Shop details for DinoDirect

DinoDirect was one of the world's leading wholesale webshops, offering a wide selection of products covering everything from consumer electronics and the latest tech trends to clothes and sport equipment. Catering to customers in over 200 countries, DinoDirect was in the same league as international wholesale giants such as Banggood and AliExpress. Numerous customers from hundreds of countries seem to agree: DinoDirect was the place to go for low prices on everyday gadgets.

Experience with DinoDirect

Not ones to be taken in easily by internet hype, we dove into DinoDirect to see if it really is worth your time and money. 

The homepage can be overwhelming at first. DinoDirect forgoes the traditional "cover-style" homepage, instead presenting visitors with the latest and greatest deals. Our first reaction was that it looks more like the weekly coupon catalogue from the local supermarket than a serious Banggood competitor, but we quickly got used to the information-heavy layout and were able to find our way around quite easily. 

Don't be fooled though, this is not a well organized site. The homepage alone stacks rotating ad banners on top of discount alerts, on top of repetitive shortcuts to sections of the shop labeled with vague names like "Novelites" and "Lifestyle Collection." Buyers on the hunt for something specific would do well to scroll over the large, orange "Shop by Categories" tab in the top left corner and select from one of the many categories listed. These category are surprisingly intuitive and make it easy to do targeted browsing without constant use of the search bar.

As regular PandaCheckers know, we're true tech junkies and sites like DinoDirect, with thousands upon thousands of cool and weird stuff on offer, are hard for us to resist. We quickly took interest in a generic tablet running non-generic windows on sale for a song and went right on through the ordering and shipping process. Read on for an in-depth review of our ordering experience, and check out the chart below for an overview of everything good, bad, and ugly about DinoDirect!

Payment

DinoDirect makes checkout easy with the option to sign up with Facebook or to "Checkout with PayPal." You can also complete your order as an anonymous guest, or make an account on DinoDirect. If you choose to make an account, DinoDirect will reward you with a $3 account activation coupon to use on your purchase right away.

Regardless of how you choose to proceed, DinoDirect gives you A LOT of payment options to choose from. Payment favorites such as PayPal, Credit Card (most major cards, see screenshot below), Wire Transfer, Money Order, and Western Union are all here for your convenience. DinoDirect also supports some other, less common payment methods such as Qiwi, CashU and WebMoney. There's even the option to Pay with BitCoin for those who wish to remain as anonymous as possible.

Shipping Costs and Delivery Times

DinoDirect offers its customers another convenient feature in the form of Free Shipping. By selecting the first shipping option entitled Regular Post Service, you agree to wait 15-30 business days for your order in exchange for not paying any shipping costs. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me, but if you disagree and simply refuse to wait you will also have the option to receive your package in 5-10 business days  with the Express Mail Service or 3-7 business days with the most-expensive DHL/FedEX (depending on the delivery address) option.

Regardless of your choice, DinoDirect will automatically check the 99¢ Package Return Protection option. This option guarantees that you will not have to pay any more shipping costs in case you wish to return your item later. Whether that peace of mind is worth $1 is up to you.

DinoDirect and Customs

We went with the Free Shipping because, really, who wants to pay for shipping? While we wouldn't have been surprised to wait upwards of 5-6 weeks for our order, we were very pleased to find our brand-new generic tablet waiting on our doorstep only 4 weeks (20 business days) after placing our order. We never heard anything from customs and, considering the speed with which our package arrived, we can only assume that customs was pleased with the packaging and declaration forms that they waved it through without a problem. 

That being said, we always recommend looking up your country's rules and regulations surrounding international shipments and customs fees so that you know what to expect in case your package isn't so lucky.

For shipments entering the US, extra taxes and fees on your product are possible. Not every item is taxed when entering the country, and the majority are only subject to a nominal processing fee of between $2 and $9 in the case of a random customs stop. The amount to be paid, however, can vary widely depending on the product and how it’s sent. If you are concerned about your item, or are planning to order goods in excess of $500, it is worth it to check with the Customs Office at the port of entry to confirm any extra fees.

Any extra taxes or duties on your shipment will either be paid at your door when the mailman drops it off, or the package may be held at your local post office. In which case, you will need to go pick it up and pay any applicable fees in person.

Return Policy

DinoDirect offers one of the most flexible return policies in the business. All customers may return their items within 30 days of delivery for a refund or exchange. If your item arrives defective, damaged, or there's something else wrong with your item on arrival, DinoDirect will cover all the return shipping fees and send you a replacement. If there's nothing wrong with your item and you still want to return it, DinoDirect will accept your return and even give you a partial refund (full item value minus a restocking fee). However, you will be responsible for any return shipping fees unless you paid for the 99¢ Package Return Protection at checkout.

Conclusion

Whether shopping for yourself or a friend, you're sure to find what you're looking for on DinoDirect. The prices are incredibly competitive and really give name-brand megastores like Amazon a run for their money. As long as you don't mind your electronics (or clothes, or camping equipment) to be from a generic brand, you could save a lot of money by checking DinoDirect for prices before buying anywhere else. Plus, their 30-day return policy and optional 99¢ return protection make it a great place to impress your friends and family with high-tech gifts, without spending the entire month's pay on an expensive iPad.

Alternatives

Alternative 1:	Aliexpress	the biggest online shop for cheap everything from China, (mostly) competitive prices, some vendors offer free shipping
Alternative 2:	Banggood	another "everything" site from China, similar prices and items on offer, free shipping