The first thing that I’ve noticed is the unresponsive customer service at Shein. Then I read about the company’s history of stealing art from smaller artists and stealing their intellectual property. It also has no third party certifications as an ethical or environmentally friendly company. This all convinced me to avoid Shein completely. Let’s take a closer look. Read on. If you’re still not convinced, consider these other reasons.
Shein’s customer service is notoriously unresponsive
If you’re looking to purchase a gift for a friend or family member, but are unsure if Shein’s customer service is up to par, there are ways to contact them and receive prompt and courteous answers. Shein’s customer service department offers three main methods of contact: live chat, support tickets, and Facebook messenger. Customers can use live chat to ask questions about their order or file a complaint about a product.
When contacting villmarksgenser , they won’t send you a return label and you have to pay the shipping yourself. Even if you’re returning an item, shipping from China is high and will take forever. Also, if you’re buying jewelry or a bag, you need to check the fabric quality because Shein’s pieces will wear out in a short time. Even tops run small, which can make them uncomfortable to wear.
It has a strong social media presence
The digital social media presence of Shein is significant. The brand has over 250 million followers and is able to interact with consumers through its presence on various channels. These channels are linked to Shein’s influencer marketing strategy, which targets younger shoppers and helps them discover the brand. The presence on social media also allows the brand to promote its products through the personal experiences of users. This, in turn, helps build its reputation among consumers.
The Shein brand has extended its client base and now covers over two hundred and twenty countries. It has an app which was surpassed by Amazon by 2021, with over 17.5 million downloads. The app offers products in various categories, including women’s clothing, men’s apparel, and even children’s wear. Shein is a Chinese-American company founded by Chris Xu, a graduate of Washington University.
It has stolen art from smaller artists
In a recent email sent to SHEIN, an artist named Elora Pautrat said that the company has created copies of their work. The work has been removed from Shein’s website, and the artist says that despite repeated emails to Shein, he has not heard back. The artist asked for compensation, and the company has been unable to answer. This issue has spurred several other artists to speak out.
One of the victims was a Nigerian designer who launched a crocheting and handmade clothing line. She claimed that Shein had copied her designs and was selling them for less than half of what she paid. The top took several days to crochet, and sold for $17 on Shein. Similar cases have also occurred with smaller artists, designers, and businesses who have had their designs stolen by Shein. These cases show that the online retail giant has repeatedly stolen artwork from smaller artists, and continues to do so.
It does not have any third party certifications proving that it is ethical or environmentally-friendly
Shein’s sustainability report acknowledges the importance of UN SDGs but fails to outline its future goals and decisions. The report does not address its role in setting internal labor and environmental standards, or its collaboration with NGOs. It also fails to make any concrete claims about its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, including its use of plastic shipping materials. This lack of information raises several questions, including how Shein plans to ensure that its workers are not exploited.
Despite its environmentally-friendly efforts, Shein fails to disclose its sources, manufacturing processes, or wages for its employees. The company’s website makes it difficult for consumers to know whether the garments are ethically and environmentally-friendly. Its suppliers are opaque, and there’s no transparency about their wages. Additionally, most of the clothing is made of virgin polyester, a synthetic material that is harmful for the environment.