If you are just starting out in the dropshipping industry, chances are you have used a platform like AliExpress or Alibaba to find wholesale suppliers. However, dropshippers frequently mention a website named DHgate.
DHgate is a great alternative to Alibaba and Aliexpress because it is a major B2B marketplace that links Chinese manufacturers with purchasers all over the world. Is DHgate, nevertheless, a reputable company? Is shopping at DHgate secure?
Questions like this will be answered in our comprehensive DHgate FAQ Guide. So, let’s just go right in.
What Is DHgate?
If you’re looking for a global B2B or B2C eCommerce marketplace, look no further than DHgate.com. Daily, millions of people use this marketplace to place orders with Chinese factories.
Many of the suppliers on DHgate are willing to drop ship for you, in addition to the many manufacturers and wholesalers.
If you don’t have a ton of capital to invest at once, you can still find what you need on DHgate thanks to the low costs and lack of minimum order quantity (MOQ) on most products.
How Does DHgate Work?
For all intents and purposes, a DHgate purchase is the same as an eBay or Alibaba purchase; the platform only facilitates the interaction between buyers and sellers.
You can find the best seller with the help of ratings and reviews on such a marketplace.
When placing a large order, DHgate is your best bet. In other cases, you and the vendor can come to an arrangement whereby you order individual things and have them shipped straight to the final consumer.
DHgate requires a shipping address whenever an order is placed. Customer addresses can be entered here. That way, the vendor will essentially dropship the product directly to you.
In this case, it’s important to let the vendor know your intentions right away. If the retailer doesn’t want the buyer to know that the product was sourced through DHgate and is therefore cheaper, certain alterations may need to be made.
Is DHgate Legit?
DHgate is an official online marketplace that links Chinese merchants with international customers.
Still, keep in mind that, unlike Amazon, on DHgate you are purchasing from individual sellers and not DHgate.
When compared to Amazon in this way, DHgate is more akin to Alibaba or eBay. Therefore, you must exercise caution when selecting a vendor.
You may be wondering, “Is DHgate for real?” In a word, yeah. But, “is DHgate trustworthy?” – is determined solely by the vendor you choose to do business with
Does DHgate Sell Fake Products?
Almost everything labeled as a name brand on DHgate is a knockoff. However, there are vendors who provide knockoffs of surprisingly high quality.
See also: Figure 2: Does DHgate Offer Counterfeit Items?
However, it’s important to remember that clearing customs could be a hassle when shipping replica brands internationally.
From our research, DHgate is the best option for purchasing generic goods. Never assume you are getting the real deal when ordering branded goods online.
How to Find a Reliable Seller on DHgate?
Want to know how to verify the legitimacy of a DHgate seller? Luckily, DHgate provides guidelines on how to choose a reliable vendor.
You can see the seller’s feedback rating, number of reviews, and number of sales when you open a product listing on DHgate. That information is crucial in selecting a reliable vendor.
Can You Get Scammed on DHgate?
Choosing the right seller is essential if you want to avoid being scammed on DHgate because they are only a marketplace platform and not the actual seller.
To ensure that the quality of a seller or product is up to par with your standards, you should always read the reviews written about them.
Is It Safe to Buy from DHgate?
In order to ensure your safety, only conduct business through the official DHgate platform and resist the urge to go directly to a supplier’s website.
Since its inception, DHgate has served as a trusted online marketplace.
DHgate’s Buyer Protection system is a great feature. After a customer makes a purchase, the money is held in escrow by DHgate. DHgate will pay the seller once you have received the item and verified its quality.
So, you can shop at DHgate with confidence.
Why Is DHgate So Cheap?
About two-thirds of DHgate’s sellers are based in China, either as manufacturers or distributors. Even vendors claiming to sell authentic name-brand items are likely selling fakes.
You surely know that the cost to produce a single good in China is significantly less than in Western countries. Because of this, DHgate is able to provide such low prices on their goods.
Is DHgate Good for Dropshipping?
DHgate is a great place to find wholesale products, and you might even be able to find a supplier or two who will dropship for you. This means that you are solely responsible for determining where to keep your stock and how to get it to your customers.
Working with a dropshipping agent who maintains their own warehouse is an alternative to finding a supplier on DHgate who is also willing to dropship. In addition, you have the option of handling storage and transport on your own.
To What Extent Is DHgate Useful for Dropshipping?
Shipping times are an additional factor to think about. The vast majority of DHgate’s inventory is located in China, so dropshipping to a customer in the United States may take several days or weeks.
How Long Does It Take DHgate to Deliver?
There is a processing time and a delivery time listed for DHgate. The time it takes a vendor to pack and ship an order is known as the processing time. This is thus another factor to think about.
The actual shipment time may be longer or shorter than the 3–15 business days stated on the official DHgate website, depending on the shipping option selected and the country of delivery.
It could take anywhere from 10–20 days to ship something from China to Germany, and anywhere from 12–30 days to ship something from China to the United States.
How Do I Get a Refund on DHgate?
On their profiles, sellers outline when they’ll accept refund requests. There may be a 3-day, 7-day, 15-day, or 30-day period beginning on the day after you receive the product during which you can request a refund.
When a product is returned, the buyer must pay for shipping both ways; the seller will reimburse them.
If a seller is unhelpful, you can get in touch with DHgate’s support team or file a “Return & Refund” case.
Is DHgate a Chinese Company?
DHgate was founded in Beijing, China, but now has locations all over the world.
It’s no secret that the vast majority of DHgate’s vendors are Chinese factories and distributors.
