Onine Stores

Your opinion matters, whether good, bad, or ugly. This is because top brands use consumer insight (opinions) to drive product/ service development or improvement. These brands pay market research sites to help with the collection of the consumer insights, and these (rewards sites) will give a portion of the commission received to members who participate in the site and share their opinion. Thus, you can get paid for your opinion.

Yes, BzzAgent is legit. It is not a scam because you will get paid for every survey you completed. This review will show you more reasons why BzzAgent is not a scam.

BzzAgent says it is “an international community of everyday people who voluntarily share their opinions and experiences on a variety of products and services for leading brands around the world simply to help others make more informed purchases”.

This means that BzzAgent is one of the many market research panels on the internet. The big question that this raises is whether using BzzAgent is worthwhile. That is, does BzzAgent actually reward members for participating in activities in the site? What rewards can you expect to get? You’ll also want to know how BzzAgent differs from other market research panels.

In the first place, is BzzAgent legit, or is it just another scam platform that’ll rip off unsuspecting users or waste their time doing activities without rewards?

This BzzAgent review will examine BzzAgent in order to provide information that will help you answer these questions.

BzzAgent review at a glance

• Website: bzzagent.com
• A market research panel that supports only product testing
• Started in 2002 and based in the US
• Accept membership from persons in the USA, Canada, and the UK (maybe also Brazil)
• Participating brands include L’Oreal, Gillette, Unilever, Nestle, P&G, and more
• After testing, participants are required to share their experience via activities that include writing reviews, complete surveys, and social media posts (to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram)
• Campaigns (product testing + sharing the experience by doing the required activities) typically take 8 weeks
• Members keep the tested products as a reward for participation in any campaign
• Customer support is provided via email (support@bzzagent.com)

What is BzzAgent it?

BzzAgent advertises as “a community of everyday influencers, real everyday people who enjoy sharing their experiences with brands and products”.

One thing is that BzzAgent will find products/ services that you like, and create an opportunity for you to experience these. That is, it is basically a platform where members are required to (i) test products and services, and (ii) share the experience.

It is in (ii) above that BzzAgent differs from virtually every other product testing reward site in the business. In the regular reward sites that feature product testing; after testing the product, participants “share their experience” by writing a review or answering survey questions. However, in BzzAgent, most of the time, participants are required to share their experience by “buzzing online” – starting natural genuine conversations with real friends using blogs and social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thus, BzzAgent is more than a market research panel that helps their clients (top brands) collect consumer insight; it is also a panel that helps their clients drive brand awareness (by creating exposure for products/ services).

Thus, when you use BzzAgent, as applicable in every other reward site, you’ll be providing consumer insight that will shape product improvement; but more than that, you’ll be an influencer who drives brand awareness to inform purchase decisions. You can visit the BzzAgent website here (www.bzzagent.com).

Is BzzAgent legit?

It’s a no-brainer that you should determine that a rewards site is legit before you commit to using it. This is because with anything but a legit site, you may be ripped off and left out of pocket, or you may waste time in completing activities that you won’t be rewarded for. That said; the big question here is whether BzzAgent is legit. The simple answer to that is “YES”.

Our first check of a legit online platform is usually legality. This is because platforms that are owned by 100% legal companies are less likely to be scams. Thankfully, BzzAgent ticks this box. It is owned and operated by PowerReviews Inc.which is a 100% legal company registered in the US.

Another check of a legit online platform is visibility and industry-wide recognition. This is because scam platforms largely operate in the shadow. Interestingly, BzzAgent also ticks this box. BzzAgent partners with many international companies which includes Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, Gillette, and more. Also, BzzAgent has over one million members. Suffice it to say that a scam store will not be trusted by so many users, and definitely cannot have links with such high-profile companies.

Another check of a legit online platform is the test of time. This is because scam platforms are usually short-lived. It is only a matter of time before they are found out; and with the exposure, they close their virtual doors and disappear. Interestingly, BzzAgent ticks this box, as it started in 2002. Suffice it to say that it is not possible for a scam online platform to continue for upwards of 18 years.

However, the ultimate check of a legit online platform is “fitness for purpose”. The purpose of a reward site is to reward members who participate in prescribed activities. Thankfully, BzzAgent also ticks this box. Most often than not, members are selected to participate in campaigns, and they receive products for free, and they get to keep these after testing.

That said; with BzzAgent operated by a 100% legit company, with it having industry-wide recognition, and with it having a long operating record of rewarding members, there is no doubt that it is a legit rewards site.

Is BzzAgent safe?

Yes, BzzAgent is safe. Your personal details and data are well secured and will never be handed over to the third party.

When using rewards site, you’ll have to submit sensitive information which includes your names, contact detail, interests, and more. You’ll not want this information to fall into the wrong hands. Thus, the ideal online platform should not only be legit but should also be safe.

In this regards, BzzAgent says that it uses appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the users’ information. These measures include SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology, which is the industry standard for ensuring safe transmission of data over the internet. SSL not only create a private channel for the transmission of data, but the data is encrypted using bank-grade encryption to ensure that even if it is intercepted, it cannot be read by the hackers.

With the use of SSL technology amongst others, it is safe to say that BzzAgent is safe.

Also read: Swagbucks Review

Using BzzAgent

Whatever online platform you use, and for whatever purpose, you’ll want it to be easy to use. In this regards, BzzAgent says the right words. It says that using the platform is simply a matter of apply, get selected, and share your experience.

However, before diving into “Apply, Get Selected, and Share your experience”, you’ll have to sign up and create a users’ account.

Sign Up

Interestingly, this is absolutely free. This is also another feather to the legit cap of BzzAgent because with it being absolutely free to use, there’s no way you’ll get ripped off. There are no payments whatsoever, so if at any time you decide that it is not working for you, you can simply walk away, and you’ll not lose any financial commitment.

Also, signing up is relatively easy. If you click the join now button on the homepage of the BzzAgent website, you’ll immediately be prompted to connect your Facebook or log in with your email. Simply type your email address into the field, and submit. BzzAgent will send you a confirmation email; go to your inbox, click on the confirmation link. You’ll then set a password, and give some personal information (such as name, address, and phone number).

BzzAgent is for persons typically geared at persons who are active online, especially in social media. This is clear in the page that follows while setting up your account. It asks you to connect to your social media accounts. This is an essential step because the connected accounts are what you’ll use to start conversations about the product you’ll test (for your BzzAgent campaign).

Then you’ll be required to choose from 25 topics what you typically post about. This is so that BzzAgent can best match you with campaigns that you’ll be interested in. These topics include Actor, Beauty, Fashion, Food, Home/ Design, Music, Parenting, Travel, etc.

Apply

The first real step of using BzzAgent is “Apply”. However, “Applying” actually involves some processes which start from completing a profile survey and culminate in submitting an application for the chance to participate in a campaign.

The profile surveys will include answering simple questions about your income, highest education level, what your family is like, where you shop at, etc. It’s basically to gather more information about your lifestyle and interests. The premise is that if BzzAgent knows what you are interested in, you’ll get matched with campaigns that’ll interest you so that the experience will be much more fun to you.

After that, you only have to watch your email for invites. When BzzAgent has a campaign that it thinks you’ll be a great fit for, it’ll send you an email invitation linking to an application form, along with other information. You can then proceed to submit your application for the chance to participate.

A BzzCampaign is basically an invitation to test a product or a service and share your experience. Many of the campaigns run for 8 weeks.

Get Selected

If your application is reviewed, and you are selected, you’ll receive a message to confirm your address. This is an important step because it is to this address that the BzzKit will be sent. After confirming your email, if you’ve chosen; you’re in. You’ll receive a final confirmation email letting you know when your BzzKit will arrive.

The BzzKit is basically a package that will be developed to your home holding the product that you’re required to test. The kit will arrive in 10 – 14 days of confirming your mailing address as part of joining a BzzCampaign.

Share Experience

When your BzzKit arrives; you’ll find an amazing product in the package. You can proceed to use the product, form an opinion, and get ready to share the experience.

Then you have to watch your email for the “Posting Instruction” email. Testing a product/ service is just one phase of using BzzAgent; the other phase which is as (or even more) important than the first is sharing your experience by performing some prescribed activities.

The activities are the types of social posts or offline tasks that BzzAgent will ask you to complete during a BzzCampaign. The “posting instruction” email will describe the activities. They typically include:

• Posting to Instagram, Facebook, and other social media
• Writing product reviews
• Completing surveys

After receiving your campaign instructions, you can then proceed to “spread the Bzz”. To complete social media activities, simply post your experience online using the campaign’s specific “hashtags” and “@ mentions”. For other activities, simply follow the links provided in email updates to land at pages to submit your honest review of the tested product, or to answer surveys questions.

It should be said that if you do not complete Activities, you’ll no longer get campaign invites. Also, even if you do not like the product tested, you’ll still have to complete the required activities. Know that BzzAgent, as a market research panel, is primarily out to get honest opinion which will be fed back to brands to drive product improvement or development. So whether you absolutely love a product or you feel it needs more work, they want to hear it.

Other Features

Availability

When planning to use an online platform, before wasting time on other checks, one of the first things to check is whether the platform accepts membership form persons in your location. This is because if it does not accept members from your location, you’ll be unable to sign up and use its services.

In this regards, world-facing sites do come out strong because persons from virtually every part of the world can use them. However, BzzAgent is not one of such world-facing sites. It says in an FAQ article that BzzAgent is currently open only to residents in the USA, Canada, and the UK; then it adds that it will have campaigns for persons in Brazil sometime soon. Also, age restrictions apply. If resident in the eligible countries, you can only join BzzAgent and use its services if you’re at least 18 years of age.

Weirdly, while specifically mentioning that BzzAgent is available only to US, Canada, and UK residents; when signing up, the country field has a drop-down menu that lists a host of countries. This gives the impression that persons from any country on the list can be accepted as members.

Mobile Compatibility

Many persons these days do their internet activities using mobile devices because of the portability of these devices. Thus, any serious online platform should be compatible with mobile devices. BzzAgent comes out as such a “serious” online platform. You can use the website on both desktop and mobile devices. Not only does the BzzAgent website work well on mobile devices, but it is mobile optimized. When opening BzzAgent on mobile devices, the web pages resize to fit the small screens of the devices. Thus, you’ll not have to scroll left or right or zoom in to view pages; making for optimal mobile browsing experience.

BzzKit

You’ll find that a range of products is available for testing. BzzAgent partners with top brands, so most often than not, the products feature high quality. You’ll find amazing products such as body care products, pet products, small appliances, and more. However, some products have made some participants stopped in their tracks – condoms, pills, etc.

Many times the BzzKit you’ll receive will contain more than the full-size sample of the product that you’re to test. It will sometimes contain smaller samples of the products and coupons, which you can gift to friends and family. Thus, you’ll be able to share some love with others.

Earning Potential

The main reason why people join market research panels or rewards site is to earn some extra money online. In fact, a search for “how to make extra money online” will most definitely bring up some rewards site.

Unfortunately, BzzAgent clearly states that “community members are not paid for their reviews”. That’s right! BzzAgent is a reward site where you won’t earn money. However, that does not mean you won’t be rewarded. The rewards you get for active participation in BzzAgent is the products you receive in your BzzKits to tests. You’ll get to keep these products after testing. More participation (trying products and buzzing about them) means more free products for you.

That said; you’ll want to have a lot of campaign invites. This is because more campaigns may translate to more selection to participate, which means more free products for you. Unfortunately, BzzAgent does not guarantee the number of campaigns you’ll get. While it says that serious “online buzzing” when doing the activities for a campaign can make for more campaigns in the future; it also says that “many BzzAgents may only receive a few product experiences from us per year”. So don’t expect that with BzzAgent, you’ll be getting free products every other week.

Customer Support Service

Before deciding on or when using an online platform, you may have questions that you’ll need to be answered. Also, you may have certain issues with your account that you’ll want to be resolved. Thus, the ideal online platform should have an effective customer support service for answering the questions that customers will have.

The online platform usually provides support using a combination of self-help resources and contact-help channels. Thankfully, BzzAgent does likewise.

For self-help, BzzAgent provides some support articles as well as an FAQ in its website. These will answer many of the questions that you’ll have including signing up, campaigns and Invites, Campaign Activities, and more.

Admittedly, the self-help resources of BzzAgent are limited, so you may find them insufficient, and will have to directly contact a customer support rep of BzzAgent. For this, and email service is supported. You can send an email to the company directly from your inbox using the email address: support@bzzagent.com.

BzzAgent Complaints

The “complaints” section is always a part of our reviews. This is because what real customers of a store have to say about it gives valuable insight into how well the platform is. That is, too many complaints could be a warning sign that the platform is not worthwhile, while very few complaints could mean that the site is worthwhile.

For this section, we checked the top independent customers’ reviews platforms such as Trustpilot and Sitejabber. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review, BzzAgent was not highly rated in these platforms. For example, in Trustpilot it scored a lowly 1.9 out of 5; and in Surveypolice and Sitejabber it was just above average, scoring 2.6 out of 5, and 2.8 out of 5 respectively.

The relatively poor ratings mean that there were many complaints. Some of the ones that came out as significant are as follows:

Social Media Focus

One of the complaints that were found is that BzzAgent is not content with letting members test products and expressing their opinion, but that it also requires a great deal of online buzzing (starting conversations in social media channels around the product). For example:

• Deana F in Sitejabber says “I’m not a social butterfly. I’m not big on posting pics on every social media platform. In fact, I only use one. BzzAgent wants a lot of pics and posts [of] each product they send. The products are great, I’m just not willing to jump through all the social media hoops. If you’re big on blogging and posting… this is the site for you… Not me”
• Amy M in Sitejabber sums this up saying “…they are using people as free advertising…”

As BzzAgent advertises it is a community of influencers. You’ll be sharing the experience of testing the product/ service in social media channels, and this is not just to provide customer insight but also to drive brand awareness. So the social media communication that BzzAgent requires is a matter of its operating model. That said, if you are not an active user of the social media channels and do not plan to, BzzAgent may not be the right product testing platform for you.

Login Issues

Another complaint that we found relates to log in, specifically that members are required to always enter their data when logging in. For example:

• Sandra E in Sitejabber says “Terrible” The review continued “I have been a member for wow 10 years, but now this site really stinks. You cannot even log in let alone get any products anymore. Do not waste your time; such a shame, I used to love these guys!!”
• Lucy in Trustpilot says “Really not worth the time or effort since the relaunch. I used to look forward to content from BzzAgent and the chance to take part in reviewing products. Since the relaunch the website is awful, it doesn’t show any previous information and you have to reenter your details every time. Sort it please BzzAgent”
• Jacqueline Jordan in Trustpilot says “Bzz used to be fantastic but since its relaunch it’s awful. I have to re-submit all my information every time I go on the website. Avoid… not worth it anymore”

The bottom line of this complaint of login issues is that the user experience is not the greatest when logging in to your BzzAgent account.

Not Getting Campaign Invites

It is when you receive email invites that you can proceed to apply for a chance to participate in the campaigns. No email invites means no products to be tested; and since it is the products you test that is your reward for using BzzAgent, no email invites means no reward for time and effort in the site. Unfortunately, many persons complained of not receiving email invites to apply for campaigns. For example:

• Salina s in Sitejabber says “Waste of time since the new company took over” The review continued “I have been a BzzAgent for a few years now but since the new company took over, they never sent anything despite the fact that I have synced all my social media with them and accepted offers from them. Looks like the new company cannot handle this properly. I contacted them and they said once you accept the offer then we decide whom we will send the product, it is not a confirmation that you will get the product. Earlier, if they… the email you [an] offer and you accept it, it meant confirmed, you accepted to do the survey and that they will send you the product”
• Maria P in Sitejabber says “Awful site now” The review continued “Waste of time now. You no longer get any samples or offer, nothing. If you’re not linked to Facebook, which I would never be, they don’t even let you log in to see anything. The worst site now. Used to be great. Too bad”
• A L in Sitejabber says “Used to be a Proud Member” The review continued “I was a member for over 8 years and it used to be fantastic. I received products to try and review fairly regularly. I passed out the coupons and not only told people about the products but also about BzzAgent and how much I enjoyed it. Now though, they changed things and I haven’t received even 1 campaign invitation since. So disappointed. Apparently, loyalty doesn’t count for much. That’s my opinion. Sad”
• Dian A in Sitejabber says “Used to be proud to be a member” The review continued “The update or merger that BzzAgent has gone through has ruined the experience for me. I have been a member for years and have tried everything from perfume to pet products. I was proud to be a member and encouraged others to sign up. I was receiving offers regularly, at least one or two a month, prior to the changes. Now I get nothing. The three offers I was sent were completely not applicable to me… I emailed them and they basically called me a liar, saying I couldn’t have possibly received that many offers before. Thanks, Becky, now I REALLY don’t like BzzAgent”
• Shital g in Sitejabber says “Waste of Time” The review continued “Before the update of the site the company was amazing and I did so many honest reviews for them and then they decided to upgrade and since then I have emailed the support team 3 times and been told that something will come my way when my profile matches with a survey and that was 7 months ago. WASTE OF TIME. The bubble burst people… Such a shame as well…”
• Liz in Trustpilot says “I signed up a number of years ago, and the testing was great. I always got my reviews in on time and did all my activities. Since the people who run it have changed, I’ve not had a SINGLE test request…”
• Annoe Smith in Trustpilot says “Since its relaunch it’s terrible. Prior, I [was] getting regular campaigns… Been a member for years. But since the relaunch… I’ve not had a single email invite from them. It cannot be down to having to re-register using Facebook… and how many friends I have, as I have just short (2 under) 5000 friends on there. What a complete let down”
• Brian in Surveypolice says “I fail to see why this site is rated so high. Since joining it has not sent me a single actual survey although I wasted my time taking all the ‘preliminary’ ones that are supposed to build a profile. These hardly give any reward worth mentioning and I have to actually log into the site to know they are available…”

As the customers’ reviews show, this complaint of “not getting campaign invites” became very pronounced only recently. BzzAgent itself says that actives users will only get a “few” campaign invites per year. While that already does not elevate the moods, the reviews suggest that members now get less than a “few”. That said, when using BzzAgent, don’t expect to get many campaign invites; and when you do receive invites, don’t expect to be selected for all campaigns that you apply to.

Do not publish negative reviews

Another complaint that was significant is that BzzAgent only wants its ear tickled. That is, it will not accept and publish any negative reviews. For example:

• Amy M in Sitejabber says “Not honest” The review continued “After finally getting a sample. I hated it. Couldn’t leave a negative review; it was rejected. The second product, I was not able to obtain as it is not available for me so I could get it. Tried to review and that too was rejected. It is based on WOM which means they are using people as free advertising. But will not take in negative feedback… Customer Service says ‘We don’t expect or assume that you’re going to love every product or service that you try. And, as we mention in the BzzAgent code of conduct, Bzz only works because it’s honestly so discuss any bad with the good. The client wants to hear your completely honest opinions. And remember… just because you do not have a good experience with a product doesn’t mean that someone else won’t love it’ So basically I get that they don’t care about the people that don’t like something because there are others out there that do”
• Hannah T in Sitejabber says “Bzz Off” The review continued “They beg and beg AND beg you to blog, review, etc. And when you finally do, they’ll reject it. They want you to kiss up to them and make them seem like they’re the best company ever!! They will censor you if your review is negative, even though on their code of conduct, they have the nerve to talk about honesty. If you mention it to the customer service, they are either utterly rude or utterly clueless about their job…”
• Mike in Trustpilot says “The pits. I signed up in December. Never heard another thing so politely asked them on their Facebook page if anyone got any campaigns anymore. Well, they removed my post and blocked me from commenting. Obviously something to hide methinks. The pathetic small-minded company”
• Tracey in Surveypolice says “I had been an agent for BzzAgent for a few years. I was good to start with, giving reviews etc. until I tried a product for them, gave my opinion on their site, and they refused my opinion. This went on for a few weeks, they would not accept my review – turned out it was because I did not ‘comment’ and use words they wanted me to, basically tell lies about a product. I don’t bother with them anymore – don’t trust them either”

BzzAgent does speak of honesty, saying that it wants honest opinion when sharing your experience. But as the customers’ reviews suggest, BzzAgent does not like it when participants form negative opinions, and many such reviews submitted are not accepted.

Conclusions

BzzAgent is a legitimate US-based online platform that rewards its members for testing products and sharing the experience.

After signing up, you’ll have to complete a profile survey. Using the profile to know your interests, BzzAgent will invite you to participate in product testing campaigns that’ll be fun. You’ll receive the product to test; after which you’ll receive guidelines on activities to do in sharing your experience. This is typically sending good posts in the social media channels, writing a review, or completing a survey.

BzzAgent does give you the opportunity to test products and provide insight for driving product development and improvement; it also turns you to an influencer and drives brand awareness. Some of the pluses of BzzAgent is that you’ll be able to get high-quality products for free. You’ll also get mini samples of products and coupons which you can gift friends and family.

However, you won’t be earning any money from BzzAgent. The only reward is the product you get to keep after testing. Also, the reviews show that there are not too many campaigns invite these days, so you won’t be getting these products as you’ll want. Then the reviews also suggest that the company only wants favourable reviews, and you may meet a not-so-friendly customer support service if the opinion formed is negative.

That said; BzzAgent is a rewards site where you can get free products. However, this is if you don’t mind being very active in the social media channels. If what you want is a reward site where you can make some extra money online, BzzAgent is not your site.

Also read: Superpayme Review

Pros

• Absolutely free to use
• Opportunity to test the product and use honest opinion to influence top brands
• Opportunity to get free products
• Opportunity to gift persons sample products and coupons
• Social media focus can be fun
• Customer support is available via email (support@bzzagent.com)

Cons

• Only available for persons in the US, Canada, and the UK
• Cannot earn monetary rewards
• Not many campaigns are available
• Will only be worthwhile if you are very active in the use of social media platforms
• Will not accept negative reviews

Have you worked with BzzAgent before? Did you get paid or not? You may use the CREATE YOUR OWN REVIEW link below to tell us your BzzAgent experience.

Zebit advertises as a platform that provides a radically better financial alternative to all customers. Basically Zebit is a “credit provider + merchant” – a platform that gives you access to credit, allowing you to buy now and pay later in its marketplace.

Radically better? Zebit explains that unlike regular credit providers, it does not come with interest and other charges that can easily plunge users into a cycle of debt. The big question is whether these are just advert blurbs, or whether using Zebit for purchases is really worthwhile. For example:

As a credit provider: Can you really get interest-free credit towards making purchases? What penalty charges apply? How is the payment schedule determined?

Yes, Zebit is legit. It is not a scam because there is no rip-off reports or complaints that they do not ship items, as of writing this review. However, our findings below have a lot of hidden facts you must know before trying to purchase from the store.

As a merchant: What products does it support; does the marketplace where you can use the obtained credits hold a wide range of products? What about its pricing; hope competitive pricing is not sacrificed on the altar of interest-free financing? Does it offer top services that we’ll expect of the ideal eCommerce platform (such as easy ordering, fast delivery, easy returns, effective customer support service, etc)? In the first place, is Zebit legit to only a set of buyers, or is it just another scam online platform that’ll rip off unsuspecting customers?

This Zebit review will examine Zebit in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions and more.

Zebit review at a glance

• Website: zebit.com
• A US-based “credit provider plus merchant” established in 2010
• Service is available to only persons in the US
• No membership/ application fees
• As a credit provider; it provides interest-free “credits” towards purchase allowing customers to buy items now and pay later
• Credits provided is up to $2,500, and interest-free
• Requires a down payment of 25% of the order cost
• Provide added financing, allowing customers to spread the 25% down payment (into three equal payments) over two weeks
• The remaining 75% is paid over 6 months
• As a merchant; it operates the Zebit Market which is an eCommerce store carrying a wide range of products across many categories (fashion, electronics, furniture, etc)
• Returns and Exchanges are not allowed
• Customer support is available email (help@zebit.com) and telephone (855 449 3248)

What is Zebit?

Zebit is an online store that was founded in 2010 by Marc Schneider (then COO of Zulily) and Michael Thiemann (then CEO of Global Analytics Holdings).

