DHgate.com

DHgate.com represents Chinese suppliers that are part of its partner network, as well as products from its own factory. The company conducts transactions in 57 currencies, including US/Australian/Canadian/Hong Kong/New Zealand dollars, and euros.

Delivery is carried out by local and international shipping companies, or by land, sea, and air services. How does the service differ from AliExpress in terms of reliability, product range, and quality of service? Is the online store DHgate.com a scam or a serious competitor to AliExpress? Let’s try to find out.

Why DHgate.com?

The advantages of the online hypermarket include:

• A huge selection of products (more than 22,000,000 items in the catalog).
• Relatively low prices (users note that sometimes products sold on dhgate.com are cheaper than on similar Chinese sites).
• Most often, delivery is free (the terms are determined by the seller, but in practice, you can always find what you need with or without paid shipping).
• A large number of bonuses (discounts and gifts), as well as coupons for order payments, and a cumulative VIP program.
• Buyer protection, seller verification, and ratings. These allow you to protect yourself. You can see in advance whether it is worth dealing with a particular seller and can open a dispute (with a subsequent refund) if delivery times are violated.
• Video tutorials on how to use the service and other reference (training) materials.
• A convenient mobile app for using the platform on the go.
• 24/7 customer support.

What You Can Buy on dhgate.com

The DHgate.com catalog includes mobile phones, electronics and video products, health and beauty products, clothing, shoes and accessories, home and garden goods, lighting, toys, gifts, jewelry, watches, wigs and hair extensions, office supplies and office equipment, monitoring and security systems, computers and peripherals, products for cars and motorcycles.

Mobile Phones

Android smartphones from Chinese and Korean brands: Xiaomi, Leagoo, Huawei, OnePlus, Homtom, Etmaxter, Blackview — with global, European, and Chinese firmware. Also accessories and supplies: screens, headphones, cases, smart bracelets for synchronization, Bluetooth speakers, selfie sticks, cables, chargers, memory cards, etc.

Electronics and Video Cameras

USB microphones, voice recorders, LED displays, virtual reality glasses, polygraphs, receivers, remote controls, sprayers, wireless headphones, projectors, audio players, TV set-top boxes, radios, hair clippers, portable speakers, fiber optic equipment, electronic cigarettes, and “smart” electronics such as scales, lighting systems, and more.

Health and Beauty

Cosmetic products for the body, face, and hair; hygiene products for bath and shower; body shaping products and massagers; deodorants; essential oils and perfumes; removable tattoos; erotic toys and sexual protection products; sunscreens; open lingerie; manicure and pedicure accessories and cosmetics; dietary supplements; magnetotherapy devices and other home therapy devices; trimmers and hair clippers; glasses, contact lenses, and accessories.

Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories

Everyday, festive (wedding), sports, professional (e.g., canvas shoes for water walks, climbing crampons, or basketball sneakers), and home shoes for men, women, and children. Also materials, accessories, and care products for footwear. Clothing is represented only by formalwear and includes wedding dresses and shoes, veils, garters, bracelets, wreaths, combs, and other accessories.

Home and Garden, Lighting

Furniture, household appliances, decorative items, home textiles, blinds and curtains, garden elements and decorations, bathroom accessories, plumbing, decorative goods (holiday chair covers, LED lamps, decorative wreaths, festive masks, etc.), tableware, construction tools, and much more.

Toys and Gifts

This section also offers a huge selection of toys: cartoon and movie figures, transformers and robots, educational and humorous toys, musical toys, rattles, soft, glowing and animated toys, remote-controlled equipment, sports and inflatable toys. Additionally, movies, video games, building sets and blocks, Christmas and New Year gifts.

Jewelry and Watches

Bracelets and pendants, chains and belts, eyebrow jewelry, nose, belly button, nipple rings, cuffs, hair ties, combs, pins, tiaras, charms, necklaces, pendants, lockets, earrings, tie clips, wallet clips, cufflinks, studs, as well as tools and elements for DIY jewelry making. The watch selection is somewhat smaller and includes everyday, sports, luxury statement pieces, military models, and antiques.