What Payment Methods Does DHgate Accept?
Moneybookers (Skrill), Credit & Debit Card, American Express, Bank Transfer, etc. are all accepted methods of payment on DHgate, so shopping there is usually a breeze.
Here are all the different ways to pay that DHgate accepts.
Does DHgate Use PayPal?
Unfortunately, DHgate does not support the use of PayPal at this time.
What’s Better: DHgate, Alibaba, or Aliexpress?
If you’re familiar with Alibaba as a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace for large orders and Aliexpress as a business-to-consumer (B2C) marketplace for small orders, then you can think of DHgate as a hybrid between the two.
While many DHgate vendors do deal in wholesale quantities, many others are open to selling a single unit.
The dependability of individual sellers on the platforms is crucial in determining the quality of products and the timeliness of deliveries.
In terms of product pricing for large orders, Alibaba and DHgate are inseparable. AliExpress may really be less expensive than DHgate for single-item orders.
What Are the Advantages of DHgate?
These are some of the benefits that using DHgate can bring to you as a dropshipper:
Prices that drop even further when items are purchased in bulk;
Lots of products to pick from, split up into various groups;
There are global suppliers;
Shipping is on the house (though it can be slow), and it’s free.
The vast majority of vendors are open to selling lone items;
It’s feasible to arrange drop shipment with your suppliers.
Apps from other developers can be used to create seamless integrations with Shopify.
offers reasonably priced goods of high quality;
Consumers can leave feedback on the seller and the item;
Presents Assurances to Potential Purchasers;
secures methods of payment;
What Are the Disadvantages of DHgate?
When it comes to perfection, DHgate falls short. Some of the potential drawbacks of dropshipping through DHgate include:
well-known for its abundance of knockoffs and imitation “name brand” goods;
Due to the fact that the majority of merchants are located in China, deliveries to Western Europe and the United States may take quite some time.
Reviews on trustpilot.com and reviews.io reveal that DHgate’s customer service needs some work;
Sellers can differ in terms of product quality and shipping experiences;
How Can I Automate Dropshipping Using DHgate and Shopify?
Apps like Importify and Editorify make it easy to sync your DHgate product listings with your Shopify store.
Or, you can hire a dropshipping agent to find products for your Shopify store and use an app to automate the process.
Does DHgate Have Buyer Protection?
Yes! This is what makes shopping on DHgate so risk-free.
DHgate’s 5Ps Buyer Protection guarantees the following for all purchases made on the site:
You don’t have to worry about making a payment until you’ve received and inspected your shipment, thanks to DHgate’s payment protection
To ensure your package arrives safely, double-check its contents and condition before authorizing payment.
Your provider must adhere to the time frame they agreed upon for delivery;
For the sake of your partnership, make sure all of your communications with your suppliers are recorded.
Your financial information is encrypted and will never be shared with any outside parties for their own marketing purposes.
What Product Categories Does DHgate Offer?
DHgate offers a huge selection in many different categories:
Outfits Cars and Bikes
Products for Infants, Children, and Expectant Mothers
Stuff sacks, suitcases, and add-ons
Photographic Equipment
Mobile Phones and Parts
Electronics for Computers and Networking
Restaurants & Bars
Wellness and Charm
Shoe Store & Garden Accessory Shop
Recreational Activities
Stuff for Kids and Presents
Accessoires & Clocks
Events, Parties, and Weddings, Oh My!
There are many doubts about DHgate’s legitimacy, which you can read about on the internet. It’s not because it’s illegal or a scam, despite popular belief. Actually, DHgate has been around since the turn of the millennium.
The type of products being sold on DHgate, especially in the clothing and footwear categories, is often at the heart of the legality concerns that arise.
Do you know the DHgate product categories?
That being said, you should never assume that a branded item sold on DHgate is authentic. These items, despite their appearance of legitimacy, are always fakes.
How Is the Product Quality on DHgate?
On DHgate, you can find thousands upon thousands of various products from hundreds of different merchants. Quality varies naturally from one product to the next.
Sample orders are the greatest approach to determine a product’s quality. Reviewing ratings and feedback from actual buyers is the next best thing.
Consider not only the percentage of happy customers, but also the total quantity of testimonials.
It’s safe to say that some of DHgate’s offerings are of the highest quality. Be wary of assuming you’re getting a name brand, though. It’s no secret that DHgate is rife with counterfeit “name brand” goods.
If you’re interested in purchasing a knockoff, you can locate items on DHgate, some of which are quite convincing and well-done. However, because of potential issues at customs, we strongly suggest you refrain from purchasing such counterfeits.
In general, DHgate sells high-quality items, but not name-brand items. Since this is the case, we suggest DHgate for purchasing mass quantities of standard goods.
Are There DHgate Alternatives Better for Product Sourcing?
When it comes to B2B cross-border platforms, DHgate is one of the oldest options for Chinese wholesale orders. However, DHgate’s competition has increased significantly in recent years.
Good alternatives to DHgate include 1688.com, Taobao, Alibaba, Made-In-China, Chinabrands, etc.
1688.com
All of these venues are suitable for dropshipping and wholesale orders alike.
To purchase products at affordable prices, many dropshippers use 1688.com for dropshipping.
As a result,
If you were wondering whether or not DHgate was a legitimate business, you may rest assured that it is. You are also cognizant of the fact that you need to devote some time to investigation before selecting a vendor from whom to make a purchase.
After reading this, you should be able to determine whether or not a given DHgate vendor is legitimate and make a well-informed purchasing decision.
