy I could help!

      Reply
  11. Anonymous says:
    February 21, 2020 at 6:30 pm

    RE: Not being able to return swimsuits and earrings, it is fairly common practice with retailers to not take returns of these types due to the fact they come into contact with certain parts of the human body and for the company to take the return for those items, they then have to “eat the cost.” I wouldn’t call it scam, but several retailers I have worked for do carry this type of policy. It SHOULD be mentioned very clearly however on the website so that’s where I might be concerned as to if that is scamming or not.
    Just some input, otherwise great review as I have been considering purchasing some of the menswear.

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      February 23, 2020 at 7:38 am

      Hi! I totally understand the hygiene aspect, but most of the places I buy swimsuits from won’t take it back if that protector plastic piece is removed. Not if it’s just mailed out ot me. It feels like a bait and switch when you’re ordering something online (that you can’t try on) and the store hides the fact you can’t return the item of clothing, even if the proctor is still on.

      Reply
  12. Akram Youakim says:
    July 1, 2020 at 11:48 am

    Do not buy from it , it is SCAM!

    Reply
  13. Andrea says:
    September 16, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    I ordered some dresses in two orders from this corrupt company. When they arrived I was disappointed and disgusted at the quality, Or lack of quality.
    Material was horrible, Workmanship terrible with seams crooked and not secure. I immediately sent them as a return to sender. Canada Post delivered them back to seller and the tracking numbers and received signature proves they were returned to the same place they were originally shipped from. Shen still charged my Paypal and insisted they never got the goods back. Paypal believed them and charged my bank account. I am now out $208 for crap I didn’t keep. This company not only sells garbage but lies about not receiving them back. Word of advice. Do not shop with these crooks.

    Reply
  14. Some Wise Girl says:
    October 17, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    I love how you detailed each and everything. I have also placed a few orders myself on SHEIN and had a pretty mixed experience. Like some items I loved and some I already put in the bin. But I still got some great stuff from SHEIN.

    Reply
  15. be says:
    October 19, 2020 at 11:38 pm

    It’s garbage. Cheap quality. Seems like they have copied the clothing from others. Its a scam.

    Reply
  16. Jessica Lai says:
    December 7, 2020 at 11:31 pm

    The knitted sweaters, vests, t shirts so far have been very lasting and comfy, esp the oversized sweaters. Size S is usually Size S, or larger, but not smaller. So the oversized look is still nice.

    Reply
  17. Alicia Fort says:
    December 18, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    Dang, I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with SHEIN and their customer service. Everything I’ve purchased still fits and has made it through several washes. Too bad I can show you pictures.

    Reply
    1. Star Byrd says:
      June 11, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      Can you share their contact information. Can’t find a contact number or email.

      Thank you!

      Reply
  18. Shein Return Label says:
    May 29, 2021 at 5:08 am

    Thank you, for writing and sharing such an amazing blog post. I really got a lot of information from your blog post…

    Reply
  19. aleH Baba says:
    May 29, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    omg…my 1st order is on its way 6.00 sunglasses..large oversize shields…i thought they were in us but i see from tracking its international(china) sucks….oh well they say on the site that 1st return is free…we will see….also Paypal protects sellers…lets see.

    Reply
  20. aleH Baba says:
    May 29, 2021 at 1:43 pm

    i have to say…i dont mind knockoff sunglasses if the quality is decent as most designers charge way too much for them anyhow.I think the lens are where the quality will suffer most. I know many of the same sunglasses i see on ebay-not stating designer but looking similar- from us sellers are the same chinese stuff just bought in bulk and sold on ebay.

    Reply
  21. Shifa Khan says:
    June 7, 2021 at 10:13 am

    But YES, I really do appreciate the honest review!
    Will look forward to using it in any difficulty!

    Reply
  22. aleH Baba says:
    June 9, 2021 at 5:30 pm

    recieved my sunglasses and they are excellent…chinese made but great quality..i ordered 2 more of the same.lol….i was suprised.