Almost everyone has purchase needs, which means they need access to credit. That is why there are cash loan products. But as the founders of Zebit rightfully observes, many of the leading products in the market are overrun with predatory practices like high-interest rates and penalties, which can easily pitch users into a cycle of debt.

Zebit says it was founded to provide a radically better financial alternative to all customers. Explaining this, Zebit says it believes that everyone deserves access to lifelong, interest-free credit. When setting up Zebit, the goal was to introduce a consumer-friendly version of the lending products so that anyone in need of access to credit can access credit without the predatory high interest, penalties, etc.

However, while Zebit is a credit provider, it is not a cash lender. It provides store credits which can be used to purchase anything in the Zebit Market. Thus, Zebit is a merchant, albeit one that gives non-predatory access to credits, allowing members to buy anything in the marketplace now and pay later without ever paying any interest. Even if you are one that pays in full, with Zebit, you can make large purchases and spread the payment over time. Thus, Zebit is a fusion of a financing platform and a merchant.

How It Works

Just as with every credit provider, you’ll have to register and fill out a short application. If your application is approved, you’ll be given interest-free store credit (called ZebitLine in the platform) up to $2,500, which can be used to finance purchases in the Zebit Market.

However, ZebitLine cannot be used to finance the total cost of your purchase. At checkout, you’ll be required to make a 25% down payment with a credit/debit card, while the remaining 75% is financed by your ZebitLine. Since ZebitLine is basically an interest-free loan, the 75% of the order total financed by ZebitLine will have to be paid back over the next 6 months. The payment will be divided up by the number of pay dates you have in the 6 months period. This means that the number of payment will vary depending on your pay frequency.

Every time you pay with ZebitLine, the store credits approved for you is reduced by the amount financed; and this will be replenished when you have paid off the order.

Is Zebit legit?

Every day we hear reports of persons being ripped off by scam platforms. Thus, when it comes to using online platforms, efforts should go into determining that it is legit.

Our first check of a legit platform is usually legality. This is because an online eCommerce platform that is 100% legal is less likely to be legit. Thankfully, Zebit ticks the legality box. The website is owned and operated by Zebit Inc, which is a 100% legal company registered in the US. Also, it has received investment from top financing institutions as Leapfrog Ventures, Ulu Ventures, Wildcat Ventures, Crosslink Capital, and more. Suffice it to say that scam stores do not get legal company registration certificates, and definitely cannot obtain financing from top institutions.

Another check of a legit online platform is visibility and industry wide recognition. This is because the scam stores largely operate in the shadows. Thankfully, Zebit ticks this visibility box. Owing to its model as a 0% interest provider of credits towards purchases, it is quite popular among online shoppers. Also, Zebit has been nominated for many awards, and has managed to clinch some, including the San Diego Business Journal “Best Places to Work” award, Benzinga Global Fintech awards, San Diego Fastest Growing Private Companies award, and many others. Suffice it to say that a scam platform cannot earn the recognition of so many industry followers and watchers alike.

Another check of a legit online platform is the test of time. This is because the scam stores are usually short-lived. In this era of fast communication; anyone ripped off by a scam platform can easily spread the word. And with such exposure, the platform will see less and less of traffic, and will naturally die. Thankfully, Zebit passes this test of time as it was established in 2010. Suffice it to say that a scam store just cannot continue ripping off people for almost a decade.

However, the ultimate check of a legit online platform is fitness for purpose. Since Zebit functions as a credit provider and a merchant, it’ll be fit for purpose if it actually furnishes members credits towards purchasing items, and members who use this credit in the marketplace will actually get delivery of real and functional items. Thankfully, Zebit ticks this box. It lives up to all its promises; it gives members credits up to $2,500, and when used to finance purchases in the marketplace, members receive delivery of their orders.

With Zebit operated by a 100% legal company, having industry-wide recognition, and having almost a decade long operating record of providing interest-free credits to members (which allows them to buy now and pay later), there is no doubt that it is a legit online platform.

is Zebit safe?

Yes, Zebit is also safe. It is not enough that an online platform is legit. You’ll also want it safe in protecting the sensitive data that you share with it. For example, when using Zebit, you’ll share sensitive data such as contact details, Social Security Number, credit card numbers, and more. Needless to say, you’ll not want such data leaking into the hands of unauthorized third parties.

In this regards, Zebit says that the sensitive information that it collects from you is protected and securely encrypted with the same security standards as financial institutions. This can only be SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology. This technology creates a private channel between your device and the servers of the platform, thereby shielding off unauthorized third parties; and every data transmitted is encrypted using high-level encryption protocols.  Zebit adds that it does not resell any of your contact or personal information to third parties for any purpose

That said; it is safe to say that Zebit is safe.

Also check out – AMAZON.COM

Products

As mentioned before, Zebit is a credit provider plus a merchant in one platform. If you place Zebit with the regular credit providers, it will fall short in that the credit it provides can only be used in the platform.

The only way to soften this blow is for the Zebit Marketplace to hold a wide range of products, so that whatever you wish to purchase, you’ll find it listed. Thankfully, Zebit does relatively well in this regards. The marketplace comes out as a one-stop-shop that holds a wide range of products. The product categories (and the items you’ll find in each category) are as follows:

• Electronics – BluRay & DVD, Camera Accessories, Cameras, Cell Phones & Accessories, Computer accessories, Desktop Computers, Drones, Headphones, Home Security, Home Theater, Laptops, Musical Instruments, Radios, smart Watches, Soundbars, Speakers, Streaming Players, Tablets, Toys, TVs, Video Games
• Home & Décor – Air Conditioners, Air Purifiers, Appliance Accessories, Bedding, Clothes Irons, Décor, Decorative Pillows, Dishwashers, Dryers, Fans, Heaters, Lamps, Luggage, Microwaves, Mirror, Ovens, Pet Supplies, Refrigerators, Rugs, Sewing Machines, Snow Throwers, Storage & Organization, Stoves, Tools, Towels, Vacuums, Washers
• Kitchen & Dining – Bakeware, Bar & Wine, Blenders, Coffee Makers, Cooking Utensils, Cookware, Cutlery, Deep Fryers, Dinnerware, Flatware, Food Choppers, Food Processors, Food Storage, Juicers, Kettles, Kitchen Accessories, Mixers, Rice Cookers, Slow Cookers, Small Appliance, Toasters, Waffle Makers
• Fashion – Clothing (Men and Women Tops and Bottoms), Clothing Accessories, Computer bags, Cuff Links, Footwear, Handbags, Money Clips, Smoking Accessories, Sunglasses & Frames, Wallet
• Jewellery – Jewelry (Rings, Pendants, Necklaces, Bracelets, Charms, Earrings, Studs, Chains, Men’s Rings etc), Watches
• Kids & Baby – Baby Gear, Baby Monitors, Feeding, Powered Kids Vehicle, School Supplies, Scooter, Strollers, Toys
• Furniture – Accent Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Dining, Electric Fireplace, Kid’s Furniture, Mattresses, Office Furniture, Outdoor Furniture
• Beauty – Fragrances, Hair Appliances, Hair Care, Health Therapy, Makeup, Oral Care, Personal Care, Shavers, Skin Care
• Sports & Recreation – BBQ & Grills, Bicycles, Camping, Coolers, Flashlights & Lanterns, Games, Golf, Outdoor Activities, Skateboard Accessories, Skateboards, Sports (Balls, Water Bottles, etc)
• Health & Fitness – Cardio Equipment, Exercise Equipment, Fitness Monitors, Food Beverage, Gym Accessories, Scales, Vitamins & Supplements
• Auto – Automotive (Remote Start Systems, etc), Car Mats, GPS, Radar Detector, Receiver, Tires
• E-certificates – Restaurants (Red Robin, O’Charley’s, Omaha Steaks, Logan’s Roadhouse, etc), Stores (Macy’s, JC Penny, Under Amour, Spa & Wellness, Adidas, Banana Republic, etc)

Buying from Zebit

Just as you’ll do in any other eCommerce store, simply browse through the product categories to discover an item. Clicking on the item will take you to its description page, where you’ll find a few detail of the product. You’ll also find a “Register Now” button.

If you successfully registered and you were approved, you’ll have your store credits (ZebitLine) in your account. Log in to your account to continue the purchase. You can then click the Per Price payment or In-full price, depending on whether you want the Zebit financing or want to cover the full cost of the purchase.

Using Per Payment, your order detail will show how much down payment you’ll have to pay with your credit/ debit card, and your payment schedule. The payment will be divided up by the number of pay dates you have in the 6 months period. This means that the number of payment will vary depending on your pay frequency. When you complete the order, you’ll receive an email confirmation.

Many times, customers have a change of heart after placing an order, and will want to cancel or modify it. For that, stores that allow order cancellation usually come out attractive. Zebit does not come out strong in this regard, as it does not allow customers to cancel once an order is placed. So before submitting your order, you’ll have think hard about it and be sure that it is what you want.

Special Features

Added financing

Technically, Zebit operates already as a financing option, as it allows you to buy your favourite brands now and pay later at 0% interest. However, in Zebit’s commitment to its mission to “provide a radically better financial alternative for all customers”, it offers added financing via its Deferred Shipping feature.

Using Zebit, customers are allowed to pay only 25% of the order cost at checkout, with the remaining balance to be paid over the following 6 months. Such financing plans exist to help customers that cannot cover the full cost of the order at checkout. However, what if the required down payment is still too steep? That is where the “Deferred Shipping” added financing option of Zebit comes in. The “Deferred Shipping” allows you spread the order’s 25% down payment into three equal payments. The only catch is that the item will not ship until the complete down payment is paid.

If you select deferred shipping at checkout: you’ll have to pay one-third of the down payment; one week later, you’ll have to pay the second one-third; and another week later, you’ll have to pay the last one-third. After this final payment of the order’s down payment, the item is processed and shipped; then you’ll pay the remaining order balance over 6 months according to your pay schedule.

When using “Deferred Shipping”, if a down payment is not collected on its due date, or if the item (that payment is towards purchasing) goes out of stock, the order is cancelled, and all previous payments will be refunded. This Deferred Shipping feature offers even more flexibility, especially where the 25% down payment would have caused financial strain.

Non-predatory fees and charges

Zebit shout it from the rooftops that it is an interest-free credit provider. Saying that the many credit providers in the industry features predatory high interest and penalty fees that can plunge users into a vicious cycle of debt, Zebit comes out as a radically better financial alternative to all customers.

Saying that everyone deserves access to lifelong, interest-free credit, Zebit explains that its goal is to be a consumer-friendly version of the lending products so that anyone in need of access to credit can access credit without predatory high interest, penalties, etc.

Thus, one of the good things about Zebit is that it charges zero interest. When you make purchases in the Zebit marketplace and finance it with ZebitLine, the total amount you’ll pay at the end will equal the price of the item purchased plus shipping charges.

Also, Zebit does not charge late fees. For example, if the Deferred Shipping added financing option is used, any failure to pay on a due date will not lead to a lateness fee being incurred, but a cancellation of the order and a refunding of previous payments. In the first place, to use Zebit, there are no such things as application fees or membership fees. So there are no hidden fees whatsoever.

No Credit Check

Another thing you’ll hear that is a plus of Zebit is that it does not do “credit checks”. Actually, it’s impossible for a credit provider to not do any form of credit check, because some form of check is necessary to determine your creditworthiness.

In fact, Zebit itself does not say there will be no credit checks. Rather it says that no FICO score is needed. Thus, while Zebit will validate your identity and income, it does not pull a credit report from any of the major credit bureaus, and so does not do anything that affect your FICO score. This means that Zebit remains attractive to even persons with limited or checkered credit history.

Two pricing

The focus of Zebit is providing interest-free financing allowing you to buy now and pay later. However, it also supports a regular purchase. So, if you’ll rather pay-in-full when making purchases you can still buy in the Zebit marketplace. For that Zebit features two prices – Per Payment price and the In-full price. To pay your order in-full, simply use the in-full price.

AutoPay

The auto-pay feature is to ensure that you do not miss a payment when repaying your “loan”. As its name suggest, if it is applied, Zebit will automatically charge you anytime your repayment is due as set out in the payment schedule.

You can select auto-pay at checkout. If you’re making manual payments, you can select auto-pay from the “Make Payment” page of your account. However, if you want to opt-out of auto-pay, you’ll have to contact the customer care of Zebit either via email or telephone.

Pricing and Related Policies

Pricing

Make no mistake, when everything is stripped off, Zebit is an online shopping destination. Its selling point is that when you purchase your brand name items in the platform you have the ability to pay overtime at 0% interest. This raises the question of whether the items are competitively priced.

In this regards, Zebit answers that it compares its products’ prices with dozens of online retailers in order to give its customers a fair price. It also explains that on many products, unlike many retailers that markup their prices by 40 – 60%, it set price to get minimum profit and pass the savings to customers.

However, while it’s clear that Zebit is competitively priced in some product categories (like Fragrances) you’ll find that it is not the least cost store is other categories.

Payment Methods

You won’t want to get to checkout and find that you cannot use any of the supported method to pay for your order. Thus, the ideal online shopping destination should support a range of convenient payment methods.

Zebit does relatively well in this regards, as it supports credit cards. When using the Per Payment, you’ll have to pay the down payment with credit cards, while the remaining 75% of the order total is financed by your ZebitLine. When repaying the “loan”, this will also be via your credit card. If you choose the option to pay in full, you can also make the payment using your credit card.

Shipping

When you place an order in an online store, the package will have to be shipped from the platform’s fulfilment centre to your shipping address. Thus, shipping is an important consideration in online purchase; and some of its important elements are shipping destination, delivery times, and shipping costs.

Shipping Destination

Except an online store ships to you location, it’ll be unnecessarily difficult to receive delivery of your orders. Thus, one of the first things to check out for in an online store you are considering using is the country it serves.

In this regards, Zebit says that the website is provided for use only by persons located in the United States. Since everyone everywhere needs access to credits, this is somewhat disappointing.

Delivery Times

Customers typically do not like waiting for long to receive delivery of their orders. Thus, the ideal online shopping destination is one that features fast delivery of orders. Delivery time is usually made up of order processing and shipping time.

Order processing time is how long it takes from when you place the order to when the item ships; while shipping time is how long it takes from when the item ships to when it arrives at your door.

Zebit advertises that it’ll take 7 – 10 business days to receive your order from the time of order placement. Zebit does not have a warehouse. It uses a network of suppliers to ship products directly to customers; and it says that all items ordered typically ships within 72 hours of order placement. If you’ve seen reviews of the regular ecommerce stores, Zebit’s order processing time of 72 hours is relatively fast. Also, this means that shipping time in Zebit is 4 – 7 business days.

However, these times apply to only physical products; electronic products like e-gift cards are processed every day, and are sent to your email address. This is typically within 4 – 8 hours for orders placed before 5pm (Eastern Time), but if the order is placed after 5pm (Eastern Time), Zebit delivers the gift codes to your email inbox following day.

Shipping Cost

Shipping costs usually add to the item price when calculating total cost of an online purchase. Thus, shipping cost when too high can easily make an item that is acceptably priced too expensive to acquire. That said; shipping charges should be as low as possible.

In this regards, Zebit does not so-so. Zebit does not have a central warehouse. So items purchased in the platform ships to the buyer directly from partner suppliers. Thus, shipping charges vary depending on many factors. These include: distance between your shipping address and supplier’s facility, shipping prices set by the supplier, type of material purchased, etc.

However, when buying e-certificates, Zebit charges an 18% handling fee.

Returns

One drawback of online purchases is that sometimes the order is overwhelmingly unsatisfactory when it is received. This is put down to not being able to physically assess the item before completing the purchase. That said; so that they’ll not be stuck with unwanted items, customers gravitate towards online stores that’ll allow them return any item that is not totally satisfactory, and get a replacement or a refund of payment.

Unfortunately, Zebit does not have the best return policy. It says that it cannot accept returns or exchanges on any item it sells within the Zebit Market unless explicitly stated otherwise. As expected when this is the policy, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any item explicitly allowing returns.

However, this does not mean that Zebit will push you damaged items and hide behind its no-return policy. If an item gets to you damaged or with parts missing, you can reach out to Zebit, and it will work with you to resolve the problem. However, you don’t have forever before you can contact Zebit. It will only work with you on a resolution for damaged orders if you contact it within 10 calendar days of receiving your order. “10 days from delivery” to contact Zebit is relatively okay, especially as there are some stores that only offers 3 days.

All e-Certificates sales are final. Furniture products have a somewhat different return policy as you can reject receipt of the products from the delivery agent. However, this is only when you find the furniture damaged or defective when inspecting it before accepting delivery from the delivery agent. If delivery is so rejected, Zebit will refund any amounts paid so far. However, if you miss any damage or defect during the delivery time but find these later, you’re required to contact Zebit immediately. However, in this case, Zebit will only assist with processing a warranty repair under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Customer Support Service

There’ll always be persons with questions, and there’ll always be customers who’ll have issues with their accounts/ orders. Thus, the ideal online platform should have an effective customer support service for answering the questions and resolving the issues that customers will have.

In this regards, online platforms typically provide self-help resources and contact support channels. Zebit does the same. For self-help, it provides a lot of support articles including an FAQ page. The FAQ is detailed as it covers a lot of topics; these include: Financing Options, eCertificates, Credit, Registration, ZebitLine, Account Management, Payment, Zebit Market, Shipping, and Returns. Thus, you’ll find that the FAQ answers many of the questions that you may have.

However, if it does not address your concern, you can directly contact a Customer Support Rep of Zebit via email or telephone. The email address to send your submissions is help@zebit.com. Zebit promises quick response to support emails. However, no matter how fast response comes, it sometimes cannot substitute instant feedback. Thus, it’s a good one that telephone service is available. You can reach out to Zebit on the phone using the number (855) 449-3248. However, the telephone service is not available round the clock. You’ll reach an agent between 9 am – 6pm (EST), 7 days a week.

Zebit Complaints

This section is always a part of our reviews. This is because you can get valuable insight into how well a company operates by hearing what other customers have to say about it. For our complaints section, we usually check the top independent customers’ review platforms such as Trustpilot. Interestingly, Zebit was highly rated in these platforms. For example, at the time of writing this review, Zebit was reviewed by 2,858 customers in Trustpilot, and scored 4.6 out of 5.

Thus, you’ll find a lot of positive reviews. Customers expressed satisfaction with a lot of things including: always finding a good range of product, being approved and getting a good limit (of ZebitLine) even with bad credit, getting quality products, etc.

However, that Zebit did not get a perfect 5/ 5 rating means that there were a few complaints. These included long order processing time, and unfair internal policies.

Long Processing Time

One of the few complaints about Zebit is that it sometimes takes way too long after an order is placed before it ships. For example:

• Rob in Trustpilot says “…I ordered a PC on December 2. A week late it still said preparing shipment. So I contacted them about the order. All they could tell me was that they would try to get an update. A week later and multiple emails, they could only tell me that they were getting an update and they assured me my order would be here by the beginning of this week (the 16th, so two full weeks after the order was placed). They finally emailed me that day and told me they were sorry but the order was cancelled. This is after I asked multiple times over the last week if I should just cancel the order to get a refund so I had time to get another pc for my son since it was a Christmas gift…”
• Amy Keene in Trustpilot says “Disappointed with the shipping. Ordered on the 9th and still have yet to receive the package. Not even showing shipped as of the 17th”

Long processing times almost always cause late delivery. So the few customers with this complain were not happy with the overall delivery time. However, it should be said that in many reviews customers expressed satisfaction with their delivery time. Thus, long processing time came out as a rare blip, and not a troubling norm plaguing Zebit.

House Policies

Now, this is something that is not a rare blip. Some customers complained of having their orders cancelled even when they are model customers with regards paying up. For example:

• Randal Dotson in Trustpilot says “Never ever will [I] use this again. I paid my account off and did not use it in a long time; but since another adult in the household was irresponsible in paying, there’s you faulting me for their account. Legally that’s not possible and I will be seeking charges in the future. What if credit card companies do that, then a lot of people in the same family will suffer. That’s why people have different names, we are individuals”
• Pissed Off in Trustpilot says “Pure Ignorance” The review continued “So my order was cancelled because an ex used my address and now I can’t order anything until they pay what they owe. Here’s a kicker; they can’t tell me what’s owed on my address so now my stuff is cancelled. Their ‘House Policy’ makes no sense”

As the reviews show, the problem is that Zebit has an unfriendly (at least to the affected customers) internal policy which has been dubbed the “house policy”. Zebit explains that its internal policies are established to prevent transactions that may result in a loss. In this case the policy is that where an account holder shares an address with another account holder who is in default, Zebit cannot allow orders to be processed.

This is a classic case of “guilt by association” – if you have a defaulter in your household, it doesn’t matter that you are the model customer, you orders will not be processed.

Relatively High Pricing

This is one of the most popular complaints you’ll find. Some even go as far as saying that Zebit may not be worthwhile, explaining that the total cost of using the interest-free Zebit platform may be more than using an interest-paying financing option because Zebit jacks up its listing prices with huge markups. For example:

• Sree Mohan in Trustpilot says “Zebit needs to be brought up for false advertising where it says that there is no interest and that it offers competitive retail prices… looked up an Apple Watch that has an implied interest rate of 60%… if they have customers buying there they are simply preying on people who haven’t gone to the trouble of translating the markup…”
• Adu Bamboo in Trustpilot says “Check what you’re really paying first Vs cost of 0% interest credit” Competitive retail prices with 0% interest rate with no bait and switch gimmicks mean [about] $500 or more markup. Just check Apple MacBook Pro (13” Display with Touch Bar, Intel Core i5, 8GB Memory, 128GB SSD 2019) with total price of $1662.99. The same retails at Best Buy for $1099.99. How’s that for no interest 0% financing? This is no different from the payday loans sharks. Do your research consumers!”
• Edward Searcy in Trustpilot says “It is easy to purchase a lot of products from, which is why I like it. Also, you have the option to do a kind of layer away; pay it off before purchasing it. I do think the prices are high compared to other companies I have looked and reviewed…”
• W in Trustpilot says “It is a great concept and I understand why it is the way it is. Unfortunately, it’s just that some items are marked up too much to be worth it for the 6 months 0% interest. The Sony Xperia 10 phone is available at other companies for 100S less. I understand you will be paying in full but it’s a high markup. Just my opinion. I’m sure this service will work great for some folks”
• Johanna Rosario in Trustpilot says “this is the most RIDICULOUS Company. They say it’s interest-free but check the price product online and you will see the reality…”
• James Albrecht in Trustpilot says “Payday loan scam gone digital. Expect APR’s of up to 100%. Don’t touch this with a 10-foot pole…”

To this, Zebit usually admits that it is not the lowest-cost provider; and it often mentions that you’ll find this evident in such categories as electronics, especially in Apple and Sony products. However, it promises that in some categories (such as fragrances) it actually offers lower pricing.

That said, in our opinion, a platform has got to make money. If you find the price lower in the regular stores; know that, unlike Zebit, these stores do not give you the opportunity to pay over 6 months.

Also read – Barkeys Review

Conclusion

Zebit is a legit online platform functioning as a credit provider and a merchant. So if you want the ability to buy what you need now and pay later, Zebit is one worth checking. When you apply, you can get up to $2,500 in credit (ZebitLine) which you can use in the Zebit Market for your purchases.

The marketplace holds a wide range of products, so whatever you need, you’re very likely to find it listed. Zebit has many plusses – there are no application fees; though a credit check will be done, this will not affect your FICO score; it does not charge any interest, and there are no penalty fees, and it gives a whopping 6 months to pay up when you finance your purchase with ZebitLine.

However, a down payment of 25% of the order cost must be paid at checkout, as only 75% of the order can be financed by ZebitLine. Interestingly, added financing is offered which allows customers to spread the down payment (into three equal payments) over 2 weeks.

Some of the serious things to consider are that pricing is not always the best. In fact, in some categories, you’ll find listing prices in Zebit to be relatively high. Also, Zebit does not allow returns and exchanges. However, where an item was received damaged or defective, a resolution can be worked out if the company is contacted within 10 days of the delivery date. More so, the service of Zebit is only available to you if you are resident in the US.

