Customer support is available via email and live chat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nIs DHGate legit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DHGate is a legitimate online store. It does not take part in scam activities because customers do get their products when ordered. We have also seen lots of customers with positive feedback about DHGgate. But there are also a few DHGgate complaints which are normal for popular stores such as this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is DHGate safe?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DHGate is also safe to use. Another important consideration is whether DH Gate is safe. You don\u2019t want to be ripped off; that is why you check for a legit store\/ platform in the first place. But if the legit store is not safe, you could end up still being ripped off. Thus, the ideal retailing platform should not only be legit but also safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safety, in this case, is ensuring that the sensitive information that you share with the platform is protected and prevented from falling into the wrong hands. For example, you\u2019ll submit your credit card details when you pay with credit cards; and you definitely don\u2019t want such information in the hands of cyber fraudsters for obvious reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate says all the right things, like that they respect your privacy, and that they are committed to protecting it. Without providing details, they say that they utilize sophisticated technology to ensure customers\u2019 information is protected online; and that other measures are taken to ensure offline security.While we like the details to boast our confidence in the effectiveness of the measures, it\u2019s safe to say that DH Gate is safe. For one, DH Gate has consistently passed the strictest global data security payment standard; and most importantly, DH Gate has not suffered a data breach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DHGate was founded in 2004 by Diane Wang who still serves as the CEO. DHGate is owned by the Dunhuang Group. The DH in the name (DH Gate) actually refers to Dunhuang, which is a Chinese city that is storied to link China to the rest of the world in ancient times. That tells you what DH Gate aims to achieve; to be the online version of Dunhuang, and link China to the rest of the world in modern times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How it works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DHGate is an online marketplace that connects Chinese sellers (manufacturers, wholesalers, drop shippers) and buyers from around the world. Thus, when you buy any item on the DH Gate website, you\u2019re not actually buying from DH Gate, but from one of the third-party sellers listing items for sale on the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate does not maintain any inventory, and as such has no warehouse\/fulfilment centre. The sellers list merchandise on the website owner and maintain the inventory; they<\/p>\n\n\n[the sellers]\n\n\n\n
set the price, and determine the service package. What DH Gate simply does is link you with these sellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apart from its linking role, one of the other active roles that DHGate plays is in payment. When you make payment for merchandise, you\u2019ll be paying to DHGate, who will then release the payment to the seller at a later time. <\/span>[More on this later] You\u2019ll receive a notification when your order has been received, and when it has been shipped. Communications will be direct with the seller; it is only when things go south, and you escalate to DH Gate, that they\u2019ll step in to mediate.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe DHGate website is mobile optimized, so you can shop on the go. Being mobile-optimized is more than just mobile compatible; optimizing means the web pages resize to fit the screen of your mobile device for an optimal viewing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The website is also pretty intuitive, and using it is straightforward. You can find items by clicking through the product categories on the main page or in the product channel until you find what you want. Alternatively, you may simply type the product keyword into the search panel, and you\u2019ll get the relevant results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\nDHGate Buyer Protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Buyer protection is simply what it sounds like \u2013 a mechanism to protect the buyer (you). As documented, you\u2019re not actually buying the merchandise from DHGate when you buy from the site. However, the payment is made through DHGate Gateway. In simple terms, you pay to DH Gate. And that is where you are protected; because DH Gate will only release the payment to the seller only when you confirm that you have received delivery of your package and that you are satisfied with the item(s).If it turns out that the seller does not deliver your order, or that the items delivered to you are not what you expected; DHGate can help you with getting a replacement or a refund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, DHGate even advises that no buyer should entertain proposals from sellers to complete transactions directly with them instead of via DH Gate; and that any seller on the website who drops that suggestion should be reported immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resources for Selecting Good Suppliers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Just as in your typical marketplace, there are all kinds of sellers, ranging from those with legit functional products to those you\u2019ll rather avoid. The good news is that DHGate offers resources to help you avoid sellers you\u2019ll rather avoid, and select the good sellers. One such resource is the \u201cSeller\u2019s review profile\u201d which is a page where you can view the reviews left by other buyers about the