Shop details for Tidebuy
Tidebuy.com is a fashion-focused webshop based in Beijing that specializes in semi-formal, formal, and evening wear for women. Although the site focuses mainly on women's fashions, it also features a small selection of upscale bedding, electronics, and even automotive accessories--random, right?
Tidebuy's attractive prices and large selection of women's wear have helped it become a popular site for eShoppers all over the world. According to Alexa.com Tidebuy ranks among the top 20k most-visited websites in the world, with almost a quarter of all its customers hailing from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Experience with Tidebuy
We couldn't wait to try it out, so we dove right into Tidebuy and snapped up a couple of nice accessories. We outlined our site impressions in the table below. Read on for an in-depth review of Tidebuy, how it works, and if you should use it.
Details
- Shipping Times: 4-8 business days (Standard Shipping), 2-5 business days (Expedited Shipping)
- Huge Selection, with may different styles, cuts, and colors on offer
- Very low prices
Pros
Cons
Payment
Tidebuy requires that you create an account to place an order. Once you've created your Tidebuy account, you will be directed to the payment page. Tidebuy accepts payments made via PayPal, Credit Card (MasterCard, Visa, AMEX, and Discover), Western Union and Web Money. We always recommend using PayPal for all online orders to take advantage of their superb buyer protection program. TideBuy also gives PayPal users to "Checkout with PayPal" and complete their order using their PayPal account.
Supported Payment Methods
| PayPal |  | Our recommendation for all online orders. PayPal offers a 45-day buyer protection program to protect you in case of mail problems. |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card |
| Credit Card payments are quick and easy: just plug in your card info and go. If you have PayPal but prefer to pay with plastic, Tidebuy allows you to process credit card payments via PayPal to take advantage of the extra protection. |
| Web Money |  | Web Money is Russia's answer to PayPal. It's mostly used within Russia and the former Soviet Bloc states, but has been increasing in popularity worldwide. If you're a Web Money user, you can pay with it here.< |
| Western Union | Western Union is an offline payment method that charges a transfer fee and requires you to report to a Western Union office in person to complete your transaction. Not recommended. |
Shipping Costs and Delivery Time
Tidebuy allows you to choose between three different shipping options when placing your order: Standard Shipping, Expedited Shipping, and the cheapest Super Savings Shipping. Exact shipping costs can vary depending on the weight of your order and the target destination, but Super Savings and Standard shipping are usually cheaper than the quicker Expedited shipping option.
Tidebuy used to offer free shipping on orders over $119, but they seem to have changed their shipping prices. On the official shipping costs page, they note that customers should receive "an extra 15% off shipping on orders over $49" and an "extra 35% percent off shipping on orders over $119. So much for free shipping, but at least you get something, right? Not so fast. We decided to check up on this and were unable to activate any sort of shipping discount when we stuffed our shopping cart full of over $300 worth of items. In fact, the Super Savings shipping option completely disappeared from our available shipping method upon checkout. Tidebuy Customer Service has yet to comment on this issue.
Tidebuy and Customs
In our experience ordering from Tidebuy, all of our orders arrived on time and without any issues with customs. They all seemed to be properly packaged and labeled. That being said, it is always possible for an international order to be stopped by customs for any reason when entering the country. We always recommend that you check out your country's rules and regulations surrounding international shipments and import taxes so that you know what to expect.
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
Tidebuy gives buyers the option to return items for any reason within 15 days of delivery. Tidebuy only accepts new, unused items for returns and all returns must be registered with Tidebuy Customer Service beforehand. Tidebuy does not allow returns on intimate apparel, swimwear, jewelry, accessories, and tattoo supplies.
Regardless of the sepcifics of your return, you will be responsible for all shipping fees associated with your return. Once Tidebuy has received your return, your refund or replacement will be processed and sent to you within 72 hours of receiving your return.
Special Features
Tidebuy features a Live-Chat function on its website, allowing shoppers to contact customer service to discuss sizing, delivery, and payment questions at any time. Tidebuy's very active Facebook page is a great place to keep tabs on new items, read user reviews (and complaints), and even knab some coupons. With over 900,000 Likes on Facebook, Tidebuy must be doing something right!
Conclusion
Online shoppers on the hunt for a nice evening gown or overcoat that won't break the bank would do well to check out Tidebuy. The site features a wide selection of women's wear that holds something for everyone. The shipping costs can get sort of expensive, but the low prices in and around the site tend to balance them out and keep Tidebuy competitive with most other Chinese fashion shops online.
Alternatives
| Alternative 1: |  Rosegal |  | Similar prices, large selection of womenswear, free shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative 2: |  Tidestore | from $59 | similar name, different produt range. Very good prices and lovely page design |
Tidebuy Coupons