News & Guides – Page 3 – Online Shopping Reviews

Must-Read Guide to Safe Shopping at DHgate.com

When we look for a reliable Chinese online store to buy things, the biggest concern is always about safety. It is important to do research on the shopping site to uncover their nature and some general rules apply to all China-based online shops when it comes to seeking a legit foreign trade company to trade with. At the same time, note that different sites have different characteristics in running their business and thus we should deal with them differently. This post is meant to provide a helpful guide to safe shopping DHgate.com in particular.

As for shopping with DHgate.com in a secure way, I have summarized the key tips as below:

1. Review the feedback profile. If the feedback score of the seller is mostly positive, it is more likely that the seller is more trustworthy. Also, the detailed customer reviews for different products can give you some inspiration on how the products are or how the seller is. I personally value customer ratings and customer reviews so much that I would read pages of reviews in order to get a better idea about the product as well as the seller.

2. Read carefully the product descriptions, including MOQ (minimum order quantity), unit price, processing time, shipping methods and shipping time, payment option, shipping cost, material, size and more.

If you decide to buy a product, you are encouraged to save screenshots of the product page just in case a dispute happens due to item not as described. That kind of evidence can help you win the support of the DHgate dispute ruling team.

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Tips on How to Avoid Scams at Chinese Fashion Stores like Lightinthebox.com

I am thinking of buying a prom dress on Lightinthebox.com. The prices are so cheap! It looks like a scam, I’m wondering if it’s safe? Is Lightinthebox a legit site? Has anyone used Lightinthebox to shop anything? How is Lightinthebox.com? You can find heaps of such questions on the internet and as a buyer who never uses a shopping site before, you are always encouraged to ask questions as many as you can. Of course, you should also try hard to get the answers.

It’s a Chinese is which is not a good sign and it seems to have a controversial reputation among global buyers. Personally I wouldn’t trust any China-based store as the risk is seemly high. However, if a trusted friend or someone I am familiar with has purchased something from the store and is satisfied with the product and the customer service, I think I would consider using the site for shopping.

Usually, I would scan quickly the websites to get a basic evaluation on whether it is a legit site or not. They should at least provide a safe payment option like Paypal; their website should look quite professional with neat layouts, user-friendly navigation and clear photo images as well as product description; the checkout process should be easy to go through and more aspects will be taken into my consideration when it comes to judging the nature of the shopping website.

Then, I would go for more details before I make a shopping decision. For instance, if I am looking for a wedding dress at fashion stores such as Lightinthebox.com, I would check the sizing chart and confirm with the service representatives on which sizes fit me exactly. You know, US sizes can be different from Chinese sizes though usually they would indicate the US sizes for US customers. Also, I would try to find out how long it takes to make the dress and how long it takes for delivery.

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Can I Trust to Buy Things from DHgate.com or Aliexpress.com?

One reader left a question at the comment box of one post talking about DHgate.com(read the detailed review) at my site, asking if the shopping site is trust to buy things she wants. She said she was reading bad things about them off the internet and as a result she was hesitated to make the shopping decision although she did see some really wonderful products of her great interest there.

Here is my reply to her comment：

“Hi there,

DHgate is a famous Chinese online transaction platform for Chinese sellers and global buyers. I personally have worked for that company and if you ask about my opinion about whether they are reliable or not, my answer is definitely “Yes.” However, you should note that the sellers vary significantly in terms of credibility and service standards at the site. You are encouraged to do research on the sellers you are interested in trading with as much as possible by checking their feedback score and customer reviews and also through the communications. Also, do remember to always use the site to trade with any seller there and never bypass the site to make deals with the sellers otherwise without the site’s protection system you are very likely to be ripped off.

At the same time, you should keep all related evidence just in case you encounter a dishonest seller. For instance, the communication record, the pictures of the items you receive from the seller, etc. If a dispute is incurred, never trust the seller and follow his or her suggestion to solve the problem. Many scam cases happen simply because the buyers believe that the sellers are really solving their problems and trust them to remove the negative feedback against the sellers in order to get a satisfactory solution to the dispute. In many cases, after you change the negative feedback, the seller just turns her or his back against you and never responds to your request again. My advice: always use the site for a solution by opening a dispute in time. If you do all this right, you can set assured that your money won’t be taken away by scammers.

