DHgate Review
So what or who exactly is DHgate? Are they a legitimate company, or less then trustworthy? This article will inform you all about DHgate from the history to current company operations.
The Company
DHgate is a B2B marketplace that puts China based suppliers in front of consumers. They are the largest China based online wholesale trading platform. The company was started in 2004 to push China based manufactures on the Internet. Today they claim to have serviced over 3 million buyers from over 230 countries, and have over 650,000 China suppliers.
Dhgate has seen tremendous growth since their debut back in 2004. Most of this can be attributed to the rise in Chinese manufactures and the growth in global e-commerce. They quickly became the leading marketplace for China based exports. Over the years their services have grown to include a much more reliable and secure marketplace with an emphasis on buyer protection and consumer feedback.
The Marketplace
DHgate is populated with thousands of China based manufacturers in just about every category you can think of. The feedback system allows the buyer to review the manufacturer before making a purchasing decision. Similar to eBay's feedback system, the buyer can rate their experience with the manufacturer making it public for others to view.
The marketplace at DHgate is a legitimate place to find true China based manufacturers with the ability to review them before placing orders.
The Concerns - Authenticity
Like many companies overseas the concerns start with authenticity and quality. To be quite blunt if you are looking for name brand items on DHgate you will find them, however they are ALL non-authentic. You cannot purchase Nike, Adidas, Prada, Apple and other name brand products directly from manufacturers in China. They are all lower grade replicas - Yes all of them. Even if the manufacturer assures you that they are authentic, they are not.
Authenticity is a real problem with DHgate especially if you are based in the USA. If you are considering importing replica items from China you should reconsider. There are sever penalties and the possibility of jail time for those caught importing replica/counterfeit merchandise.
It would be nice if we all could get our hands on name brand items from China at the wholesale prices listed, but the fact of the matter is they are not authentic in any way.
What Others Have Said
"In response to is Dhgate Official? Let me just say I have placed several orders from Dhgate over the last several months. So far the items I have received are not AUTHENTIC as claimed. Even though each time I have confirmed with the seller THAT THEY WERE prior to ordering. I now have plenty of counterfeit products for which I CANNOT sell! I do not appreciate the fact that I have wasted good money and have been lied to by these sellers.
My question is this, how do you go about getting authentic items and not copies on Dhgate? Note: I did not purchase cheap products. Also when you bring the problem to the sellers attention what do you do when they refuse to respond and/or work with you to resolve the issue? I have tried contacting customer service without success. Bottom line is sellers on this site NEED to ACCURATELY DESCRIBE THEIR PRODUCTS. Otherwise it gives Dhgate a bad name and it appears to be a place just to get SCAMMED."
The Concerns - Quality
Another Concern besides authenticity is quality of product. If you are looking to purchase raw merchandise that is not name brand replicas then quality should be of a concern. You should review the companies in consideration and ask for samples before pacing an order. Claims of quality are always high from the manufacturer ans CANNOT be trusted. Overall you cannot trust their word, and if it seems to good to be true - IT IS.
To Be Continued...