Pros

• Operates an eCommerce store that holds a range of items across different categories (fashion, electronics, kitchen, furniture, etc)
• It’s basically an interest-free financing platform allowing customers to buy items now and pay over 6 months
• 100% interest-free; so total payment equals the cost of item plus shipping charges
• Offers an added financing option where the required 25% down payment can be divided into 3 equal payments spread over 2 weeks
• Provides auto-pay feature which ensures that you do not miss a payment
• Resolution is offered for damaged (or missing parts) orders if Zebit is contacted within 10 calendar days of the delivery date
• Furniture products can be rejected during delivery if the inspection reveals that the product is damaged or defective
• Customer support is provided via email (help@zebit.com) and telephone (855 449 3248)

Cons

• Provide services to only persons in the US
• Order cancellation is not possible
• 18% processing fee applies when ordering e-Certificates
• Product exchange is not allowed
• Returns are not allowed

Do you have any good or bad experience with Zebit? Kindly use the WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW section below to tell prospective customers your Zebit experience.

Mercari advertises as “the selling app”. It adds that it makes it super easy to sell virtually anything. If it is a platform to sell products, then it is also a platform to buy products. Thus, Mercari is an online marketplace; a place where independent sellers can list their products for sale, and where persons looking to buy items online and go to for their purchase.

The big question is whether using Mercari is worth it? As a seller, can you easily list products? Does the platform have the traffic needed to maximize sales? What about the costs of using Mercari, hope Mercari has reasonable charges?

As a buyer, can you easily get needed items in Mercari? Does it give a top buying experience? For example, does it offer a good range of high quality and affordably priced products? Also, does it offer top services like fast delivery, easy returns, effective customer support service, etc?

In the first place, is Mercari legit, or is it just another scam platform out to rip off unsuspecting customers.

Yes, Mercari is legit. It is not a scam because they will never steal your money or refuse to ship the products purchased from its store. But that does not mean they are perfect, continue reading to know what customers are saying about the quality of their services and out findings.

This Mercari review will examine Mercari in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions and more.

Mercari review at a glance

• Website: mercari.com
• An app-focused online marketplace
• Allows selling and buying of virtually everything, including pre-owned and new items
• It is 100% free to list items
• Fees only apply when an item sells, and the applicable 10% sellers’ fee is relatively low
• Has strong buyer protection, ensuring that you’ll receive delivery of orders and that items will be as described
• Ships to only the 50 US States
• Returns are possible for “not as described” and damaged orders if Mercari is contacted within 3 days of the delivery date

What is Mercari?

Mercari is a Latin word that means to trade, and it is the root of the English word mercantile. This tells you that Mercari is all about trading. That said, Mercari was created as a trading app in Japan (in 2013) by Shintaro Yamada. It launched one year later (2014) in the US. Mercari calls itself the selling app. It’s clear that it is an app-focused platform where people can buy and sell virtually anything.

We have things we don’t use, never used, or simply outgrew. Mercari says that if any of that stuff still have value, then you should be turning them to cash by easily listing them for sale in the platform. This means that Mercari is one of the online marketplaces for selling and buying pre-owned items. However, merchants can also use the platform. Thus, Mercari also holds new items.

It should be said that as a marketplace Mercari does not own the items listed in the platform. However, it directly receives payment for orders; and will release funds to the Seller only when the buyer confirms delivery and that the item is as described.

Is Mercari legit?

Using a legit eCommerce platform is a no-brainer. There are just too many stories of unsuspecting customers being ripped off by scam eCommerce platforms. Thus, the big question is whether Mercari is legit. The simple answer to that is “YES”.

Our first check of a legit eCommerce platform is legality. This is because the platforms that are powered by 100% legal companies are less likely to be a scam. Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box. It is owned by 100% legal company (Mercari Inc.). This company has gone through five rounds of funding from top investment institutions such as the Development Bank of Japan, World Innovation Lab and more. Suffice it to say that a scam platform that is not 100% legal cannot get funding from such high profile investment institutions.

Another check of a legit eCommerce platform is visibility and industry-wide recognition. This is because the scam stores operate in the shadows. Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box. With over 45 million downloads in the US, Mercari is an eCommerce platform that has been featured by top publishers and media houses that include Bloomberg Business, teen Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, Huff Post, CNBC, and more. Also, Mercari is a multi-award winning selling app, with such awards as “Best App” and “Forbes Japan’s Startup of the Year”. Suffice it to say that a scam platform cannot earn the recognition of high profile industry watchers.

Another check of a legit eCommerce platform is the test of time. This is because the scam stores are usually short-lived. Thankfully, Mercari also ticks this box. Starting up in 2013 (2014 in the US), it is relatively young, but its circa 5 years of operation is enough time for it to be called out if it were a scam platform.

However, the ultimate check of a legit ecommerce platform is fitness for purpose. The purpose of an ecommerce platform is to provide buying and selling services. That is, Sellers can actually list their products and actually get paid when a sale is made and the product is delivered; and Buyers can actually receive delivery of real and functional products when they place an order and make payment. Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box. Sellers can easily list items for sale; and when buyers place orders, they are delivered real and functional items.

With Mercari operated by a 100% legal company, widely recognized, and with a half-decade operating record of helping Sellers turn their items to cash and delivering real and functional products to Buyers, there is no doubt that it is a legit eCommerce platform.

Is Mercari safe?

Mercari is safe. To use an eCommerce platform, you’ll submit sensitive information like your contact details, and payment instrument data (e.g. credit card details). With many fraudsters out there, you’ll want an eCommerce platform that’ll adequately protect the sensitive data that you share with it.

Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box. It says that it takes “required steps to protect” users’ data. This includes the use of SSL technology, which is the industry standard for protecting data being transmitted over the internet. Mercari also says that it does not share your personal information with third parties, except it is to improve and personalize your Mercari experience.

With the use of SSL amongst other measures, it is safe to say that Mercari is safe.

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Products

The “products” that an eCommerce store supports is an important consideration when planning to use one, whether as a buyer or a seller. As a buyer, you’ll want a one-stop-shop where you can buy all your needs, as that will be more convenient that researching and visiting different stores for your purchase needs. Also, as a Seller, you’ll want a platform that allows you to list a range of products, as that will be more convenient that listing in different niche platforms.

Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box. The categories (and product you can list for sale (or find for buy) in each category) is as follows:

• Women – Dresses, Athletic Apparel, Sweaters, Jeans, Pants, Skirts, Coats & Jackets, Suits & Blazers, Tops & Blouses, Swimwear, Women’s Handbags, Women’s Accessories, Jewelry, Maternity, Shoes, Underwear, Other
• Men – Tops, Blazers & Sports coats, Sweaters, Jeans, Pants, Shorts, Coats & Jackets, Sweats & Hoodies, Suits, Athletic Apparel, Swimwear, Men’s Accessories, Shoes
• Kids
• Home – Kids’ Home Store, Kitchen & Dining, Bedding, Bath, Furniture, Home Décor, Artwork, Seasonal Décor, Home Appliances, Party Supplies, Storage & Organization, Cleaning Supplies
• Vintage & Collectibles – Jewelry, Paper Ephemera, Home Décor, accessories, Housewares, Supplies, Antique, Clothing, Serving, Books, Bags & Purses, Electronics, Furniture, Trading Cards, Others
• Beauty – Bathing and Skin Care, Car Seats & Accessories, Diapering, Gear, Health & Baby Care, Nursery, Potty Training, Safety, Strollers, Others
• Electronics – Cameras & Photography, Virtual Reality, Cell Phones & accessories, TV & Video, Video Games & Consoles, Car Audio (video & GPS), Media, Computers & Laptops, wearables, Smart Home & Security, Speakers & Audio, Headphones & MP3 Players, Tablets & E-readers, Drones, Others
• Sports & Outdoors – Exercise clothing, Footwear, Golf, Outdoor, Fan shop, Others
• Handmade – Housewares, Art, Woodworking, Ceramics & Pottery, Glass, Music, Weddings, Holidays, Needlecraft, Geekery, Paper goods, Candles, Art, Crochet, Furniture, Quilts, Accessories, Pets, Knitting, Bags and Purses, Jewelry, Books and Zines, others
• Other – Pet Supplies, Daily & Travel Items, Office Supplies, Musical Instrument, etc

Mercari – For Sellers

Selling With Mercari

Mercari advertises with the tagline “the selling app”; adding that it makes it easy to sell almost anything. Like any online marketplace, you’ll need to register and create an account as a seller. Mercari advertises that using the platform as a Seller involves three simple steps – sell it, ship it, and get paid.

Sell It

This simply means creating your listing. You’ll want a platform where it is hassle-free to create a listing. Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box, as it is relatively easy to list items in Mercari. As Mercari advertises, listing involves three simple steps – take good photos, describe the item fully, and price fairly.

As we’ll find in the “Mercari for Buyers” section, Mercari supports the “Make an Offer” feature, which allows buyers to negotiate. However, Sellers will take comfort in knowing that Mercari allows an offer price to only be at least 75% of the listing price. So you can be sure that you’ll not get ridiculous time-wasting offers.

Shipping

When a customer places an order for an item you list in an online marketplace, you’ll have to package the item and ship it to the customer. Thus, shipping is an important consideration when using online marketplaces.

Ease of Shipping

In this regards, Mercari does not let your ship the item yourself. It supports two shipping options, and it allows Sellers to choose a preferred shipping option or leave the choice of shipping option to the Buyer. In either case, when your item sells, Mercari will send you a shipping label, which you can print and attach to your package for easy shipping. There’s no doubt that the shipping label makes for relatively easy shipping.

Shipping Costs

However, another important shipping consideration is cost of shipping, as this can affect the profitability of sellers. Yes, shipping costs are most often than not borne by buyers, but if they are too high, they will cause total cost to be high, and it’ll be difficult for your item too high.

Unfortunately, Mercari does not shine in this regards, as its shipping costs are relatively high. Mercari has recently introduced a calculated shipping rate, where shipping cost vary depending on the weight of the item; and this only shot shipping charges upwards.

Getting Paid

If you want to use a marketplace, it’s because you have items that you’ll want to turn to cash. So how and when you’ll get paid is also an important consideration. In this regards, Mercari does not particular shine, as payment options are limited, and the payment is relatively slow in coming.

Payment Options

As mentioned earlier, Mercari receives payment directly from Buyers. So when it’s time for it to release payment to you, you’ll want to find different payment options. Unfortunately, Mercani only pays Sellers via ACH Direct Deposit to their checking accounts.

Speed of Payout

Needless to say, after waiting and waiting to make sales, when you finally do, you’ll want to receive the payment as fast as possible. Unfortunately, the buyer protection of Mercari means that payment may be slow in coming.

Because buyers will not pay you directly for purchases, unlike many online marketplaces, payment for purchase will not hit your account when the order is placed. Also, even after the buyer receives delivery of your item, you still won’t get the payment immediately. This is because Mercari gives buyers three days from receiving delivery of your item to rate you before your payment will be received.

Don’t expect every buyer to rate you immediately after receiving delivery. In fact, many buyers will “forget” to, letting the three days run out. Thankfully, if the buyer does not rate you in the allowed 3 days, Mercari will auto-rate you and release your payment to you.

Fees

Where fees are involved, Sellers almost always want platforms with fees that are as low as possible. Thankfully, this is one area where Mercari shines.

First, it is absolutely free to list items in Mercari. This is one feather on the legit cap of Mercari. Since there are no upfront fees to list items and sell them in Mercari, if it does not work out as expected, you can simply walk away and not lose anything (financially).

However, it is not completely free to use Mercari. Sellers’ fees apply when a sale is made. Interestingly, the fees that Mercari charges are low – only 10% of the items price. This makes the pricing of Mercari one of its strongest points. Not only is it free to list your items and get sales, but the commission you’ll have to pay on completed sales is relatively low.

Fees that you’ll find in marketplaces include payment processing fees. Sellers generally don’t like that they have to pay extra to get paid, especially after paying the marketplace its sales commission. Unfortunately, the payment processing fee applies in Mercari. This fee is $2.00. The good thing is that it applies only when requesting payment less than $10. Thus, you can simply avoid it by earning more than $10 in your Mercari seller’s account.

Selling Complaints

What Sellers in a platform has to say about it gives valuable insight into how well the platform is for Sellers. Thus, the complaints section is an important part of our reviews. For this section, we checked the independent customers’ reviews platforms like Sitejabber and Trustpilot.

Unfortunately, Mercari was not highly rated on these platforms. For example, at the time of writing this review, in Trustpilot, Mercari had an average rating of 1.9 out of 5; and in Sitejabber, it had an average rating of 1.6 out of 5. Many complaints accounted for the relatively poor rating. These complaints as they concern Sellers include: high shipping costs, poor customer service, and poor Seller protection

High Shipping Costs

Another complaint you’ll find among Mercari’s Sellers is that shipping costs are high. For example:

• Tianna in Trustpilot says “Started off Amazing… shipping was simple with few options and the rates were very fair. Then… the convenient ease of shipping took over. I went to list a vest that was 1lb 2oz just to find out it’ll take $10.77 to ship, a lamp that was 5lbs 2oz and it was $25 to ship. I exited the app after that to let it sink in. The shipping options are EXTREMELY minimal with an OUTRAGEOUS expense added to it. They have the audacity to want sellers to include free shipping. In other words, they appear to have 0, zero, ZERO consideration for sellers…”
• Ezra Raith in Trustpilot says “Mercari was my go-to the site to sell until their calculated shipping was introduced. It says 60% cheaper labels but does not allow exact measurements/ weights. To ship a pair of jeans that weighs 1lb 2oz costs almost $11 (USPS) due to this change, whereas I was shipping jeans for $5.25 (USPS) months ago! …It constantly promotes free shipping for the sellers to us, but in using this new calculated shipping method, AND mercari’s 10% tax on sales, sellers will not make anything! I had to list a brand new pair of jeans for $5 because the shipping was $11 for the buyer. [Had] I listed them higher (to cover shipping costs) with free shipping, there’s no way the item will sell. Not when Amazon, eBay, Poshmark and Depop all exist! The calculated shipping is a joke, and is definitely not worth it for sellers…”
• Blkstrmshep in Trustpilot says “What a joke” The review continued “Ya, if you want nothing for the item, Tried to post a rice cooker for $15, and the shipping was around $12, and my cash to make after all said and done was around a dollar”

The high shipping rates of Mercari means that items you list will be difficult to sell. If you leave shipping costs to the buyers, it jacks up the total acquisition costs. If you want to provide free shipping, as Mercari encourages, you’ll have to raise your listing price in order to cover shipping costs; the result is that your items may no longer be competitively priced. Considering the relatively high shipping charges of Mercari, so that the total price of your item to the customer is still competitive, you may have to floor your listing price. While this increases the chances of your item selling, it significantly erodes your profit margin.

No Seller Protection

Another complaint about Mercari amongst the many sellers in the independent customers’ reviews platform is that Mercari is biased to buyers, meaning there is no form of Seller protection. For example:

• Mena Ro is Trustpilot says “Mercari is not just bad it’s worse. I’ve never dealt with anything worse, no customer service, anyone to contact when an issue arises… All you need is a shady person that buys something from you to say that the item is “in their opinion” not accurate or fake. Well, in that case, Mercari closes “without investigating” the seller’s account, leaving the seller without the item and without the money. It’s actually made for people that are smart and want to take advantage of others. There’s a whole community of people that have been scammed this way and Mercari has done NOTHING at all to help; they didn’t even have the decency to call a lawyer back when they were asked to. Worst business ever”
• Emma in Trustpilot says “This app is a joke! I sold an iPhone XR within minutes but then the [buyer] didn’t want it for no good reason; she said she didn’t like the colour. It’s white! All details were in ad. I [shipped] it the same day; paid $30 for shipping bcus I bought extra stuff to make sure it wouldn’t break in the mail; even sent the phone with a brand new case, and Mercari approved the return for that bs reason! Then the buyer sends the phone with no case or headphones. I mean yes headphones aren’t that expensive but I want to sell the phone with them! So now I lost my $30 for shipping, no case, and no headphones, and still have this mink condition phone…”

As we’ll find in the Buyer’s section, Mercari has a strong buyer protection. However, the Sellers reviews suggest that some buyers easily use this to scam Sellers. The complaint here is that after an item is sold and duly shipped, some “dishonest” buyer will contact Mercari that it is “not as described” or damaged, and Mercari without investigating will proceed to refund the buyer.

Some Sellers report being blocked which means they’ll not only get their payment for the item, but they’ll also not get back their item. Other Sellers did get their item back but will lose the money spent on shipping.

Mercari advertises that it has a Seller Protection of shipping insurance to the tune of $200 for every item shipped using its prepaid label. However, when a Buyer claims that the item received is damaged, even if the Seller has evidence that the item when dispatched for shipping was undamaged, Mercari refunds the Buyer, leaving the Seller with no resolution.

Abysmal Customer Support Service

Another complaint loud among the Sellers is that reaching Mercari for support is difficult, and where contact is made, there is hardly any assistance obtained. For example:

• Hillary in Trustpilot says “Don’t love nor hate it” The review continued “I buy and sell on Mercari and I neither love nor hate it. It most definitely has some flaws… customer service is abysmal”
• Christina Calhoun in Trustpilot says “Not the App I thought it was” The review continued “At first I loved this app thinking it was best selling app but I was quickly surprised by the lack of support for the transactions on this site…”

Given the complaint of “buyers trying to scam sellers by claiming receipt of not-as-described or damaged item”, it’s not surprising that Sellers bombard Mercari with support submissions. Unfortunately, the reviews suggest that, most often than not, they (Sellers) do not get expected assistance.

The poor customer support mentioned in complaints includes basic failures such as not responding to submissions, and not investigating Buyer’s claims before proceeding to “punish” sellers.

Selling Pros and Cons

Pros

• Absolutely free to join
• Very easy to list items
• Provides shipping labels to make for easy shipping
• Relatively low commission (charge 10% of item’s price as Seller’s fees)

Cons

• Payment can be slow incoming
• Payment is only via ACH Direct Deposit to checking accounts.
• $2 payment processing fee applies when requesting less than $10
• High shipping costs
• The buyer protection is easily used by dishonest buyers to scam sellers

Mercari – For Buyers

Making a Purchase in Mercari

Yes, you’ll also need to register to make a purchase in Mercari. There are two ways to make a purchase – Buy Now and Make an Offer. The Buy Now button is your regular purchase. The listed items are with a set price, and if you like the item and click the “Buy Now” button, you’ll be charged the set price.

However, the “Make an Offer” option allows you to complete a purchase in your own terms. It brings negotiation into an online purchase. The listed item comes with a set price; if you like the item but not its price, you can then make an offer of a price you’ll want to get the product for. The Seller will have 24 hours to accept, or reject your offer or make a counteroffer. All offers are binding; so if the Seller accepts your offer, you’ll be charged the offer price. However, you can only make an offer if you’re using the Mercari app.

If you like the item you discover but are not ready to “Buy Now” or “Make an Offer”, you can save the item using “Save this search” button. That way, later returning to the item to make the purchase is easy. If you find an item that you like, clicking on it will take you to the item’s description page. There you’ll find every detail of the item. You can “Add to cart”, and then proceed to make payment.

Many times, after placing an order, the buyer will have a change of heart and will want to cancel the order or modify it. It should be remembered that Mercari is a marketplace, and has no right over products being sold. However, for a marketplace, Mercari has a relatively good cancellation policy.

Orders can be cancelled anytime before it ships. However, buyers cannot cancel an order from their end; as a buyer, you’ll have to reach out to the seller to ask that the order is cancelled. Yes, it is up to the Seller to agree or deny the request. If the Seller agrees, Mercani refunds you to the original form of payment. Mercari will also issue the refund if the seller has not shipped the order, and does not respond to the cancellation request within 24 hours.

Pricing and Related Policies

Pricing

You’ll want an eCommerce store that features competitive pricing. Mercari does so-so in this regards. On the one hand, you can find items with great prices; but on the other hand, some items in the platform are not so greatly priced.

Payment

You want a hassle-free buying experience, so you’ll want to find a range of convenient payment methods. Thankfully, Mercani ticks this box. You can pay for orders in the platform using PayPal and all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover). You also use Apply Pay, as well as Mercani Credits.

With these options you should be able to pay for your Mercani order without any hassle. However, note that Mercani does not accept methods which are issued outside of the US.

Shipping

When making online purchases, the order will have to be moved (at a later time) from the retailers’ facility to the shipping address provided by you (the buyer). Thus, shipping is an important consideration. You’ll want to know: whether the online platform ships to your location, how long it’ll take to receive your order, and how much it’ll cost.

Shipping Destination

If an eCommerce platform does not directly ship merchandise to your location, it’ll be unnecessarily difficult to receive delivery of your items. Thus, world-facing platforms are desired; so that no matter where the customer resides, the location is more likely to be covered.

Unfortunately, Mercari does not make it as a world facing eCommerce store. It only ships to the 50 US States.

Delivery Times

After placing your order, you definitely will not want to be waiting forever to receive delivery of the item(s). Thus, how long it takes an eCommerce platform to deliver is a necessary consideration. Delivery Times is usually an addition of the order processing time and the package shipping time.

Mercari does well in terms of processing time as it requires its Sellers to ship the item within 3 days of order placement.

In terms of shipping time, Mercari has two shipping options – Priority Mail and Home Delivery. However, it should be said that Mercari allows Sellers to choose a preferred shipping carrier (and the carrier determine the shipping option available, because Priority Mail is only available by USPS, while Home Delivery is available via FedEx and UPS). Thus, for some items in Mercari, you’ll find that you do not have a choice of shipping method. However, where the Seller does not have a preferred shipping carrier and gives the Buyer the option to choose, you can choose the shipping option and carrier.

First Class/Priority Mail takes 1 – 3 business days going to the 48 US States, and takes 3 – 5 business going to Hawaii and Alaska; while Home Delivery takes 1 – 5 business days when going to the 48 US States, and takes 3 – 7 business days when going to Hawaii and Alaska.

Returns

When making online purchases there is the fear that when you order is delivered, it may not be 100% satisfactory. Because of this, online shoppers gravitate towards e-commerce platforms that will allow them to return an unsatisfactory item and get a replacement or a refund of payment.

Thankfully, Mercari ticks this box, as it allows you to return an item in your order if it is not 100% satisfactory.

Eligible Items

You should know that eCommerce platforms usually have return restrictions, which means that it is not everything purchased from an eCommerce platform that can be returned. That said, you’ll want the return restrictions to be limited so that you won’t receive delivery of an item that you’ll rather return but can’t.

In this regards, Mercari does not come out flying. Its buyer protection means that buyers are allowed to only request returns and refunds for items that are not as described. This means that you cannot return items purchased through Mercari for “Buyer remorse”. That is, you cannot return an item simply because you have a change of mind, or you happen not to like the item.

Returns are also not allowed for ill-fitting items. This will disappoint many shoppers of fashion items because “sizing” is one of the main reasons for returns of items in the fashion category.

Buyer Protection

In fact, Mercari comes has a strong buyer’s protection. First, when you buy an item, you do not directly send the payment to the seller. Rather, Mercari receives the payment; and it holds the payment. It will only release the payment to the seller when you confirm that you’ve received your order, and it is as described, and then you rate the Seller.

The last part (rating the Seller) is very important, as it completes the transaction for release of payment to the Seller. If you do not submit the Seller’s rating within 3 days of confirmed delivery, Mercari auto rate the Seller so that the Seller can be paid. When payment is released to the Seller, it’s no longer possible to process a return and request refunds.

Return Process

You should know that allowing returns is not enough; the return process should be easy. This is because a difficult return process can easily add to the frustration of receiving delivery of an unwanted item. In this regards, Mercari does so-so. However, it does not have a “no questions asked” return policy.

So when you receive an unwanted item that is eligible for returns, the first step is to contact Mercari’s customer support service by submitting a request form accessible from its website. However, not offering a “no questions asked” return policy means that you’ll have to explain why you are returning the item, and show evidence of your claims. Mercari requires relatively more photo evidence, as it requires not less than four clear detailed pics of the front, back, and sides of the items, as well as pics of the packaging and the other items shipped in the package.

When your return request is approved, Mercari will send you an authorization email which will carry return instructions as well as a prepaid return label. You can then proceed to package the item appropriately, attach the return label to the outside of the box, and send it to USPS for shipping back to the retailer.

That Mercari sends a prepaid Return Label is a big plus of its return process. Prepaid Return Labels makes for easy returns. Being pre-addressed, you won’t have to worry about return addresses and related issues; and being prepaid, at the time of making the return you won’t be out of pocket.

