Shop details for LightInTheBox
LightInTheBox is a lifestyle and fashion store, which was founded in 2007 and is running together with its "sibling store" MiniInTheBox (this one is focused on gadgets and electronics, created 2006). As the shop is one of the oldest online fashion stores in China, it has become quite well known and popular. Nowadays, LightInTheBox is one of the 1.200 most visited websites world wide.
You can see right from the start that LightInTheBox is a well-structured, easy to navigate web store. Each category (such as Fashion & Clothing, Phones & Electronics, Home & Garden or Wedding & Events) are listed on the left side of the page, meaning you'll find quickly exactly what you're looking for.
Experience with LightInTheBox
LightInTheBox (as well of course as MiniintheBox) has proved itself as an experienced merchant in our tests and could meet their set delivery times most of the time. The support is prompt, reaching out to customers with problems within 24 hours. We were very happy with our customer experience as we didn’t encounter any problems at all. The only downside when ordering at LightInTheBox was that some deliveries took quite longer than expected - one specific delivery took two months instead of the stated 3 - 4 weeks delivery.
Pros
Cons
Payment
By pressing the "paypal checkout" button the order will be processed through PayPal, activating the buyer protection with a 180 day period. Besides that you can choose to pay with your credit or debit card as well as western unioni or wire transfer. In case of problems and questions the multilingual support is available, helping very fast and taking the time to talk about product details.
Delivery times and shipping
Sadly there aren’t uniform conditions concerning the shipping, as you have to pay shipping charges for standard shipping of some items and even the delivery time varies between 5-10 days up to 20 workdays. Many items are offered with free shipping and the expedited shipping takes about 3-5 days but even this can vary depending on the product, item value and number of items.
Shipment tracking is possible by checking into your Mini- or LightInTheBox account. There you will have a very well-arranged overview of all your orders and their shipping status.
Noteworthy is the shipping insurance, that is a very rare feature but as it is rather inexpensive, costing less than one Euro, it should be considered when placing a large order.
LightInTheBox and customs
LightInTheBox has a large client base on the Central European, North American and South American market and is familiar with the rules of each particular customs office. This means that packages shouldn’t be kept in customs offices because of incorrect declarations. Nevertheless it is possible, that the customs office does a random check on your order.
Naturally, this doesn't free anyone from the legal import sales tax (in the EU), which will be raised on any order with a value of 22€ or more. The usual case would be paying the taxes directly to your mailman once the parcel arrives. On rare occasions your local custom office will keep the package and you will have to come pick it up and pay the taxes at their office.
For shipments entering the US, extra taxes and fees on your order are alwas a possibility. Not all items will be taxed - the majority will probably only be charged with a small processing fee of $10 at the most in the case of a random customs stop. The amount to be paid, however, can vary depending on what you've ordered and which shipping method you chose. If you're worried about your order, take the time to contact your local customs office. We always recommend to read up on the rules and regulations of your country's tax policy when placing international orders.
Conclusion
LightInTheBox works hard at establishing a client base on the European and American market and is definitely successful in its pioneering efforts so far. The prices are often higher than at other stores but you’re able to make a great deal if you use direct credits and the frequent promotions. Only the information on the delivery and shipping costs can cause confusion and the product range of both websites (LightInTheBox and MiniInTheBox) overlaps, making it sometimes difficult to tell which items can be bought in which shop.
Alternatives
LightInTheBox is mainly interesting because of its vast variety of fashion garments and accessories. Other items such as gadgets can also be found on MiniInThebox, LightInTheBox's associate page. Alternatives in terms of online shops for fashion would be especially these two websites:
| Alternative 1: |  YesStyle | fashion, jewelry and accessories, free shipping with every 59$ purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative 2: |  Romwe | fashion, jewelry and accessories as well, a great range of products and a lot of outfits for special occasions |
LightInTheBox Coupons
The shop has different and very frequent coupon promotions and special deals which lead to free express shipping on orders of a certain value or discount a certain percentage of your order price. This can be settled with your direct credit and result in amazing discounts.