Last Updated: January 13, 2021
It’s not always safe while you’re shopping online. There are hundreds of marketplaces that want to take your money and run for the hills.
If you love to buy cheap products online like me, you may definitely heard of Gearbest, AliExpress and many other chinese marketplaces.
These highly affordable products all at one space would make you think, Is Gearbest legit and safe to buy from?
Well, I am here to make your shopping experience easier and safer. This article will give you a detailed insight into Gearbest’s trustworthiness and how you can stay safe.
An earnest review about my experience as well as many others with Gearbest so you can decide for yourself whether Gearbest is a legitimate, safe, and trustworthy marketplace or not?
Let’s dive right in!
Is Gearbest Legit?
Gearbest is a completely legit e-commerce marketplace, offering products from China at affordable prices. However, many customers are unhappy with the overpriced delivery process and the shopping experiences with Gearbest have seen to be inconsistent due to faulty shipping and refund policy.
It’s an international e-commerce store offering a wide range of products; from gadgets to accessories and everything in between.
Yet, like other online stores, shopping experiences with Gearbest fluctuate. They are not always pleasant. Their delivery and refund processes in particular have not always been ideal.
Therefore, a part of the internet is stormed by negative reviews about Gearbest.
Although it’s a legit site doesn’t mean it’s totally a safe e-commerce platform, keep this important tips in mind to avoid frauds or scams.
Tips to Buy Safely on Gearbest and Avoid Frauds or Scams
Buying over the web comes with its own risks. As is buying at Gearbest; risky. Due to the contrasting experiences of customers, we need to make sure ours is a pleasant one.
Therefore one needs to be careful about the do’s and dont’s while buying at Gearbest.
The best shoppers shop smartly, they say.
We have listed down some handy tips for you, that would save you from online scams and other issues you might face with Gearbest.
Take a good look. Might as well take notes!
1. Check Out The Reviews Before Buying
When you like a product, it’s difficult to hold back. I know. But I suggest holding on for a while. Research before your order. It is the key for successful online shopping.
Before adding to the cart, make sure you know everything about the product. The quality, pricing, estimated delivery time e.t.c. Check its corresponding reviews.
Did people like it? Are people buying it? Are people satisfied? The type of problems users may be facing with the item.
Once you have good know-how. Go for it. Add it to the cart and hope for it to reach you timely.
2. Check For The Delivery/Shipping Options
Gearbest has products from different manufacturers, with different delivery options. Once you like a product, look out for the available delivery options.
Here are the three important shipping methods offered at Gearbest.
Delivery is the most common issue at Gearbest. So thoroughly educate yourself.
Weigh the significance of your product and choose the safest shipping option. It might be costly but better safe than being worried later.
3. Timely Order Cancellation
Before the order is shipped, Gearbest gives you the option to withdraw your order. So if at any point you are skeptical about your order, you can cancel it.
Keep an eye on your order because once the order is shipped, there is no going back. So you have got to be quick.
4. Don’t Just Place Order & Forget About It
Gearbest offers a customer support system through different channels (explained further in the article), you can connect to the store.
In case of any inconvenience, be sure to contact the customer support representative.
Share your concerns. Be sure all your problems are conveyed and heard by the team.
Don’t just place your order and forget about it. Be an active user. Make yourself heard.
5. Check The Product Carefully When You Receive
Shoppers tend to get lazy after they have received their order. Useless products keep lying on their shelves. You should not make this mistake.
Once recieved, you need to look carefully into the order. Make sure it’s your product and is fully functional.
With Gearbes’s Refund Policy, you can claim a refund till 45 days of the order.
In case of any problems with the product, reach out to Gearbest immediately. Let your money not go to waste.
Where is Gearbest Located?
Gearbest is an international e-commerce site, based in China. The known online store is branched out to several countries. It has a total of 46 warehouses spread out in the USA, Spain, England, Poland, Czech Republic and other major countries.
While the store has assembled products from manufacturers in China, it delivers to users worldwide.
Through multiple payment procedures and a quick shipping/delivery system, Gearbest is accessible to users around the globe.
Gearbest Customer Service
Gearbest offers a fine Customer Service. Unlike other sites, they have a detailed layout for users. I have found it to be very profound and user-friendly.
The business has added multiple features to their customer service. This is to ensure that customers’ queries are heard and resolved immediately.
Where these services are helpful to most users, others find it just a ‘good-show’.
Customers complain that they receive automated messages here, and their issue remains unresolved. They found it to be dead-end.
However, I believe that Gearbest has an overall positive approach towards helping its users’. They are swift and responsive. But, oftentimes due to their shipping and refund policy limitations, they cannot be of much help.
Where Do the Products on Gearbest Come From?
Gearbest has a large variety of lifestyle products, and all come from China. The site assembles products ranging from electronics to personal accessories, all manufactured in China.
