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.
Details: Light- and MiniInTheBox.com
Delivery times: 10-20 work days, express shipping 3-5 days
range of products: all categories are available
price comparison: more expensive than direct competitors
specific features: multiple payment methods accepted
Pros
PayPal-Express payment
Other payment methods: credit card and even Sofortüberweisung.de for German customers or debit card for customers from the UK
most of the time no shipping charges
optional shipping insurance
credit balance automatically settled when placing an order
many languages available, but some translations don’t make sense
product questions are answered very fast
frequent promotions and discounts such as free expedited shipping
Cons
some products at LightintheBox don’t come with free shipping
delivery times may vary
Product Overlap between the two sites
ordering not possible without an account
product descriptions translated on the German webpage (Note 3 = Anmerkung 3) - complicates searching for specific items
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.
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.
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
also a known brand in the Chinese electronics business, offers also a couple of international warehouses
0 MiniInTheBox Coupons
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.
I have the exact same problem with this company. After ordering and paying for my order from MiniInTheBox, I have received a delivery date and a tracking number. However, the tracking number does not work and does not indicate delivery progress. I contacted the courier service to ask regarding the tracking number and it turns out that the tracking number is not in their system - the alleged claimed package is not in their system! I still waited for my order until the date my order supposed to be delivered and there have been no notification regarding any parcel whatsoever. I then contacted the MiniInTheBox customer service and suprisingly, they claimed that there have been some problem with my address and asked me to wait for another few weeks. I waited and finally received no news from them. I contacted them again only to be informed that the parcel is on its way to their warehouse and they claimed I did not pick up the parcel so they will resend it again but I have to pay for the shipment again. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It has been nearly 3 months now and I asked for a refund but they reply my message with a repeated exact message stating they will resend and I have to pay for the shipment again. This website is clearly operated by dishonest people who tried to illegally make money and trick others. I strongly recommend others not to order anything from this website and look for a more trusted seller.
01/08/2020
Marcel
Cheaters!!!! I ordered some toys, I received them after 1 month directly from China (?!), I wasted time at customs, and I paid extra 40% of the toys price in customs and DHL taxes.... In the end quality of toys was poor, and also only 50% of the toys were working, the other half were faulty!!! Be warned! Order from them only if you want to be cheated!!!!
10/19/2018
Per Lindell
Title: Hoax. Fraud.
Miniinthebox order #29786942
I ordered and payed on Sep 3 of 2018 for a wristwatch that never showed up.
Delivery time was told to be 9-19 days.
After 24 days, having reported a no-show, I was told it might be taking up to 38 or 40 days.
After 44 days they closed the order and payment history down on and there was absolutely no trace of me ever having placed or payed for an order.
Mailing them further was useless, there was no reply even though I paid for an insurance and I mailed them I was going to hurt their goodwill (if any).
By far the worst customer treatment I have ever faced - this is plain Fraud, plain Hoax!
02/19/2018
Ridiculous
These guys are scammers. Bought a couple of Choetech wireless chargers for the iphone X. Not only did they not send a Choetech item. They sent another item's brand and empty boxes. Don't trust them. Go with Amazon.com if you are after the real thing. Alternatively Banggood or Gearbest if you are comfortable with the "China" domicile firms. Their alternate name is lighting in a box. So that is a no no as well. When you contest the transaction. Do it via paypal as oppose to their portal as legally they hold the right to the information on their portal. But if you do it on paypal, then paypal holds the information ownership. Time wasters. Don't fall for it - no matter how "cheap" their prices are.
03/03/2017
Suzanne
this is one of many times I have tried to purchase with Amex, Visa, Master card and it never goes thru. U keep denying the 3 or 4 # on the card as wrong and it never is!!! No one is so stupid that they can't put in the 3 or 4 # code from either the front or the back. I have had my FOUR AMEX cards since 1983 with never one complaint until you; I have an order right now for $90.00+ and you will not accept any of the 3 I have tried, listed above. YOUR LOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Estafadores:
Ni si quiera me han enviado el producto.
Dicen q el transportista ha intentado entregar el producto y q como lo tiene el no te van a devolver el dinero. ¿Que transportista? ¿Cuando ha intentado entregar el producto? ¿Tienen alguna prueba al respecto? Ninguna respuesta.
El Banco Sabadell no se hace cargo del incumplimiento por lo q he tenido q ir a la vía judicial.
No comprar.
Son una banda de ladrones.
Mini in the Box + Light in the Box: Wenn die bestellte Ware (Kleidung) dann ankommt, sieht der "Bekleidungsmüll" schon mal anders .. und zwar völlig anders aus, als auf dem Verkaufsfoto in deren Shop. Die Stoff- oder Wollqualität lässt dann noch mehr als zu wünschen übrig Bekleidungsgrössen sind irgendwie für kleinwüchsige Chinesen erdacht. Und dann !!! Dann erst wird klar, Rücksendung muss nach China erfolgen .. ab Paketkosten von € 18.00 aufwärts. Wer hat dazu Lust ? .. wer will zu dem Klamottenärger auch noch weitere, gute € 18.00 hinterher werfen ? Also Leute: Hände weg vom Chinadreck :-) ... Die chinesische Firma MODETALENTE ist übrigens ein ähnlicher Fall für die Mülltonne. Die scheinen alle unter einer Decke zu stecken und bewerben ihren Ramsch gern und oft bei Facebook ... also nochmals: Nicht anrühren ! Nichts bestellen ! Nur Ärger ! Habe dann versucht, mein Geld von PayPal zurück zu bekommen. Njet ! Die weigern sich .. und sind damit einen guten Kunden los. Apple... oder Google-Pay gibts ja auch noch, gell ?