Return Window

However, you don’t have forever to request the return of an unwanted item. Usually, retailers will only accept back items that are returned within a specified period. In this regards, Mercari allows 3 days from receipt of the item to be contacted about a return.

If you fail to contact Mercari within 3 days of receipt, sales become final, and the item cannot be returned any longer. However, if you think 3 days is not enough for your return-decision, it is possible to request an extension. For that, you’ll have to first contact the Seller, before contacting Mercari using its online contact form. However, know that extension is not guaranteed.

If the return request is put through within 3 days (or within the extended period), and it is approved by Mercari, you’ll receive a return label, and you’ll be required to ship back the return package within 3 days of receiving the return label.

This means that the return window of Mercari is relatively smaller than what’s often seen, as many online stores usually offer a return window of “30 days from the delivery date”.

Cost of Return

When you receive an item you’ll like to return to its retailer, you’ll not want prohibitive costs of returns to stand in your way. Thus, the ideal eCommerce platform should offer return costs that are as low as possible. Thankfully, Mercari aces it in this regards.

Cost of returns seen in eCommerce consists of restocking fees and return shipping fees. The former (restocking fees) do not apply anywhere in Mercari. Also, the Return Labels that Mercari provides are not only prepaid but free, meaning that you won’t have to worry about return shipping costs ever, not just at the point of shipping the return package. So when you use the return Label of Mercari, nothing will be subtracted from your refund for the cost of the return label.

Return Processing and Refunds

After following the return process and shipping back an unwanted item, you’ll not want to wait forever to receive the refunds. Thus, the ideal eCommerce platform should feature fast processing of returns and issuance of refunds. Thankfully, this is one area where Mercari shines bright.

Usually, retailers will wait to receive the return package and inspect it before flipping the refund switch. However, the refund policy is quite different from Mercari.

For items that are priced under $100, the refund is issued once you’ve shipped the return package, and the return tracking information updates to “In Transit”. This may take up to 48 hours, as USPS can easily take that much time to update the status in their system. However, for items that are priced over $100, the refund is issued once the item has been delivered to the seller.

This is one of the fastest “returns processing time” you’ll find in the eCommerce world. However, after the refund is issued, it’ll take some waiting time for the funds to reflect in your account. This will usually take up to 5 – 10 business days depending on your financial institution.

Buying Complaints

Just like in the Sellers’ section, what Buyers have to say give a real insight into whether the platform will be worthwhile for you as a Buyer. You’ll find different buyers’ complaints of Mercari in the independent reviews platforms, including small return window, poor customer support service, etc.

Small Return Window

One of the buyer complaints that dominate the spaces is that the 3 days that Mercari allows for it to be contacted about returns is largely inadequate. For example:

• Lisa H in Sitejabber says “Not safe to buy on” the review continued “Gives you only 3 days! Sellers do not respond if you have a problem and you cannot even give them a rating, very unsafe. No option to get a refund or replacement after only 3 days! RUN do not walk away! And it floods your inbox with SPAM”

It should be noted that the full return window is not 3 days. You’ll have 3 days (from delivery date) to contact Mercari, and after getting return approval you’ll have within 3 days of receiving the return label to ship back the unwanted item. However, with online shoppers “spoilt” by 30 days return windows, Mercari’s offer is understandably perceived as short.

Unhelpful Customer Service

Again, buyers also complain about customer support service. For example:

• Armineh S in Sitejabber says “…I have been an online shopper for decades. I have never had so much trouble with any of the sites. Their operators are unable to help, they have no person to person assistance, they will only email you… nonsense. I purchased something and needed to cancel right away… for days tried their customer service, 20 emails back and forth, phone calls…until sure enough, the item showed up at my door…”

The reviews quickly revealed that the “poor customer support” complaint had two arms; first is “not getting a response to support submissions”, and the other is that where the response is obtained, it is largely unhelpful.

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Buying Pros and Cons

Pros

• Buyers can make purchases in their own terms by making an offer
• Offers convenient payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, and ApplePay)
• Offers relatively fast order processing and shipping time, meaning delivery is relatively fast
• Has strong buyer protection – payment is only released to Seller when the buyer confirms delivery and that the item is as described
• Offers a return label for making easy returns
• Offers free returns (no restocking fee and Return Labels are free)
• Offers fast processing of returns and issuance of refunds

Buying Cons

• Ships to only the US
• Returns are for only not as described items (buyer remorse or not-fitting items cannot be returned)
• Return window is relatively small (3 days from delivery to request a return, and 3 days from receiving return label to ship the return package)

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that Mercari is a legit selling app. As a Seller, you can list and sell virtually everything using Mercari, both pre-owned and brand new. Listing is easy breezy. Though there are no upfront fees, sellers’ fees that apply when an item sells is only 10% which is relatively low. Also, Mercari sends a Shipping Label for making easy shipping.

However, Mercari’s shipping charges are relatively high; this has the effect of increasing the total cost for your customers and making your item difficult to sell or making you drop your listing price to have a competitive price but eroding your profit. You can receive payment only via “Direct deposit to checking account”; and because of Mercari’s Buyer Protection, it’ll take relatively long to receive payment.

Then there’s the issue of Mercari being biased to buyers. Many reviews suggest that some dishonest buyers use the “Buyer Protection” to scam Sellers; as Mercari automatically refunds Buyers who say their order was “not as described” or damaged, without any investigation.

As a buyer, you’ll find a range of items in Mercari, and placing an order is relatively easy. Pricing is largely competitive, and there are many payment options for paying for orders. Shipping is relatively fast, and there’s a strong buyer protection that ensures that you’ll receive your order and it will be as described.

However, you can only use Mercari if resident in the US, shipping charges are relatively high. Also though returns are allowed, it is for only “not as described” or damaged items (so you can’t return items that do not fit); and the return window is relatively small.

After taking a closer look at all the popular hiking boots, we have selected 5 best Hiking boots for review in this post. And also show you where to buy the boots at a very cheaper rate.

Hiking boots are of utmost importance to hikers because they provide enough support to not just the ankle but the foot also.

They ensure that your ankle does not twist when you are walking. In addition, they protect your ankle from any blisters and they do not confine your ankles too tightly when you are walking.

A good hiking boot has some support located on its sides which makes sure that your legs stay straight which can be vital if you are carrying a heavy backpack. Hiking boots are created in a good fit with the use of cushion materials that will ensure that your feet remain comfortable. These boots assist in solving the issue of blisters, particularly for hikers that spend a lot of time on the trail.

Every hiking boot possesses common parts which reinforce them. These common parts are as follows:

Linings: This part is capable of protecting your feet properly so that you will feel comfortable whenever you are engaging in different hiking activities. They are made with the use of a foam that keeps your feet warm and absorbs any pressure.

Upper part: This part of the hiking boot protects your entire foot and gives you support when you are walking. It is usually waterproof and it lets your feet smell fresh especially after a lengthy day of hiking.

Soles: These are located at the bottom of a good hiking boot. The soles are deep and are usually made of rubber which ensures proper friction. It stops you from slipping when walking on wet surfaces. They absorb shocks whenever you are hiking on tough trails.

Insoles: These are located inside the boot and they include extra support and balance whenever you are climbing mountains.

Crampons: They are created with the use of spikes to upgrade firm support whenever you are hiking on snow.

Tongues: These flaps stop water, dust and unwanted particles from entering your hiking footwear. They are under the laces and assist in giving more support to your foot.

1. Tecnica Forge

This is actually the first hiking boot from Tecnica since they were previously focused on ski boots. You will like the fact that this good hiking boot is completely customizable. Every single piece of the boot is made to be customized. The upper part is available in nubuck leather as well as synthetic ripstop. This is a solid hiking boot that has a Vibram rubber sole as well as a Gore-Tex liner.

Pros

The usual fit process which involves trying different pairs of boots then walking on a ramp made with fake rock will not apply in this case because this boot feels outstandingly different before and even after molding.

It takes just 20 to 30 minutes for the two heating and molding processes if you want to customize. One for the boot’s insoles and the other for the upper part.

This excellent hiking boot helps you achieve your hiking goals and it is not accompanied with a strenuous break-in period. This ensures that this boot is a great choice for hikers.

This good hiking boot has a Vibram sole which is appropriately rugged. Its wrap-around cuff is supportive and comfy. The upper part is waterproof but still breathable. The producers hit the mark when they created this hiking boot.

Con

Because it is a completely customized boot, the buying choices are limited to stores that provide it and its robot for boot-fitting in stock.

2. Mountain 600 Enduroweave by Danner

This boot’s design combines the producer’s outdoor silhouette with contemporary materials. It is the producer’s city-to-mountain boot for hiking. It is not just comfy, it is lightweight as a result of a leather upper part and a well-cushioned Vibram outsole. The upper part of this good hiking boot was reimagined with a fresh carbon-washed textile which is lighter and extra breathable when compared to leather.

Pros

The good thing about this boot is that just not just lightweight but it is still elegant enough for you to wear about in town but still retains grip and support so you have no problems on trail use as well.

It gives you the best of both worlds. It is an awesome choice for people who do not want different boots for various settings. This boot holds true to high standards and will serve different purposes for hikers.

It can be slightly uncomfortable when you wear it at first, mostly at the spot where its cuff overlaps its tongue, but it will break in on your first hike around town. When that is over, it becomes really comfortable and you will have no problems.

Another trait of this hiking boot is its EnduroWeave fabric. This feature has a cool, techy feel to it and it looks stylish and unique.

Con

If you want to get this hiking boot, either the EnduroWeave or leather version, you should get a new insole. It is also best if you get a half size down your usual size for the ideal fit.

3. Hoka One One Kaha

Like this producer’s plush running shoes, this hiking boot has a lot of cushioning than some boots out there. Its maximalism makes it really comfy wear when you are walking trails. It is great for people who are quite sensitive to impact or rough grounds or people who just like having a well-cushioned platform.

Pros

The producers of this good hiking boot added a rockered bottom which assists in naturally rolling the hiking boot from a step to the next without hitches.

Regardless of the size of its sole and its high cuff, this high boot stays lightweight at just 17.92 ounces. The upper part is made of leather and it gives you a lot of ankle support. It also has an eVent sock liner which is waterproof.

People who fancy extra minimal boots may not like this hiking boot and may prefer trail running shoes. However, if utmost comfort and support is the feature that you want, this boot is perfect for you.

Con

The sole of the boot is quite thick and it can feel a little strange at first but as time goes on, you will get used to it.

4. Keen Targhee Vent Mid

This Targhee hiking boot is one of the producer’s best-selling boots for hiking and it is one of the most affordable and versatile boots available on the market. This boot was upgraded when the producer’s offeree the Vent, which is a non-waterproof boot which has windows of mesh panelling which gives you extra breathability in warm weather.

Pros

The other parts of this boot is made of oiled nubuck leather which is water-resistant. It has a supportive footbed design as well as a grippy rubber outsole that has deep lugs. These are its key points.

This good hiking boot has a slightly wider fit which is mostly in its toe box. It gives you enough room for movement.

The heel hold of this boot is outstanding and very supportive. This is even before you use an aftermarket insole. The cuff of the boot is not too tall which makes it good for everyday use too.

This Vent version accomplishes the objective of giving ample breathability. Which means that your feet will not sweat even once, even when you wear them out in the city.

Con

The version with waterproof linings can be quite hot, which can make your feet sweaty and soggy.

5. Vasque Saga GTX

This boot includes a lightweight plus breathable mesh upper part which was double-engineered. It has a Vibram MegaGrip sole which is made for walking on extra rugged terrain. Protection, as well as support, is amplified. It has a molded TPU toe cap plus heel that features windows of ventilation which means that it will not become too warm the way waterproof boots can.

Pros

The producers made use of strong TPU to make a lace yolk which extends from your ankle towards the boot’s tongue. It gives you midfoot support and assists in keeping your heel locked in.

This is a completely featured hiking boot which was made for long-distance trekking. Some boots with this feature may have a lengthy break-in period, however, this boot does not.

This good hiking boot is remarkably comfy and the tongue is well cushioned which assists in preventing any pressure points from lacing. Its cuff gives you a strong and supportive wrap which is flexible and just becomes better with wear.

If you like extra light hiking boots, you will like this one because regardless of the miles you log in it, it will not weigh down your feet.

Con

If you want extra support or a heftier boot, this one is quite lightweight but you will not be unhappy with it.

You may also like Zappos review

Conclusion

The above hiking boots are made with tough materials that minimize friction on any slippery terrain. They have patches at the bottom which protects you from being affected by rocks or thorns that you might encounter on the hiking trail.

Fableticsis where you can purchase the latest fashion-forward and versatile activewear for both men and women. Express your unique style with its selection of yoga pants, leggings, joggers, tops, tees and more – all at unbeatably low prices!

However, with a lot of activewear companies out there, the big question is what makes Fabletics different from the rest. More importantly, is it worthwhile to use Fabletics for your activewear needs? Does Fabletics hold high-quality activewear, or is its “fabulous athletic” tag nothing but cunning marketing? If it does have high-quality athletic wear, what about pricing? Does it live true to its promise to offer these at affordable price points?

What about its services; does Fabletics offer the top services that we’ll expect of the ideal online store (such as easy ordering, fast delivery, easy returns, effective customer service, etc.)?

In the first place, is Fabletics legit, or is it just another scam store out to rip off people?

Yes, Fabletics is legit. It is not a scam because they will never take your money without shipping your products. And you will get all the items you ordered from the store without a problem.

This Fabletics review will examine Fabletics in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions and more.

Fabletic review at a glance

• Website: fabletics.com
• A US-based activewear brand founded in 2013
• Operate 35 retail outlets across the US
• Uses a subscription model, where the member is charged monthly except they shop or “skip”
• Ships to the US, Canada, and Australia
• Free shipping is offered when ordering from the 48 contiguous US States
• Returns are allowed if made within 30 days of the shipment date
• Free Returns is also available (for orders from the 48 contiguous US States)
• 24/ 7 customer support is available via telephone (1-844-322-5384) and Live Chat

What is Fabletic?

Fabletics was launched in October of 2013 by the founders of JustFab (Don Ressler and Adam Goldenberg) and Kate Hudson (the actress). The website says that the inspiration was a gap in the activewear marketplace, which is high-quality gear at an accessible price point.

Fabletics does come offering high-performance athletic wears. Its apparel focuses on fit, function, and style. As the company like to say, it offers “complete coordinated outfits for your workout and beyond”. Fabletics started exclusively as an online store with no retail outlet.

However, it saw so much success that by January 2015, one million orders have shipped, and by June of the year, it launched FL 2 (its men’s line). Later in that same year (in October of 2015); Fabletics celebrated its second birthday, and with it launched brick and mortar stores, opening six retail locations in the US. At the time of writing this review, Fabletics’ retail outlets have grown to 35 stores in 22 states across the US.

Is Fabletics legit?

It’s not news that there are many scammers in cyberspace using different fronts to rip off unsuspecting netizens. Over the years, one scam front that has proved successful to these scam artists is “fake stores” (a place where customers will make payment for orders, but will never receive the order). Thus, before using any eCommerce platform, it is wise to first determine that it is legit. Thus, the big question here is whether Fabletics is legit. The short and simple answer is “Yes, it’s legit”. The longer answer is: it is 100% legal, it has industry-wide recognition, and it has a track record of fulfilling orders.

Our first check of a legit online store is usually legality. This is because stores that are 100% legal are less likely to be scams. Thankfully, Fabletics ticks this box as it is owned by TechStyle Inc, which is a 100% legal company registered in the US. It operates other sites like FabKids and ShoeDazzle. Suffice it to say that a scam store will not be powered by a company with such a profile.

Another check of a legit online store is industry-wide recognition. This is because the scam stores almost always operate in the shadows. Thankfully, Fabletics ticks this box. Thanks to being co-founded by the world famous Kate Hudson, it has always had the flashlight shone on it. Fabletics has been featured by a lot of influencers as well as industry followers and watchers alike.

These include top publishers like People Style Magazine, Elle, USA Today, The Chalkboard Magazine, and many more. Suffice it to say that top influencers will not be associated with a scam store; and that a scam store cannot earn a space in the pages of top magazines.

Another check of a legit online store is the test of time. This is because the scam stores are short-lived. It’s only a matter of time before scamming is exposed, and with such exposure, the affected store usually closes its virtual doors. Thankfully, Fabletics ticks this box. It’s been operating for over 6 years now, which is enough time for it to be called out if it were a scam.

Another check of a legit online store is physical existence. This is because the scam stores almost always exist as virtual spaces; that is, there is usually no physical existence (no production centre, no warehouse/fulfilment centre, and no retail outlet). Thankfully, Fabletics ticks this box; and not just because it now has many brick and mortar stores scattered around the US.

Rather, even before October 2015 when it was exclusively online, it had a robust center in Los Angeles where all its items are designed. With physical centres (design hubs, production centres, warehouse, etc), there’s no doubt that Fabletics has the capacity to fulfil orders, which is something that cannot be said about a scam store.

The ultimate check of a legit online store is the fulfillment of the order. Simply put; when you place an order, a legit store will deliver real products that are also functional. Thankfully, Fabletics also ticks this box. Over 35 million products have been sold, and customer reviews show that these are top quality products with top functionality.

With Fabletics powered by a 100% legal company, earning the recognition of many industry watchers, and having a rich history of fulfilling millions of orders with real and functional products, there’s no doubt that it is a legit online activewear store.

Is Fabletics safe?

Fabletics is safe. With no doubt about Fabletics’ legitimacy, another question is whether it is safe. You’ll want a safe online store so that the sensitive information that you share with it (such as personal information and credit card details) will not leak out to unauthorized third parties.

In this regards, Fabletics says that the security of your personal information is important to them, and as such they follow generally accepted industry standards to protect information that users submit, both during transmission and after it is received. One of the technical measures used is SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology. With the use of the bank-grade encryption protocol of SSL amongst other measures, it is safe to say that Fabletics is safe.

Products

When making any purchase, you’ll want to find a wide range of products so that you can shop all your related items in one place. One-place shopping is more convenient than having to visit different stores for your needs. Also, it comes with cost savings, from big order discounts, or paying to ship one order, instead of paying to ship different orders from multiple stores.

Fabletics as an athletic wear brand focuses on women wear, and you’ll find everything from wears to accessories. When shopping, the product categories you’ll find, and the items you’ll find in each are as follows:

Fabletics Women Outfits:

• Outfits – Yoga & Studio, Running, Gym & Workout

Fabletics Women Tops

• Tops – Tanks, Short Sleeves, Long Sleeves, Jackets & Vest

Fabletics Women Bottoms:

• Bottoms – Leggings & 7/ 8, Capris & Crops, Pants, Shorts

Fabletics Women Sports Bras:

• Bras – High Impact, Medium Impact, Low Impact,

Fabletics Accessories:

• Accessories – Shoes, Bags, Hats & Hair, socks & Underwear, Workout Gear
• Plus Size

How it Works

However, Fabletics does not operate like the regular online stores where you go to at anytime you choose browse its listing and make a purchase. Fabletics uses a membership subscription model. Describing this model, Fabletics explains: “Shop or simply click ‘skip’ by the 5th of every month. If you don’t shop or skip by the 5th, your credit card will be charged $49.95 on the 6th until you cancel”. However, the charge is a credit in your VIP account and never expires; that is, you can use it to shop in Fabletics whenever you want.

That is, the model of Fabletics is predicated on the assumption that you’ll need a monthly supply of athletic wears or gears. Seriously, we don’t know anyone who does. Once you join the membership program, it is no longer shopping as usual (where you can go to the online store at any time); you’ll now be required to go to Fabletics at least once every 30 days (before the 5th of the month) to either make a purchase or “skip”.

If you make a purchase, or “skip” before or on the fifth of any month, your credit card won’t be charged. But if you do not make any purchase and forget to skip, your credit card will take a hit of $49.95. The one good news is that it goes into your Fabletics account as a store credit which you can use for future purchases.

If you are wondering why you’ll signup for Fabletics subscription-styled membership instead of using the regular stores, it is because the affordable pricing that Fabletics promises is largely enjoyed by customers in its VIP membership program. For example, at the time of writing this review, we selected a Mila High-Waisted Pocket Legging into our cart.

Its price at checkout was: $74.95 – Regular; $54.95 – VIP. That’s a whopping $20 off for VIP members. Then, we picked an outfit (a lightweight drawstring shorts and boat-neck sweater). At checkout, its price was: $89.90 – Regular; VIP – $39.95. Again that’s a whopping $49.95 off for VIP members.

This shows that you can actually have regular purchases in Fabletics (one-time purchase where there’s no pressure to make monthly purchases and no worrying about forgetting to skip and incurring monthly charges). However, it also shows that the main goal of Fabletics is to get its customers to sign up for its VIP membership. We don’t know any shopper who’ll use a shopping model when there’s another that offers the same product for $20 or $49.95 less (over 25% or 55% lower respectively).

More so, Fabletics says that the VIP membership is simply an option during checkout, but the checkout process by default puts you in the VIP membership. You’ll have to un-check a box, to opt-out of VIP membership. However, even minus the default process of the checkout, shoppers really don’t have much of an option. If at checkout you see two prices, one over 25% (or 55%) lower than the other, which will you go for?

Pricing and Promotions

Pricing

Every shopper wants the best deal, thus, the ideal online store should offer competitive prices. In this regards, Fabletics says that its mission is not just to provide on-trend activewear designs that are high in quality, but to provide these at prices you’ll feel good about. Fabletics does live up to its promise. Whatever category you enter to shop, you’ll find its prices to be competitive.

Promotions

Promotions allow customers to get items for less than the items’ going prices. Thus, everyone loves the promotions and will rate as ideal any online store that runs a lot of promotions. Fabletics does well in this regards. Not only does it run promotions very often, but its promotions are usually very massive, taking sizeable chunks of prices. For example, at the time of writing this review, there was a promotion that was promising getting “2 for $24” promo which promised to offer customers 2 leggings for just $24. Another promo promised 70% off everything. However, most often than not, Fabletics’ promos apply to only VIP members.

Shipping

An important part of all our reviews of online platforms is shipping. This is because, with every online purchase, there are shipping considerations. You’ll have to consider: whether the online store ships to your location, how long it takes for orders to be delivered and how much shipping costs.

Shipping Destination

This is always the first consideration; except an online store directly ships to your location, it’ll be difficult to receive delivery of your orders. In this regards, customers move for stores that ship to worldwide locations so that their location is more likely to be covered.

Fabletics is not a world facing store. At the time of writing this review, it only ships to the US (including APO/ FPO addresses and P.O. Boxes) as well as Canada and Australia. This means that if you live anywhere else, you’ll have to look elsewhere for your athletic wears and gears.

Delivery Times

This is also an important consideration because no one will want to wait forever for his/ her order. Thus, the ideal online store should feature fast delivery.

Delivery time is always determined by order processing time and order shipment time. The former is how much time it takes from when you place the order to when the item ships, while the latter is how much time it takes from when the item ships to when it gets to your shipping address.

Fabletics does relatively well in this regards. In terms of order processing, it takes 2 business days. However, it warns that during peak shipping periods such as the first of each month, promotional events and holidays, order processing may take an additional 1 – 2 business days due to high volume of orders.

The shipping time varies depending on where the item is shipping to. Fabletics offer two shipping options – Standard shipping and Rush shipping. When shipping Standard Shipping, orders going to the 48 contiguous United States take 4 – 7 business days, while orders going to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, military addresses, Canada, and Australia take 7 – 10 business days.

However, Fabletics warns that shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, military addresses and Australia may take up to 30 days due to the carrier or location of the station. Rush Shipping is available only to orders going to the 48 contiguous US states, and it takes 2 – 3 business days.

Shipping Cost

In online purchases, the total acquisition cost consists of the item purchase price and shipping cost. Thus, where shipping costs are high, even items that are perceived as acceptably priced can easily become too expensive to acquire. Thus, the ideal online store should feature shipping costs that are perceived as low and reasonable.