Computers and Peripherals

Complete computers and laptops and their components: cases, boards, motherboards, processors, cooling system parts and fans, LCD panels and screens, RAM, sound cards. Also disk drives, optical drives, USB drives, modems, network adapters, switches, hubs and routers, Wi-Fi scanners, telecommunications systems, scanners, printers (and consumables), cables, adapters, styluses, stickers, and carrying cases for tablets and laptops.

Auto and Motorcycle Accessories

ATVs, scooters, car electronics (alarms, amplifiers, Bluetooth kits, dash cams, cigarette lighters, inverters, rearview cameras, parking sensors, detectors, vacuum cleaners, etc.), car parts (air conditioners, air intakes, cooling systems, hoods, fuel systems, transmissions), exterior accessories (seat covers, stickers, ashtrays, compasses, coolers, etc.).

Xiaomi Store

Xiaomi equipment is presented by the seller in a separate category. It is a kind of showcase of one store within another. Here you can see mobile phones, robot vacuum cleaners, sports gadgets, “smart” network equipment, electric hair clippers, and kitchen electronics from the Chinese manufacturer.

How to find the right product on DHgate

Searching for products in a Chinese seller’s store is not an easy task. On the website dhgate.com, this is made somewhat easier:

• Search bar. Given that product titles use a maximum number of keywords (like “beautiful with luxurious shiny party shoes for women”), this allows you to select the most relevant products. Of course, unless the seller decides to add something irrelevant or far from the actual characteristics.
• Categorization. Quite reasonable for such an assortment: we rarely saw products that looked out of place in the section where they were located.
• Tags above search results and filters by product type, brand.

Still, navigating the dhgate.com site is not easy, and the selection process can take a lot of time. To save the products you have already chosen, you can add them to your favorites by clicking on the heart icon.

Product Card

DHgate.com product cards resemble AliExpress cards: in addition to the gallery, the main block shows price options and conditions for purchase bonuses, checkout details (payment methods, delivery to the recipient’s country), product ratings, and “share” buttons for social media.

Below is a text description (sometimes in the form of a presentation), user reviews, a column with related products, and a history of recent orders (who and for how much bought this product before you).

How to Place an Order on DHgate

Orders on the online marketplace can only be placed through the shopping cart.

• Find the product you like.
• On the product page, choose: “Buy Now” — takes you directly to the checkout page, or “Add to Cart” — adds the item to your cart, where you can edit the contents before proceeding.
• Once all desired items are in the cart, review your selections and proceed to checkout.

How to Register on DHgate.com

You cannot place orders on DHgate.com without registering. There are two ways to start:

• Begin creating an order — when prompted to log in, select Create My Account.
• Click Join Free in the upper left corner of the website.

In both cases, a registration form will appear where you enter your email address, create a password, and choose your account type (dealer, company buyer, or individual buyer).

The next step is to provide your mobile phone number and confirm your email address by clicking the link in the message sent by the provider.

Once registration is complete, you can log in to your personal account and return to checkout.

You can also sign in via Facebook or Google+, but this requires granting access to your profile data.

Personal Account

The personal account on dhgate.com consists of five main sections:

• My Orders – A list of current and past orders with filters by date and status.
• My Favorites – Your saved favorite products.
• Purchase History – A record of all your transactions.
• My Coupons – Coupons available to you (these work similarly to AliExpress coupons).
• My Profile – Personal information, contacts, interests (used to create a personalized product selection for you), address book (to save addresses for automatic filling during checkout), settings (to change your email address, username, or password), and payment details (also saved for autofill).

When you open your profile, you will see additional tabs, which will appear in the same list on the left.

How to Place an Order

After adding a product to your cart, you can proceed to checkout. Select the desired quantity of each product.

From the list, tick the boxes for the products you want to order now. Click “Proceed to Checkout.”

The system will prompt you to log in or create a personal account if you are not yet registered. After completing this step, return to the checkout process: enter the destination country and address, as well as the recipient’s contact information. Double-check all items and the total amount. If you wish, you can leave a comment for the seller. Confirm and proceed to payment (Confirm to Pay).

