Is TikTok Shop Legit? Discover Trustworthy Reviews
By Barsha Bhattacharya
30 October, 2024
Advertising
Does TikTok shop use spamming ads? Is TikTok Shop Legit? The search engine is flooded with such queries. When we started digging deeper, we found something interesting.
Since TikTok Shop emerged, the number of sponsored advertisements and product posts has increased manifold. No doubt TikTok is edging you with FOMO marketing.
Now and then, you will see your most searched hoodie at $8 only. Or the trending skin care at 60% off. I also found rare but trending items like the cross-legged chair marked “available” on the TikTok shop.
Kudos to the app’s UI. The sparkling red “BUY NOW” button is bound to grab your attention. But hold it! Is the TikTok shop legit? Check that out first.
How TikTok Shop Skim Customers?
TikTok Shop always tries to hit the bull’s eye with their FOMO. Brian Shaw once said- “My motivation is being the best.” And that’s what the TikTok shop has been doing every day.
They don’t use random FOMO marketing techniques. Imagine you went to the Buy Now page of your favorite lip gloss twice but didn’t buy it then. You will notice its price has been slashed 50% a day later.
The bottom line is that they know what and who to offer.
However, there are other traits of TikTok Shop’s viral marketing strategy. They offer the best discounts to first-time visitors. But a lot of users have raised concerns lately. They found the offers too good to be true. So, what’s cooking?
When asked- is TikTok shop legit, a TikTok spokesperson was candid about it: TikTok offers their users a “safe and secure” marketplace that allows users to choose from an “expansive selection of products” from the brands and designers they prefer.
But we can’t fully support what he said, considering the growing number of customer hesitations.
Effect of Previous Controversies?
Isn’t it natural to doubt the legitimacy of a new e-commerce platform that has provided surreal discounts since day 1? I mean, we all know about the controversies TikTok has been involved in. the deadliest of them being siphoning user data from the US to China.
We asked several users for feedback. They revealed that real-life transactions are not as attractive as the marketing flyers sound.
What TikTok Shop Really Is?
TikTok Shop is an online e-com platform where you can buy stuff without leaving the app. It has a stark similarity with Etsy.
Etsy allows third-party sellers to launch their own shop on their platform. TikTok Shop similarly enables users to list their products for sale on the same app.
There is no site niche. You can sell anything from curtains to razors. But what’s more striking is that the TikTok shop lists hordes of brands. And that’s where the game gets dirty.
Customers doubt whether the brands are actual at all. A site that perpetually allows anyone to use their platform may not strictly filter the authenticity of sellers.
What Are The Rules For Selling at a TikTok shop?
TikTok Shop has some genuine guidelines for sellers:
- You must be at least 18 years of age to sell online
- To sell, you should also have a certain number of TikTok followers
- Sellers can hold a US passport or a driver’s license as ID proof
- All sellers can only trade in limited products for the first few months
- They will receive TikTok’s validation after the probation period ends.
The Real deal: is TikTok shop legit and safe for shoppers?
It’s the third time in a day someone posted the query- is the TikTok shop legit? Well, most sellers on TikTok Shop may be authentic. But you can’t loosen your guard. Always keep an eye on scammers posing as sellers.
But the question is, how can you detect them? Well, there are some common tricks to detect fraudsters. Firstly, look out for product listings with fake reviews. Secondly, read the label graphics of the product image. Thirdly, check if there are irrelevant product descriptions in any listing.
Fake reviews have some standard features:
- Written in flamboyant English
- There are no original reviewer names or profile image
- The reviews are very generic
A US Agency, Media Matters for America, exposed the scams of deepfake doctors and illegal vapes. The deepfake scam in the US has increased by 1740% in the past few years. And the e-com sector is prone to be affected, too.
We also scanned TikTok Shop’s product listing to find some exclusive loopholes. Some gaming products ignored the app’s gamification and gaming policies. But there’s something more alarming here.
You can’t identify a fake or illegal listing quickly. They are camouflaged between genuine products. However, the good part is that TikTok will take immediate action to rule out such listings.
Family Online Safety Institute’s CEO said, “It’s good that TikTok takes ownership of fraud listings and acts quickly.”
The Silver Lining
We surveyed agencies that shop from TikTok in bulk for reselling. But they seemed happy to shop only from the site. When asked- is TikTok shop legit, they said: “We have not found something weird here.” Most buyers treat it just like another online marketplace.
They also added, “There are fake shops and sellers on Amazon. But you don’t blame the app.”
What’s the Most heard-of scam?
The biggest scam that makes TikTok Shop infamous is duplicate products. Fitness expert and nutritionist Alyssa ordered an NFL-branded sweatshirt.
The product she got was the same as the original. The thing also came on time. In fact, delivery updates and tracking data from the brand also seemed next-level genuine.
But TikTok shop’s policy says something assuring here. The TikTok shop will refund the buyer if you receive any ingenuine product. If you feel scammed, you can request a product return in under 30 days.
30 days Passed! What Now?
If you think the product is fake, you can also request a return after 30 days. Just visit the Tiktok Shop Buyer Protection Program to complain within 3 months of the delivery.
Safe Shopping Tips for Tiktok Shop Consumers
- Don’t buy things online casually. Check for the originality tag. It is a disclaimer from the brand that says- “Tiktok Shop” is the authorized seller of their brand.
- You can also check the brand’s own website. For example, visit Adidas.com. You can find the list of authorized online and offline sellers and resellers of Adidas’ merchandise there.
- You can also check the fine print on the listing tag. If the product is fake, the product ID number you see online won’t be on the product tag when you receive it.
- Don’t pay these fake sellers from your own bank. It is better to use Apple Pay or PayPal wallet for payment.
Be a responsible e-commerce customer!
Our drive started with the question- is tiktok shop legit? Meanwhile, we discovered there are scammers on the app’s shopping site. But we joined the dots and found that TikTok Shop takes action to identify and screen fraud.
It’s time we become more cautious as buyers. Spend time screening products. Don’t be swayed away by the discount offer or the HD image of the product. Follow the Safe Shopping guide we shared.
Consult us if you have additional queries. Paste your comments below!
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