Besides DHgate.com, you can also consider Aliexpress.com, another super popular Chinese online trading platform connecting suppliers and buyers. They also have lots of products at low prices to choose from. Likewise, you should use the same cautions when shopping such trading sites. You can simply use the two sites to compare prices and then make the best shopping decision.

Good luck with your shopping!

Danviews.com”

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A Complete 2013 Back to School Checklist

A new school year means a fresh start. Everyone wants to feel like being the new and improved self on the first day of school. For this reason, most teenagers or college students start to dread the arrival of September in early August since they are not completely ready yet to usher in the new beginning. There are so many school supplies to prepare and so many things to do to get themselves ‘refreshed’. The following 2013 back-to-school checklist may help.

1. Buy outfits that will make you feel comfy and confident on your first days back. Make sure you will be wearing something of your favorites at least on the very first day to kick off the new school year. Never ignore this part as this will make difference on how you feel about yourself and bring your optimism for the year.

2. Get yourself a new haircut. With a fresh haircut you will feel extra-polished and you will never be afraid to say hi to people you used to ignore or secretly admire.

3. Prepare a few pairs of comfy shoes. The solely stylish footwear may pain your feet because of unreasonable designs. When you pick up shoes for the new school year, the priority is to consider whether they will make your feet feel comfortable or not. Otherwise, you may suffer a lot from the “beautiful shoes”. Of course, it is also important to go for those of your taste. You know, like the outfits, they will greatly affect your feelings.

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Knowledge about International Shipping Time and Shipping Costs for Holiday Sales

The best thing of scooping up the holiday deals from Chinese stores is: you can always get the best stuff at the lowest prices. However, the time frame for international shipping may be a big concern for you, especially if you start the shopping only days ahead of the important holiday day or event. Don’t worry. The stores have their own ways to ensure that the holiday gifts or supplies you order with them will arrive in time. All you need to do is to read the product descriptions with shipping info carefully or to confirm with the service people on the time frame of the delivery.

Shipping from Western Local Warehouses

Many Chinese retail stores have warehouses based in Hong Kong, the UK or the USA. Generally, they choose to pre-stock some suitable products in the overseas warehouses to prepare for the grand promotions targeting a particular holiday or event. That way they can ensure that even when the holiday or event is just a few days left, local shoppers are able to get the deals on the gifts in time. Generally, their holiday deals will be closed by the deadline so that they have enough time for delivery.

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Sorting Chinese International Shopping Sites by Business Model

Chinese international shopping websites can be sorted by whether they sell products or offer services. The former is the traditional business model and is more widely adopted by Chinese merchants while the latter is getting more and more popular these years.

Type 1: Sites = Suppliers

Sites offering products to customers with their own warehouses are the most common in terms of quantity. Such sites have their own product sourcing teams, product management teams, pre-sales teams and after-sales teams and marketing teams and handle orders by their internal staff instead of manufacturers or suppliers cooperated with them.

Generally, this type of stores focuses on a rather limited number of product categories. For instance, some mainly sell fashion and accessories, some offer electronics while some others may be famous for toys, home and garden supplies, car parts and accessories, lighting supplies, luggage and bags, jewelry and watches or any other field(s). These professional stores may also carry some minor categories other than their major ones. For instance, as a store well-known for women’s fashion, Lightinthebox.com also sells a variety of electronic gadgets like tablet PCs & accessories, cell phones & accessories or car electronics. Here is a short list of the most popular Chinese online shops that fall into this type:

At the same time, there are a small number of Chinese shopping malls that cover a broad range of categories. Anyway, the really strong ones of this type are very rare in the Chinese cross-border trade arena. So far I personally only know Dinodirect.com is doing a good job in this area. The site have several warehouses around the world and the major one is based in Shenzhen, China. Let’s just take a look at what they are offering: men’s clothing, women’s clothing, tablet PCs, Android phones, flashlights, handheld game consoles, OBD2 & diagnostic tools, iPhone accessories, baby, cameras & camcorders, car & motorcycle accessories, computers & networking, cool gadgets, security & surveillance, electronics, gifts & holiday supplies, health & beauty, home & garden, jewelry & watches, novelties, office supplies, sporting goods, toys & hobbies, video games and books.

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