Additional Features

In addition to browsing products, placing orders, making payments, and managing your personal account, the online marketplace offers extra features such as a newsletter subscription, video tutorials, online parcel tracking, buyer protection, and a rating system.

Newsletter

To receive not only order status updates but also information on promotions, bonus points, and discount coupons you’ve been granted, simply subscribe to the store’s newsletter using the form at the bottom of the website. Emails from DHgate.com and its partners will be sent to the provided email address.

Video Tutorials

The website’s Help section also contains links to video tutorials on how to use DHgate.com’s services. These videos are hosted on the provider’s YouTube channel, where you can also find interesting product reviews, video overviews, statistics, and news.

Online Parcel Tracking

Parcels shipped by DHgate.com sellers can be tracked using unique tracking numbers assigned to them. These codes are entered into a special field on the carrier’s website. The Help section of DHgate.com (Help → Shipping & Delivery → Tracking Your Items → Links for Different Countries / Tracking Links for Different Countries) contains links to the appropriate carriers’ websites for various regions.

Buyer Protection

Transactions initiated by a buyer on DHgate.com are insured. If the package does not arrive within the specified time frame, you have the right to open a dispute to get a refund for the item. Even if the order arrives later, the refunded money will not be taken back. The delivery protection periods are as follows:

• 5–90 days for deliveries via DHL, TNT, USPS, FedEx, UPS
• 7–90 days for EMS, ePacket, eQuick
• 10–90 days for China Post (various services), Hong Kong Post.

The same applies to returns of items of proper (non-defective) or improper (defective) quality. If a warranty is provided, you send the item back to the seller and receive compensation upon presenting the shipping document and receipt.

Seller Ratings

Since the platform acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, there is a risk of encountering an unscrupulous supplier. To minimize this risk, DHgate.com has implemented a rating system. Every user who makes a purchase rates the seller and their product. Additionally, you can leave a written review. The company also certifies top sellers and premium sellers based on several factors, including customer satisfaction, repeat purchase rate, product quality, warranties, and more. The ratings are updated once a month.

Mobile App

DHgate.com has its own mobile application available for download from Google Play Market and the App Store. It is supported on devices with Android OS version 4.1 or later and iOS 9.0 or later. All desktop features are available in the app, including:

• Selecting products from the catalog and placing orders
• Settings, filters, and sorting options
• Adding reviews
• Scanning product QR codes

Apple device owners have rated the app 4.4 out of 5, while Android users rated it 3.9 out of 5. Most complaints are directed at seller performance rather than technical issues or usability problems.

Payment and Delivery on DHgate.com

Payment methods on DHgate.com vary depending on the buyer’s country of registration. For Russian users, the following options are available:

• Bank cards: VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express, Diners Club
• E-wallets: Skrill, MasterPass, WebMoney, QIWI
• International payment systems: Discover, POLi
• Bank transfers — domestic, international, and services like UnionPay
• Apple Pay
• Payments using the seller’s gift coupons

The transfer fee is covered by DHgate.com. All orders require 100% prepayment.

How to Pay for an Order

Since the service operates on a prepaid basis only, after confirming your order, you are immediately redirected to the payment gateway, where you must select a payment method, enter your details, and confirm the transaction (usually via an SMS code). In the case of e-wallets and payment systems, you will also need to log into your account there.

Delivery Methods

On the dhgate.com website, there is a summary table of delivery methods and timeframes depending on the recipient’s country. For buyers in Russia, DHgate.com sellers ship parcels using the following delivery options:

• ePacket – The parcel is transported within China by a local courier service (EMS), and after crossing the border, it is delivered by EMS Post. Delivery takes 14–26 days.
• China Post Air – International air shipping for parcels weighing under 2 kg. Within China, it is sent via a local postal service (Hong Kong Post, EMS). Delivery takes 21–30 days.
• China Post SAL – Shipping of large parcels using three modes of transportation: air for the first stage, sea for the second, and land for the third. Delivery takes between 13 and 47 days.
• International transport and courier companies such as DHL and TNT – Delivery takes 5–9 days.

