- Who is behind LightInTheBox
- How ordering and delivery work on LightInTheBox
- LightInTheBox returns and refunds in plain English
- Custom-sized and made-to-order items at LightInTheBox
- Customs, duties and import charges on LightInTheBox orders
- LightInTheBox facts at a glance
- Staying safe when you shop at LightInTheBox
- Is LightInTheBox worth ordering from?
- Frequently asked questions
LightInTheBox is a real online retailer, founded in 2007 and listed on the NYSE since 2013, according to Wikipedia. Its help pages explain returns, delivery and customs charges, but the catch is that you pay return postage for most returns, made-to-order items can't be sent back, and import taxes are down to you.
LightInTheBox is one of those shops that turns up in adverts at the exact moment you need a dress, a curtain or a phone case, so it's natural to wonder who's behind it. I've read its company history and help pages so you know what to expect before you put a card in, and where to be careful.
Who is behind LightInTheBox
According to Wikipedia, LightInTheBox was founded in 2007 and became the holding company LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. in 2008. It began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on June 6, 2013 under the ticker LITB, which means it has published filings and a public track record that a pop-up shop wouldn't have.
That public history includes a bumpy patch. Wikipedia reports that about three months after the share offering, a class action accused the company of misrepresenting its financial prospects, and the case was settled in 2014. That was about investors rather than shoppers, so I wouldn't treat it as a verdict on your order, but it's part of the record.
How ordering and delivery work on LightInTheBox
You place the order on the site and pay at its checkout. Its help pages set inquiry periods for parcels that haven't arrived, counted from the day it shipped: 30 days for Expedited Express, 60 days for Expedited Postal, Priority Line or Economy Air, and 90 days for tracked postal service. Know which method you chose, because it decides how long you wait before you contact customer service.
Regional versions of the site have their own help pages, and the wording differs between them. Always read the policy on the version you're shopping on.
LightInTheBox returns and refunds in plain English
The return policy says items need to be brand-new, unworn and unused, in their original packaging with tags. You confirm receipt in your account, submit a Return or Exchange ticket with photos or videos, and customer service gives you the address to send it to. The policy is explicit that return labels aren't provided and that you shouldn't send the parcel back to the address printed on the shipping label.
- Made-to-order, customized or special products are excluded, except where local law says otherwise.
- For personal-reason returns, you pay the return shipping.
- Original shipping and insurance costs are generally non-refundable.
- Refunds go back to your original payment method or to a LightInTheBox credit account.
The policy page I read doesn't state the number of days you have to return something, only that items outside the return window can't be returned. Check the exact window in your account when you order, and take photos the day the parcel arrives.
Custom-sized and made-to-order items at LightInTheBox
This is where most disappointment starts, because the rules are stricter. The help centre says customized items can be cancelled free within 24 hours of payment confirmation. After that, the refund is 50% of the product price, and there's no cancellation once the item has shipped. Because personal-reason returns aren't accepted on these items, measure twice and double check the size chart before you confirm.
Customs, duties and import charges on LightInTheBox orders
LightInTheBox says customs duties and taxes are the recipient's responsibility, and it can't estimate them because customs policies vary widely from country to country. Some orders need customs clearance, which can delay delivery. Your local customs office can tell you what applies to you.
The site also offers Duty & Tax Insurance at checkout. Its help says this gives a 100% refund of tax fees charged on delivery, claimed by opening a Custom Duty Issue ticket with your invoice. It adds that no tax fee is refunded if you didn't buy the insurance for that order, so decide at checkout, not afterwards.
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LightInTheBox facts at a glance
| Question | What LightInTheBox's pages say |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007, per Wikipedia |
| Stock listing | NYSE, ticker LITB, since 2013 |
| Return labels | Not provided, you arrange the return |
| Custom items | Free cancellation within 24 hours, then a 50% product refund |
| Import taxes | The recipient's responsibility |
| Missing parcel inquiry | 30, 60 or 90 days from shipping, depending on method |
Staying safe when you shop at LightInTheBox
Use the shop's own checkout and nowhere else. If a seller, a social media account or someone in a direct message asks you to pay outside the site, by bank transfer or gift card, walk away. Check that the web address is the real LightInTheBox site, because look-alike pages copy popular shops. If you ever see a message claiming a problem with an order, log in directly rather than clicking a link, and keep your order number to hand.
It also helps to think about what you're buying. Cheap-looking fashion and home goods vary in finish, so photos on arrival and a note of what you paid for protect you more than any badge on a website. If you're thinking about selling online yourself, my guide to selling on Amazon shows the other side of the screen, and selling on Vinted is a gentler start for small sellers.
Is LightInTheBox worth ordering from?
It's a real, long-running company with published policies, and the policies explain returns, customs and cancellations. Whether it's right for you depends on whether you're happy to pay return postage, check sizes carefully and cover import taxes. Read the version of the policy for your own country first, and use your card company's dispute process if an order doesn't arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Is LightInTheBox legit?
It's a real online retailer. According to Wikipedia it was founded in 2007 and has traded on the NYSE since 2013. Its help pages set out returns, delivery and customs rules.
Who owns LightInTheBox?
Wikipedia names LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. as the holding company, listed on the NYSE under LITB. I couldn't confirm a current ownership breakdown.
Can you return items to LightInTheBox?
Most items can be returned if they're brand-new, unworn and in original packaging with tags, but made-to-order, customized or special products are excluded. For personal-reason returns you pay the return shipping.
Do I pay customs charges on LightInTheBox orders?
LightInTheBox says customs duties and taxes are the recipient's responsibility. It offers Duty & Tax Insurance at checkout for a 100% refund of tax fees charged on delivery.
How long should I wait for a missing LightInTheBox parcel?
The inquiry period is counted from the ship date: 30 days for Expedited Express, 60 days for Expedited Postal, Priority Line or Economy Air, and 90 days for tracked postal service.
Can I cancel a custom-sized order?
The help centre says free cancellation is possible within 24 hours of payment confirmation, a 50% product refund applies after that, and there's no cancellation once it has shipped.
