Superbalist says it's not worried by Shein's massive growth in South Africa

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Shein taking South Africa by storm

Takealot Group's online clothing retailer — Superbalist — does not appear too bothered about the rising popularity of Shein.

Founded in 2008, the Chinese e-commerce clothing giant offers a wide range of clothing and fashion accessories to buy online and ship to dozens of countries.
 
One of the most-praised benefits of Shein is its low prices
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The most popular reason I've heard from social circles as to why they use Shein is because they have decent looking clothing in larger sizes. The complaints I've overheard from the women who buy from Shein is that local stores either require you to be in perfect shape, or wear something that looks like a burlap sack. Price is only mentioned as an afterthought
 
SilverCode said:
The most popular reason I've heard from social circles as to why they use Shein is because they have decent looking clothing in larger sizes. The complaints I've overheard from the women who buy from Shein is that local stores either require you to be in perfect shape, or wear something that looks like a burlap sack. Price is only mentioned as an afterthought
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Can confirm. I'm a relatively short skinny white guy and I struggle to find things in my size (either non existent or like pants that hang past my shoes), and my wife is also small has small frame but she's curvy, so it's really hard to find things that fit right for her too. They have clear size guides with measurements (who would've thought) that actually works.
 
SWB said:
Surely Shein doesn't use SAPO? And how do they get around the 40%+ duty on clothing imports?
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Ordered from them many times, they use buffalo for deliveries.
Not sure how they get around the 40% duty, maybe they declare a lower amount for the parcel?
 
Saieden said:
Can confirm. I'm a relatively short skinny white guy and I struggle to find things in my size (either non existent or like pants that hang past my shoes), and my wife is also small has small frame but she's curvy, so it's really hard to find things that fit right for her too. They have clear size guides with measurements (who would've thought) that actually works.
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Pics of the wife
 
The disadvantage is it will decimate the clothing industry further which will cause job losses and increased taxes to cover for additional social services.

What I find amusing about this is, are the amount of people that has no idea about import duties and now have to pay that additionally. Especially not knowing that different items has different duties attached. There is also the shipping fee, courier fees etc.

So although its great, the long term damage on the economy would be far worse. Once Shein has destroyed the local industry they can easily hike up prices, and by then everyone is reliant on them. Case closed.

So if you get cheaper clothes today, in the long term you will pay more.
 
SWB said:
Ah I see and how are the fees with Buffalo?
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Very low and very good for me although I've heard some people getting higher import tax fees but still nothing really expensive :)
 
tm458 said:
Ordered from them many times, they use buffalo for deliveries.
Not sure how they get around the 40% duty, maybe they declare a lower amount for the parcel?
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I recall reading somewhere on this forum that they probably list the item as a sample or something like that.
 
I am going back to SA in Dec and said to my GF why doesn't she select a few items on Shein and I will order them.
15 dresses later and I am out £100.
Which in my mind isn't a lot per dress; some of them were like £5 with the most being £20 (The New Years Eve dress :love::eek::sneaky:). Add onto that the fact that ladies fashion seems to be more fleeting, if she wears these dresses for 1-2 years and then wants more I won't complain. Its cheap so I don't expect them to last forever and the selection is huge.
The review section is GENIUS since you can get a good idea of how the dress looks on a real person.
 
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Corelli said:
The disadvantage is it will decimate the clothing industry further which will cause job losses and increased taxes to cover for additional social services.

What I find amusing about this is, are the amount of people that has no idea about import duties and now have to pay that additionally. Especially not knowing that different items has different duties attached. There is also the shipping fee, courier fees etc.

So although its great, the long term damage on the economy would be far worse. Once Shein has destroyed the local industry they can easily hike up prices, and by then everyone is reliant on them. Case closed.

So if you get cheaper clothes today, in the long term you will pay more.
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That and the slave wages.
While the lower earning wage earners in SA are always striking for higher pay.
 
Corelli said:
The disadvantage is it will decimate the clothing industry further which will cause job losses and increased taxes to cover for additional social services.

What I find amusing about this is, are the amount of people that has no idea about import duties and now have to pay that additionally. Especially not knowing that different items has different duties attached. There is also the shipping fee, courier fees etc.

So although its great, the long term damage on the economy would be far worse. Once Shein has destroyed the local industry they can easily hike up prices, and by then everyone is reliant on them. Case closed.

So if you get cheaper clothes today, in the long term you will pay more.
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Most clothes sold in SA is made in China. Superbalist offerrings from what I recall is the same chinese clothes.

SA textile industry should not compete in price/low quality but rather go premium.

The textile industry is long dead.
 
They need to get their head out of the sand. I can't believe how they don't they they are already in trouble, Shein has the muscle and the power of low prices. Can never go wrong there.
 
Not a single one of my mates (including their better halves) have ever ordered from Superbalist.
But, oh boy, they are placing monthly orders from Shein.
Shein's strength is all mentioned above, as well as that the reviewers can be seen wearing/using the stuff in their reviews.
Superbalist will have to invest millions and take like 10 years of hard core effort, to get even close to this kind of info that the user is looking for.
 
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