Return Methods

The return of both properly functioning and defective goods purchased on dhgate.com is carried out within the time frame specified in the seller’s description. This may be 7, 15, or 30 days from the date of receipt. You must return the order and provide proof, such as a scan or photo of the shipping document. The refund will be issued using the same payment details you used to make the purchase, and the time it takes to receive it will depend on the payment method. You will also be reimbursed for the shipping cost, but only after the seller receives the returned parcel. A dispute (return request) is opened in your Account in the order details section.

DHgate Bonuses

The DHgate.com bonus program offers traditional Chinese sales (hot deals), seasonal discounts, as well as coupons. Let’s look at each area separately.

Order Payment Coupons

From time to time, DHgate.com itself sends clients coupons for a certain amount, which can be used to reduce the cost of a purchase. Coupons are also provided by retailers working with DHgate.com when their conditions are met (for example, order volume or total spending). Popular offers are displayed in a special section of the website, organized by categories for easier browsing.

Equipment Discounts up to 50%

When purchasing home appliances on the online marketplace this fall, you can receive discounts of up to 50% (the exact amount depends on the specific product and seller). All prices in the promotions section are already updated, including deductions.

Up to 60% Off Home Goods

Home and household items are also sold on DHgate.com with discounts of up to 60%. Coupons can be applied as well.

Up to 60% Off All Footwear

This promotion includes so many items that they had to be sorted into categories. The minimum discount is 5%, and the maximum is 60%.

Shop Discounted Shoes

Brand Sale

The sale features branded products (e.g., Redmi smartphones, ZZYD headphones, etc.—all made in China). In some cases, prices are reduced by up to 70% of the original price. The promotion period is not specified.

Accessory Discounts up to 50%

Fashion accessories (watches, glasses, hats, belts, bags, jewelry, etc.) are currently sold on DHgate.com with discounts of up to 50%. For example, a Quartz Watch Mesh Waterproof Sport WristWatch costs 2,458 RUB instead of the usual 3,072 RUB.

Quick Deals

Some products have fast offers with discounts of up to 30%.

Accelerated Shipping

Certain DHgate.com products are available for accelerated shipping within 3+ days, as indicated on the website. This promotion applies to all catalog categories.

Last Minute Offers

DHgate.com has a section where hot deals are constantly published: special prices on specific products (the list is updated every 6 hours). You can save up to 60%, including on orders placed through the mobile app.

Order and Get a Discount

VIP Program

The more you shop on the site, the more bonus points you earn, which gives you a certain status in the VIP program and corresponding privileges (each new level unlocks additional benefits):

• D0 – Default (0 points). Birthday gifts are provided.
• V1 – When you accumulate 100 points. Grants access to personal coupons.
• V2 – When you accumulate 500 points. In addition to the above, interactive purchase offers are activated based on your order history, favorite items, views, and other activity.
• V3 – When you accumulate 3,000 points. More coupons and annual rewards for participating in the program (like a program anniversary reward).
• V4 – When you accumulate 10,000 points. Personal customer service manager assigned.
• V5 – When you accumulate 100,000 points. Reduced (exclusive) prices on products.

Loyalty points are also awarded for posting reviews, registering, participating in the referral program, and as holiday gifts.

Referral Program

The referral program works as follows:

• The partner registers in the program and receives a unique referral link.
• The link is placed alongside a promotional offer on a website, blog, page/community, chat/group, forum, or other resources where it does not violate laws or user rights.
• Every new DHgate.com user who clicks the referral link is considered a referral (subscriber).

From the company’s profit from deals made by referrals, the partner receives up to 51% of each paid order via the Admitad affiliate network (depending on the number of subscribers and other factors).

Become a Partner

Complaints About DHgate

Although, overall, users of the DHgate.com mobile app did not rate the online marketplace very low (with scores of 3.9–4.4 out of 5 depending on the platform—iOS or Android), many complaints have been published regarding the lack of compensation for undelivered and/or low-quality products.

Among the positive aspects noted by satisfied users of the service (who are still the majority) are the wide product selection, low prices, and relatively fast delivery.