seller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good thing is that this is not a page put together by the individual sellers, so a seller cannot filter reviews to only feature positive reviews. We\u2019ve found that on most websites owned and operated by retailers; the store will accept and post raving reviews written by customers but will reject and not post scathing reviews written by customers.For that reason, we usually recommend that the reviews found on the website of stores should be taken with a pinch of salt; and that for balanced reviews, the independent customers\u2019 review platforms should be the go-to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This \u201cSeller\u2019s Review Profile\u201d in DH Gate qualifies as an independent customers\u2019 review platform because the particular seller has no say in the reviews that are posted there. This review will go a long way in helping you in determining good sellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other resources that\u2019ll help include review scores and service scores. The review scores are a derivative of the reviews; the percentage of positive reviews that a seller has is used to rate the seller. For example, you\u2019ll find a seller with 98% positive reviews rated as a \u201cSuperior Supplier\u201d; and that tells you that the seller is trustworthy. <\/span>Another good thing about the reviews is that they come with dates; so you won\u2019t be seeing all historical reviews clumped together. You can view recent reviews (last month, last 2 months, last 6 months, etc), and determine not just the performance of the seller, but the current performance of the seller.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe \u201cservice score\u201d is even a superior metric for judging a seller\u2019s performance because it includes a lot of detail. The ratings include: whether the items received are as described; delivery time; shipping cost; seller\u2019s communication level, and more. <\/span>You\u2019ll also find a comparison of these ratings with the average for DH Gate, and that gives you an idea of the performance of the particular seller.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWholesale and Retail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Seeing DHGate advertising as \u201cthe world\u2019s leading B2B e-commerce wholesale marketplace\u201d, will have you thinking that all sellers in the platform trade only in bulk. However, sellers in DH Gate actually trade both in bulk and in single units. So you can actually use DH Gate for both wholesale and retail shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll even find that many of the stores in platforms such as eBay sells items originally obtained from DHGate. Thus, you can use DH Gate to get single units for your own use; as well as to get inventory for your own store (whether online or offline).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Negotiable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In most online retail stores, the listed prices are the final prices. You either \u201ctake it or leave it\u201d \u2013 order the item at the price or move to another item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, since DHGate is a marketplace, there are lots of options. Granted there are sellers whose listed prices are final prices, but you\u2019ll also find certain sellers listing items that are negotiable. DH Gate provides the negotiation platform, via a \u201cRequest For Quotation\u201d (RFQ) button. Clicking the button will enable you to view the seller\u2019s offer, decide to join, discuss fresh terms, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Product<\/h2>\n\n\n\nProduct Range<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There can be no shop without products. Thus, the items that can be gotten in a place are an important consideration. One of such product considerations is the product range, which has to do with the variety of products that can be gotten in the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this regard, DH Gate comes out strong. A platform is a marketplace for consumer goods; and since consumer goods cover different niches, DH Gate comes out as a hold-it-all store. The product categories you\u2019ll find in the platform are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Apparel \u2013 women wear, me wear, kids, wear<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Automobiles and motorcycles<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Baby, Kids and Maternity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bags, Luggage and Accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Business and Industrial goods<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cell Phones and Accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Computers and Networking Accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Electronics and Cameras<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fashion Accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Food and Beverage<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Games and Accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hair and Styling items, and accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Health and Beauty products<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Home, Gardening items<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Home Appliances<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jewelry and Watches<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Light and Lighting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Musical Instruments<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Security and Surveillance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shoes and Accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sports and Outdoor items, including active gear<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Toys and Gift<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Weddings and Events<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The above categories show that you\u2019ll find every consumer good in DHGate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inventory Size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When making your purchase, you\u2019ll definitely choose a place with a good number of items over a place with just a few items. This is because with many items, you have a bigger pool to choose from, and you\u2019re more likely to find something that matches your taste and budget. Thus, the ideal shopping place should have a large inventory of each product type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does DH Gate fare in this regard? Suffice it to say that DH Gate has about 1.4 million sellers, and these are not just small-time retailers, but mainly manufacturers and wholesalers. QED. You\u2019ll find thousands of particular merchandise, and your selection needs will be adequately served.