Is Cider Legit? What You Need to Know to Shop Safely

Cider is one of dozens of online fashion retailers that's popped up over the past decade to sell trendy clothes to Gen Z shoppers. But considering their mixed reviews on quality, shipping, and customer service, consumers want to know: is Cider safe and legitimate to use? We answer that question as part of our deep dive into Cider's accepted payment methods, return and refund policies, shipping, online reviews, and much more.

Is Cider a legit website?

Yes, Cider is a legitimate website. They accept normal payment methods like credit and debit cards, PayPal, Klarna, and AfterPay. Customers report receiving their items, though not always as quickly as initially promised since Cider sends them their orders directly from their factories in China.

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Is Cider legit?

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Yes, Cider is a safe and legit website for buying fashion apparel. It has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, a website where customers rate and review businesses. Customers on Trustpilot haven't complained about getting their payment information stolen by using the site, and most of them report receiving their orders (though not always in a timely manner). They're mixed on the product quality, though. While some customers love the items they bought, others say theirs came damaged or came apart after they were worn.
- Despite being legitimate, it's worth noting that Cider is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Its current rating on BBB is 1.2 out of 5 stars from 5 customer reviews.

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What payment methods does Cider accept?

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Cider accepts credit and debit cards, PayPal, Klarna, AfterPay, and CashApp Pay. In addition to these payment methods, they also offer gift cards that work exclusively on their website.^{[1]
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Research source} Shoppers who have to return items they bought can also opt to receive store credits instead of a cash refund. They can then use those store credits on any future purchase for 6 months until they expire.^{[2]
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- Cider store credits can't be combined with coupon codes or gift cards in an order. They also can't be redeemed for cash.

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Cider Return & Refund Policies

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That policy covers all items in the order. So, if you ordered 3 items and each one gets delivered on a different day, the 14-day return request window begins the day you receive the last item. They also require customers to ship the returned item within 7 days after submitting a return request.^{[3]
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They charge a $3.99 restocking fee per parcel on all returns. This fee is non-negotiable for all returns started after September 13, 2024, and will be deducted from your refund. This means you won't get reimbursed the full amount you paid for your order. They do provide a pre-paid return shipping label, so you don't have to cover the shipping cost out of pocket — for the first item, that is. If you return more than one item from your order, however, you have to pay for shipping for those additional products..^{[4]
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- According to Cider, the fee covers "the costs associated with processing your return, including inspecting and repackaging the items to ensure they meet our quality standards and keep returned products out of landfills."^{[5]
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Cider doesn't accept any products that look like they've been worn, washed, or altered. They also check the hygiene stickers on swimwear to make sure they haven't been partially removed.^{[6]
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This means when you return an item, not only will the $3.99 restocking fee be deducted from your order, but so will the fees you paid for shipping when you initially placed your order.^{[7]
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Research source} Cider does offer free shipping for orders over $39, but if yours cost less than that, they'll deduct their $5.99 flat shipping rate from your refund.^{[8]
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Cider Shipping Rates & Costs

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Cider's standard shipping rate is 9-13 days after processing. This gives them time to order the items from their factories in China, where they're manufactured. Cider cautions that some orders may be delayed because of extended customs clearance times.^{[9]
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- Track the shipping status of your order by logging into your Cider account here.
- Some people on the internet suspect that Cider actually drop-ships their inventory instead of ordering them directly from factories. Dropshipping is a business model in which a company doesn't hold inventory. Instead, they place bulk orders from suppliers like AliExpress, who then ship the product to the customer.^{[10]
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- If true, this would mean that Cider doesn't have any original designs. It would also explain why some customers' orders get delayed or lost, since they would have to order the product from a supplier.
- However, there's no real proof that Cider uses dropshipping.
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Cider charges $5.99 to ship orders that cost $39 or under. If your order doesn't total more than $39 USD, Cider will add a flat shipping rate of $5.99 to your total cost. To avoid that, make sure your items add up to at least $40, and the shipping will be free.^{[11]
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If Cider has a specific item in their catalog in stock in their US warehouses, they'll tag the product with a Flash Shipping label and a lightning bolt symbol on their website. This lets customers know they can order and receive it in 3 business days (although they must also allow an extra 1-3 days for Cider to process the order). Customers must still pay the $5.99 flat shipping fee unless the order totals $40 or more, in which case the shipping is free even for flash items.^{[12]
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Cider Clothing Reviews

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Many customers praise Cider's customer service. Some of the top positive reviews on Trustpilot note that Cider's customer service is "quite good," "quick," "effective," "understanding," and "wonderful." One Cider customer who received a damaged item in their order said they spoke to a customer service agent and got the option to receive a replacement or full store credit.^{[13]
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- Some 1-star reviews were less impressed with the service they received. They claim that Cider is poor at responding to emails and that they only offered partial store credit for items that broke soon after arrival.
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Customers are mixed about Cider products' quality and sizing. While some of the positive Cider reviewers say the clothes they ordered from Cider are "pretty" and "good quality," others note that their items arrived damaged or came apart soon after they were worn. Some people also had an issue with the clothes' sizing, saying they used the sizing guides and took their measurements, but the clothes they selected still didn't fit properly.
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Customers tend to complain about delayed, lost, or failed deliveries. Because most of Cider's products ship directly to the customer from China, delays are common. Some reviewers also say parts of their order got lost, while for others, the courier failed to deliver their package to their address.
- Cider notes in their Shipping and Delivery Policy that they're not responsible for failed deliveries caused by the customer not providing the correct shipping information (i.e., the delivery address or the customer's contact number).^{[14]
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One reviewer stated they did everything Cider requested for their return, and Cider still denied them a refund. Others complained that they had to pay a restocking fee for the return and cover the shipping costs for the second return in the same order.