The e-commerce business collaborates with 5,000 popular chinese brands and suppliers. Amongst top brands, they feature products from Huawie, Xiaomi, Lenovo e.t.c.
Gearbest claims to have accumulated its From-China products from the best manufacturers in China, at the most reasonable prices.
How Long Does Gearbest Take to Deliver?
Gearbest states that their order processing time is between 3-5 business days and then the shipping time which depends on which shipping method you choose.
Gearbest has four shipping methods and the shipping time depends on which shipping method you choose, let me show you those 4 shipping method.
However, oftentimes, that’s not the case.
Customers go on about the frequent delivery delays. The internet is loaded with such complaints. Customers are outraged about their parcels reaching them late or never reaching them at all.
Gearbest delivers to over 200 countries worldwide and has partnered with top delivery services i.e. DHL, EMS and FEDEx. So, in most cases the delivery issues are on these services.
Another thing that I have found unusual, and users largely diss is the ‘Delivery Insurance’. Customers need to pay an additional amount to ‘ensure’ a reliable delivery.
It makes the standard delivery not safe by default.
In response to customers’ delivery complaints, they are advised to pay for delivery insurance to avoid any delivery mishaps.
Therefore, my two cents about Gearbest delivery is that it is highly inefficient and unreliable. One needs to give them careful instructions and just hope their order shows up then.
What About Gearbest’s Quality of Goods?
Gearbest states on their website that it follows an extensive quality check process to make sure users get the best quality products.
This is what their comprehensive Quality Control process looks like.
If you’re thinking about the quality of Gearbest products then let me tell you.
Just like the old saying goes: “You get what you pay for.” and the same case with Gearbest as well.
In simple words, the quality of Gearbest products is pretty good, not the best but affordable and still good.
Gearbest Return Policy
As per the return policy, customers can return the order within 30 days, no questions asked. After which, customers’ solid problems will be entertained within 45 days. Products have a repair warranty of a whole year.
The online global store has thoughtfully planned and executed each service, for their customers’ convenience. As they did with their Refund Policy.
However, it is not as simple as they have made it seem. Refund is a hassle. You need to notify the Customer Service and wait for their response. Mostly, they add it to your points that you can redeem later.
Returning the product is also a hefty task. You need to pay for the shipping again yourself.
Is Gearbest Safe To Order From?
Where Gearbest is legit, it is not always safe. The external delivery processes i.e. DHL e.t.c belittle its safety, I believe. The entire searching, ordering and payment process is safe, but delivery is doubtful. It’s the shipment which makes Gearbest slightly unsafe.
Furthermore, a major privacy breach in 2019 also disparaged its safety for the time-being. However it was a one-time thing.
I have seen Gearbest to offer unstable experiences, sometimes good and other times unpleasant. And I largely blame delivery for that.
I believe that the delivery process is the only factor making Gearbest a less safe space for us.
Pros and Cons of Gearbest
Pros of Gearbest
- User-friendly website
- A wide-range of all lifestyle products
- Products from top manufacturers in China
- Highly affordable prices
Cons of Gearbest
- Inconsistent Services
- Costly delivery i.e. Delivery Insurance
- Unreliable delivery
- Deceptive Refund Policy
- Unsecured Server i.e. Shoppers Data Leak
- Bad Customer Service
Is Personal Data Safe on Gearbest?
Gearbest claims that your personal data is safe but based on the past experience, I can’t say whether your personal details are now safe or not.
Let me explain what I mean.
In 2019, white hat hacker Noam Rotem and VPNMentor’s team detected a major security breach in Gearbest.
At that time because of this security breach, hackers could easily access ID card info, payment info, addresses and everything in between.
Gearbest later acknowledged the issue and called it a one-time technical mistake by the security team. The issue was solved in mere 2 hours, but it had many users’ privacy compromised for days.
While this was a major privacy issue and leaked significant personal data, it was a one-time mishap and any business is prone to that, I feel.
Therefore, I believe Gearbest now has a stronger firewall security system to avoid such mishaps and can be trusted in the future.
Final Thoughts
Gearbest is definitely a legitimate site to find low priced goods from China.
However, the problem with Gearbest is the uncertainty that comes with the delivery process, their bad customer support, and return policy.
In short, if you’re thinking to buy something from Gearbest then I highly recommend you not to buy expensive products and keep all the tips in your mind, I’ve shared above.
Let’s hope Gearbest fixes our concerns for a better shopping experience. Till then, let’s be careful while shopping on Gearbest.
I would just say, give it a shot if you’re buying cheap products probably less than hundred dollars. Happy Shopping!
Now I’d like to hear from you:
Have you ever bought something from Gearbest? If so, share your shopping experience with others to give them an idea of what to expect.
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