Fabletics does very well in this regards. Standard shipping to 48 contiguous US States is free for all items over $49.95. That free shipping is offered is not what makes Fabletics come out fine, rather it’s the fact that the minimum order requirement to get free shipping is only $49.95. There are many stores out there that’ll require your order amount to get to three figures ($100) before you qualify for free shipping. However, with the $49.95+ order requirement of Fabletics, you’ll not have to overspend in chase of free shipping.

Also, where US Standard order is not up to $49.95, the shipping fee that applies is relatively low (only $4.95). However, when shipping (Standard shipping) to Alaska, Hawaii, and US military address, shipping cost is $9.00. When shipping internationally to Australia, Standard Shipping cost is $9.95, but if you’re a new customer (VIP member), you’ll get a one-time first order shipping fee of $5.95. When using Rush Shipping (which is available to only the 48 contiguous US States), the shipping cost is $8.95.

Returns

Given that customers are sometimes not satisfied with their order when it is received; customers gravitate towards online stores that’ll allow them to return an unwanted item and get a replacement item or a refund. Thankfully, Fabletics ticks this box as it allows returns.

Return Window

However, you don’t have forever to return any Fabletics item that you are not content with. In Fabletics, if it’s your first order, you’ll have 45 days from the date of shipment to return the item. However, if it isn’t your first order, you’ll have only 30 days (from shipment date) to make a return.

It should be said that the return window is relatively shorter that what’s becoming the standard – 30 days from the delivery date. Since the return window of Fabletics starts closing when the item is shipped, it means that by the time you’ll receive the order, you’ll have even less time. Thus, if you must return a Fabletics order, you’ll have to act fast upon receipt of the item.

Cost of Returns

You’ll not want to have an unwanted item delivered to you but prevented from returning it because of the high cost of returns. Thus, the ideal online store should offer returns costs that are as low as possible. Fabletics ticks the box here.

All orders to the 48 contiguous US States are eligible for free returns, while a return shipping rate of $9.00 will apply for other orders.

Return Process

You’ll also not want the return process to be stressful. Thankfully, Fabletics offers a hassle-free return process. It does this by providing return labels. To return a Fabletics item, after contacting them about it and getting a return authorization. You can then proceed to print out the Return Label and Return Slip, package the item appropriately and attach the return label to the outside of the package, and ship it to the return address provided.

Exchanges

Sometimes customers only want to get a replacement item when they return an unwanted item to its retailer. Such product exchanges facilitate the process of getting the right product because you’ll not have to wait to be refunded before placing a new order for the right product.

Thankfully, Fabletics allow product exchanges. However, Australia customers cannot return Fabletics orders for exchange.

Customer Support Service

The ideal online store should have an effective customer support service which will handle the questions and issues that customers will have.

Fabletics does relatively well in this regards. First, there’s a detailed FAQ section which holds answers to many questions, and you just may find your concern treated. The section is arranged as per the following subjects: About Fabletics, Membership, Shopping the Site, Clothing and Outfits, Rewards Program, Shipping and Returns, and Gift Cards.

If you need to directly contact a customer support rep, Fabletics can be reached via Facebook, Telephone, and Live Chat. The phone number to call is 1-844-322-5384. Interestingly, the telephone service is available round the clock. That is, you can reach an agent on the phone 24 hours a day; seven days a week. However, the live chat, while also available 7 days a week, is only live from 9am – 9pm (EST).

Complaint

Our reviews are never complete without looking at complaints. This is simply because what real customers have to say about a company says much about how healthy it is. For this section, we checked some of the top independent customers’ review platforms like Trustpilot and Sitejabber.

Interestingly, Fabletics has mixed ratings. For example, in Trustpilot, it is highly rated, scoring 4.2 out of 5 (rated by 95,414 reviewers); however, in sitejabber, its rating is slightly below average, scoring 2.2 out of 5 (rated by 1,594). Some complaints stood out in the reviews, and these are as follows:

VIP credits don’t apply to Sales items

As mentioned earlier, the main business focus of Fabletics is to sign everyone to its VIP membership, where are charged $49.95 any month that you either do not shop or do not “skip”. Yes, we stayed our hands from shooting Fabletics because the charge is credited to your VIP account to be used at any time. The catch is that credits can easily build up for persons who are caught up in whatever and forget to skip.

Now when you do want to make a purchase, you’ll find that you are unable to use those credits to buy “Sales” items. Specifically, some of the complaints were as follows:

For example:

• Yuliana Lacsina says in Trustpilot says “Clothing is great!!! However, they do not allow you to use your credit towards sales items. Or should I say they don’t honour the sales price if you use your credit”
• Rosa Araica in Trustpilot says “I don’t understand why they would hold a sale and at the end when the customer is checking out give them the option to use their credit but pay full price or not use the credit but pay for the outfit on sale. My credit is money that I’ve paid. It’s very tricky and it makes me not trust Fabletics as a company even more. I think they have good quality clothing but the way they do business is sleazy”
• Keri McCoy in Trustpilot says “Your website is not intuitive. I can’t buy leggings with my credits and get a promo item. And if I can, it is not easy to figure out how”
• Kelsey Wetherell says “I am unhappy that as a customer I cannot use my credits when purchasing something that is on promotion sale…”

As one customer rightly says the “credits” is money that has been paid, so there really should be no reason why one cannot use credit to buy “Sales items”. Interestingly, Fabletics in its replies fails to give an explanation (a wise move as any explanation will be crazy); they only thank the customers for the review assuring that the comments “regarding our promotion will help us know what we can do better”.

Monthly Charges

It’s been said that the business model of Fabletics is subscription-styled. It will seem that a lot of customers do not find joy in this, as seen from the following complaints.

• Kim W in sitejabber says “I bought leggings from Fabletics a month ago and signed up for the membership program not knowing it was $50 a month! …”
• Esha N in Sitejabber says “wow I wish I could give them zero ratings. They signed me up for their VIP membership without telling me and have been charging my account 68 dollars every month. Never EVER purchase from them. They will steal your money. THE WORST COMPANY EVER. DO NOT TRUST THEM”

To be fair to Fabletics, it says right in the landing page of its website that a $49.95 charge will apply monthly if you do not shop or skip adding that the charge will become a member credit to be spent at any time. Also, during checkout, there is also a snippet about this $49.95 monthly charge. With a little attention, this problem of not knowing of the charges will not exist.

However, what we have issues with is Fabletics saying that you have the “option” to join its membership program when checking out the first time. Actually, every first checkout, by default, puts you in the membership program. The “option” you have is opting out of the membership program.

Cancellation is a headache

Another complaint that you’ll find is that cancelling the VIP membership to avoid those charges (if you forget not skip) is not as easy as customers will want it to be. For example:

• Paty R in Sitejabber says “they keep charging me monthly and whenever I try to cancel they’re always on hold or the online chat is never available. I need a refund, I don’t even buy anything”
• Kalena S says “Great product, horrible to cancel”. The review added “the products you get is high quality… it’s just that the cancellation is HORRIBLE. I called to cancel and they put me through the ringer until I accepted $10 worth of store credit as long as they would notify me every month in order to [skip] the monthly payment for store credit… Anyway, I never got a notification… So when I forgot again (due to being busy with work and financial issues) I got charged. I called again and demand my subscription be cancelled. I had to repeat myself about 5 times because every time the person would try to keep me like a VIP and totally disregarded what I just said. I finally got to cancel and got reimbursed but this was such a headache”

Charges even after cancellation

Another complaint we saw was that not every cancellation of the VIP membership is successful. As the customers’ reviews show, some persons, who thought their membership is cancelled and do not go to the site to skip a month” get charged the monthly fee. For example:

• Tory N in Sitejabber says “I have stopped with fabletics a few times in the past and last month I tried to cancel my membership, after doing so I received a charge on my card for their monthly fee so I reached out to the live chat. After going back and forth with their customer service for a while I finally convinced her to give me a refund/ cancel my membership. Then I received another charge for a monthly fee this month so [I] reached out again and was told that the agent had told me in our previous conversation that my account will be remaining active (which did not happen). Then after going back and forth with this agent, I got my money back again. This time I was smart enough to screenshot the conversation for the next time this happens. I am very sad that this is happening, I like their products but the monthly membership is a scam and they will do all they can to keep your money”
• Renee C in Trustpilot says “Bills you after cancellation”. The review continued “I cancelled my subscription over the summer [because] of the monthly charges. I simply could not afford to shop with them anymore and thought it would be a simple cancellation process. I was wrong. I called the help number to cancel my subscription at least twice with the reassurance it would be handled but ended up getting billed twice more after that, and [I] have noticed they’ve been trying to bill since then despite having cancelled. I’ve cancelled, yet keep getting these notifications. I liked their products but if this is how they treat their customers then it’s not worth the trouble…”

Unhelpful Customer Support Service

Another complaint you’ll find is that customer support service is unhelpful. For example:

• Kim W in sitejabber says “… When I saw the charge on my card this month, I tried to call the customer service number on their website but would be answered by a robot and would be hung up on multiple times. Using the chat feature, I talked with a service representative Janice who copy and pasted something about their membership and how I should have opted out for that month (for something I was again unaware of) and then ended the chat. I will sure as hell never buy from them again. I’m still working on getting the refund – all of the customer service representatives have been very unhelpful”

However, it should be said that customers who complained of the Support Service of Fabletics being unhelpful where those that needed help with leaving the VIP membership. Since the main thrust of Fabletics is to get customers into the VIP membership, it is understandable that they (the support reps) will do everything to keep customers in the membership. That said, if you want help with leaving the VIP membership, don’t be too dismayed if you do not get a smooth exit.

Pros

• Holds a wide range of activewear (tops, bottoms, sports bra, and more) for both men and women)
• Prices are competitive
• Also offers a lot of price slashing promotions
• Free shipping is offered (albeit to only the contiguous US states)
• Minimum order requirement to qualify for free shipping is only $49
• Delivery is relatively fast
• Provides Return Label for making easy returns
• Offers a return window of 30 days from the shipment date (45 days from shipment date on the first order)
• Offers free returns for orders from the 48 contiguous US States
• Customer support is available round the clock, every day

Cons

• Ships to only the US, Canada, and Australia
• Charges $49.95 monthly (which is credited as store credits) if one does not make a purchase and does not remember to skip
• VIP membership credits cannot be used to purchase any item on promotion (e.g. sales items)
• Promos mostly apply to only customers in the VIP membership
• Exiting the VIP membership is not usually smooth

Conclusion

Fabletics is an activewear brand co-founded by Kate Hudson. It is a very legit online store that holds a wide range of high-quality athletic wears. It ships to the US, Canada, and Australia; US customers even get free shipping, with a relatively low $49 minimum order requirement.  More so, shipping is relatively fast. If you’re not content with an order, returns are also accepted if made within 30 days of the shipment date. US customers even get free returns.

Prices are competitive, and Fabletics offer a ton of promotions that further bring prices to tantalizingly low levels.

However, if you’re to enjoy the competitive pricing of Fabletics, or its promotions, you’ll have to join its VIP membership. But that means that you’ll have to make a purchase or “skip”, else you’ll be charged $49.95, which goes into your VIP account as a credit that you can spend at any time in the store. One big thing to consider is that you’ll be unable to use the credits to buy items on promotions.

That said, if you need a monthly supply of active wear, you’ll definitely find Fabletics just right. Also, if you’ll not forget to skip when you don’t need to make a purchase, you’ll also find Fabletics as fine. However, if you’ll not be making a monthly purchase and may forget to skip it, then you may find Fabletics frustrating, as you’ll be charged monthly, and this will build up store credits in your account.

Do you have an event tonight that you’ll want to grace with casual wear? Then you’ll want to look pretty tonight.

PrettyTonight advertises as a professional global online store committed to providing customers with high-quality, trendy fashion products at favourable prices along with a class-leading customer service experience.

Trendy fashion products, high quality, favourable prices, and top-notch customer service are the promises of Pretty Tonight; those are some things you’ll want from the ideal online fashion store. However, the big question is whether these promises of Pretty Tonight are just adverted blurbs, or whether PrettyTonight does deliver.

In the first place, is Pretty Tonight legit, or is it just another scam store designed to rip off unsuspecting customers?

Yes, Pretty Tonight is legit. And it is not a scam because they will never steal your money or not ship the items you purchased from the store. But that does not mean they do not send low-quality materials, continue reading to know what customers are saying and what we found out.

This Pretty Tonight review will examine Pretty Tonight in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions.

Pretty Tonight review at a glance

• prettytonight.com
• A brand new online women fashion store launched in 2019
• Focuses on casual women wear
• Prices are competitive
• Offers a number of price-slashing promos
• Supported payment methods are PayPal and Credit/ Card
• Ships to worldwide locations
• Offers free standard shipping to the US for orders over $49
• Allows items not 100% satisfactory to be returned, with a 30 day (from delivery) return window
• Customer support is available via email (service@prettytonight.com)

What is Pretty Tonight?

There are many online fashion stores out there; and Pretty Tonight is one of the latest additions. The more the merrier? Pretty Tonight was launched only recently (August of 2019). Pretty Tonight advertises as a professional global online store for the latest women’s dresses, hoodies, sweaters, cardigans, coats & jackets, etc.

Is Pretty Tonight legit

When it comes to making purchases online, you cannot be too careful. There are many fraudsters in cyberspace that have been ripping off unsuspecting customers. Thus, before any purchase, you’ll want to make sure that the store is legit. So the simple but big question is whether Pretty Tonight is legit.

While many reviewers easily throw the scam label at stores that have one or two failings, we usually follow a more objective approach and look at the store in its entirety.

Usually, our first check of a legit online store is usually legality. This is because online stores that are powered by 100% legal companies are less likely to be scams. Unfortunately, Pretty Tonight does not come shinning as we’ll want. This is not because it is not operated by a 100% legal Company, but because like many online fashion stores, it does not say anything about its owner/ operator. More so, searching for the owner of the website was fruitless, as the website hides this information using Domains by Proxy LLC. So at best, whether Pretty Tonight is owned and operated by a 100% legit Company is inconclusive.

Another check of a legit online store is the test of time. This is because scam stores are usually short-lived. It is only a matter of time before scamming activities are discovered; and with such discovery, the affected store will naturally die. Unfortunately, Pretty Tonight also does not come out shining in this test of time. This is not because it has been called out as a scam store.

Rather it is a new online store; its domain was registered in the second half of this year (2019). While Pretty Tonight does not have the long operating record to make it pass the test of time, it should be remembered that every one of the online stores with the long operating records had a start.

Another check of a legit online store is usually visibility and industry-wide recognition. This is because the scam stores operate largely in the shadows. Unfortunately, Pretty Tonight also does not come out shining in this regards. You’ll not find Pretty Tonight featured by any of the popular industry watchdogs. We’ll chalk this on its relative newness on the fashion scenes.

However, a silver lining is that at the time of writing this review, Pretty Tonight had an Alex rank of just over 1.3 million. Alexa ranks of less than one million show that the website has decent user traffic. Thus, for a relatively new website, the just over 1.3 million rankings of Pretty Tonight is not too bad; and shows that the online store is not “in the shadows”.

However, the ultimate check of an online store is usually fitness for purpose. This is because the scam stores are designed to rip off people, and only legit stores will deliver real and functional products when a customer places an order with them. Thankfully, Pretty Tonight passes this all-important legit check. When you place an order in the store, you’ll receive delivery of real products, which (most often than not) are largely functional.

That said; while the owner of the website is unknown (hidden), and its relative newness means it does not have industry-wide recognition or a robust operating record, that it fulfils orders with real and functional products means that it is a legit online fashion store.

Is Pretty Tonight safe?

A legit online store will definitely not rip you off. But a store ripping you off shouldn’t be your only fear. Another important consideration should be whether the store is safe. This is because, except it is also safe, the sensitive data that you share with it (such as your personal information and credit card details) will leak out, leaving you exposed to all the fraudsters out there. Thus the ideal online store should both be legit and safe.

Thankfully, this is one area where Pretty Tonight does come out shinning. It says that it implements a variety of security measures including offering the use of a secure server. It adds that all supplied sensitive/ credit information is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into its Payment Gateway providers’ database only to be accessed by authorized personnel.

Suffice it to say that SSL technology is the industry standard for ensuring the protection of data being transmitted over the internet. A private channel is created that blocks off third parties, while the data is encrypted with bank-grade encryption protocols being sent through the channel.

Also, after a transaction, your private information (such as credit card details, social security number, etc) is not stored on the servers of Pretty Tonight. Lastly, the servers and the website are security scanned and fully verified independently by McAfee Secure (from Symantec) on a daily basis to ensure that users are protected online.

That said; it is safe to say that Pretty Tonight is safe.

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Products

When making purchases, customers usually want one-stop stores; which are stores with a wide variety of products, and that can allow them to get their related products in one place. Being able to get your fashion needs in one place is convenient, as it saves you the stress of checking multiple stores. It also comes with cost savings; as you’ll be able to get big order discounts as well as savings from shipping (paying to ship one order instead of paying to ship multiple orders from multiple stores).

Pretty Tonight holds its own in terms of the product range. It focuses on women clothing; especially casual wears. When shopping in Pretty Tonight, the products categories (and the products you’ll find in each of the categories) are as follows:

• Sweaters and Cardigans
• Tops – Blouses and T-Shirts, hoodies and Sweater shirts, Sweaters and Cardigans
• Pants
• Dresses – Vintage Dresses, Casual Dresses, Maxi Dresses, Midi Dresses
• Outwears – Hoodies and Sweatshirts, Sweaters and Cardigans, Coats and Jackets
• Shoes and Accessories

While Pretty Tonight does quite well in its range of products, it does not provide the full gamut. For example, in the apparel section, you won’t find activewear, swimwear, or intimates. You’ll also find that Pretty Tonight is lacking in terms of non-apparel fashion products. For example, you won’t find jewelry or beauty products.

When shopping, it is not enough to consider the product range it’s also important to consider the size of the inventory in each product section. For example, if a store sells dresses, you’ll not want to find only a few styles; rather you’ll want to find scores or hundreds of styles so that no matter your style preference, you’re more likely to find something that you like.

In this regards, Pretty Tonight also comes out wanting. In the Tops category, it holds good numbers. At the time of writing this review, the Blouses and T-Shirts section held over 350 items, but the dresses category held scores of items in each of its sections. The Pants categories also held only casuals, numbering only 59. The non-apparel category fared worst. The Shoes and Accessories category held only 8 products – 2 boots, 1 bag, 2 scarves, 2 gloves, and 1 head warmer.

Buying from Pretty Tonight

It is also simple to make a purchase in Pretty Tonight. You don’t even have to register and create an account because Pretty Tonight supports Guest Checkout. This is a good feature for shoppers who won’t want their information stored by an online store. However, there are certain advantages to having an account, such as personalized service.

If you do choose to register, you’ll find the process simple and straightforward. You can register with your email, or with your Facebook and Google+ account.

Even if you are new to an online purchase, buying from Pretty Tonight shouldn’t be a problem. You’ll have to browse through the product categories to discover your item. Clicking on it will take you to the product description page, where you’ll find every detail about the particular item. You can then choose your size and colour, and then add the item to your shopping cart. Pretty Tonight does not offer customization, so size and colour changes are the only things you can make to the product.

At any time, you can click on the bag icon on the page to go to your shopping cart. From there, you can then proceed to checkout. You’ll then have to submit your shipping information, so that applicable shipping cost can be calculated. You’ll then be shown your order total. The next step is to select a payment method and complete payment.

Interestingly, Pretty Tonight advertises that when an order is placed for an item that is out of stock, you’ll be automatically refunded. This is a very good one that most other fashion stores can emulate. Many online fashion stores will only try to make the item available, and in the process, delivery will be significantly delayed.

Pricing and Related Policies

Prices

No shopper will want to throw money away. Thus, the ideal online store must be perceived as reasonably priced. In this regards, Pretty Tonight says it provides high quality, trendy fashion products at favourable prices.

Looking at the prices of listings, there is no doubt that Pretty Tonight is competitively priced. For example, at the time of writing this review, most of the dresses were priced $22.90 – $34.99, most of the Tops were priced $19.99 – $31.99, while the outwears were priced $21.99 – $39.99.

Promotions

The search for the best deals takes shoppers to online stores that run a lot of promotions. This is because promotional offers allow customers to get items for significantly less than the items’ going rate. Thankfully, Pretty Tonight comes out as an online fashion store that runs a lot of promotions.

For example, at the time of writing this review, the following promotions were announced in the landing page of the website:

• A “Merry Christmas” offer that promised 12% off $129 orders and 20% off $299+ orders
• A special promo that promised 5% off $59+ and 10% off $99 orders

However, as it is in every online store, the promotions are time-specific – only running within a specified period of time. Thus, to know what particular promo is running at any time, you’ll have to regularly check the website.

Payment Methods

When it is time to pay for your order, you won’t want a headache, so you’ll want to find a range of convenient payment methods. Pretty Tonight does well in this regards. It does not break the roof with a long list of payment methods, but supports the popular that you’ll be able to use no matter where you are making your purchase from. You can pay for your Pretty Tonight order with PayPal, or with Credit/ Debit cards. All the popular cards are supported, which includes Visa, Maestro, American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club, and Discover Card.

Shipping

After placing an order in an online fashion store, it will be moved (at a later time) from the store’s facility to your shipping address.

Thus, it’s important to consider whether the store ships merchandise to your address, how long it’ll take to receive delivery of your order, and how much it will cost.

Shipping Destination

If an online store does not directly ship to your location, you may as well use another store because it’ll be unnecessarily difficult to receive your order. In terms of shipping destinations, it’s fine that a store ships to many worldwide locations so that your location is more likely to be covered.

Pretty Tonight does well in this regards, as it is a world-facing fashion store that ships merchandise to about 240 countries. There’s virtually no place of the world that you’re resident in that Pretty Tonight will not ship your order to. Interestingly, Pretty Tonight also ship to P.O. Boxes or military (BFPO or APO/ FPO) addresses.

Delivery Times

It is not enough that an online store ships to your location, it is also important that delivery is fast. This is because there is no customer that will place an online order and will be willing to wait forever for it to be delivered.

Delivery time consist of order processing time and shipping time. The former (processing time) is how long it’ll take the store (from when you place the order) to prepare your order and dispatch it for shipping, while the latter (shipment time) is how long it’ll take your order (from when it ships) to get to your address.

In this regards, Pretty Tonight takes 1 – 5 business days to process most orders, while some may take up to 7 business days. The shipping times vary depending on the country the order is shipping to, and the selected shipping option. There are different shipping options – Flat Rate shipping, Standard shipping, Expedited shipping, and Priority Direct Mail. The shipping times are as follows:

• Flat Rate Shipping: US and Canada (8 – 15 business days); many Europe countries (10 – 20 business days); Russia, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico (15 – 35 business days); all other countries (10 – 25 business days)
• Standard shipping: Latin America, excluding Brazil (7 – 15 business days); Russia and Brazil (10 – 25 business days); all other countries (5 – 8 business days)
• Expedited shipping (DHL/ UPS): worldwide, excluding Russia and Brazil (3 – 7 business days)
• Priority Direct Mail: available in only a few countries; and it takes 5 – 18 days

Note that shipping to P.O. Boxes and military addresses is only via standard shipping.

Shipping Costs

Yet, another important shipping consideration is shipping cost. The total cost of any online purchase is the item’s cost and its shipping cost. Thus when the shipping cost is too high, and item can easily be deemed too expensive to acquire even if its price was acceptable. That said; the ideal online store should have shipping costs that are as low as possible.

In this regards, Pretty Tonight does not offer flat shipping rates. How much you’ll pay for shipping varies. It depends not only on your shipping address and selected shipping option but also on the weight of your order. Thus, you’ll find applicable shipping cost at checkout, after you have added your items to your cart, and inputted your shipping information.

The lowest possible shipping fee is $0.00, which is free shipping. Pretty Tonight offers free shipping. However this does not apply to every country. Thankfully, it is very much available for standard shipping of orders to the US of A.

Also, not only is free shipping offered, but it comes with a low minimum purchase requirement of $49+. That is, you’ll have your orders shipped free of charge if the order is over $49. This is a relatively low requirement, meaning that you’ll not have to overspend in chase of free shipping.

Return

Many shoppers still fear online purchases because it does not allow for the item to be physically assessed before the purchase. The fear is that the order may arrive and may not meet certain expectations. This is a valid concern. As such, online shoppers gravitate towards the stores that’ll allow them to return any item that is not totally satisfactory and gets a replacement item or a refund of payment.