Compré 3 camisas, pagué todas las tasas que venían en la web más los gastos de envío y sorpresa! cuando viene el repartidor me pide 22,81€ de gastos y si no pago no me da el paquete (que me costó 64,75€). Le pago el dinero y cuando abro el paquete, las tallas de las camisas no eran las que había pedido o estaban mal talladas. Ahora me dicen que para devolver el producto tengo que enviarlo a China, pagar los gastos de devolución, etc.... Esto en una palabra se llama ESTAFA. Voy a ir a denunciar. TENER MUCHO CUIDADO AL COMPRAR EN ESTAS PAGINAS.
Todo MENTIRAS.Es pésimo, envian productos que no corresponden con la imagen, cobran aduanas tardan mas de lo que dicen y encima, no me devuelven mi dinero.
ESTAFADORES!!
Llevo 2 meses esperando este paquete, desde el 30 de agosto.
He hecho todos los pasos que me han pedido y no han cumplido nada.
1- El tiempo de envio es de 1 mes, y no de 5-10 días como prometen.
2- Tardan 1 dia entero en contestar un ticket que en teoria catalogan como urgente.
3- Piden arreglar la dirección de envío, la arreglo en pocos minutos y por su retraso la empresa de logística tiene que devolverles el paquete por que exceden los dias.
Además de todo esto, prometen que se pondran en contacto conmigo en 15 días y ya ha pasado 1 mes más.
Lo mínimo que deberian hacer es enviar el pedido urgente de forma gratuita o por lo menos devolverme mi dinero. Ladrones.
Liebe PandaCheck- Mitarbeiter,
Zunächst wüsste ich gern, wieso nach Euren Angaben der Versand kostenfrei sein soll? Meine Bestellung (71€) wird mit 36,71 Versandkosten deklariert. Zzgl Zoll.
Nirgendwo auf der Internetseite finde ich etwas über "Versandkostenfrei"
Wenn man sich mal die Kundenrezensionen anschaut versteh ich ihre nette Umschreibung des Shoos nicht. Das widerspricht sich irgendwie! Ich werde aufgrund der äusserst negativen Bewertungen nicht bestellen
Son unos estafadores, he comprado un teclado que tiene mas de 30 teclas cambiadas una con otras, no me quieren devolver el dinero y me dicen que tengo un 25 % en mi próxima compra o me devuelven solo el 15 %. UNA ESTAFA Y ATRACO A MANO armada, espero que cierren la pagina y no estafen a nadie mas
Unos estafadores,pedí una funda de móvil xiaomi mi note 10 y ma mandaron la de Samsung note 10 hice la reclamación para la devolución y me contestan que tengo que pagar la devolución y que será más cara que la funda y que no merece la pena devolverla o bien que se la regalé a alguien..total una estafa no pienso comprar más en este sitio
Ich ärgere mich seit Mai 2020 mit der Firma. Liefertermin wird laufend nach hinten geschoben. Hauptsache die Ware ist bezahlt. Werde mal sehen, wie Paypal reagiert und ich mein Geld zurück bekomme. Ich kann die Firma nicht weiterempfehlen.
Truffatori, pagata spedizione molto cara e con maggiorazione per riceverlo in 4-8 giorni, ricevuto dopo più di un mese perchè spediscono dalla Cina. Alle mie richieste del motivo del ritardo nella consegna, sono cosi disonesti da dare la colpa al Covid 19. A copertura di ciò forniscono nr di tracking inesistente che poi modificano con quello reale quando la merce arriva in Italia, pensando che la gente sia così idiota da non capirlo. Tra 2 prodotti analoghi di differente fascia di prezzo ho acquistato quello più costoso e meglio realizzato, ma mi è arrivato quello meno costoso e nel frattempo hanno cambiato l'immagine dell'ordine. Servizio di assistenza clienti pessimo.
Da evitare assolutamente
Produkt vor 2 Jahren bestellt und seitdem nicht erhalten. Auch kein Geld zurück. Das Schlimmste war der Kontakt. Egal was man schrieb, bekam man riesige, automatisch generierte Nachrichten zurück, die zu 95% aus Werbesprüchen und Selbstlob bestanden, und ganz am Ende einen Hinweis enthielten, dass man angeblich erst nach Ablauf von zwei Monaten/ drei Monaten/ 6 Monaten usw. im Stande wäre, nach dem verlorenen Paket zu forschen. Wie gegen eine Betonwand. Also - unseriöser und zynischer geht es gar nicht. Bloß Hände weg von diesem miniinthebox!
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