Romwe and Shein are known for their fast-moving, affordably priced apparel sold majorly on their online shopping websites. They both operate out of China and have warehouses all over the world.
Their target audience consists of cost-driven online customers from all over the globe. They both sell primarily to women and Gen Z consumers. However, Shein also sells a rather high quantity of apparel to parents with children between 1-5 years.
Both companies are owned by Chris Xu, under Nanjing Lingtian Information Technology Co. Ltd. Whereas Shein was founded by Chris Xu, Romwe was later acquired as a subsidiary by the company.
目录
Romwe vs. Shein: A Tabular Overview of the Differences
| Differences | Romwe | Shein |
| Shipping | Has 3 shipping options; Economic, Standard, and Express shipping | Has 2 shipping options; Standard and Express shipping |
| Discounts | Currently available discounts are at 10% | Currently available discounts are at 15% |
| Reviews | Has fewer reviews, and some products lack reviews | Has more reviews |
| Product Options | Fewer product options, limited Plus size options | Has broader product categories |
| Warehouses | Available in fewer warehouses | Available in all warehouses |
| Shipping Offers | Free Economic Shipping for orders over $19.00Free standard shipping for orders over $39.00 | Free standard shipping for orders over $49.00 |
| Kids wear | Not offered on the website | Offered on the website |
| Amazon | Romwe is available worldwide on Amazon | Shein is available only in India as Shein and worldwide as SheIn |
| Payment options | Only has 9 payment options | Has 12 payment options |
| Company status | It is a subsidiary of Shein | It is the Holding company of Romwe |
| Company Ethics | Romwe is said to have better ethical practices than Shein –perhaps because of in-house apparel production. | Shein has come under fire online for allegedly questionable ethical practices and apparel. Such as listings on their website in 2020 for a necklace with a Swastika pendant, which they later explained to be a Buddhist symbol and was in no way Anti-Semitic. They, however, discontinued the product. |
A Brief and Inexhaustive Introduction To Romwe
Romwe started independently in 2010 as a Chinese e-commerce retailer, but Shelnside (now Shein) later absorbed it in 2014.
Currently, Romwe has built its name as a next-generation cyber-mall that stocks socially inspired products and pieces, including apparel, decor, accessories, and pet wear, to name a few. Its primary target audience and reach is Gen Z.
It is a subsidiary of Shein and sells the same items that Shein sells on their website, save for a few items including but not limited to kids’ wear and some plus size clothing.
A Brief and Inexhaustive Introduction to Shein
Shein is an online fashion and lifestyle retailer that uses an on-demand manufacturing model to produce quick-selling apparel. Shein has a global reach with buyers in more than 200 countries.
Shein, previously known as Shelnside, was re-founded in 2012 and has since achieved cult status and is currently worth $100 Billion.
In 2014, Shein acquired Romwe, giving Shein a supply chain system and transitioning from a B2C to a fully integrated retailer. According to web analytics from Similarweb, Shein is the most visited fashion and apparel website globally.
Their immense online presence and reach can be attributed partly to their early and savvy adoption of social marketing, with giveaways on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest dating as early as 2012.
The Main Similarities Between Shein and Romwe
Although Shein and Romwe and unique platforms in their own rights, they have the following similarities
- Both Shein and Romwe are online retail stores that sell directly to the global end consumer
- Both companies do not have physical/brick and mortar stores in the countries in which they mostly retail
- The same parent company owns both companies
- Both sell trendy and fast-moving fashion and apparel
- Both are China-based in origin, owned by the same parent company, and headquartered in Nanjing, China
- Both offer affordable and cheap products on their website
- Both use supply chain and trend predicting technology to create a small batch of apparel they think will sell out quickly
- Both circumvent export/import laws in the USA because they ship relatively low quantities directly to the consumer, unlike stores like Zara and H&M that bring bulk supplies to their physical stores and brand carriers.
- Shein and Romwe offer free express shipping to consumers who purchase products worth over $159.00.
- They both have the same return policy: first, return shipping is free, but a fee of $7.99 applies to all other additional returns, so if you are returning items, return them together to avoid paying more.
An Exhaustive Comparison of The Primary Differences Between Romwe and Shein
What follows are the most notable differences between Romwe and Shein
1: History
Shein started as SheInside in 2008 and predominantly sold wedding dresses globally as a B2C online platform based in China. In 2012, Shein changed its products from wedding gowns to women’s apparel, but they were still majorly B2C.
In 2014 Shein acquired Romwe, an online retail store with in-house production. This acquisition consequently shifted Shein from B2C to a fully integrated retail store.
Romwe is said to have been in business since 2010 as an online retailer with in-house apparel production. In 2014, Shein, then called SheInside, acquired the company; since then, it has operated as a subsidiary.
A Google featured Snippet of When Romwe Started
2: Quality
Similar products listed on both platforms are the same in design, sizing, and quality. Previously, there was a disparity in the qualities, and Romwe had better reviews.
Currently, however, with the streamlining of production, most of the items are exactly alike, and buying the same item on the two platforms is the same as buying the same item twice.
