lightinthebox.com
55
MixedBuy this instead
🔗https://lightinthebox.com

LightInTheBox is a legitimate, publicly traded retailer that has been operating since 2007 and is not a scam. However, while it is a real business, many customers report significant frustrations with inconsistent product quality, unpredictable sizing, slow international shipping, and a very difficult, costly return process. It is best used only for inexpensive, non-critical items that you are comfortable keeping even if they do not meet your expectations, as attempting to return items to their China-based warehouses is rarely cost-effective or successful.

lightinthebox.com product imagelightinthebox.com product imagelightinthebox.com product imagelightinthebox.com product image

Video reviews

Pros

  • Legitimate, long-standing, publicly traded company
  • Wide variety of niche and hard-to-find products
  • Competitive, low pricing compared to many competitors
  • Established website infrastructure and secure payment options (e.g., PayPal)

Cons

  • Inconsistent product quality and sizing often running small
  • Costly and difficult return process (buyer usually pays international shipping to China)
  • Slow international shipping times
  • Customer support is limited to ticketing systems, lacking direct phone or live chat access
  • Mixed user reviews regarding customer service responsiveness and refund reliability

⚠ Red flags

  • Return policies are restrictive, especially for custom or made-to-order items
  • High risk of unsatisfactory outcomes due to return costs and potential customs duties
  • Historical security incident involving customer data exposure

Safety signals

Clear contact info (via ticketing system)
Stated return policy
Secure payment options
Presence on scam-report sites (BBB F rating)
Established business (since 2007)

Third-party ratings

Better Business Bureau (BBB)F
Trustpilot4.3/5

Facts

Domain registered 2006-10 · 19 years old
Connection Valid HTTPS certificate
Certificate valid until 2026-08-02 (43 days) · GoDaddy.com, Inc.
Founded: 2007
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Publicly Traded: Yes (NYSE: LITB)

Better options

💡 Smarter pick
AliExpressLow/Budget

Why switch: Similar business model as a cross-border marketplace for budget items.

S
SHEINLow/Budget

Often used as an alternative for budget apparel with similar pros and cons.

HasTrust summarizes public web sources and can be wrong or out of date. Not a guarantee of safety or quality — always verify before you buy or pay.
Do you trust this site?

Buyer reports

No buyer reports yet — bought from here? Be the first to share.

Comments are screened before they appear. The count updates immediately.

▶ Watch video reviews

Checked 4 days ago.

Frequently asked

Is is lightinthebox legit legit?

Mixed. HasTrust trust score: 55/100. LightInTheBox is a legitimate, publicly traded retailer that has been operating since 2007 and is not a scam. However, while it is a real business, many customers report significant frustrations with inconsistent product quality, unpredictable sizing, slow international shipping, and a very difficult, costly return process. It is best used only for inexpensive, non-critical items that you are comfortable keeping even if they do not meet your expectations, as attempting to return items to their China-based warehouses is rarely cost-effective or successful.

Is is lightinthebox legit a scam?

Possible concerns from our check: Return policies are restrictive, especially for custom or made-to-order items; High risk of unsatisfactory outcomes due to return costs and potential customs duties; Historical security incident involving customer data exposure

What is the is lightinthebox legit trust score?

HasTrust rates is lightinthebox legit 55/100 (Mixed). Buy this instead

Check any shop as you browse
HasTrust is a free browser extension — an instant trust second-opinion on every store you visit.
Get the free extension →
Own lightinthebox.com? Add your HasTrust badge

Show your live HasTrust score on your own site — it links back here so visitors can see the full check. How it works ↗

HasTrust trust score