Is DHgate safe?

DHgate is a wholesale marketplace. It's one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms, with over 32 million product listings and 31 million buyers. It also boasts a large catalogue of items, from clothing and jewellery to smartwatches and home appliances. Like Aliexpress, it operates on a commission-based model, charging sellers a percentage of each transaction. Unlike traditional wholesaler sites though, DHgate focuses on accommodating smaller orders.

While it might seem like DHgate has its act together, let’s dive into how safe it actually is.

A quick Google search will reveal that DHgate is not without its shortcomings. There’s no shortage of complaints from customers about product quality and mixed opinions on whether you should use the platform.

DHgate is an intermediary. It brings sellers and buyers together. Due to the variation in sellers, the quality of products sold on DHgate is likely to be inconsistent. Like any online marketplace, some sellers are intentional scammers. Unfortunately, it appears DHgate hasn’t got any measures in place to prevent them. They’ve been repeatedly criticised for the sale of counterfeit goods, which are illegal to buy and import into Australia. 

DHgate’s buyer protection policy grants a refund for any damaged items or items that failed to arrive. Yet, the consensus among buyers is that getting a refund isn't an easy feat. The order dispute system favours the sellers, leaving buyers with empty pockets and unfulfilled orders.

Another drawback of using DHgate is the product quality. DHgate is China-based, so suppliers have access to lower labour and production costs. The result is a cheaper, albeit lower quality product. While it is possible to buy high-quality goods on DHgate, they’re few and far between.

While it is safe to use DHgate, you'll need to screen each seller to ensure you don't get scammed. Even if you choose a trustworthy supplier, you still might not be covered if you don't receive exactly what you ordered. 

For most online shoppers, PayPal is the go-to. If you get scammed or receive counterfeit goods it’s easy enough to get your money back. However, DHgate has decided to strip consumers of the option to pay using PayPal. If you decide to shop with DHgate, you won’t have a surefire way of getting your money back and reporting any counterfeit products. 

It pays to do your due diligence with DHgate. If you end up buying from a scammy seller, your money is good as gone.

DHgate has a system that awards each seller a score, or a ‘trust rating’. This rating is based on how many transactions the seller has made. A trust rating of over 90% indicates that at least 90% of the transactions conducted by the seller have gone smoothly. 

You can filter merchants by their trust rating, so you’re only shown trusted, recommended merchants. This is your best bet in finding a genuine seller. You can also use the trust score to cross-reference the seller’s transaction history and reviews. If they have lots of positive reviews but a low trust score, they might be a scammer. 

Buying from a trusted seller simply means the seller is legit, and they aren't a scammer. What it doesn't do is promise a high-quality product. You’ll need to scour the reviews for that.

Unlike Alibaba, each seller on DHgate has a reviews section. Read every review and ask yourself: do they sound repetitive? Or shallow? Are they all written using the same tone of voice? You could be looking at fake reviews. Unfortunately, it's common for sellers to pay for fake reviews to boost a buyer’s confidence. Look for reviews with photos, and if you can’t find any, move on and search for another seller.

While DHgate might be a legitimate site, it’s a risky game. In the best-case scenario, you buy from a trusted supplier and receive a high-quality product for a competitive price. In the worst-case scenario, you get scammed out of your hard-earned cash, and DHgate does nothing to help get your money back. 

DHgate is a marketplace. They bring buyers and sellers together. Some sellers might be reliable, while others are hit-and-miss. Using DHGate can help you save money, but it can also land you in hot water, especially if you get scammed. 

DHgate might be a solid option if you’re an entrepreneur looking to buy low-cost materials in bulk. However, it's a risky choice if you’re looking for a bargain on clothes, shoes, or electronics. Choose your sellers wisely, and weigh up all the options before buying from DHgate.