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Product Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important constitutions when looking at the products in a shopping place is quality. Even when looking to buy low and affordable items, no one will want to get low-quality items that\u2019ll be gone tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a marketplace, one of the first guarantees of quality is that every seller on the platform is a certified supplier. Being certified, amongst other things, means that their products must meet minimum quality requirements. However, in DHGate suppliers are not certified. We also couldn\u2019t find any stringent requirements that sellers have to meet to be admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, that is not mean that items in DHGate are of poor quality. It only means that you are as likely to get poor-quality items as you are to get good-quality items. But this is what should be expected from a marketplace; especially one that is not for certified sellers only. The reviews of DHGate also reveal this.There are many reviews reporting that items gotten from the site had decent quality (as described in the advert note, properly made, durable, etc); on the other hand, you\u2019ll also find scathing reviews of customers wholly dissatisfied with items delivered, such as where items significantly different from what is described or pictured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should be said that it appears to us that the approach of DHGate in ensuring the delivery of quality items is not seller-centred but customer-centred. That is, instead of policing the quality of items on its seller’s list, they rather ensure that the buyer is happy with what is received [through buyer protection]. That way, the seller will not receive payment when the buyer complains of receiving poor-quality materials. Thus, the sellers are forced to deliver decent quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price, Promotions, and Payment Methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\nPrice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The price of items is one of the first things buyers check when checking out items in a store, and for good reasons. No one will be willing to pay what is unreasonable for any item. As a result, the ideal selling platform should feature reasonable (read as, low and affordable) prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate ticks the box in this regard. DHGate is cheap. In many review platforms, DH Gate is described as a marketplace for discounted consumer goods. Note that \u201cdiscounted\u201d is almost always used as a modifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best way to gauge the reasonableness of the prices of a platform is to do a comparison with similar platforms. In this regard, DHGate easily beats other consumer goods marketplaces, even those known for low prices themselves such as Ali Express. You\u2019ll find items in DHGate up to 30% \u2013 80% lower than you\u2019ll find them in retail outlets; and about 5% – 50% lower than you\u2019ll find them on incomparable discount products platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Promotions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Everybody wants cost-saving offers, and that is what promotions represent. Promotions give buyers the opportunity to buy items for less than their full prices. There are even some promotions that give extra products if a certain number of the product is purchased. Thus, buyers typically want to sell platforms or stores with a lot of promotional offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate also ticks the box in this regard. You\u2019ll find a lot of offers and coupons on the site. For example, when we first visited the site, we were greeted with a \u201cNew Buyers\u2019 Coupon Pack\u201d with a $88 value. The offer promised: $2 off orders of $10+, $6 off orders of $60+, $10 off orders of $99+, $20 off orders of $199+, and $50 off orders of $499+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only new buyers get treats. Apart from these new buyer coupons, you\u2019ll find a host of others. Whether you\u2019re a low-budget shopper or a high-budget shopper, you\u2019ll find tantalizing coupons. For example, you\u2019ll find coupons for orders as low as $5+ (get $2 for orders of $5+), as well as for orders of $1000+ (get $150 for orders of $1000+). These amazing cost-saving offers of DH Gate further push down their already low prices, and serve to make the platform even more attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Payment Methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t want to have a headache when paying for your order. First, you\u2019ll want the platform to support a wide range of payment options so that you can easily find one to use no matter where you are resident. Secondly, you\u2019ll want any of the payment methods you grab to be hassle-free and convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DHGate ticks the box on both counts. First, there is support for a wide range of payment methods. Some of the worldwide