A DHgate spreadsheet is different from an agent spreadsheet
Most spreadsheets on this site list Taobao, Weidian or 1688 items, which you can only buy through a shopping agent, because those platforms don't ship abroad. DHgate is different. It is a marketplace built for international buyers: sellers, mostly manufacturers and wholesalers in China, list items in English, and DHgate handles payment and international shipping itself. A DHgate spreadsheet is simply a list of DHgate seller links.
That changes the whole process. There is no warehouse stage, no QC photos from an agent and no second payment for shipping. You pay once on DHgate, the seller ships to you, and DHgate's buyer protection covers the transaction. "DHgate spreadsheet" is searched more than most agent spreadsheet terms, and the most common follow-up question is whether DHgate can be trusted.
DHgate links are bought directly on DHgate; you don't need an agent.
Is DHgate legit?
As a platform, yes. DHgate has operated since 2004, takes payment through an escrow system and runs a formal dispute process. Plenty of orders arrive without problems. What makes people nervous is that DHgate is a marketplace, not a shop: the platform is legitimate, but quality and honesty vary seller by seller. Independent reviewers also point out that DHgate has appeared repeatedly on the US government's list of marketplaces associated with counterfeit goods, and that customs authorities can seize trademark-infringing items. If that happens, the parcel and the money are usually lost.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Real company? | Yes, operating since 2004 |
| Payment protection? | Escrow: held until delivery or until the dispute window closes |
| Refunds? | For items not received or not as described, within the protection window |
| Main risks | Individual sellers, off-platform payment requests, short dispute windows, customs |
DHgate the platform is legit; each seller and each item still needs checking.
How DHgate's escrow and disputes work
When you pay on DHgate, the money doesn't go straight to the seller. DHgate holds it in escrow and releases it once the order shows as delivered, or once the dispute window closes. That is the most important protection on the platform, and it is also what most scams try to get you around.
- Pay only on DHgate. Sellers sometimes offer a discount for paying outside the platform. Those payments have no buyer protection at all.
- Note the protection countdown. Every order page shows how long you have to open a dispute. It starts on delivery and is shorter than most people assume; third-party guides disagree on the numbers, so trust your own order page.
- Inspect on arrival. Photograph the parcel and the item the day it arrives, before you confirm receipt.
- Don't confirm receipt while there's a problem. Confirming early releases the payment and weakens DHgate's ability to mediate.
- Refuse off-platform refunds. If a seller offers to refund you outside DHgate during a dispute, decline and keep the case on the platform.
Pay on DHgate, keep evidence and don't confirm receipt until you're satisfied.
How long DHgate takes to ship
DHgate delivery time has two parts: the seller's handling time before dispatch, shown on the listing, and the shipping method you choose. Independent reviews describe economy shipping as typically two to six weeks and paid express with DHL, FedEx or UPS as roughly five to ten days. Changes to customs rules for low-value parcels, especially in the US in 2025, have made some cheap shipping options slower or more expensive than they used to be. Import VAT and, above set thresholds, duty apply as for any parcel from China.
Tracking for economy methods often goes quiet for a week or more mid-journey. That is normal. Keep an eye on the protection countdown, though: if the parcel is clearly late, open a dispute before the window closes rather than after.
Allow two to six weeks on economy, and watch the dispute window if a parcel is late.
Checking a DHgate seller
- Feedback score and volume. A high positive rating from many orders is a better sign than a perfect score from a handful.
- Recent reviews with photos. Buyer photos show what actually arrives, just as QC photos do with agents.
- Store age. Long-established stores have more to lose from bad sales.
- Clear listing details. Sizes, materials and measurements written out are better than vague descriptions.
- Messages that stay on DHgate. Sellers who move you to WhatsApp or email for payment are a red flag.
Choose sellers with many recent, photo-backed reviews, and keep every conversation on the platform.
DHgate or an agent?
| DHgate | Agent (e.g. Oopbuy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where items come from | DHgate sellers | Taobao, Weidian, 1688 |
| Payments | One payment, shipping included | Item first, then shipping |
| Photos before shipping | Seller and buyer photos only | Warehouse QC photos of your item |
| Combining sellers | Separate parcels per seller | One combined parcel |
| Protection | Escrow and disputes | Returns within the agent's window, then line insurance |
DHgate is simpler for one or two items from a single seller. An agent is better when you want to see your actual item before it ships, or combine items from several sellers into one parcel. For how agents work, see how to order from Oopbuy; for all marketplaces and agents, the agent index.
DHgate for simple single-seller orders; an agent for QC photos and combined hauls.
FAQ
Is DHgate legit?
Yes, as a marketplace. DHgate has operated since 2004, processes payments through escrow and runs a formal dispute system. Individual sellers vary, so check each seller before buying.
Is DHgate safe?
It is safest when you stay on the platform. Payments made outside DHgate aren't covered by its buyer protection, and confirming receipt before a problem is resolved weakens DHgate's ability to step in.
How long does DHgate take to ship?
Economy shipping typically takes two to six weeks. Paid express options with DHL, FedEx or UPS are often around five to ten days. The seller's handling time comes on top.
Is DHgate trustworthy for refunds?
DHgate promises a refund if an item doesn't arrive or doesn't match its description, within the buyer protection window shown on your order. That window starts on delivery and is shorter than many buyers assume.
Do I need an agent for DHgate?
No. DHgate sells and ships internationally on its own. Agents are for Chinese domestic platforms such as Taobao, Weidian and 1688.