3: Kids wear/apparel
Shein has a broader, more inclusive product category than Romwe. Shein offers a whole section for kids’ clothing, whereas Romwe targets mostly Gen Z and does not stock kids’ apparel.
Shein has a section dedicated solely to kids’ apparel, as shown in the image below;
Romwe does not sell kids’ apparel, as shown in the image below.
4: Price
The prices listed on both websites are the same for most items on both platforms. The price difference in some cases is in cents and negligible.
The only factor that might make a product cheaper is the different discount(s) available on each platform.
5: Payment method
Shein has 12 payment options, whereas Romwe has only 9. The 9 options that Romwe has are also available on Shein. Additionally, Shein has Google pay, Venmo, and Zip payment options that Romwe does not have currently listed on the website as payment options.
6: Discounts or coupon
Both platforms offer a constant and wide range of sales and promotions. Currently —at the time of going to press with this blog—, Shein offers a 15% discount, and Romwe offers a 10% discount on purchases. Some of the discounts and coupons are seasonal, like the summer campaigns that are running currently.
Although discounts and coupons are almost always available on both platforms, counter checking on each site will help you get the best current deal.
7: Shipping policy (shipping time; processing time and delivery time; express delivery; shipping cost)
Romwe has a more flexible shipping option, including a third option that Shein does not have. Both websites have standard and express shipping, but Romwe has an economy option. The standard and express options cost the same on both platforms and the shipping time for the two is the same.
Here, the primary difference is the exclusive economic shipping offered by Romwe, which costs less and takes a bit more delivery time. The shipping return policy is the same for both Romwe and Shein —covered later in this guide.
8: Customer review
Shein has more traffic and site purchases than Romwe. As such, the same products will have different reviews on different platforms.
The reviews are similar in type; that is, positive reviews on an item on one platform will translate to the same degree or a similar degree of positive reviews on the other platform and vice versa. The difference is in the number of reviews on both sites.
Shein has more reviews per product than Romwe. If a product on Romwe has no reviews, a simple similar product search on Shein will give you the product and its reviews.
9: Product options
Shein has a broader, more inclusive product option than Romwe. Besides kids’ apparel and other items being exclusively available on Shein, Shein has a dedicated section for plus-size clothing on the platform.
The same is not available on Romwe even though they have somewhat inclusive sizing and a plus size intimates/swimwear section. The reviews left on both platforms advise the consumer to select apparel one size larger than them to guarantee that they fit.
10: Warehouse Availability
On its website, Romwe states that it has warehouses in California, Dubai, New Jersey, China, and Belgium. Shein has a more extensive reach with more warehouses worldwide.
According to ALIXBLOG, Shein has warehouses in the USA, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Australia, China, and the Middle East.
Romwe vs. Shein FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about these two eCommerce mediums:
Q1: Are Romwe and Shein Legitimate?
Yes, Romwe and Shein are legitimate online retailers in the fashion industry, specializing in fast-moving and trending fashion
Q2: Is Romwe better quality than Shein?
Currently, Romwe and Shein have the same quality items on their platforms. The products listed on both platforms are the same, save for a few items and categories available on Shein but not on Romwe. Previously, however, Romwe used to have better quality, thanks to in-house production.
Q3: Is Romwe safer than Shein?
Regarding buyer safety, both websites currently offer a secure checkout system and buyer protection.
Q4: Are Shein and Romwe clothes toxic?
Previous studies showed that some of Shein’s products contained higher-than-permitted toxicity levels.
In the report, Shein products contained more than the recommended amount of lead in the apparel sold. Shein took positive action by refunding the customers who purchased the said apparel and asked for an internal investigation.
There have been numerous allegations online that Shein is a toxic brand that does not observe or uphold Human and Worker Rights with its factory employees. Some of the allegations remain unsubstantiated.
Q5: Do Shein and Romwe Clothing Items Run Small?
Yes, the apparel on either platform runs at least one size small, and it is best to buy apparel one size larger than your actual size. It is common practice for consumers of the brands to size upwards at least once when buying clothes from these retailers.
Q6: Are Shein and Romwe the same?
Yes, Romwe and Shein are owned by the same parent company, Nanjing Lingtian Information Technology Co. Ltd., owned by Chris Xu.
Q7: Does Romwe ship faster than Shein?
Romwe and Shein have the same shipping time and procedures, save for the economic shipping option available on Romwe that allows the consumer to spend less on shipping at the cost of a longer delivery period.
Q8: Do Romwe and Shein have stores near me?
Romwe and Shein do not have physical stores; they have warehouses globally where they store some products —and fulfill orders from their warehouses. Shipping time may be faster if a product is available in a warehouse near you.
Conclusion
Shein and Romwe offer trendy and fast-moving apparel and products that are relatively good quality for the price. They are suitable for any cash-conscious buyer who wants to express themselves in their fashion and lifestyle.
In parting:
When shopping on the two platforms, cross reference products on both platforms to ensure that you get the best possible deal possible —based on the discounts offered by either platform at the time you’re shopping.
Also:
Check out product reviews online and on social media. You can even check YouTube hauls, Tiktok hauls, and Instagram reviews of the product to gauge the quality and fit before purchasing anything to ensure a good online shopping experience that gives you the best bang for your buck!