options that you may use in paying for items on the platform are Visa, Master Card, American Express, Skrill (Moneybookers), Bank Transfer, Diners Club, Discover Card, Union Pay, Maestro card, Masterpass (E-wallet).There is support for other country-specific payment methods. For example, residents of Australia may use the bank transfer options Poli (online) and Bpay (offline), as well as Apple Pay. Sofort Banking is also available in Countries such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, etc.There\u2019s GiroPay in Germany, Nordea in Finland, iDeal in the Netherlands, Przelewy 24 in Poland, Yandex Money and Qiwi in Russia, OXXO in Mexico, Boleto in Brazil, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With so many options, you\u2019ll definitely have no issues with finding one to use for paying for your order. The only bump here is that PayPal is not supported as a payment option, and there are many customers who\u2019ll want the option.In fact, DH Gate used to be one of the biggest partners of PayPal and they supported PayPal for many years until recently when the partnership agreement was terminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One way online purchase differs from traditional purchases (from brick and mortar stores) is that you can simply walk out of an online store with the purchased item(s). The item(s) has to be shipped from the seller\u2019s fulfilment centre to where you\u2019ll receive delivery of it.As a result, shipping is an important consideration in online purchases. Some of the most important shipping elements include shipping destinations, shipping times, and shipping costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shipping Destination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate buyer service is worldwide which means anybody from any part of the world can make purchases using DHGate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll be unable to buy from many online stores because they do not ship to your location; however, in DHGate, you\u2019ll most likely find a seller that ships to where you are resident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shipping Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is how much time will elapse from when you place the order to when it will be delivered to you. You don\u2019t want to wait forever to receive your package; thus, you\u2019ll want a store that features fast delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the individual sellers handle their services, it\u2019s difficult to quote any particular times as generic. You\u2019ll find the expected shipping times for any item displayed before you complete your order. You\u2019ll have a choice of different shipping services, which include regular post, UPS, FedEx, DHL, EMS, and more. The regular post is the Standard delivery service and generally takes the longest to deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it should be noted that shipping time when you buy from DH Gate is generally longer than when you buy from domestic stores (that is online stores based in your country). This is because the sellers that DH Gate features are all based in China, so the merchandise will be shipping from China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shipping Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shipping costs add to the purchase cost for the total expenditure on items. Thus, high shipping charges can take the overall spend to an unacceptable range even if the items themselves were perceived as acceptably priced. As a result, you\u2019ll want places that offer shipping costs that are as low as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because DHGate is a marketplace, there\u2019s no quoting a particular figure as shipping costs. What you\u2019ll pay for shipping will depend on the particular seller of the item(s), the shipping service you choose, and where the merchandise is shipping to (your location). Generally, the Standard delivery (regular post) is the cheapest option; and you\u2019ll be a little premium to get a faster delivery option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is that many sellers in DHGate offer free shipping, even for single-unit purchases. However, free shipping will almost always go via the regular post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Returns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Especially with online purchases where you did not have the opportunity to physically assess an item before ordering it, you\u2019ll want to be able to return the item to the store (for a refund or a replacement) if you are not totally satisfied with what is delivered to you. Thus, it\u2019s really a no-brainer that you should deal only with stores that allow returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In DH Gate returns are allowed; but since the platform is just a marketplace, returns are subject to the individual seller\u2019s service terms. Thus, before buying any item, it will be good to review the seller\u2019s offers, such as how much will be refunded, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are not totally satisfied with an item that you got from the DH Gate website, you\u2019ll have to open a \u201cdispute request\u201d with the seller. The time you\u2019ll have for doing this will depend on the delivery option of your package. <\/span>You\u2019ll have within 5 \u2013 90 days if your order shipped via UPS, FedEx, TNT or DHL; within 7 \u2013 90 days if your package shipped via EMS, E-packet or E-quick; and within 10 \u2013 90 days if your package shipped via regular post. The seller can then respond to your dispute request, and you two will work out a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, DHGate will not leave you at the mercy of the particular seller. If the seller does not respond to the dispute request or you are not satisfied with the solution of the seller, you can escalate a return\/ refund dispute to DHGate, and they\u2019ll step in for mediation. Also, the process is fairly