Shein has cemented itself as one of the most popular clothing marketplaces on the internet. The company offers a wide range of high-quality clothing items for customers and processes thousands of orders daily.

Once a customer places an order through Shein, it goes through many steps. One of the first is the “processing” phase. If the status on your order displays the “processing” message, it means that Shein is verifying your payment, locating the inventory, running a quality check, or packing your order for shipping.

Processing time on Shein typically takes about 1 to 3 business days. In this guide, we will examine what activities occur during the processing stage and answer some commonly asked questions on this topic.

What Activities Are Carried Out During the Order Processing Stage?

Shein orders that are in the processing stage are undergoing a sequence of activities that include the following:

Verifying Payment

In this stage, Shein checks to see if your payment is successfully processed. This typically entails verifying that you have entered the correct credit card or debit card information and if it matches the details on your profile. Shein also checks to see if the card company has approved and completed the transaction.

Picking Items From Inventory

Shein’s operations team then reviews the list of items in your order and picks each one out from their inventory. As they ship out of various local and international warehouses and distribution centers, they will pick and pack the items from the warehouse closest to you.

For example, if you live in the USA, Shein will pick out items from their USA warehouse. Sometimes, certain products need to be consolidated first, before they are shipped out.

Run Quality Checks

Shein typically performs a quality inspection of each product before listing them on their website. If for example, they plan to list a particular dress on their website, they inspect the item’s color, size, stitching, workmanship, and other quality aspects in batches.

Before the shipping process, the quality assessment team performs another quality inspection once they have retrieved an item for an order. This acts as a secondary check that the item has not been damaged during transportation to their warehouses or during storage.

This ensures that their customers receive their items in excellent condition and also reduces returns – this ultimately reduces their cost of return logistics and increases customer satisfaction.

Packing Items For Dispatch

Once Shein’s staff have retrieved the correct items and completed their quality checks, they will consolidate them into a single shipment (if they are available at the same location) and pack them for shipping.

This includes re-checking the shipping details such as the customer’s name and address. They then print out the corresponding shipping labels and hand the package over to their logistics provider.

What Happens After an Order Is Processed?

Each of the aforementioned activities must be completed before an order is shipped on Shein, meaning that each order had its payment verified, was located in the warehouse or distribution center, has undergone a quality check, and has been packed for shipping.

After an order is processed, Shein will hand the package over to their logistics provider. The logistics provider is then responsible for transporting the item to the customer.

The shipping method and carrier may vary based on the buyer’s selection, or the order’s value and the shipping destination. Shein typically displays the order status message, “Dispatched” or “Shipped”, for orders that have completed processing and have reached this shipping stage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Shein’s order processing stage that people have asked.

Can I Cancel My Order During the Processing Stage?

You have the option to cancel your Shein order while it is in the processing stage. To do this, you simply need to contact Shein’s customer service and let them know you would like to cancel your order.

However, you will need to perform this cancellation as quickly as possible because the processing time typically lasts for about 1 to 3 business days. 

You won’t be able to cancel your order once it has crossed the processing stage and has been shipped. In this situation, you can return your product for a refund using the return label.

Do All Orders on Shein Get Processed?

All orders placed on Shein undergo the processing steps mentioned earlier. This is because they need to verify your payment, locate your items, check their quality, and pack them for shipping.

Each of these steps is essential for Shein to maintain a seamless and efficient process for all orders. If you have a large order, Shein may take longer to gather each item. In this situation, your order may take longer than usual to process.

Does Shein Send a Notification When My Order Is Being Processed?

Shein will notify you via email when your order has completed the processing stage and has been dispatched for shipping. Receiving this email confirmation is evidence that Shein has successfully processed your order.

When Do Some Orders on Shein Take Longer to Process Than Others?

Your order on Shein could be taking longer than usual to process for many reasons. This includes delays stemming from a high volume of orders, or issues in the processing and shipping stages.

If your order has been stuck in the processing stage for a prolonged period, you can contact Shein’s customer service and inquire about the delay.

Is There A Way to Speed Up The Order Processing Time?

It is possible to speed up your Shein order’s processing time. To do this, you must choose marketplace items that are marked as “Priority Dispatch”. Shein processes and ships such items much faster than others.

Another way to improve your chances of receiving your order quickly is to check the item’s estimated delivery date before placing your order. With this approach, you can avoid ordering items with estimated delivery dates that are later than usual and order items with earlier estimated delivery dates instead.

If you still have concerns about your order’s processing or shipping times, you can contact their customer service department. They will be able to provide more information on the status of your order and what steps you can take to resolve any processing delays.


Get Free Course Access

If you enjoyed the article, don’t miss out on our free supply chain courses that help you stay ahead in your industry.


Agnes Aui

Head of Marketing
at freightcourse

About the Author

Agnes is the Head of Marketing at freightcourse and seamlessly blends her strong background in content management with strategic marketing expertise.

She brings a wealth of knowledge to readers, specializing in various e-commerce topics such as order fulfillments, purchasing, payments, and more.