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Is Cider fast fashion?

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Yes, Cider is fast fashion like Shein or Princess Polly. A major clue is the fact that Cider adds dozens, if not hundreds, of new items to their website every week. The company can expand their catalog so often because they focus on producing as many products as they can using the cheapest materials. This allows them to charge much lower prices than luxury brands, but the quality of the products is extremely low, and customers have to spend more money over time to keep replacing them.^{[15]
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Is Cider ethical?

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It's unclear if Cider uses ethical employment practices. Their website shows a Zero-Tolerance Policy outlining how they want factory employees to be treated in areas like Human Rights, Safety, and Environment.^{[16]
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Research source} But the language is vague on how (or if) the policy is enforced. Even if it is enforced, Cider's requirements may not make much of an impact. For example, the policy specifies that the workers' wages shouldn't be lower than the minimum wage. However, in Guangzhou, where the factories the brand uses are located, the minimum wage is 23.7 RMB.^{[17]
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Research source} That's equivalent to $3.26 in US dollars, which isn't nearly enough to make a comfortable living.

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Is Cider better than Shein?

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Shein and Cider manufacture their clothes (mostly out of polyester) in the same area of China, Guangzhou, where the factories are known for paying extremely low wages and treating their workers like slaves.^{[18]
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Research source} They also have the same business model where they constantly add new items to their website, produce those items fast and cheap, and ship them to their customers directly from the factories.^{[19]
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Pros of Shopping at Cider

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You can shop an ever-expanding fashion catalog with budget-friendly prices. If you're on a budget but still want or need to buy clothes and fashion accessories, Cider can be a good option. They're constantly adding new items to their website, so you're sure to find something that fits your style aesthetic. With such low prices, you may also be able to afford to order more products at once.
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Your Cider order will be shipped free if it's over $39. For just $40 or more, you can waive Cider's flat $5.99 shipping fee. Then, you can spend that money on another item and get even more bang for your buck.
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You get 3-day Flash Shipping on items stocked in Cider's US warehouses. If Cider already has a product you're interested in stocked in their warehouses in the US, you can get that item shipped to you in 3 business days. That's a lot faster than the standard 9-13-day shipping rate for items they have to order directly from their manufacturers in China.

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Cons of Shopping at Cider

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Your order may not be delivered on time. Because of delays in Customs and the new tariff laws in the US, you may not receive your order in the timeframe Cider estimates. Keep in mind that most of the items you purchase through Cider have to travel all the way from China where they're manufactured. Then, once they arrive in the US, they must be cleared for entry by Customs. This process can take several weeks from beginning to end.
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You may not receive your clothes in the sizes you expect. Sizing is a common issue for Cider customers, so expect that your clothes might be too small when they arrive (even if you used their sizing guides). Keep the pre-paid return label and don't remove any tags or wash the clothes until you ensure they fit properly.
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Your items may arrive damaged or break soon after you wear them. Receiving damaged clothes seems to be a trend among both positive and negative Cider reviewers. This means you might be waiting several weeks for your order to be delivered, only to have to send it back because it has holes or rips in it. Even if it's not damaged on arrival, it may break soon after you wear it because of the clothes' cheap materials and poor construction quality.
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You must pay a restocking fee (and possibly shipping) for returns. Returning an item to Cider doesn't come without a cost. Not only do you have to pay a $3.99 restocking fee for every parcel, but if you're returning more than one item from the same order, you have to cover the shipping cost, as well. That's a total loss of $9.98, which is a hard pill for most consumers to swallow.

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Cider Alternatives

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Try these brands if you want more sustainable clothes and reliable shipping. A lot of consumers want sustainable fashion more than ever, but fast-fashion brands like Cider miss the mark. Cider is also not well-loved for the timeliness or reliability of their shipping (not to mention their restocking and shipping fees). If you're looking for a brand that offers longer-lasting but still cute and trendy clothes, check out these alternatives:

Section 12 of 13:

Takeaways

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Cider is a legitimate online clothing retailer, but they don't offer the best quality. If you're thinking about ordering from Cider, you don't have to worry that they're fake or unsafe. Just know that Cider is a fast-fashion brand, meaning they make a high volume of products using cheap materials that break down quickly. So you may have to spend a lot of money over time to replace the items you buy. If you want to return any items, prepare to pay a restocking fee and possibly eat the cost of return shipping.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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How long does Cider take to ship? According to their website, Cider takes 3 business days for Flash Shipping and 9-13 days for Standard Shipping. However, because most of their products are shipped directly to the customer from China, shipping can be delayed in transit or US Customs for days or weeks.
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Is Cider like Shein? Yes, Cider is a fast-fashion brand like Shein. Both Cider and Shein manufacture a high volume of products as fast as possible using cheap fabrics. This means their clothes cost less than you'll typically find at a department store, but they're also prone to arriving damaged or breaking apart after they're worn a couple of times.
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Is Cider a US-based company? Cider is headquartered in Los Angeles, but their products are produced and shipped direct-to-consumer (DTC) in Chinese factories.^{[20]
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