Thankfully, Pretty Tonight allows returns. It says that its offer is comprehensive as it covers: “stains, zipper malfunction, ripped or torn, poor quality materials, obvious colour difference, a major difference between photographed product and the product received”.

Eligible Returns and Conditions

However, it is not every item that is purchased in an online store that can be returned. That said; you’ll not want too many return restrictions so that you’ll not receive an item that you’ll rather return but cannot.

In this regards, Pretty Tonight advertises that “final sale products, swimwear, lingerie, accessories are not eligible for return or exchange”. There is nothing out of the ordinary here, because you’ll find these items also restricted (for hygiene reasons) in other online fashion stores.

The only thing that may cause you to raise the eyebrow is that Pretty Tonight does not offer swimwears and lingerie, yet it lists these items among items that are ineligible for returns. This may be suggestive that Pretty Tonight will offer these items in the nearest future.

Also, even when items are eligible for returns, they must meet certain conditions to be accepted by Pretty Tonight. The items will need to be unused, undamaged, and unaltered. Also, all tags must be intact, and the items must be returned in the original packaging.

Return Process

If the item in your order that you want to return is eligible for a return, you’ll want to find an easy return process. You won’t want a difficult return process that’ll add to the frustrations of receiving an unwanted item in the first place. Thus, the ideal online store should have an easy return process.

In this regards, Pretty Tonight does somewhat well. To return an item in your order from the fashion store, you’ll have to first contact them about it and get a return authorization. It should be said that Pretty Tonight does not have a “no questions asked policy”; you’ll have to explain yourself and state your reason(s) for the return. In your return request, you’ll have to adequately describe the issue, and also include pictures that display the problem.

Interestingly, unlike some fashion stores that only accept returns for faulty items, Pretty Tonight accepts returns for buyer’s remorse (situations where the item is not faulty but the customers have a change of heart or simply does not like the item).

Pretty Tonight will review your return request and get back to you within 24 hours. If approved, the approval email will carry the return instructions as well as the return address. You can then proceed to package the item appropriately and ship back to the return address. You can use any shipping carrier. But after shipping the return package, you’ll have to go back to Pretty Tonight and update the return tracking number.

Return Window

However, you won’t have forever to decide on what item you’ll keep and which you’ll return. This is because only items that are returned to the store within a time frame are accepted and refunded. That said; you’ll want an extended time period so that your returns will not get back late and be rejected.

Pretty Tonight does relatively well in this regards as it offers a 30 days return window. That is, for a returned item to be accepted by Pretty Tonight, it’ll have to get back to its fulfilment centre within 30 days from the day of receipt of an unwanted item.

This is like the standard return window in the industry; so you shouldn’t be pressed with time if you have a Pretty Tonight order that you’ll rather return.

Return Cost

When you have to return an item to its retailer, you won’t want to find prohibitive costs. Thus, the ideal online fashion store should have return costs that are as low as possible. Return costs usually consist of restocking fees and return shipping fees.

Thankfully, Pretty Tonight does not have restocking fees. However, there is a return shipping cost which customers are responsible for. Since Pretty Tonight does not provide Return Shipping Labels, the cost of return shipping will vary depending on how much the shipping carrier used charges.

Return Processing and Refund

After returning an item to its retailer, you won’t want to be kept waiting for too long for the refund or the replacement item. Thus, the ideal online store should quickly process the returned item, and follow it up with fast issuance of refund or sending of the replacement item.

It will seem that Pretty Tonight does well in this regards. It advertises after the return package is received, it takes 1 week to process it, after which it issues the refund immediately. However, there is always a waiting time for the funds to reflect in your account. Where the original purchase was paid for by credit card, this waiting time could take 2 weeks.

Customer Support Service

Some customers who use an e-commerce platform will have questions about one or more part of the platform, and they’ll need good answers to these. Also, others will have issues with their orders; and they’ll need these resolved if they are to continue as customers. Thus, the ideal online fashion store should have an effective customer support service for answering the questions and resolving the issues that its customers may have.

In this regards, e-commerce platforms usually come with a combo of self-help resources and direct help channels. Thankfully, Pretty Tonight is not different.

The first place to go if you need help is its FAQ page. The self-help resource holds answers to many of the questions that users have asked in the past. The FAQ covers such topics as Accounts, Ordering and Payment, Size, Shipping & Delivery, and Return & Exchange.

However, the FAQ is not very detailed. And even at that with some issues, you’ll have to directly contact the customer support. For that PretttTonight supports an email service. You can send them an email directly from your email account using the email address: service@prettytonight.com

Pretty Tonight promises to swiftly respond to all submissions (within 24 hours), and they largely live up to this. However, it is still disappointing that there is no support for instant feedback support channels such as Telephone support and Live Chat.

Pretty Tonight Complaints

“Complaints” is always a part of our reviews. This is because what other customers have to say about a store can give good insight into how well the store operates. Where complaints are too many, the store probably does not perform as well as customers expect; and when complaints are few, the store probably performs relatively well.

For the complaints section, we always go to the independent customers’ reviews like Trustpilot and Sitejabber. For this review, we searched and searched, but found nothing. Not that there were no complaints, but there were no reviews of Pretty Tonight to be found in any of the numerous review platforms online. This will be because Pretty Tonight is relatively new onto the scenes.

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Pros

• Offers Guest Checkouts allowing customers to make a purchase without creating an account
• Offers a range of clothing that includes Dresses, Tops, Pants, Outerwear, etc
• Prices are competitive
• Offers a lot of price slashing promotions
• Convenient payment methods are supported (PayPal and Credit/ Debit cards)
• Offers free standard shipping to the US
• Offers a low $49+ minimum order requirement for free shipping
• Returns are allowed not just for damaged items but also for buyer remorse
• Return window is relatively long (30 days from delivery date)
• Customer support is available via email (service@prettytonight.com)

Cons

• Its non-apparel section is very limited – only a few shoes and gloves and scarves are offered
• Does not provide return labels for making easy returns
• Instant feedback support channels (like Telephone service and Live Chat) are not supported

Conclusion

Pretty Tonight is one of the newest additions to the women fashion wear online stores. It provides dresses, hoodies, sweaters, cardigans, coats & jackets, etc. However, you’ll find Pretty Tonight very limited. It does not hold swimwear, intimates, and activewear. Also, the non-clothing section holds few items that it is almost non-existent.

In terms of service: Pretty Tonight ships to virtually every part of the world; making an order is easy-breezy; delivery time is relatively okay; free shipping is offered, and with a relatively low $49+ minimum order requirement; and if you’re not satisfied with an order, Pretty Tonight will accept it an issue a replacement or refund if it is returned within 30 days of delivery date.

When you hit brick walls you can reach out to the customer support service via email; and you can expect to receive a response within 24 hours.

mirraw is an online marketplace that offers a wide selection of Indian ethnic clothing for men, women and children. With over 20 million products from more than 10,000 sellers, mirraw.com is one of the largest e-commerce websites in India specializing in traditional apparel from across the country.

Whether you’re looking for sarees, salwar kameezes or lehengas, you can find it all at mirraw.com – with styles ranging from contemporary to classic designs to suit any occasion or budget. They also offer special discounts on select items during festivals and special days like Diwali and Holi so be sure to check out their website often!

Saying the history of Indian clothing history is rich and that the future of Indian fashion is bright; Mirraw comes out as an online shopping platform offering Indian ethnic wears to the world.

The big question is whether it is worthwhile to shop in Mirraw. Does the site hold a range of ethnic wears like sarees, salwars, lehengas kurtas, etc? What about quality; do the pieces feature high-quality material, tailoring, patterning, etc? What about prices; does Mirraw feature prices that are reasonable? If it has high-quality pieces at good price points, what about the service; does Mirraw offer top service that we’ll expect of the ideal online store (such as easy ordering, fast delivery, hassle-free returns, effective customer service, etc)? In the first place, is Mirraw legit, or is it just another scam platform?

Yes, Mirraw is legit. It is not a scam because they will never take your money without shipping your products. And they also have been online for a very long time which is a good sign of legitimacy.

This Mirraw review will examine Mirraw in order to provide the information that will help you answer the questions and more.

Mirraw review at a glance

• Website: mirraw.com
• Founded in 2011 and based in Mumbai, India
• An online marketplace for Indian ethnic wears for women, men, and kids
• Holds a wide range of products that includes Sarees, Saree blouses, Salwar Kameez, Lehengas, Kurtas, Sherwani, etc
• Offer competitive prices
• Ships worldwide to 200+ countries
• Returns are accepted for only defective, damaged, or not-as-described products
• Customer support is available via email (mcare@mirraw.com) and telephone(+1-949-464-5941)

What is Mirraw? – About

Mirraw was founded by Shailesh Jain and Anup Nair. Like many other businesses, it was a failed experience that inspired Mirraw. Jain wanted to buy a saree for his mother, but couldn’t find a decent online store, so the idea of operating an Indian ethnic wear online store was planted. Fast forward to September of 2011, and Mirraw was born as a private business in Mumbai, India.

It is only fitting that there should be an online store serving Indian ethnic wears to the world. After all, at about 2500BC, India became one of the first places to grow and use cotton for making clothes.

Mirraw does not say it anywhere on its website (www.mirraw.com), but it is actually a marketplace. Thousands of Indian based sellers list the items in the site. However, it differs significantly from the conventional marketplaces around in its mode of operation. Most marketplaces only provide the platform; they do not get involved in the transaction process, as such sellers ship directly to buyers. However, Mirraw is very much involved in the transaction.

When you place an order in Mirraw, the item is delivered to Mirraw’s headquarters in Mumbai for quality verification. When the item passes the checks, Mirraw ships the item to you (the buyer). Mirraw started with Indian ethnic wears especially sarees and salwar, but has now expanded, including other ethnic wears, and going beyond that to include western wears.

It also provides stitching services. Stitching is basically customizing; as it allows you to choose a more detailed design pattern for your item. Stitching is not only custom-designed but also custom-sized. That is, you’ll have the item sewn to your measurements for that truly perfect fit. This means that while you can order items in Standard sizes, you can also send in measurements for custom-sized items.

Is Mirraw legit?

With fraudsters ripping people off in cyberspace, before making any online transaction, it’s wise to determine that the online platform is legit. Thus, the giant question is whether Mirraw is legit. The short answer to that is yes. This is because of the following.

Legality – Our first check of a legit platform is always legality because stores that are 100% legal are less likely to be a scam. Thankfully, Mirraw ticks the legality box. The website is owned and operated by Mirraw Online Services Private Ltd, which is a 100% legal company that is duly registered with the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai (Registration Number: 221897). Suffice it to say that scam stores do not bother with legal company registrations.

Visibility and Industry-wide recognition – Another check of a legit online platform is industry-wide recognition because the scam stores largely operate in the shadows. Thankfully, Mirraw tick this visibility box. The website is globally known as a resource that provides Indian ethnic wears to the rest of the world.

Test of Time – Another check we use in determining a legit online platform is the test of time; this is because the scam stores are generally short-lived. Interestingly, Mirraw ticks this box, as it has been operating for over 8 years. Suffice it to say that 8 years is enough time for any scamming activity to be exposed; and following such exposure, the platform naturally dies.

Fulfilment of order – the ultimate check of a legit online platform is the fulfillment of orders; that is, when customers place an order, the store should deliver real and functional items. In this regards, Mirraw does manage to tick the box (but only barely). This is because Mirraw does fulfil orders with real products. Also, there are many customers that expressed satisfaction with the quality (functionality) of their product.

In conclusion, real and functional products are featured in Mirraw. However, as you’ll find in the “complaint” section of this review, there is a significant number of customers dissatisfied with the quality (functionality) of their products; and the poor-quality issues even worsen with refunds-related issues, leading to scam labels being sometimes thrown around.

However, with Mirraw being 100% legal, having industry-wide recognition, and largely fulfilling orders with real and functional products, it comes out as a legit platform.

Is Mirraw safe?

Mirraw is safe. When shopping online, you’ll be sharing sensitive data (like personal information and credit card detail); thus, you’ll want a store that adequately protects this data and prevent it from leaking into the wrong hands. In this regards, Mirraw comes out relatively fine. It uses industry-standard data protection protocols including the use of firewalls and limiting access. It’s safe to say that Mirraw is safe.

Products

You’ll want your shopping destination to offer a wide range of product so that you can get your related products in one place. Mirraw tick this box. Niche-ing to Indian ethnic wears, Mirraw gives you the full gamut.

Mirraw Salwar Kameez:

Salwar Kameez – This is close to a pair of trousers and Tunic. You can shop Salwar Kameez: by style (Punjabi suits, straight suits, etc); by fabric (cotton, Georgette, Silk, etc), or by occasion (Party wear, wedding Salwar, festive, etc)

Mirraw Sarees:

Sarees – The iconic Indian wear is basically a drape wrapped around the body and over the shoulder You can shop Sarees: by roots (Banarasi silk, Kota, etc); by fabric (georgette, cotton, pure silk, etc); by occasion (party wear, wedding, etc); by work (embroidered, printed, etc)

Mirraw Lehengas:

Lehengas – Basically a long skirt that falls around the ankles. You can also shop by fabric, occasion, and style

Mirraw Kurtis:

Kurtis – Basically a collarless and long (knee length) shirt. You can shop by fabric, occasion, work and style

Mirraw Blouses:

Blouses – Saree blouses, which means generally short and showing stomach. You can shop by fabric, occasion, and look (fashion, traditional, or contemporary)

mirraw Jewellery:

Jewellery – You can shop jewelry: by type (Necklace Sets, Necklaces, Bangles and Bracelets, Earrings, Anklet, Pendants, and Silk thread Jewelry); by Work (Temple Jewelry, Antique Jewelry, Terracotta Jewelry, Pearl Jewelry, etc); by Wedding ( Bridal Jewelry, Bridal Set, Mangalsutra, Maang Tikka, Nose Rings, etc). Featured Jewelry section holds, Booches, Jhumkas, Choker Necklaces, Danglers & Drops, etc.

The categories above features women wear. There’s also a Plus Size category that holds Salwar Kameez, Kurtis, Skirts, Leggings, and Blouses. However, Mirraw does not cater to only women but for everyone in the family. Thus, there’re categories for kids and men wear.

The Kids category holds the following sections and products:

• Girls – Lehenga, Salwar Suits, Kaftans, Gowns, Sarees, Frocks, Dresses, and Girls’ Jackets
• Boys – Kurta Pyjamas, Indo Western, Sherwani, Dhoti Kurta, Nehru Jacket
• Collection – Gifts, Watches

The men category holds the following sections and products:

• Clothing – Kurta Pajama, Dhoti Kurta, Nehru Jacket, Kurtas, Blazers, Sherwani, Pathani Suits, Bandhgala, and Dhoti
• Jewelry – Earrings, Studs, Bracelets, Pendants, Rings
• Accessories – Turbans, Cufflinks
• Footwear – Casual

Also, it’s not news that what people wear is largely influenced by their religion. The Islamic religion famed for modest dressing; and its definition of modesty is not reflected in the regular clothing. Thus, Mirraw provides Islamic Wear category to cater for the Muslim customers. The Islamic Wear category holds the following sections and products.

• Women – Kaftans, Burka, Hijab, Abaya, Skirts, Tunics, Farasha, Combo Hijab, Moroccan Kaftans, Burkini, Coat abaya, Pants
• Men – Galabiyya, Kurta Pajama, Caps, Bissht
• Girls – Abaya, Kaftans
• Boys – Galabiyya
• Accessories – Janamaz

However, Mirraw is not all Indian. For all those who’ll want the western look. There’s a Western Wear category which holds the following sections and products

• Apparel – Tops, Dresses, Tunics, Gowns, Indowestern
• Bottom – Palazzos, Leggings, Skirts, Trousers
• Accessories – Stoles and Dupattas, Shawls, Bags
• Footwear – Flats, Heels

Lastly, Mirraw is more than fashion. It has a “Home and Living” Category where you’ll find home items like Bed Sheets, Tapestries, Curtains, Pillow Covers, Table Cloths, Carpets, Sculptures, and Decors

Buying Experience

You contact with the retailer when shopping online is the website; thus, for a smooth experience, you’ll want an intuitive and easy-to-use website. Thankfully, the Mirraw website ticks this box. The clean website holds a menu which will take you to the products categories. As a fast-track to searching for an item, you’ll also find different product sections in the home page.

Alternatively, there’s a search button in the page which you can use for product searches. Whether you use the product categories, the short-cut product sections on the homepage or the search button, upon finding an item that pricks your interest, clicking on it will take you to its description page.

The page holds every detail you’ll need to make your buy-decision, including product description and specification. You can also view other product photos including close-ups of detailing. The page also shows whatever promo is on the item, its shipping details (the shipping details (shipping service used, cost, and estimated delivery date), accepted payment methods, return policy, etc.

If you like what you see, you can then choose a size, choose stitching needs, and click “Buy Now”. When you opt for stitching, a measurement form will be emailed, which you have to fill and mail back within 48 – 72 hours from time of order placement.

One of the good parts of Mirraw is that you are not required to register and create an account to make purchases. Because account creation requires submitting personal information that will be stored in a file, many customers will rather not register. Mirraw caters to these by allowing you to complete order using guest login.

After hitting “Buy Now”, your item will be added to cart. You can go to your shopping cart at any time, review your order, and click “Checkout”. In the page that opens, add your shipping address; after which you can choose your payment method and complete payment. Once your order is successful, you’ll receive an email and SMS.

Sometimes customers want to cancel an order after placing it. Thankfully, Mirraw allows this. All orders can be cancelled, but such cancellation must be within 24 hours of order placement.

Pricing and Related Policies

Pricing

Money is hard to come, and even it’s easy to come, no one will want to throw money away easily. Thus, you’ll want to find a shopping destination that features reasonable prices. Mirraw shines in this respect. You’ll find that many products on the website are considerably lower than you’ll find them in many other destinations.

The additional fee for stitching varies for blouse, dress (Salwar, Anarkali, and Gowns) and Lehenga. For Blouse, regular stitching cost $8.00 and custom stitching cost $12; while for Dresses and Lehenga, regular stitching cost $10.00 and custom stitching cost $15.

Promotions

Promotions allow customers to get items for free or for less than the items’ full prices. Thus, customers gravitate towards stores that run regular promotions. Mirraw comes out as such a store. They’re always too many of these.

At the time of writing this review, some of the promotions running included: clearance sales + $1 stitching + free shipping; buy 3 get 6 free special offer, etc. You can also subscribe for the Mirraw newsletter so as not to miss any offer; this is incentivized, as you’ll get up to 50% off of your next purchase.

Payment Methods

You want to find a range of convenient payment methods so that paying for your order will be straightforward no matter where you are. Be rest assured that it is. Mirraw accepts payment made using credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Mastro), PayPal, and Bank Transfer

Shipping

With online shopping, the items have to be moved from the retailer’s fulfilment centre to your location. Thus, it’s important to consider: whether the retailer ships merchandise to your location, how long it’ll take after placing the order for the item to get to you, and how much it’ll cost.

Shipping Destination

If an online store doe not directly ship to your location, receiving delivery of your online order may be unnecessarily difficult. Thus, you’ll want the ideal online store to ship to many worldwide locations so that your location is more likely to be covered. Mirraw aces it in this regards. It ships worldwide, to 200+ countries around the globe. Thus, you can buy Indian ethnic wear from Mirraw no matter where you are located in the world.

Delivery times

Stores that take forever to deliver are generally perceived as not ideal. Thus, the ideal store will feature fast delivery. All items bought in Mirraw will ship from India. They first get to Mumbai for quality verification, before they ship to the customers’ address.  However, delivery typically takes 15 – 18 days to ship to locations outside India (international shipping). Where stitching is required, an additional 7 – 10 days is used. Thus, stitched products take 22 – 28 days.

Shipping Cost

The total acquisition cost for any online purchase is the item’s price and its shipping costs. Thus, even for an item acceptably priced, high shipping cost may make it too expensive to acquire. Thus, the ideal online store should feature shipping costs that are as low as possible.

Shipping costs in Mirraw vary depending on the item and the location it is shipping to. You’ll find the applicable shipping cost when checking out.

However, when checking out Mirraw for this review, we found the shipping costs quoted (for items we put into our carts) to be relatively fine. On many items shipping to the US, we found that free shipping was offered with a minimum purchase requirement of $99. Where free shipping does not apply, the shipping cost was also quite okay. For most of the times, we got: $5 for the first item and $5 for the additional item; and $10 for first item and $2 for additional item.

Returns

Many times, online orders do not turn out to be expected. Instead of holding on to an unwanted item, customers will want to be able to return it to the retailer and get a replacement or a refund. Thus, stores that allow returns to come out attractive.

Eligible Returns

Thankfully, Mirraw allows returns. However, its return policy does not rank as among the best (from a customer’s perspective). For example, items that are eligible for returns are only: items delivered to you in a damaged/ defective condition; and items that differ from the image displayed on the website. This means that you cannot return an item simply because you do not like it, or because it does not fit.

Another group of ineligible returns is stitched products. As Mirraw explains “Stitched products are customized as per your measurements so it cannot be resold/ reused and thus will NOT be eligible for returns/ refunds in any case”. While return restrictions on customized product are understandable; this hard stance (not eligible… in any case) means that in even cases of botched stitch jobs, the buyers can’t return the clearly defective item and get a refund.

Return Window

Also, items must be returned within 7 days of delivery. This is most likely the time to ship the return package, and not the time for Mirraw to receive the return package. However, the online fashion industry is spoilt with a 30 days return window (time for the retailer to receive the package); which is friendlier than the “7 days” return window of Mirraw (even if it’s just the time to hip back the package).

Return Process

Another consideration is the return process. You won’t want a cumbersome process that’ll add to the frustrations of receiving an unwanted item. Mirraw does relatively well in this regards. If you receive an order that you’ll want to return, you have to contact Mirraw. It advises that contact should be made within 48 hours of receiving the delivery. Simply log in, proceed to “My Order” and Select Your Order To Return. Indicate the items you want to return, and indicate your reasons – simply select an option from the “reason” menu (and if desired, use the Notes box for additional information). Choose the resolution desired (replacement, refund, or coupon); then submit the form.

After review, Mirraw will email you an approval with return instructions; you can then package the item and ship to the return address given in the return instruction email. Then you must come back to the site to enter the courier name and tracking number.

Return Processing and Refunds

Another important consideration is how long it’ll take to receive your refund. In this regards, Mirraw promises that upon receipt of the package, the returned item is promised in 7 – 8 working days, after which the refund is issued.

Cost of Returns

Another important consideration is how much it will take to make a return. Unfortunately, Mirraw does not offer free returns. There are no restocking fees but customers will have to cover the cost of return shipping. This also does not come out as friendly.

Yes, in many stores customers bear the cost of return shipping, but the store cover such costs whether the reason for returns is a fault of theirs (such as when the item delivered is defective, damaged, or not-as-described). Defective, damaged, or not-as-described items are the only returnable items in Mirraw, which means the store should be covering these costs. Think of bearing the cost of returning a defective item that was delivered to you.

Customer Support

The legit online store will also have an effective customer support, because there’ll be customers that’ll have issues with their orders and others that’ll simply have questions.

Mirraw supports the self-help resource. You’ll find an FAQ page where articles are arranged in the following sections – Order, Cancellation & Returns, Payments, Wallets, Shipping, Stitching, and Others. However, if this resource does not satisfy you, you can directly contact Mirraw.

For direct contact, it supports email and telephone services. For the email service, you’ll find an online contact form in the “Contact” page of the website. Alternatively, you can send an email directly from your account, using the email address: mcare@mirraw.com. Mirraw promise a response within 24 – 48 hours. For telephone service, the one of the numbers to call is +1-949-464-5941. The service is available Monday through to Saturday.

Complaints

Complaints can help you gauge how well a company is, because the legit and ideal company will not be overridden with complaints. In this section, we checked the independent customers’ review platforms like Trustpilot.com and Sitejabber.com. At best, Mirraw has mixed ratings. While its average rating in Trustpilot.com is relatively fine (3.9/ 5 by 3,510 reviewers), its rating in sitejabber is relatively poor (1.3/5 by 456 reviewers).

