Is DHgate a Scam?

If you’re thinking of using DHgate, you need to know: Is DHgate a scam? 

Below, we explain whether DHgate is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this online platform. 

What Is DHgate?

DHgate.com is a Chinese business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce marketplace.

It was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Beijing. 

The platform connects Chinese manufacturers and suppliers with global buyers (small businesses to individual consumers). 

The platform offers a huge range of products, from clothing to electronics. 

Is DHgate a Scam?

No, DHgate is a legitimate online marketplace, but experiences on it vary.

According to an article in The Cut, DHGate is a Chinese e-commerce marketplace with a shopping experience similar to AliExpress (and long shipping times). 

A Have Clothes, Will Travel review describes shopping on DHgate as a “gamble.” Though some items can be surprisingly decent for the price, others are low quality.

DHgate’s return/refund process is dispute-based and only covers cases where items are not received or differ significantly from their advertised images. 

Returns for issues like sizing or personal preference are difficult and may involve extra costs.

On online forums, reviews of the platform are mostly negative. 

A few users point out that the platform hosts a range of sellers, so experiences can vary depending on who you buy from. 

However, numerous buyers report that items either never arrive or are delivered to the wrong location despite tracking information indicating otherwise.

The dispute and refund processes are described as confusing, unresponsive, or skewed in favor of the sellers. High shipping fees, misleading product descriptions, and poor-quality items are also mentioned. 

The DHgate app gets a 4.2 out of 5.0-star rating (from 522,646 ratings) on Google Play and a 4.5 out of 5.0-star rating (from 511,415 ratings) on the App Store. 

It has a 2.3 out of 5.0-star rating (from 6,948 ratings) on sitejabber. 

Security

DHgate has various security features and measures in place.

In its privacy policy, DHgate says it uses security technologies (like SSL encryption) and restricts internal access to protect your data.

It also says it partners with reputable cybersecurity firms for real-time threat monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments, and prompt incident response.

You can protect your DHgate account with two-factor authentication. 

DHgate says it offers a Buyer Protection program to ensure you can get your money back in case of disputes or unauthorized transactions through secure refund and dispute resolution processes.

Privacy

DHgate explains the kind of data it collects, why, and whom it shares it with in its privacy policy, which applies to DHgate’s website and mobile app. 

DHgate collects the following information: 

• Information provided by you. Including registration data (name, email, password, etc.), purchase data (shipping address, payment details, etc.), profile information (contact details, interests, profile photo, etc.), communication records (texts and images from chats with sellers or customer service), and affiliate data (if you participate in the affiliate program).
• Data collected automatically. Technical details via cookies (IP address, browser type, etc.)

The company collects this data for purposes including registering and managing your account, processing transactions and facilitating order fulfillment, providing customer service, and resolving disputes.

DHgate also uses this data to create personalized profiles and recommendations and improve user experience. Plus, to prevent fraud and control risks.

DHgate says your personal data is not sold or exchanged without your consent.

It may share your data with subsidiaries, affiliates, and service providers strictly for operational purposes (e.g., processing orders and customer service).

Specific third-party SDKs may collect technical data for performance analysis.

You have certain privacy rights and options. For example:

• You can update, correct, or delete your personal information via “My DHgate” or by contacting DHgate at manager@dhgate.com.
• You have the right to withdraw consent for certain uses.

Personal information is retained only as long as necessary for the stated purposes and is stored on servers in China.

Your data may be used for direct marketing unless you opt out.

So, Should You Use DHgate?

Depends. 

If you’re comfortable doing thorough research (e.g., checking seller reviews) and using a payment method that offers buyer protection, DHgate might be a good option. 

But if you value consistent quality and effective customer service, you should probably look at alternative e-commerce sites. 

How to Use DHgate Safely

• Research DHgate sellers. Check out DHgate seller reviews and ratings before buying from them to reduce the risk of low-quality items.
• Use secure payment methods. Use a credit card with buyer protection or another payment method that supports chargebacks. Avoid using debit cards or unsecured payment methods.
• Protect your DHgate account. Create a strong, unique password for your DHgate account, and don’t reuse it elsewhere on the web. Enable two-factor authentication. 
• Review DHgate’s privacy policy. Make sure you understand DHgate’s privacy policy and terms of use, i.e., what data is collected and how it is used.
• Monitor your transactions. Keep records of your DHgate orders, communications, and tracking information. This can be helpful if you need to dispute an order.
• Stay updated on shipping & returns. Check the shipping methods, costs, and return policies for each seller on DHgate. 
• Manage personal information. You can update, correct, or delete your personal details anytime by logging into your “My DHgate” account.
• Opt out of DHgate marketing. If you prefer not to receive DHgate promotional emails or messages, follow the opt-out instructions in their communications. 
• Control cookies. Adjust your browser settings to manage cookies or block them if you don’t want DHgate to store information on your device (this might limit some features of the DHgate website).