DHGate Review 2024: Pros and Cons, Features and More

In this DHGate review, we’re going to determine whether DHGate is safe, legitimate, and worthwhile. We’ll be looking at what you can expect from DHGate if you’re starting a dropshipping company, or just buying products for wholesale prices.

Read on for all of our behind-the-scenes insights, designed to help you decide whether DHGate is really right for you.

What are the Pros and Cons of DHGate?

Who Should Use DHGate (and Who Should Avoid It)?

For companies investing in dropshipping, and online retailers looking for cheap wholesale products, DHGate is a relatively reliable Chinese supplier. The website is reasonably easy to use, with convenient sections and categories to help you find the products you need.

Plus, despite being based in Beijing, DHGate does tend to offer quite good customer support, through live chat and email. It also delivers products to consumers all over the globe, with options for accessing tracking number insights.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of DHGate is how affordable it is. The products are relatively cheap, and there are often vouchers and discount promotions available. Although the platform still isn’t quite as cheap as AliExpress (the other major competitor in China).

Unfortunately, DHGate reviews are very variable. While there are reliable suppliers on the platform, others have been labelled “scammers” due to poor quality or damaged products. The negative reviews connected to the platform also suggest it’s difficult to get a full refund when products are damaged.

If you’re looking to sell high quality products consistently, you might struggle to find the right suppliers on DHGate. Additionally, like many Chinese suppliers, the delivery times and shipping cost associated with each supplier can vary pretty drastically.

Additionally, if you’re looking for a steady supply of a product, or you want to create a private label brand, DHGate isn’t the right place for you. Products and sellers come and go all the time, and most vendors won’t be able to apply unique branding to items.

What is DHGate and How Does it Work?

DHGate.com is a wholesale marketplace, based in China (Beijing), which allows independent business owners and suppliers to sell directly to customers and ecommerce businesses worldwide. The DHGate platform is similar in a lot of ways to AliExpress.

Like AliExpress, DHGate offers:

• An easy to use website with products and suppliers sorted into categories
• Access to a wide variety of products for low prices
• Options for dropshipping with integrations to e-commerce platforms
• Bulk ordering options and discounts for wholesale
• Worldwide shipping and fulfilment

Unlike AliExpress, however, most of the sellers on DHGate aren’t major factories or outlets, but independent suppliers offering various different types of products. This makes the platform great for sourcing various products with low or no minimum order quantity requirements.

Is DHGate Legit?

Yes, DHGate is a legit company!

As mentioned above, DHGate definitely doesn’t have the best reputation, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a legitimate company. The brand does put safeguards in place for both buyers and sellers, and follows regulatory guidelines for protecting data and payments.

Additionally, the brand is well established in China. If you place an order with DHGate you will definitely receive your merchandise, however it may not always live up to the quality you expect. The suppliers vary drastically in terms of product quality and delivery times.

As a result, DHGate, though a verified company, has a lot of negative reviews. Its average rating on Trustpilot is only 1.7 out of 5 stars (Even with over 30,000 reviews). Despite this, if you look closely at the reviews, most complaints are about bad sellers on the platform, rather than the platform itself.

DHGate isn’t scamming anyone, nor is it responsible for the quality of the products on its platform. Instead, it’s just a marketplace designed to connect buyers to sellers.

In that regard, it performs very well, and does its best to deliver an excellent experience to everyone that uses the platform.

DHGate even has a great customer support team, with live chat options available, and relatively quick responses to email messages.

The Features of DHGate: Products and Suppliers

Although many of DHGate’s suppliers have earned negative feedback for their products over the years, the platform itself is a simple, feature-rich, and powerful tool for vendors. The supplier directory is ideal for finding a wide range of products in categories you won’t find elsewhere.

You can easily search for specific items or products, narrow your results by region, or provider, and compare pricing and features across vendors with ease. Plus, DHGate offers worldwide delivery, all the cost and speed of each delivery can vary.

DHGate Dropshipping and Wholesale Suppliers

From a supplier perspective, there are positives and negatives to the DHGate platform. On the one hand, there are tons of suppliers to choose from, operating in a range of categories, with unique items you won’t find on other platforms. You can even use the “DHGate Selected” tab on the website to find suppliers and products recommended by the platform.

DHGate says all of its suppliers are “verified”, although, as mentioned above, this doesn’t necessarily mean they deliver amazing products. What it does mean is you’re guaranteed to receive a product at some point, even if it doesn’t live up to your expectations.

One thing that does set DHGate apart from other supplier networks is its commitment to helping you specifically find the products you need. Once you have an account, you can track all of your suppliers in your dashboard, and even submit a “buyer” request for help finding specific products.

DHGate Product Categories

As mentioned above, DHGate does offer quite a broad selection of products to choose from, similar to AliExpress. You can purchase everything from cell phones and electronics, to industrial products, renewable energy items, health and beauty products, and shoes or accessories.

Other popular categories include:

• Home and Garden
• Lighting
• Toys and Gifts
• Apparel
• Jewelry and Watches
• Hair and Styling
• Games
• Bags and fashion accessories
• Automobile and motorcycle

If you’re looking to save some cash, there’s a “Flash Deals” section on the DHGate website where you can find the cheapest items of the moment, still organized into categories. Plus, as soon as you sign up, you receive a coupon pack worth $27 to minimize your spend. There’s also a handy coupon center where you can find additional discounts and special offers.

For companies focused on speedy delivery, you can also sort through products from local warehouses, promising delivery within 72 hours.

Is DHGate Easy to Use?

If you’re looking for simplicity, DHGate is an excellent option. Although the website might seem a little cluttered at first glance, it’s relatively easy to navigate, with products sorted into a range of categories. You can easily browse through flash deals, discounted prices, and specific niche products.

