A TikToker went viral after showing a video of her opening an alleged SHEIN package and finding a bug infestation inside the brand new clothing.
The video, posted by user Kae Alvarez or @k.arelynn on TikTok, received more than 2.8 million views and 9,600 comments since it was posted on December 3.
"I'm never buying from shein again wtf," the on-screen text read.
Alvarez explained in the comments of the video that when she took her new shirt out of the package and unfolded it she allegedly found a "nest" of bugs inside.
She said she was caught off guard because there were no bugs on the outside of the shirt but when she picked it up, the bugs started to fall out of the folds in the shirt. She said she immediately threw the infested shirt on the ground because she was surprised.
In the video, she also showed a bug crawling on her arm.
"@SHEIN please explain this because wtf ?????" the caption read. "Straight out of the package infested."
In an update video viewed more than 220,000 times, Alvarez clarified some comments from people saying they'd never had a similar situation.
"Just because it happened to me I'm not saying it's going to happen to you," Alvarez said. "So you don't have to stop buying from SHEIN because I order from them all the time."
She explained that she buys a lot of her clothes from the company and that this was the first time she's ever experienced bugs.
"Bugs were not included in every package that I got," she said. "This was the very first time that it happened to me. I've never experienced this before so obviously I'm gonna talk about it...but it could happen to someone else."
She explained that she had to talk to a robot when she tried to contact customer service about her problem and she felt the need to share her situation on TikTok. She said they finally reached out and that they would "investigate" her problem.
"People have said this has happened to them and SHEIN did nothing," the on-screen text read. "So I'm assuming I'm just another customer they won't believe. But if you guys look into this, many people actually had this bug problem because of some sort of romwe-shein dispute going on."
She also explained in the video that the package she received from SHEIN was branded for Romwe, another fast-fashion store. But Romwe was acquired by SHEIN's parent company back in 2014.
In the comments of the original video, many users warned Alvarez not to leave the shirt exposed inside her house due to the risk of infestation. Others questioned what type of bugs they were and some guessed they were fleas, Harry ants, or some sort of mite.
Alvarez told Newsweek that she thinks the bugs were ants but that she couldn't get herself to look at them long enough to figure it out because they were giving her goosebumps.
But these sorts of problems are not uncommon within the industry. In May, a customer allegedly found fleas inside a package shipped by PrettyLittleThing, another popular online clothing store. A 23-year-old woman from Manchester claimed that shortly after she opened her package she found a bug on her pillow.
After further inspection of the package, she claimed she found white bugs in the lining of the dress she purchased. She said people told her the bugs looked like carpet bugs which quickly breed and can lead to an infestation.
The company has denied any sort of infestation within their warehouses, although in February another woman went viral after claiming they found bugs inside their package.
Newsweek reached out to SHEIN for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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As an expert in e-commerce, online retail, and customer experiences, it's disconcerting to hear about incidents like the one involving a TikToker who claimed to find a bug infestation in an alleged SHEIN package. My expertise in this field enables me to shed light on various aspects of this situation.
Firstly, incidents of receiving damaged or infested items are not unique to a specific brand; they can occur in the broader context of online shopping. It's crucial to consider the vast scale of operations involved in handling and shipping products globally. Logistics, warehousing, and the sheer volume of packages processed daily create opportunities for issues like the one described by the TikToker.
In the video, Kae Alvarez documented her experience of finding bugs in her newly purchased clothing from SHEIN. This incident garnered widespread attention, with millions of views and thousands of comments. Alvarez's genuine surprise and the real-time documentation of the bug infestation lend credibility to her account.
Alvarez's attempt to contact customer service and the subsequent interaction, as mentioned in the video, is a common challenge faced by online shoppers. The frustration of dealing with automated systems and delays in resolving issues can be a shared experience for many consumers.
Moreover, Alvarez mentioned a possible connection between SHEIN and Romwe, stating that the package she received was branded for Romwe, another fast-fashion store acquired by SHEIN's parent company in 2014. This highlights the complex supply chain relationships and rebranding strategies within the fast-fashion industry, contributing to potential mix-ups in packaging.
The broader context of similar incidents involving other online clothing stores, such as PrettyLittleThing, adds weight to the argument that these problems are not isolated. The claim of finding bugs in packages from different companies suggests systemic challenges in the industry, ranging from quality control issues to potential problems within the supply chain.
It's essential to note that bugs in clothing packages are not only unpleasant for customers but can also pose health risks. The identification of the bugs, whether ants, fleas, or other types, emphasizes the need for proper quality checks and hygiene measures in the storage and packaging of clothing items.
While SHEIN has been approached for comment, their response is awaited. However, the incident serves as a reminder for online retailers to prioritize quality control, efficient customer service, and transparent communication to maintain consumer trust in an industry where reputation is paramount.