However, in both platforms, some unpalatable themes stood out, which include: misleading prices, late delivery, quality issues, refunds issues, poor customer service, etc.

Misleading Prices

This problem rears its head when certain orders are not fulfilled. As customers observe, the original order is “steals” (very good price for very good quality items). When the orders are cancelled, Mirraw’s explanation is that the item “is defective” or “fails quality checks”.

If you are wondering why customers will complain that an order is not fulfilled with “a defective item”; it is because when the first order is cancelled, they cannot place another for an item of comparable quality. That is, at that price point, they can only order a product of considerably lower quality, or top-up to buy a product of similar quality.

Thus, customers feel misleading prices are intentionally listed; and that after collecting your money, the platform claims it cannot deliver (giving the defective-excuse), and then box you into getting an item a grade lower, or to stump up more money for an item of equal grade.

Some of these complaints are:

• Shivani Pandey in trustpilot says “I ordered boys kurta size 10 – 11 years at AUD$8.00. Rest [of the] sizes were far way expensive. Somehow as my gut feeling said, they will definitely create some problem in that kurta; and my nightmare came true when suddenly they said ‘we can’t deliver the product as the product is faulty’ and that I can choose from other items which were nowhere close to that kurta… they are just trying to get away with the fact that they maybe misquoted the price …”
• Bunny in Trustpilot says “four times my order has been cancelled. If stuff is out of stock then why don’t they take the item out from their website. Very irritating. Not very happy with their services”

In one review (Preet in Trustpilot), the customer insisted that the “defective item” be sent; and Mirraw insisted back that another order be placed. Of course, the new order will pale in comparison to the first in terms of value.

Late Delivery

Another complaint that was significant enough to warrant mention is late delivery. Just too many customers complain of having to wait way pass the promised delivery time. For example:

• Raj Raj in Trustpilot says “…I ordered many items from mirraw.com and it was expected to be delivered 10 days ago. To date, I have not received my items, and they are not responding to my emails or phone calls. I will never use mirraw again”
• A Ford in Trustpilot says “… the customer service team kept lying to me about my order that I made over 4 weeks ago. First the products didn’t meet quality checks, then it was with the stitching team for 2 weeks still not dispatched…”

Poor Quality

Another complaint that stood out is poor quality. The complaints ranged from receiving items significantly different from pictured, to product being of poor quality, to stitching being poorly done, etc For example:

• Shilpi h in Sitejabber says “The product stitched was of not good quality and was not stitched as shown in picture on their website”
• Rekha J in sitejabber says “I bought just two items, black jhumka and gold anklets. They posted me totally different jhumka after so much follow up. The delivery was so much delayed. And the anklets were not of good quality”
• Smita B in Sitejabber says “Fraud… will show something and sell something [different]” the review continues “They show different images, don’t be fooled with buying as per images. They will stitch whatever they want and won’t refund saying it’s stitched product. Awful quality and stitching patterns. They deserve zero star…”
• Ramya n in sitejabber says “The clothes are cheap quality, not same as pics & no returns. I tried reaching customer service and no use. They are in the business of dumping crappy merchandise overseas. The clothes are not of the same quality as pics; you can see and know they are cheap. Mirraw doesn’t resolve any sizing issues. But if you think of never returning their product”

Issues with refunds

With quality issues, you’ll expect to be many requests for returns and refunds. However, it will seem that not many customers are successful in these. The refund issues manifest in various forms, ranging from Mirraw not responding to return requests or not approving returns, to not giving full refunds or giving store credits instead of cash refunds to original payment method. The following are specific reviews from the independent platforms.

• Stanley Ang in Trustpilot says “Very dishonest company. They simply sent me the wrong product size for a jacket. Also, the product I bought looked different from the picture. I asked for a return and they offered me only 30% of the product cost as a store credit. SCAMMERS! …”
• Shilpi Harpavat in Trustpilot says “The product was not stitched as shown on their website. After several emails back and forth, they promised to give me only 50% of the cost to the original method of payment, but they did not honour that too and just gave me a store credit, so now I am stuck with making a purchase again from them and paying either extra money or shipping cost”

It should be remembered that with Mirraw’s policy, it does not accept returns for stitched products. In our opinion, a wrongly stitched or poorly stitched item is defective; and since “defective items” are eligible for returns, such items should be returnable. Also, Mirraw’s return policy does not allow it to accept returns for sizing issues. Given that sizing dispute is one of the major reasons for returns in the fashion industry; Mirraw’s no-no on sizing is really disappointing.

Then there is the issue of giving people only a part refund when you have a “100% money-back guarantee” seal plastered on the landing age of your website. Worst still, there’s the issue of going against your word to issue store credits (instead of cash refund) even after the customer only reluctantly agree to the part refund. In our opinion, these two defy any explanations.

In our experience, being out-of-money is the main reason customers attach the “scam” label on retailers. Even if a product does not arrive or is overwhelmingly unsatisfactory, customers who get their money back will not cry out too loud, if there will be any cries at all. Thus, with refund issues rearing its head in Mirraw, you’ll find that in many platforms, customers easily throw the “scam” label at the company. However, as we noted earlier, Mirraw is a legit online store, albeit one that needs serious fixing especially in processing refunds.

Pros:

• Has a wide range of products, including Indian ethnic wears and western wear, all for women, men and kids
• Supports making purchases using “guest login” (that is, without creating an account)
• The ordering process is relatively easy
• Orders can be cancelled without 24 hours of submission
• Able to order in standard sizes and custom-sized stitched items
• Prices are comparatively lower than in many other stores
• Ships worldwide to 200+ countries
• Free shipping is often available
• Customer support is available via email, online contact form, and telephone

Cons:

• Items ship from India, so delivery many be relatively slow
• Only defective, damaged or not-as-described items are eligible for returns
• Stitched products are not eligible for returns for any reason
• Customers have to bear cost of return shipping (for defective, damaged or not-as-described items)
• Too many complaints of receiving poor quality item (not as described, poor/ wrong stitching, etc)
• Too many complaints relating to refunds

Conclusion

Mirraw is a legit Indian ethnic wear store. It is technically a marketplace housing thousands of Indian-based vendors; however, its involvement in the transaction process will pass it off as the store doing the actual selling. When you place an order; the item is delivered to Mirraw, who inspects it before shipping directly to you.

Checking the site, you’ll find gorgeous pieces covering the popular Indian ethnic wears – Sarees, Saree blouses, Salwar Kameez, Lehengas, Kurtis etc. Men’s ethnic wear, Kid’s ethnic wear are available; as well as western wear. Away from clothing, you’ll also find fashion accessories and home & living products.

While its great range and easy buying process are positives, the main draw of Mirraw is its pricing. You’ll find great (relatively low) prices in every product category. Lots of promotions are regularly available further slashing prices by as much as 80%. You can buy from anywhere in the world, as Mirraw ships worldwide.

However, that is as good as it gets. Customer reviews suggest that being delivered a poor quality item is very likely. Worse still, Mirraw has a return policy that is not very great, as it rules out returns of many items that you may be able to return in other stores (such as botched stitched products and ill-fitting products). Even worst is that Mirraw is not known for hassle-free refunds; customers’ reviews suggest that you’ll only get a part refund and this will come as store credit.

Conclusively, Mirraw is a legit site to get Indian ethnic wears. It sure delivers real and high-quality merchandise and at comparatively lower prices; but when you receive an unsatisfactory item (which is likely), getting a full cash refund will be difficult.

Bookbyte is an eCommerce that erases the financial barriers between college students and their academic success by providing multiple options for buying and renting inexpensive textbooks, and also strives to offer the highest buyback prices for students selling books.

As you conquer and move on from any level of education, you leave a lot of textbooks in its wake. Instead of stocking these textbooks somewhere to become feed for paper mites, you sell them to put some money in your pocket.

Also, because the cost of education is ever-increasing, many students will want the opportunity to pay relatively less for pre-owned textbooks instead of stumping up huge fees for new textbooks. This is where Bookbyte comes in.

Bookbyte advertises as one of the longest-running used textbook businesses online. It gives you the opportunity to sell used textbooks and to buy or rent pre-owned textbooks that you’ll need.

The big question is whether it is worthwhile to use Bookbyte. For example, does it support a wide range of textbooks and book conditions to make it the ideal destination for many users? Also, how about its pricing; does it offer reasonable buyback prices? If it supports many subjects and gives a good price, what about its services; does it offer top services that we’ll expect of an ideal online platform (such as being user-friendly, offering easy and fast shipping, effective customer service, and more)? In the first place, is Bookbyte legit?

This Bookbyte review will examine Bookbyte in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions and more.

Yes, Bookbyte legit. The reason why we said that it is not a scam is that it has been explained in detail below; continue reading.

Bookbyte Review at a glance

• Website: bookbyte.com
• An Oregon based used textbook online business started in 1999
• Services include buying, selling, and renting used textbooks
• Supports different types of textbooks and thousands of titles
• Offers very good prices when selling, buying or renting textbooks
• When buying or selling books, a prepaid shipping label is provided
• Customer support is available via email (help@bookbyte.com) and an online contact form

What is Bookbyte? – About

Bookbyte was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Salem, Oregun. Bookbyte says it is dedicated first and foremost to improving the student experience. With the cost of education ever on the increase and the cost of textbooks one of the reasons for the increase, Bookbyte was established by Steven Gross to help students get textbooks for less (via buying or renting pre-owned and used textbooks).

It will also buy your used textbooks. Thus, the complete range of its business is selling, buying and renting of used textbooks. With time, new textbooks were added to their collections. So you can now also get brand-new textbooks from Bookbyte.

However, the services of Bookbyte are not directed at persons under 13 years of age. Yes, these persons need textbooks too and may have some textbooks that they no longer need. So, Bookbyte allows for minors to use the site only with the assistance of a parent or guardian.

Is Bookbyte legit?

There are so many scam artists online that if you do not determine that a platform is legit before using it, you just may be ripped off. Thus, the big question is whether Bookbyte is legit. The short answer to that is yes. The longer answer is that it is 100% legal, it has industry-wide recognition, and it has a rich operating record laden with satisfied users.

Our first check of a legit online platform is usually legality. This is because online platforms that are 100% legal are less likely to be scams. Thankfully, Bookbyte ticks this box. Bookbyte is owned by RentU.com LLC, which is a 100% legal company in the US with registered office in the US (Suite 220, Salem, OR 97306). Suffice it to say that scam stores do not bother with company registrations.

Another check of a legit online platform is visibility and industry-wide recognition. This is because the scam platforms operate in the shadow. Thankfully, Bookbyte ticks this box. Being one of the first online used textbook retailers, Bookbyte has a strong reputation in the industry. So much so that the Oregon based business was even ranked 79th on the Private 150 Oregon companies list for 2014. Suffice it to say that a scam store will not have such recognition.

Another check of a legit store is the test of time. This is because time shows up the scam stores. With time any scamming activity is exposed, and with such exposure, the store dies out. Thankfully, Bookbyte passes this test of time. Started in 1999, Bookbyte has grown from being operated literally out of a closet, to being operated out of a garage, to its current status as one of the biggest used textbook retailers on the west coast. Suffice it to say that a scam store cannot survive scamming people using the same font for over a decade.

However, the ultimate check of a legit online store is fitness for purpose. As a platform for selling, buying, and renting used textbook, fitness for purpose will be that: customers that send in their textbooks after receiving a quote actually gets paid; and customers that places orders to receive (buy or rent) textbooks actually get delivered the textbooks.

In this respect, it is safe to say that Bookbyte is fit for purpose. This is especially in the buying and renting department; you are sure to get delivered authentic and really good (brand new or like-new) textbooks when you order. In the selling department, many persons have also been able to use Bookbyte to turn their textbooks into cash, by receiving payment when they ship their textbooks to Bookbyte.

However, as we’ll see in the complaint section, there are just too many complaints about not getting paid or not receiving the full quoted price. Thus, while Bookbyte is very legal, it is fraught with many issues (especially when you’re selling to them).

Is Bookbyte safe?

Bookbyte is safe. It is not enough that an online platform is legit, it also has to be safe in ensuring that the sensitive information that you share with it does not leak to unauthorized users. It’s a no-brainer that data like credit card details and personal details should not be allowed to get into the wrong hands (think cyber fraudsters and identity thieves).

In this regards, Bookbyte assures that transactions are 100% safe. It uses Verisign which is one of the most trusted and recognized name for online payment. The Bookbyte website also uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology.

This is the industry standard for creating a private connection between a buyer and a seller over the web. SSL uses bank-grade encryption protocols to ensure that data cannot be read even if intercepted. With the use of this technical security measure, secure payment methods, and more, it is safe to say that Bookbyte is safe.

Selling your Used Textbook

When you have books you’ll rather turn to cash, you’ll want a used books retailer that supports a wide range of books. Bookbyte ticks this box. The types of books that it accepts include Textbooks, Laboratory manuals, study guides, student solutions manuals, Working papers, Loose-leaf editions, and international editions. However, Bookbyte accepts buy-back orders from only the US, this means that you can turn your used textbooks to cash using Bookbyte only if you are resident in the US.

You want a relatively smooth experience when you want to sell your book. Thankfully, Bookbyte offer this. On the homepage of the Bookbyte website, you’ll find a search bar. Type in the ISBN of your book; and hit search. You’ll be quoted an offer, which you can accept by clicking “Continue Sale”. The page that opens next prompts you to select your payment method. To complete the buyback quote, you’ll then have to provide your shipping address and contact information.

Bookbyte will then send you a pre-paid shipping label which you can print out. You can then proceed to package the textbook appropriately; attach the printed shipping label to the outside of the box; and take the package to the shipping service.

However, you can only sell a textbook to Bookbyte if its buyback value is $10 or more. Bookbyte will also not accept more than 5 books in one order. More so, you are not allowed to sell and get more than $2,000 in buyback revenue within a 30-day period. However, the minimum order size is low enough to make the platform appealing for cashing in on low-value textbooks, and the maximum order size is high enough to allow reasonable amounts of transactions.

It should also be said that after receiving a quote, the price is only guaranteed for 30 days. That is, to be paid the quoted price, you’ll have to make sure that the textbook gets to Bookbyte within 30 days of receiving the quote.

While you may still receive payment for textbooks getting to them after 30 days, Bookbyte says that this payment will be the “current sell price”, which from experience is almost always significantly less than the previously quoted buy-back price. To ensure that the book gets to them within this 30 days window, Bookbyte advises that you mail your package within 5 days of receiving the quote.

If you have used textbooks that you’ll want to sell to a used textbook store; it is because you want to turn these textbooks into real cash instead of them being mites’ feed. Thus, an important consideration is how much you’ll be selling them for. Thankfully, this is one area where Bookbyte really shines. It quotes really generous prices for your used textbooks. In fact, persons who flog Bookbyte use their relatively low buy-back prices as a stick. For example, you’ll find comments like “they offer you a really good price to lure you to ending your property to them…”

However, it should be said here that the price that Bookbyte quotes when you are selling any used textbook to them is based on the ISBN that was entered. As you’ll know the condition of the book is not known at the time. Thus, many times, upon receiving the book and completing their inspection, Bookbyte may decide that the book is worth less than the originally quoted price.

In such cases, the customers will only get paid an amount considerably lower than the originally quoted price. Sometimes Bookbyte will even conclude that the book is not authentic or damaged and therefore not resalable, and in such cases, the customers will not get paid, and worst still, the books will not be returned.

There is a gaping hole here. Many times, the criteria that Bookbyte uses for declaring books inauthentic or damaged are at best vague. As we’ll see in the complaint section, many times Bookbyte claim book to be damaged or inauthentic and either pay the customers only a small part of the original quoted price or nothing at all, but the aggrieved customers will come out claiming that their books are authentic or in perfect conditions. Thus, the relatively high buy-back quoted prices of Bookbyte are not guaranteed.

Another important consideration will be how you’ll receive your payment and how long you’ll have to wait for it. In this regards, Bookbyte advertises that it typically takes 3 – 5 business days to process orders, but warns that this may take longer in peak seasons (May and December). Payments are generally issued the business day after processing. Bookbyte sends payments via check and PayPal. Checks typically take 3 – 7 days to reach any destination in the US, and will remain valid for 90 days.

Selling Pros

• The selling process is relatively easy
• A wide range of books and titles are supported
• Features a low minimum order size ($10) and high maximum earnings ($2,000 per 30-day period)
• Get a very generous buyback quote
• Buyback price you are quoted is valid for 30 days
• Offers free shipping of your Textbook to Bookbyte
• Prepaid- shipping labels are provided to make shipping the textbook to Bookbyte super-easy

Selling Cons

• Does not accept buy-back orders from outside the US
• Too many complaints of Bookbyte refusing to pay claiming that book is inauthentic, damaged or not received

Buying a Textbook from Bookbyte

Another service that Bookbyte offers is the sale of textbooks. That is, you can buy both used and new textbooks from Bookbyte. You’ll want an online retailer that supports a wide range of books so that whatever you want, it is more likely to have it. Thankfully, Bookbyte ticks this box.  You’ll find that the website features over 25 book categories and some thousands of titles.

To buy a textbook, you can start by clicking the “Buy Textbook tab”. You’ll find a search menu in the page which you can then enter the author’s name, the book’s titles or the ISBN number. The system will inform you if the book is available, then you can select whether you want a new or used book. You can then add the book to your shopping cart. You can click the bag icon to view your cart and proceed to payment. Like every online shopping process, you can then proceed to select your payment method, and include your shipping address to complete checkout. The whole process is relatively straightforward, and you really will breeze through it.

An important consideration in any purchase is pricing. That is, you’ll want to get the best deals possible. Pricing of the textbook for sales is one area where Bookbyte shines; just as it is with selling textbooks to Bookbyte. That is, you’ll find that the prices that Bookbyte will quote you for its textbooks will be relatively lower than you’ll find in many other textbooks shopping destinations. Bookbyte even advertises that you can save up to 80% on the average whether buying a well-loved used textbook or the newest edition.

An important consideration in any online purchase is shipping. You’ll want to know: whether the online store ships to your location, how long it takes to deliver, and how much delivery will cost. In terms of shipping destinations, Bookbyte target the US market. Thus, if you are outside the US, you may need a freight forwarding service if you are to buy from Bookbyte. In terms of delivery times, Bookbyte does relatively well as you’ll get your order within 2 weeks. Bookbyte aces it in terms of shipping costs. All purchase over $49 is shipped free of charge, while expedited shipping is only $2.00.

Also, it’s not news that sometimes customers are less than satisfied with their order and will want to return it and get a replacement item or refunds. Thus, online stores that allow returns are the in-thing. Thankfully, Bookbyte tick this box. That you are buying a pre-owned and used textbook does not mean that you’ll have something tattered whose sight will be annoying. Thankfully, Bookbyte used books go through a strict screening process which ensures that only the best is offered for sale. However, if you receive delivery of your order and are not satisfied, Bookbyte gives you the opportunity to return it.

The company offers a 14 days return policy. That is, you can return the textbook to Bookbyte within 14 days of your receiving delivery of it, and you’ll get a full refund.  As you’ll know many online businesses offer 30 days return window. Thus, the 14 days that Bookbyte allows is relatively small. Thus, if you must make any return, you’ll have to act very fast.

Buying Pros

• The process of buying a textbook is relatively easy
• Features a great collection of books that includes 25+ categories and thousands of titles
• Offers both new and used books
• Offers relatively low prices (up to 80%)
• Free shipping is offered for every order over $49
• Expedited shipping is only $2.00
• Allows the returns of books if you are not totally satisfied with your purchase

Buying Cons

• Has a relatively small return window (14 days from delivery date)

Renting Textbook from Bookbyte

Renting books is a way of getting much-needed textbooks for less; this is because the price of renting is relatively lower than buying the textbooks outright. Bookbyte offers book renting service. Like all renting contracts, you’ll have to return the books to Bookbyte at the end of the term of use. Just as when buying a book from Bookbyte, you’ll have to go to the “rent” page and enter the book title in the search menu to get a quote.

Your completing the order means that you agree that Bookbyte will charge your credit card the Rental Price. Bookbyte also does well in terms of the rental price. It offers some of the best prices when renting textbooks.

You can always increase the rent period, and you also opt to retain the book at the end of the rent agreement. When retaining the book, as a benefit for coming off the rental agreement, you’ll pay a “Rental Discount” price which is an amount lower than the book’s list price.

It’s also relatively easy to return the book to Bookbyte, as it provides a pre-paid shipping label. Bookbyte will send email reminder notifications so you’ll know your Return Date. These are sent in the following intervals: 30 days, 14 days, 7 days, when due, and when past due.

Also, Bookbyte also gives a grace period, which is the period after the Rental sell date within which the book must be returned else you’ll be in default. Thankfully, this is a relatively long 20 days. That is, if by the Return Date Bookbyte has not received back the book or notification of your intention to retain it, Bookbyte will give you a grace period of 20 days to ship the book back to them.

However, when a customer defaults (fails to return a book even after the grace period), Bookbyte will charge the customer the Discount Price (as when the book is formally retained) as well as a $10 default fee. Do not try to jump this by cancelling your credit card. Bookbyte will bring in third-party collection services; you’ll be tracked down and will pay considerably more (including 18.5% interest rate compounded monthly, collection fee, attorney fees, etc).

Renting – Pros

• You can choose how long you’ll want to have the book for
• Offers relatively low rental prices
• Sends email notification as a reminder of your Return Date
• Offers a prepaid shipping label for returning the books
• When retaining books previously rented, you’ll pay lower than the book’s listed price
• Offers a Grace Period that is up to 20 days

Renting – Cons

• When there is default Bookbyte charges a default fee of $10 in addition to charging the customer the discount Price of the book

Complaints

It is true that there is no business that customer will not throw one or two jabs at. However, the ideal stores will have just a few complaints which will be drowned by a sea of positive reviews; while it is the less-ideal stores that will be overridden by complaints.

However, it will seem that Bookbyte falls into the latter category (those overridden by complaints). For example, in the top independent customers’ review platforms, Bookbyte is not highly rated. For example; It is rated 1.4/ 5 in sitejabber.com (by 20 reviewers), and 1/10 in resellerratings.com (by 4,935 reviewers). In Trustpilot.com Bookbyte had a relatively good rating of 3.4/ 5 (by 13,390); but a look at reviews showed that 16 of the 19 most recent reviews were a 1-star rating.

Not paying after receiving books

The main complaint which accounted for the poor ratings was that Bookbyte many times do not pay after receiving your book. For example:

• Bryan in Trustpilot says “Bookbyte keeps even perfect books and pockets YOUR money”
• Leah Cerilli in Trustpilot says “Scam – stay away”. The review continued that “…this company is a bait and switch scam. I sent my book valued at $100 in good condition, and they claimed it is damaged and cannot pay me at all, or give me my book back. So they have taken my book, refuse to compensate me for it, and will probably sell it off to someone else. I asked for proof that the book was damaged or donated/ recycled as they claim, and was not given any proof. They offer you a good buyback price to lure you into sending your property to them, but they will not compensate you”
• Tim in Trustpilot says “I was scammed”. The review continued that “Placed my 1st order with 1 book to see how quickly they paid compared with other companies that I have been dealing with. They run a good SCAM!!! They sent me an email stating that my like-new book was unsalable and also suspended my account … This was an authentic book bought from a legitimate state-run organization…”

In the reviews platform, there are just many cases of customers sending books in and not getting paid. Many times, Bookbyte claims that the book is not authentic. The reviews show that many customers dispute this because of having originally bought the books in question from authentic sources such as “legitimate state-run organization”, college bookstores and library, etc.

Well, Bookbyte’s “fake verdict” is always final and customers do not get paid. Customers who push to know why Bookbyte claim their book is inauthentic may get a response like “We cannot provide the exact details of what was specifically flagged about your book as that could aid in the production of these illegally produced textbooks and bypass our authenticity checks”. At best, this is unfair. If you claim my book which I bought from a legitimate source is unauthentic, the least you could do is tell me why.

Not only do the customers not get paid, but the books are not returned. The Bookbyte’s famous line is “We are unable to return the book since it is an inauthentic copy and should not be in circulation”

Another main excuse that Bookbyte uses to refuses payment is to claim that the book was damaged and in an unsellable condition. As you will have guessed, the customers maintain that the book is in perfect or near-perfect conditions. Sadly, Bookbyte does not give any evidence of their claims. Once again, Bookbyte is the Judge, Jury and executioner.