    Reply
  23. aleH Baba says:
    June 14, 2021 at 2:35 pm

    update: the same 2 pairs arrived HOWEVER..they werent same curve and feel/size which leads me to believe that quality control is aweful(its china right?) and returning them is a chore so filed in paypal in resolution center.. was very bummed.

    Reply
  24. aleH Baba says:
    June 17, 2021 at 1:21 pm

    GOT MY REFUND VIA PAYPAL…SHEIN SUCKS.

    Reply
  25. sarah says:
    July 21, 2021 at 5:20 am

    I have seen different opinions about Shein, both negative and positive. I personally did just one batch of shopping with them and I was satisfied. I bought basic stuff so maybe that is the reason. I will give it a try in the future with something complicated. But I have seen many buying even wedding related stuff.

    On another note, if you see a cloth h&m or zara and would like to check if a similar cloth exists on Shein, ASOS, Zalando or other stores, you can use Visual Fashion Finder

    Reply
  26. Anonymous says:
    July 24, 2021 at 11:30 am

    2 orders GSHMH500M000SX1 and GSHMHT001000HFH lost in delivery and no luck in getting refund from paypal as they lie ab out delivery

    Reply
  27. Ashley McMullen says:
    July 29, 2021 at 7:41 am

    I want my money back, it never showed up, and I called them to see if the package was coming, they said oh yeah it’s on its way, no it wasn’t, so I want a refund

    Reply
  28. Alisha says:
    August 2, 2021 at 5:56 am

    Guess I’ve been pretty lucky with my items. I always read the reviews and try to find someone with my body type and pictures. If it looks like crap on them I avoid it lol. And I haven’t had any issues with returns and if I buy swimsuits I try to get them on flash sale so I save even more. If something sucks I always say so even when I do a reel on IG.

    Reply
  29. MS. EMOTIONS says:
    August 9, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    Wow! I just stumbled onto your page when researching is a company was a scam or no. I appreciate your reviews and honest input. I look forward to seeing all of your posts. Thank you ☺️

    Reply
  30. Anonymous says:
    August 23, 2021 at 10:28 am

    I received an order today from SHEIN. Three items of clothing, all of which had the material listed as cotton. It’s not. It’s polyester. I risked a pair of shoes, too. They’ve sent a size bigger than ordered and they are absolutely terrible. What looked like a cork layer on the sole is actually a piece of cork-look-alike plastic sewn onto the shoe. So, all 4 items will be going in the bin and I’ve learned my lesson once and for all.
    Steffi

    Reply
  31. Rebecca says:
    September 14, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    I’ve placed several orders through Shein but kinda knew what I was getting into because of purchases I made from Yesstyle (which is also fast fashion.) The prices tell the story. You’re gonna get cute designs but in the cheapest quality fabric and construction. Skirts don’t have liners and the fabric is thin, dresses are made for taller, thinner people and look weird if you’re not. Sizing is definitely off but I found reviews didn’t help either as each body can fit in things differently. Most of their t-shirts aren’t cotton and you can tell if you look closely at the model pics. I do like their mock neck tops but all in all you’re getting what you pay for and I also had negative reviews that were never published.

    Reply
  32. Mani says:
    October 7, 2021 at 1:37 pm

    The same goes for wig companies based out of China. The cheap price and lack of being able to return things are enough to discourage me from purchasing. Don’t buy clothes or hair from them. They size for their country and their people are very small compared to Americans. And they make bank off us trying to save a buck and we get reamed in the end. Stop spending your money with companies who don’t care about you and don’t have good business practices.

    Reply
  33. noob says:
    October 12, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    Thanks

    Reply
  34. Chantel says:
    October 21, 2021 at 6:28 am

    I have been ordering from Shein since the pandemic and have had ZERO issues. My fall boots are going 2 years strong. I can get a work wardrobe on the low that looks boutique! In this time it makes more sense to shop at Shein then any department store. Any return has been quick and easy.

