MiniInTheBox and LightInThebox are sibling gadget shops founded by the same company in China and have been growing and developing at lightening speeds. MiniInTheBox, which focuses set on electronic items, was created in 2006, a year before the lifestyle and fashion store LightInThebox was created. LightInThebox’s global Alexa ranking of 1,315 and MiniInTheBox’s rank of 1,750 prove their popularity equivalent to even larger vendors such as Banggood and Dealextreme.

The first impression: the website of MiniInTheBox

Experience with MiniInTheBox

Light- and MiniInTheBox proved themselves experienced merchants in our tests and could meet their set delivery times, sometimes even delivering faster than expected. 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.

Payment

By pressing the PayPal-Expressbutton, the order will be processed through PayPal, activating the buyer protection for a 180-day-period. This isn’t possible without a registration. But Lightinthebox and MiniInTheBox also feature a fair amount of third party merchants. In case of problems or questions, the multilingual support team is there to help. Usually responding quickly to customer concerns and taking time to go into detail about products.

Many logos, but only three options: the payment options at MiniInTheBox

Supported payment methods

PayPal		Our recommendation! PayPal is fast, easy to use and offers a great buyer protection.
credit card		You can pay with your favorite plastic via PayPal. This way you can also take advantage of paypal's buyer protection program.

Delivery times and shipping

Sadly there aren’t uniform conditions concerning the shipping, as you have to pay shipping charges for standard shipping for some items and the delivery time can vary from 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 have a very well-arranged overview of all your orders and their shipping status. Keep in mind, you shouldn’t choose a PO Box as your address because this might cause problems when the deliverer and customer cannot keep in contact. Bubble-wrapped packages are often declined to PO Boxes.

The availability of shipping insurance is also noteworthy. It usually costs only about $1 extra, so it may be worth it to consider when placing a large or important order.

MiniInTheBox and customs

MiniInTheBox has a large client base in the European and North American markets and is familiar with the rules of the customs system. This means that packages are almost never held in customs offices because of incorrect declarations. Nevertheless, random checks on your order are always possible.

For shipments entering the US, extra taxes and fees on your product are a possible, if not entirely common, side-effect of international ordering. The amount to be paid can vary widely from nothing to $495 depending on the product and how its sent. Not every item is taxed when entering the country, but the majority are only subject to a nominal processing fee of between $2 and $9 when entering the country. If you are concerned about your item, or are planning to order goods in excess of $100, it is worth it to check with the Customs Office at the port of entry to confirm any extra taxes.

Any extra taxes or duty 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 and you will need ot go pick it up and pay any applicable fees in person.

Specific features

MiniInTheBox and LightInTheBox are the only China-specific shops that offer a direct discount of 10% on your next order, if you wish to use it. It isn’t necessary to exchange points for a discount and use it explicitly on your order, such as on the sites Dealextreme or Tinydeal.

The translations are well done in most cases but there are sometimes poorer automated translations that may leave out some product information. We recommend using the English translation in lieu of other languages, especially if you’re looking for electronic items such as cell phones and tablets.

Top 10 Best Sellers on MiniInTheBox

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52,320 items

Conclusion

Light- and MiniInTheBox work hard to establish a client base on the European market and are definitely successful in their pioneering efforts, as their alexa ranking proves. The prices tend to be on the higher side, but great deals are always possible when using available coupons and the 10% direct discount. Only the information on the delivery and shipping costs can cause confusion and the product range of both websites overlaps, which can sometimes lead to confusion if you're searching on both simultaneously.

Alternatives

Alternative 1:	Banggood		well-known shop, ideal for shopping for electronic goods, clothing, costume jewelry and a great starting point for RC fans and tinkerers, has many international warehouses
Alternative 2:	Dealextreme		also a known brand in the Chinese electronics business, offers also a couple of international warehouses

1 MiniInTheBox Coupon

The shop offers frequently different coupon codes, 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.

Free expedited shipping at MitB for $35+ orders

From now on MiniInTheBox is offering free expedited shipping for all orders with a value of at least USD $35. Especially helpful for all those late birthday shoppers! ;-)

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