On major international sites like Trustpilot, the seller rating is much lower—2.9 out of 5 based on over 25,000 reviews. Buyers raise the same complaints: sellers working with the marketplace disappeared after payment, and customer support showed little concern for these situations. Those who praise DHgate.com say they haven’t experienced problems with their orders, but such reviews are not very informative.

If reviews of the DHgate online store appear, we will definitely share them on social media. Follow us so you don’t miss anything!

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Regulatory Authorities

As stated in the website’s user agreement, the platform belongs to several legal entities (Heguang International, Century Fuxuan Science & Technology Development Beijing Co. Ltd., Digitrading Hongkong Limited, RichPalace Holdings Limited, Sunlight Trading Limited, and others) under Dunhuang Group Corporation, registered in Beijing (license number O 04552872, issued by the China Administration for Industry and Commerce in the region). A careful review of the document provided on dhgate.com (we used an online photo translator) shows that the main activity is software and technical development.

However, trade is also conducted. In the Russian Federation, it is regulated under the Federal Law “On Consumer Rights Protection,” as clause 11.10 of the same user agreement specifies that subsidiary companies of the corporation must comply with the laws of the regions where they operate. Additionally, claims against a seller can be filed with the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).

Learn more about DHGate license

User Agreement of DHgate.com

The DHgate.com User Agreement (Terms of Use) sets the rules for using the website, as well as the rights and responsibilities of both the administration and the user. For example, clause 2.1 states that only an adult of legal capacity may register an account in the online store. All data provided during registration and purchase must be truthful and accurate (clause 2.2); otherwise, you may be considered in violation of the agreement.

Your account may not be transferred to another person without the prior written consent of DHgate.com (clause f of section 2.4).

The provider has the right, at its discretion, to restrict or completely block your access to the website and services. The company is not responsible for the consequences of such a block. You are solely responsible for any delays in order payments. The platform does not provide purchasing services itself, acting only as an intermediary between the buyer and the seller, and is not responsible for their actions toward each other (clause 4.1).

The same applies to product quality issues (clause 4.4). Users and legal entities working with the platform agree to hold its owners and partners harmless from any claims or lawsuits related to commercial activities (clause 4.5).

Customer Service

DHgate.com customer support is available through:

• U.S. phone number: 1-877-927-7268
• Online chat and a support ticket form on the website
• The company’s Facebook community (chat with an administrator)

Answers to frequently asked questions can be found in the store’s knowledge base (FAQ). All support contact options are accessible via the Help → Customer Service section.

Is DHgate.com a Scam?

DHgate.com is an international platform operated by a Chinese company registered in Beijing (as evidenced by the document photo on the website—data can be obtained and verified in the official registry using a photo translator). The platform does not provide commercial services directly to customers; it merely connects them with sellers. Therefore, it does not offer any legal guarantees and is not responsible for potential fraud. At the same time, the provider still attempts to protect users through dispute resolution systems (purchase protection) and seller ratings.

The user agreement is generally reasonable, but there are clauses that are not favorable to buyers—for example, clause 2.6 allows the administration to close any account for any reason. It is easy to imagine that in such cases, there will be no refund for completed orders. Clauses 4.4–4.5 allow the platform to avoid liability for selling defective products. Among the online store’s reviews, there are many complaints about undelivered packages and difficulties obtaining refunds. It is difficult to say that DHgate.com is a scam, but there are certain risks associated with using the site.

Conclusion

DHgate.com offers a truly enormous selection of products (over 22 million) across 15 main categories, as well as Chinese and Korean brand goods (Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc.) in dedicated sections. Prices on the online marketplace are comparable to those in similar stores in the Far East and sometimes even lower than competitors (according to online reviews). The platform features seller ratings, buyer protection, almost always free shipping, and a global bonus program with promotions, discount coupons, and a VIP program.

However, the service has several serious drawbacks:

• 100% prepayment required
• DHgate’s policy does not assume responsibility for product quality, delivery times (or even the fact of delivery), or any seller actions—DHgate.com is only an informational reseller
• Technical issues with the website (not all catalog pages load—some lead to 404 error pages, and the Russian version also does not fully work)
• A large number of complaints (at least 30% of all orders) about undelivered packages
• The right to block a user’s account at any time without notice or explanation, at its discretion