    Reply
  35. Tammi says:
    October 22, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    I wish I had found your review BEFORE I purchased! Although, it probably wouldn’t have helped me..I ordered from a company called Emery Rose. Lo and behold, when the packaging came, it said Shein on it. I ordered this super cute scalloped dress. The first thing I noticed is that when held up, I could see through multiple layers of fabric. Secondly, the belt was missing. 3rd, the stitching was SO horrible. I contacted customer service for a refund. They kept telling me to send them pics of the defective..when all I put it in for was for the missing belt. I had to email 8 times and finally got cranky with them and told them I can’t possibly send a picture of something that is missing. Their response was rude but they sent me a shipping label. Let’s see how long it takes to get my money back, if ever. 🙁

    Reply
  36. Katty ann says:
    January 20, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    It’s all a scam , I invested 33,750 US dollars with scam broker FXG trade and never got my money back and they kept asking for more which I couldn’t meet up with their demands, so they never got back to me anymore and i was so desperately in need of help to recover all the money back to me, fortunately I came across a colleague that introduced me to a binary options trade funds recovery expert who goes by the name Mr Michael Bowen when i met them i did not believe that they could get back my money because i have been scammed a lot already and didn’t know what to do, but my spirit told me to give it a try and i did, feel free to contact them via their email address:[email protected] and they will help you to recover all your lost investment that was denied from you by your scam broker.

    Reply
  37. Sara Zimmer says:
    March 2, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    I am a regular customer of Shein. They have a lot of monthly deals. When someone asked me why buy so many things at Shein at such a high price and still stay loyal, because I often get coupons at Dazzdeals, my friends have also used the code here and gave very good reviews.

    Reply
  38. fmwas says:
    April 1, 2022 at 9:10 am

    Great article. I like it very much

    Reply
  39. Dania says:
    April 13, 2022 at 3:08 pm

    Omg i wish I would have done my research before hand. I just ordered 100 worth and now I know not to order from them again..thanks for your honesty because a lot of their reviews are positive…

    Reply
  40. Christa says:
    April 19, 2022 at 3:59 am

    I was seriously considering renewing my wardrobe with them since they had such an awesome selection of Plus-Size clothing….but the more I read about them, the less likely that is to happen.
    I’ve also read that they use child labour, which is a big no-no.
    Reviews are so mixed that I think I simply forget about them. And thanks for the heads up on the other brand they use. Not unusual that companies like this are spreading their wings with more than one website, but unless someone give you info about it, it’s difficult to know.

    Reply
  41. fmwaapps says:
    May 13, 2022 at 7:52 am

    Shein 2022. I think it is good. suitable for everyone this year

    Reply
  42. josh andrew says:
    June 13, 2022 at 9:56 am

    I made the most stupid decision of my life when I decided to invest on a platform that only had positive reviews everywhere to deceive more people. Everything was going well until I decided to make a big withdrawal, they had let me withdraw a small amount at first and this even made me trust them even more until i needed to make a big withdrawal, they denied this and instead made me make several deposits as “tax” in order to approve my withdrawal. This went on for another three weeks and i had already lost a fortune and it didn’t look like they were going to release anything. That was the moment i realized what i had gotten myself into, i plunged into acute depression for about a month before i got in touch with a team that helped me recoup my loss, i didn’t even think it was possible i just had to send a mail to ([email protected] mail. com) as i was directed by someone i confided. If i wasn’t lucky enough to have gotten that information, i am sure they would have easily gotten away with ruining me financially.

    Reply
  43. Adam says:
    June 13, 2022 at 9:58 am

    It is actually possible for fraud victims to get their money back after they have been scammed. The secret is that you should just know where to find the right assistance for this type of scam.
    When you have been scammed and you have paid money to them with your credit or debit card, crypto,or with a direct bank deposit,you can actually get your money back if you know how regulations and financial laws are working and you build a strong chargeback case. This is why i recommend [email protected] . com to help you build such a case and if you are a beginner/ newbie investor who needs to trade without falling victim to scams should get best recommendation from [email protected] . com

    Reply
  44. gemwire says:
    June 21, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    But YES, I really do appreciate the honest review! Will look forward to using it in any difficulty!

    Reply

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