Additionally, signing up to use DHGate takes only a couple of minutes. You can sign up for free entering just a few details, such as your email and a password. Once you’re signed up, you’ll be able to log into the “My DHGate” dashboard.

Here, you can see all of the features DHGate offers, from order tracking to a favorites section where you can save the items and suppliers you like. There’s also direct access to new buyer coupons, exclusive discounts, and customer service, all included on the same platform.

Sellers can set up their own profiles on the platform, and earn reviews from customers. Alternatively, buyers can track their order history, and create lists of dropshipping vendors they like working with. You can also set up a “DHGate Pay” account, which allows you to pay suppliers on a recurring basis instantly. The more you use the platform, the more rewards you can earn.

Buyers and sellers earn coins they can exchange for unique discounts for virtually any kind of product on the site.

DHGate Integrations: The Open Platform

For entrepreneurs, DHGate offers a simple way to access numerous different sellers, and connect directory tools to your existing online marketplace or website. The open DHGate.com platform comes with access to a rich API interface, covering all areas of cross-border ecommerce.

There’s SDK support for multiple languages, and you get comprehensive documentation and technical support, which is ideal if you don’t have a lot of developer knowledge. Plus, the unified account solution means you can make the most of quick automation capabilities.

There are accurate data calls for real-time monitoring, a convenient unified account system for tracking all of your integrations, and excellent high system availability. The only downside is the service can be a little complicated if you’re new to coding and development.

DHGate Pricing: Why is DHGate so Cheap?

One of the main reasons many buyers label DHGate a “scam” is the platform is brimming with extremely cheap products. Even high-tech products like smartphones, and unique solutions like automobile parts are usually quite affordable.

The ultimate reason for this is that most of the suppliers on DHGate are standalone sellers looking to offload products quickly. They offer products for a discount to increase sales. The larger suppliers work with manufacturers to offer items on a wholesale basis, so you save money over what you would typically spend when shopping with another retailer.

DHGate also offers a range of discounts and coupons to customers, as well as reward schemes that help to encourage repeat sales. You can earn coins the more you shop on the site, which can be converted into voucher codes. Plus, there are daily deals, flash deals, and other promotional offers available on a consistent basis.

If you sign up with DHGate, and enter your birth date, you can even receive free gifts and special promotions on your birthday. Notably, DHGate does offer buyer protection for transactions, so it’s definitely not a scam site (even though the products are cheap).

You can also track your order number after you make a credit card payment, to ensure you do actually receive the products you order. Plus, there is a return policy if anything goes wrong.

DHGate Pricing: Are there Any Subscription Fees?

Like most dropshipping and wholesale marketplaces, DHGate doesn’t charge you anything to use the platform. You can sign up for an account for free in a couple of seconds, and even use your Google or Facebook credentials. However, there is a “VIP” account option available.

Rather than paying to access this VIP service, which includes more discounts, rewards, and advanced customer service, you need to earn your membership over time. You’ll increase your membership level by purchasing products, and sharing reviews.

Buyers can also subscribe to store memberships for individual suppliers, which can provide access to additional deals and discounts.

DHGate Customer Service and Refunds

As a reputable online marketplace, DHGate does have reliable customer support and service solutions in place. First, you can contact the team with any issues you might have in two ways, through email, or live chat. The live chat solution shows you when representatives are available, so you know how quickly you can expect a response.

In the “Enhanced Customer Support” section on your profile, you can also upgrade to a “VIP” account to access a telephone service.

Plus, the DHGate customer service team is relatively responsive, delivering answers within a few hours in some cases. There’s also an FAQ page, and various guides, blogs, and other resources you can use to address common questions.

When it comes to dispute resolution, addressing problems with an order is relatively straightforward. If you think an item, you receive isn’t good quality, or you don’t receive a product, you can click the “open dispute” link on the website to ask for support.

Notably, resolving a problem can take a little time, as DHGate needs to act as a mediator between buyers and sellers, ensuring everyone is treated fairly. However, you can get a full refund for problematic items, provided you’re willing to wait.

Is DHGate Worth It? The Verdict

So, is DHGate safe, legitimate, and worthwhile? Ultimately, DHGate is a safe and reliable wholesale and dropshipping marketplace. With a DHGate account, you can rapidly browse through dozens of different products and suppliers, to find unique products to sell on your store.

The platform is easy to use, and although many of the products are made in China, some are very good quality. You can easily find a reliable seller on DHGate, but you may need to do your due diligence to ensure you’re consistently getting high quality products.

DHGate buyer protection helps to defend consumers on the platform, and the customer service team are dedicated to solving problems as quickly as possible. However, it’s worth remembering that DHGate product quality can definitely vary.

As customer reviews of the platform note, not every supplier is a good seller, even though they may be verified. Additionally, delivery times can be quite long, depending on which supplier you choose. If you’re looking for access to a wide range of unique products, DHGate may be a good option for you. However, if you want to ensure you have access to a consistent supply of high-quality items, there may be better options out there.

DHGate FAQs

Is it Safe to buy from DHGate?

It’s completely safe to purchase products from DHGate. The company tracks shipments for buyers and offers buyer protections, just like Ebay or Amazon. The company will also help to resolve any disputes about product quality or shipping issues.

Why is DHGate so Cheap?

DHGate offers a range of coupons and discount options, as well as affordable pricing for most of its products. Many suppliers sell on a wholesale basis, while others offer extensive discounts to help increase the speed of their sales.

Are DHGate Products Fake?

There are many real products on the DHGate platform, but it’s unlikely you’ll find verified items from companies like Nike. You’ll need to be vigilant when searching through suppliers to find the products you need. The companies on the platform aren’t always reliable.