easy; you only have to click \u201crequest DHGate mediation\u201d from your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After an agreement is reached (whether directly with the seller or through DH Gate\u2019s mediation), you\u2019ll have to execute the agreement. It usually involves returning the item back to the seller. At this stage, you\u2019ll find a link to the seller\u2019s shipping address, and you can use that to mail the return package appropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Return Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is no hard and dry figure to report as you\u2019ll be dealing with particular sellers. Usually, who will be responsible for the return shipping cost will be spelt out when finalizing the agreement to close the dispute request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no free and prepaid returns label that you can attach to the return package and be freed from paying any fees when you mail the package. You\u2019ll have to pay the relevant shipping charges when posting the returns package and show your invoice (if the seller is to bear the return shipping cost).If the agreement has it that you\u2019ll bear the shipping charges, there\u2019ll be no refunds; but if the agreement has it that the seller will bear the return shipping costs, DHGate will deduct the relevant amount from the payment before crediting the seller, and will credit you with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exchanges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most times, customers return items in order to get another in its place. Usually, such product exchanges are sought after because it allows you to get the replacement product in less time. This is because you\u2019ll not have to wait to be refunded before placing the new order. <\/span>Also, product exchanges offer cost savings; because most often than not, the seller is responsible for the shipping of the replacement. However, if you had simply obtained a refund and placed a new order, you might have to pay for its shipping.Given that original shipping costs are largely non-refundable, when you return the first item and buy another item in its place, it\u2019ll translate to double charges for shipping to get an item.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThankfully, exchanges are allowed by a host of sellers in DG Gate. When you\u2019re not totally satisfied with an item delivered to you, you can return it and request a replacement. However, that\u2019ll all be in the dispute request that you raise after receiving the delivery of the original package.When it\u2019s agreed that a seller will send the replacement, the agreement will cover every detail such as who\u2019ll be responsible for shipping the replacement item, and the time frame it\u2019ll take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DH Gate gives you 90 days to confirm that you have received the replacement item and are pleased with it. If no confirmation is received from you after 90 days, your payment will be released to the seller, and there\u2019ll be nothing else DH Gate can do to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does DHGate Offer Genuine Products?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
They have been delivering quality product since inception. And its customers also have very positive feedback about the products and services<\/g>. It\u2019s no news that one tactic that has worked for online fraudsters is setting up fake online stores that list non-existent products. When customers unsuspectingly place orders in such platforms they’ll lose their payment because the order will never be delivered. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThus, when it comes to buying merchandise online; you want to make sure that you use only legit platforms. That brings us to the question of whether DHGate is legit or a scam platform. There are people that cheaply throw the word \u201cscam\u201d at any platform they are dissatisfied with, and conversely throw \u201clegit\u201d at platforms they are pleased with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, we\u2019ll provide you with information that\u2019ll help with objective analysis. We\u2019ll look at the legit from different perspectives \u2013 legality, fulfilling orders, items fit for purpose. In the first angle, there\u2019s no doubt that DHGate is a 100% legal company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ownership of the company can be traced to the Dunhuang Group, which is a legally registered company with a bunch of other legally registered companies under its wing. Suffice it to say that scam stores do not seek legal recognition via company registrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second angle of legitimacy (fulfilling orders) is even more important if you ask many customers. It wouldn\u2019t matter to a customer that a company is 100% legal if the customer does not receive his\/ her package after placing an order; in his\/ her eyes, the company that does not fulfil orders is a scam. In this regard, DH Gate \u201cfulfils\u201d orders. Granted, the company does not maintain any physical inventory; it only host sellers who has the actual inventory and whose responsibility it is to fulfil the orders, but DH Gate has a system that ensures that the sellers in their website fulfil orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once again, the sceptic may argue that having a system that ensures orders are fulfilled doesn\u2019t necessarily translate to fulfilling orders. While the argument is right; there are many things that show that in the case of DHGate, orders are actually fulfilled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First is the test of time; since launching, DHGate has operated for almost 15 years. Suffice it to say that a platform that does not deliver orders will be called out and will naturally die off. Interestingly, DHGate has become more popular and now boasts over 10 million customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n