Much like my first time tweeting, or intagramming, or ordering an Uber (which went terribly wrong in Mexico involving me getting charged for rides I didn’t show up for because I didn’t understand Spanish). There’s a first time for everything. This is my experience with my first ever purchase through Shein, one of those discount clothing and houseware websites that adverstise in your Facebook newsfeed or along the side of other websites or search engines.
First off I have been extremely cautious about purchasing anything from any of the discount clothing places that pop up in my newsfeed. I do my research. Ever heard the adage “if it seems to good to be true it probably is”? Well this was one of those instances so I was reluctant to purchase initially.
I was also familiar with the mixed reviews all over the internet, many of which err on the side of not-so-positive when it came to Shein (shipping took too long, parcel never arrived, quality wasn’t great, sizes did not fit in the slightest, etc.). Well this is where I figured I had the system [at least partially] beat…
I wasn’t going to buy clothing.
I decided to order items for my office instead.
I was going to be practical about the quality that I was paying for… I paid JUST $50 for 8 items. I mean, that is an awesome deal but I wasn’t ignorant to the fact that if I was getting that many items for so little that I would be sacrificing the quality… I imagined it would lean toward Dollar Store quality. In the end I ordered: 4 pillow cases for bench cushions, a mini desktop shelf, a hot pink deer jewelry display, a small fabric basket for office supplies, and (for my step-daughter) a hairclip display ribbon.
I would be extremely realistic about the shipping these days. If there are so many complaints about items being shipped from them before COVID-19? Well, I would take the shipping with a grain of salt.
So were the items worth it? Yes. The quality wasn’t fancy or anything, I’m just glad the invisible zippers on the pillow cases zipped smoothly. the fabric that the pillow cases are made from? Weird, velvety/flannelly, thicker than I expected and super soft. The little star bin for my office supplies? sturdy enough and the perfect size, if a pen or marker leaks in it at least I know it won’t go all over my desk!
The white shelf? Larger than I anticipated, almost has a foam-core feel to it, but it’s heavier than that. Once it was assembled I knew I wouldn’t be able to put anything weighty at the front of it as it easily tips. But overall for a cheap little decorative shelf for my desk? It’ll work!
Finally, the last thing I’d thrown in my cart before I paid was the hot pink deer jewelry holder. I had ZERO expectations for this one, other than the colour. Turns out it’s a cute little display and can house a number of lightweight chains and rings on it. Score!
What about the shipping you ask? I placed my order on May 25, 2020. It was confirmed on the 26th, and shipped out of their warehouse on May 28th. It had a projected delivery date of July 7th, 2020. It’s actual arrival date to my door? June 19th, 2020. Just shy of 3 weeks ahead of schedule and everything in immaculate condition. This was a super pleasant surprise given the state of the world and international shipping delays at the moment.
In Summary; they offered reassuring options for purchasing safely through their website (credit card or paypal), the product was alright for the price I paid, and the shipping was awesome. I’m sure that in the future should I buy from them that I will end up having a late parcel, or perhaps it doesn’t show up at all… this is a reality for any and all online purchases. For now I consider this a win for Shein, a win for my first purchase through them, and a win for my home office design. Shein for the win!