No matter what you think; if your book is declared “damaged”, you don’t get paid. It also hurt that Bookbyte will also not return your book. If they retain inauthentic books because “fakes” should not be in circulation, that is understandable; but why retain my book claiming it is damaged when I maintain it is undamaged and want it back? Bookbyte’s answer is that they’ll recycle it.

Looking at the reviews and Bookbyte’s responses; sometimes it does not pay to say that it did not receive the books. However, there are just too many such complaints that this comes out as a real problem in the company. If you also add that Bookbyte sends you a shipping label for use in shipping the item, then you’ll wonder why this should still be a significant problem.

Then, there is the claim by some customers that they shipped different books in one box, only for Bookbyte to say one wasn’t received. If this were true, it beats us how a book “in a box of four” will go missing; in our peanut head, it’s either all four are received or all four goes missing. However, once again, Bookbyte’s no-delivery verdict is always final; and you do not get paid. Of course, there’s no getting back your book.

The deceptive high buyback price

Remember that it was mentioned earlier that Bookbyte will quote you some of the best prices you can find for your used textbook. Too many sellers wanting to turn their textbooks to cash, this is just a trap. In addition to the many that Bookbyte users that reported not receiving payments, many others reported that after receipt of their textbook, Bookbyte paid only a fraction of the quoted price.

Customer Support Service

The ideal online store should have an effective customer support service for handling the questions or complaints of customers. This is because no matter how well the store operates, there will be those who’ll have issues with their orders, while others may just have questions that they’ll need to be answered.

In this regards, Bookbyte supports the self-support channels and contact channels. For self-support, you’ll find a lot of support articles in the “Help centre” of its website. These are categorized into different subjects to aid navigation.

For contact help, Bookbyte supports an online contact form and an email service. You can submit a support ticket using the online contact form on the “Help Center”. To use the email service, the email address to send your submissions is help@bookbyte.com. However, the support team is not active around the clock. You can expect to have replies to your submissions 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (PST), Mondays – Fridays.

Sites Similar to Bookbyte:

• Amazon

Conclusion

Bookbyte is easily one of the most popular and legitimate online used textbook businesses in the US. Its services include selling, buying, and renting textbooks.

When buying textbooks, you’ll find Bookbyte a delight. It supports a range of options; you’ll get both new and pre-owned textbooks at relatively low prices, free shipping is offered with a low $49+ minimum purchase, and you can return books if you’re not totally satisfied with the order. The one bump on the buying road is that the return window is relatively low.

When renting textbooks, Bookbyte also comes out great. Apart from its vast options and low prices, there are no fixed terms, so you set your Return Date; you’ll get email reminders at various times of this date, so there’ll be no missed returns. Also, with prepaid shipping labels, returning books to Bookbyte is relatively easy, and there’s a 20 days period should you miss returning the book on the return date.

When selling your textbook to Bookbyte, you’ll find the process relatively easy, Bookbyte buy-back quotes are some of the best you’ll find, and there’s a free pre-paid shipping label for easy shipment of the book to Bookbyte.

However, the customers’ reviews do not make for good reading after this. Complaints abound of Bookbyte not paying for the received books or only paying part of the quoted price, claiming that the book is “damaged” or “inauthentic”. Thus, when selling to Bookbyte, despite its generous buy-back quote, you really never know how much you’ll be paid or if you’ll be paid at all.

To many persons, pets are part of their families. Thus, pets need love and affection as any human member of the family; and as a result, they need good food, medicine, and other supplies.

Chewy is an online store where you can shop pet food and other supplies.It advertises with the tagline “where pet lovers shop”.

The big question on this Chewy review is whether Chewy has pet food and other supplies that are good enough for these special members of the family.

Another question will pertain to the product selection of the online store; that is, whether Chewy has supplies for a wide range of pets. If Chewy does have good products for your every pet, another question will be its pricing; that is, whether its supplies are competitively priced. It’s also important to know whether Chewy offers top services that we’ll expect of the ideal online store (such as easy ordering, fast delivery, easy returns, effective customer service, and more). In the first place, is Chewy legit?

Yes, Chewy is legit. It is not a scam pet store because they will never take your money without shipping the products you purchased. And also the subsidiary of PetSmart which is a reputable and very reliable pet store located in United States.

This Chewy review will examine the site in order to provide the information that will help you answer these questions and more.

Chewy Review at a glance

• Website: chewy.com
• A US-based retailer of pet food and pet supplies, founded in 2011
• Owned by PetSmart since 2017
• Supports a wide range of pets (dogs, cats, fishes, birds, small animal, reptiles, and horses)
• Offers a wide range of supplies in each pet department, including foods, treats, toys, medication, and more
• Only credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express) are accepted for payment
• Ships to only the 48 contiguous US state
• Advertises relatively fast delivery times of 1 – 2 days
• Accept returns if you are not totally satisfied with your order
• Customer Support is available 24/ 7 via email (service@chewy.com), telephone (1-800-672-4399), and live chat

What is Chewy? – About

Chewy is an online retailer of Pet food and pet supplies. It was founded in 2011 by Ryan Cohen and Micheal Day. The company is based in US; it currently has its headquarters in Florida and Boston, and has other locations (Fulfillment Centers and Customer Service Centers) in Texas, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, and Indiana. Chewy also operate two pharmacies in Kentucky and Arizona.

Chewy Inc, the company behind the online store (www.chewy.com) was acquired by PetSmart in 2017. Chewy’s acquisition for $3.35 billion, was at the time the biggest ever for an e-commerce business. Chewy file registration statement for proposed Initial Public Offering in April of this year (2019); and is now a public company.

Chewy says that its mission “is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents (and partners) everywhere”. True to this mission, Chewy partners with some 1,600+ of the best brands in the pet supplies industry to offer literally everything you’ll need for your pet.

Is Chewy legit?

Given that there are many online fraudsters, before using any online platform for any transaction, you’ll want to determine that it is legit. Thus, the big question is whether Chewy is legit. The short answer to that is: definitely. The longer answer is that: it is 100% legal, has industry-wide recognition, has the capacity to fulfill orders, and has a rich operating record of fulfilling orders, and making satisfied customers.

Our first check of a legit online store is usually legality. This is because the stores that are 100% legal are less likely to be scams. Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box. The website is operated by Chewy Inc., which is a fully registered US company. Also, Chewy operates licensed pharmacies which have NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) and LegitScript accreditation.

The company was acquired by Petsmart in 2017 in a record-breaking acquisition; and since the second quarter of this year (2019), Chewy Inc has gone public, and has been trading in the New York Stock Exchange. Suffice it to say that a scam store do not bother with getting legal company registration certificates and definitely cannot get listed in a Stock Exchange.

Another check of a legit online store is visibility and industry-wide recognition. This is because the scam stores operate largely in the shadows. Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box. By 2017, it was even accounting for about 50% Pet Supplies sales in the US. As such, it is easily one of the biggest names in the Pet Supplies industry. Also, Chewy has been featured by renowned publishers and media houses which include The Wall Street Journal, Las Angeles Times, Forbes, and more. Suffice it to say that a scam store cannot gain the recognition of such industry watchers.

Another check of a legit online store is the test of time. This is because scam stores naturally die with time, especially as their scamming activities are exposed. Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box, as it has been operating since 2011. Suffice it to say that 8 years is enough time for scamming activities of a scam store to be exposed.

However, the ultimate test of legitimacy is fitness for purpose. This is because, scam stores do not deliver. Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box. The scam stores do not deliver simply because they are set up to rip people off, and therefore has nothing to deliver. However, Chewy has a “bigger the better” policy, which has driven the Company to open massive fulfillment centers stocking a great selection of products. This gives it the capacity to fulfill orders. Also, Chewy’s long operating record is rich with positive reviews of the Company actually fulfilling orders. That is, customers who place orders receive real products that, most often than not, are satisfactory.

Is Chewy safe?

Chewy is safe. The question of whether Chewy is legit is whether you can be ripped off. The answer is clear – Chewy is not scam store that rips people off. However, another question is whether it is safe to share your sensitive information with it. If a store is not safe, users’ sensitive information (such as credit card information) may leak out, leaving the users exposed to all the cyber fraudsters out there.

In this regards, Chewy says that it implements reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguard designed to protect the information it collects. A further look shows that it uses SSL technology, which is the industry standards for ensuring protection of data transmitted over the internet. SSL also employs top-level encryption ensuring that even if data is captured, it cannot be read. Thus, it’s safe to say that Chewy is safe.

[button link=”https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l9KR8″ size=”large” target=”new” text_color=”#ffffff” color=”#81d742″]VISIT CHEWY HERE[/button]

Using Chewy

To use Chewy, you’ll have to register and create an account. However, creating an account is relatively easy. You’ll have to nominate a username and password in the process. To make a purchase, you’ll need to go through the product categories; on finding what you want, you can proceed to checkout. You’ll be prompted to log in, if you’re not logged in. You’ll also have to enter your shipping address; then you can select a payment method, and place your order.

You should find the Chewy experience very straightforward. In fact, Chewy is high rated in the top online independent customers’ review platforms. For example, at the time of writing this review:

• In trustpilot.com, it is rated 3.9/ 5 by 7,432 reviewers
• In consumeraffiars.com, it is rated 3.4/ 5 by 577 reviewers
• In resellersrating.com, it is rated 7.11/ 10 by 85,209 reviewers
• In Sitejabber.com, it is rated 4.3/ 5, with 351 of the 458 reviewers giving it a 5 star rating
• In Influenster.com, it is rated 4.8/ 5, with 91% of the 5,037 reviewers giving it a 5 star rating

Complaints

However, no Company is immune to complaints, so you’ll find some customer complaints. What was consistently mentioned by different customers and in different review platforms is late delivery.  As we’ll find, Chewy advertises a super fast delivery time of 1 – 2 days. However, many customers report that their orders were delivered much later. For example:

• Marty J in sitejabber.com says “5 days to ship, never 1 – 2 days as promised”
• Bryan I in Sitejabber.com says “shipment arrived late and they lied despite proof… My stuff always comes from goodyear [which is] 3 hours away. They tried to tell me it came out of state… After I blew that up it became the feigned one dollar coupon apology while taking no responsibility…“
• ChristineStrau in Resellerratings.com says “I ordered food for my animals and they say 1 – 2 days shipping. Well, I won’t get my order for 6 days from the day I ordered. My animals will be out of food; and they gave me a credit, but I don’t have money to buy another… Don’t say 1 – 2 day shipping if you can’t follow it…”
• Jessica Moody in Resellerratings.com says “1 – 2 day delivery is not accurate and false advertising”
• Calvin Meyer in Trustpilot.com says “Chewy advertises fast 1 – 2 day free shipping over $49. Not so true; took a week to receive dog food. If I would have known it was going to take this long, I would have shopped somewhere else”
• Frank Szap in Trustpilot.com says “Chewy deliveries have been better in the past. It took 4 days to get package…”

As can be seen from the reviews, it seems that Chewy does not quite live up to their 1 – 2 day delivery promise. However, the lateness is not usually too much because complaining customers report that their orders were received in 3 – 8 days. However, because plans had been made with 1 – 2 days in mind, it can become really frustrating when delivery promises are not met.

Another complaint that significantly stood out also related to delivery. In particular, it is poor Not-at-home deliveries by Chewy shipping partner – FedEx. For example:

• Frank Szap in Trustpilot.com says “… [FedEx] truly suck; always an issue with them. They leave packages wherever the f… they want!!!”
• Chris Kelly in Trustpilot.com says “As long as Chewy.com uses FedEx, I will not shop with them…”
• Jeff Myers in Trustpilot.com says “My main purpose of using Chewy.com is so I don’t have to go to the store to get all of [my sizeable order] and then lug it to the house. Chewy.com is supposed to have “delivery to the door” delivery service… Well the last couple of deliveries have been to the end of the driveway and not to the door. I have called FedEx (who is the delivery service for Chewy.com) and I was told they would send the driver back to my house to properly deliver it. Of course, no one ever showed up. I also called Chewy.com to complain to them. While the customer service rep was very helpful and seemed concerned, she did confirm that Chewy.com has contracted with their delivery partners for “to the door” service, and she seemed powerless to correct this problem. Not having these boxes delivered to my door kind of defeat the purpose of using Chewy.com. If I have to go to the end of my driveway and get the boxes and then bring them to my house, I might as well go the rest of the way to the store and just buy it there. I feel I am paying for the convenience of having products delivered to my door and I am not getting that”
• Jessica Moody in Resellerrating.com says “FedEx does not go through gates so my package sat right next to the sidewalk for anyone to grab as they walked by…”

Products

You’ll want a store with a wide product range so that you can get all your related items in one place. Apart from the convenience that offers, there could be cost savings – from large order discounts, or paying to ship one order, instead of shipping different orders from different stores.

Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box, as it offers a wide range of products. It has supplies for a range of pets. When in Chewy, you can shop by pets. The various pets, and supplies you’ll find in each pet department, are as follows:

• Dog:

Dog – Food, Treat, Toys, Health care, Dental Care, Crate& Pens & Gates, Beds & Mats, Carriers & Travel, Bowls & Feeders, Grooming, Flea & Tick, Clothing & Accessories, Leashes & Collars, Training & Behaviour, Technology, Gifts & Books, Memorials & Keepsakes

• Cat:

Cat – Food, Liter & accessories, treats, toys, healthcare, dental care, flea and ticks, training & cleaning, crates, pens & gates, beds & mats, trees, condos & scratchers, carriers & travel, clothing & accessories, bowls & feeders, grooming, leashes & collars, technology, gifts & books, memorials & keepsakes

• Fish:

Fish – Food & treats, Aquariums & starter kits, Cleaning & maintenance, décor & accessories, filters & media, gifts & books, health & wellness, heating & lighting, water care

• Bird:

Bird – Food, Treats, cages & accessories, liter & nesting, perches & toys, grooming & health, gifts & books

• Reptiles:

Reptiles – Food & treats, terrariums & habitats, habitat accessories, heating and lighting, cleaning 7 maintenance, substrate & bedding, health & wellness

• Horse:

Horse – Health & wellness, feed & treat, tack & stable supplies, grooming, toys, gift & books

• small Pets:

Small Pets – Food, Bedding & liter, Beds, hideouts & toys, gifts & books, grooming & health, habitat & accessories, harnesses & carriers, treat

• Pharmacy

There’s also a Pharmacy department, where you can shop in the following sections: Heartworm, Flea & tick, pain relief & arthritis, skin & coat, allergy relief, ear & eye care, medications, health conditions.

It should be said that Chewy not only work to ensure that there are options for every pets, but it also works to build the best selection possible. So within each section of any given department, Chewy offers the full gamut. Using the “Dog” department as an example, in the sections, the following can be found.

• Dog Food – Dry food, wet food, veterinary food, raw food, human-grade, frozen food, freeze-dried & Dehydrated food, Food Toppings
• Dog Treat – Dental & hard chews, soft & chewy treats, biscuit & crunchy treats, bully sticks & natural chews, gerky treats, veterinary diet treats, freeze-dried treats, training treats, dehydrated treats, pill covers and wraps
• Dog Toys – Fetch toys, Chew toys, Plush toys, interactive toys, rope & tug toys, toy storage bins
• Dog Health care – vitamins & supplements, hip & joint care, skin & coat care, stress & anxiety, dewormers, ear care, first aid& recovery, digestive & urinary, test kits, veterinary diet, eye care, weight control, wheelchair & handicap support
• Dog Dental Care – breath freshener & teeth cleaning, dental chews, dental supplements, dental food
• Dog Cleaning & Potty – Potty parts & diapers, Poop bags & scoopers, stain removers, potty training, vacuums & steam cleaners, candles & air fresheners, deodorizers, hair remover & lint rollers, lawn & grass care
• Dog Crate, Pens & Gates – Crates & accessories, Pens & accessories, Steps & ramps, Gates, fence system, doors & accessories, dog house
• Dog Beds & Mats – Crate mats, Pillow beds, elevated & cooling beds, orthopedic beds, heated beds, covered beds, blanket & furniture covers
• Dog Carriers & Travel – Travel aids, travel bowls & bags, Carriers, car accessories, steps & ramps, strollers & bicycle trailers
• Dog Bowls & Feeders – Bowls & diners, feeders & waterers, fountains & filters, placemats, storage & accessories
• Dog Grooming – Grooming tools, shampoo & conditioners, brushes & combs, ear care, paw & nail care, waterless grooming, bath & shower supplies, skin care, eye care
• Dog Flea & Tick supplies – Spot treatment, Collars, oral treatment, home & yard treatment, sprays & wipes, shampoos, combs & accessories
• Dog Clothing & Accessories – Jackets, Tops, Dresses, Pajamas, Jerseys & team accessories, outdoor gear, accessories, costumes
• Dog Leashes & Collars – Harnesses, leashes, collars, ID tags & accessories, Tie out
• Dog Training & Behaviour – Calming aids, Leashes & collars, bark control & remote training, repellents, fence systems, potty training aids, agility training, sport training, service dogs, training books
• Dog Technology – Cameras & Monitors, GPS & activity, feeders & treat dispensers, electronic doors
• Dog Gifts & Books – Books, Calendars & Stationery, Drinkware & Kitchen ware, home goods, clothing & accessories, gifts for dogs, magnets and decals
• Dog Memorials & Keepsakes – Urns & Caskets, Memorial picture frames, keepsakes, memorial stones, books

With the wide range of products that Chewy supports, whatever your pet, and whatever its needs, you’ll find that Chewy has you covered. The humongous selection of Chewy is possible because it features over 1,600 brands including Blue Buffalo, Nutro, Natural balance, Tidy Cats, and more

Pricing and Payment Methods

Pricing

Where costs are involved, we always want the lowest possible. Thus, the ideal stores will have competitive pricing. Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box. You’ll find that it is features relatively low prices in many of its product sections.

Payment Methods

You want it easy when making online payment for you order. Chewy ensures this. You can make payment for your order using the following Credit/ Debit cards – Mastercard, American Express, Visa, and Discover. This is definitely not a wide range of payment options that buyers will want to find; however, with the cards, making payment should be easy and convenient. It might disappoint some that PayPal is not supported, as it is the choice payment option of many online shoppers. However, PayPal’s popularity owes largely to the buyer protection it offers; but with Chewy, there are almost no reasons to worry about buyer protection.

Shipping

Shipping is an important consideration; and the most important shipping-related things to consider in any online purchase are: shipping destinations, delivery times, and shipping costs.

Shipping Destinations

You should make sure that the online store you want to use ships merchandise to your location; else receiving delivery of your items will be unnecessarily difficult. In this regards, many buyers will want stores that ships to many worldwide locations so that their location is more likely to be covered.

Unfortunately, Chewy serves only the American market. This rules out international shoppers. More so, it is only the 48 contiguous US states that Chewy ships to. Thus, buyers in Alaska, Hawaii, and other US Territories cannot use Chewy.

Delivery Times

Except you’ll not mind waiting forever to receive deliver of your online order, you’ll want to consider how fast it takes an online store to deliver from the time you order is submitted. Typically, delivery times consist of order processing time and package shipment time. The former is the time from when you order is placed to when the package ships; and the latter is the time from when the package ships to when it gets to you.

Thankfully, Chewy advertises very fast delivery times. It says that except for orders that require prescription approval, every order placed by 4pm (ET) will ship the same day, and that customers will receive their orders in 1 – 2 days afterwards.

Shipping Costs

Except free shipping is offered, the total cost of any online purchase is made up to its purchase price and shipping cost. Thus, where shipping costs are too high, an item which is reasonably priced can easily become too expensive to acquire online.

In this regards, Chewy does relatively well. It charges a flat rate of $4.95 for all orders under $49, while shipping is free for all orders over $49. It’s a good thing that free shipping is offered. However, it’s even more important that the minimum order requirement is low. Thus, there’s no pressure on you to overspend in chase of free shipping.

Special Shipping Feature (Autoship)

A special shipping feature that Chewy has is the Autoship. This allows you to schedule regular shipment of pet supplies such as food, treats and potty pads. With Autoship, you won’t run out of supplies and won’t have to come to the website to place orders all the time.

It’s also very easy to set up. You browse for your pet supply as usual, then at checkout, you can select “Yes” to Autoship. You’ll then be taken to a page, where you can set your schedule. Interestingly, there are no membership fees for Autoship, and you can cancel anytime. Also, Chewy incentivize the service. It advertises that there is a 30% discount for the first purchase; and afterward, there’s a 5 – 10% discount on select brands.

Return

Sometimes, when online shoppers get their orders, the joy of expectation turns to disappointment because of not being 100% satisfied with the order. As a result online shoppers generally like retailers that’ll allow them return an unwanted order, and get a replacement or a refund.

Thankfully, Chewy ticks this box, as it allows returns. Its return policy states that “if you’re not 100% unconditionally satisfied with your pet supplies, you can return them”. However, Chewy does not accept returns or exchange of prescription medication, except your order was incorrect or damaged.

It you need to return an eligible Chewy Order, you only need to contact the customer service team, and you’ll be provided with instructions for returning the item. In most situations, Chewy issue refunds without requiring you to return the original order. However, the return in required, you’ll be responsible for the item until it is gets to Chewy’s fulfillment center.

Customer Support

There’ll definitely be questions, and some customers will have issues with their orders. Thus, the ideal online store should have an effective customer support service for handling the questions/complaints that customers will have.

In this regards, Chewy supports the popular self-help and contact support channels. For self-help, the first place to start is an FAQ page in its website. The page answers many questions that persons have thrown at the Chewy in the past, so you just might find that what’s on your mind is treated there. Also, to aid navigation, the self-help articles are grouped into various subjects as follows: Support, Autoship, Shipping, Payments, Returns, and Prescription Items.

If you do not find answers in the self-help articles, you can always contact Chewy directly via email, live chat, and telephone. The email address to send your submissions is service@chewy.com. The live chat feature can be accessed from the website; and for the telephone service, the number to call is 1-800-672-4399. It’s interesting to state that the telephone service is available round the clock. Whatever the time (night or day), Chewy can be reached on phone. Also, the line is toll-free, so you won’t have to worry about charges when you need assistance.

It should be mentioned that in the reviews, Chewy is lauded for its customer service. Customers positive reviews include: being connected to real persons, relatively fast response time, very understanding and helpful support personnel, and more

Sites Similar to Chewy:

• Petsmart.com
• Amazon.com

Pros

• Has supplies for many animals (dogs, cats, fishes, birds, etc)
• Has a huge selection that ensures that you’ll get whatever you want for your pet
• Its prices are competitive
• Has relatively fast delivery times
• Free shipping is offered; and with a relatively low minimum order requirement ($49+ orders)
• Offers an Autoship service that allows you schedule regular deliveries of your pet supplies
• Offers a very easy return policy
• Different channels for getting help (Email, telephone, and live chat), and the service is available 24/ 7

Cons

• Ships to only 48 contiguous US states
• Delivery may take a few days later than the 1 – 2 days advertised
• Many packages are left not “at the door” but by sidewalks or end of driveways

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Summary

Chewy is a legitimate US based retailer of pet supplies. Chewy.com is a legit online store; it is operated by Chewy Inc, which is a Public Company owned by PetSmart. Whatever your pet, and whatever its need, Chewy has your covered. You’ll find supplies for dogs, cats, fishes, birds, small pets, reptiles, and horses. Pet supplies offered range from food, to treats, to feeders & liters, to medication, and more.

Importantly, Chewy has friendly prices. More importantly, Chewy has superb services. Finding what you want and placing an order will be a breeze; Chewy offers relatively fast delivery; there’s free shipping for Orders over $49; you’re guaranteed a refund if you’re not totally pleased with your Order; and there’s a very responsive and effective customer support service.

There are just small bumps on the road. First, the company ships to only the 48 contiguous US states, so you cannot get the Chewy service if your shipping address is not in the continental US. Also, you just might get your order a few days late; so allow for this when planning your deliveries. Lastly, if you’ll not be at home to receive your package, you just may find that the Chewy’s shipping partner (FedEx) will leave it by the sidewalk/ driveway, instead of entering through the gate to leave it “at your door”.