How to buy on Shopee quickly, affordably, and safely

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What is Shopee and why do people choose to shop on Shopee

Shopee is one of the largest marketplaces in Southeast Asia. In 2025, Shopee users placed around 13.9 billion orders. The platform operates in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. 

Shopee offers virtually all major product categories: groceries, clothing, cosmetics, electronics, home appliances, home goods, and accessories. Buyers can compare offers from different sellers, read reviews, choose a payment method, and arrange delivery directly on Shopee.

What you need to do before starting shopping on Shopee

Before starting shopping on Shopee, you only need to create an account, add a delivery address, and prepare a payment method. This will help you place orders faster and avoid mistakes.

1. Create a Shopee account or log into an existing one. You can register using a phone number, email address, or an available sign-in method such as Facebook.

2. Enter your delivery address. If you frequently order products to different addresses, you can save multiple addresses on Shopee and select the one you need when placing an order.

3. Prepare a payment method. Shopee supports cash on delivery, ShopeePay, bank cards, and SPayLater.

How to buy a product on Shopee: a step-by-step guide

Shopping on Shopee consists of several simple steps: find the product you need, check the seller and order details, apply available discounts, and pay.

1. Open Shopee and search for the product you want. Enter the product name or keywords, then browse the relevant offers.

2. Compare products and sellers. Compare several options based on price, customer reviews, number of sales, and store rating. On Shopee, you can also consider the seller status: regular store, Shop Yêu Thích (“Favorite Shop”), Shop Yêu Thích+ (“Favorite Shop+”), or Shopee Mall.

3. Choose the product you would like to buy. Select the required characteristics, then specify the buying quantity. After that, you can click “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart.”

4. Check the available vouchers. Shopee displays available vouchers in several places: in “My Vouchers,” on the homepage, on the product page, in the seller’s store, in the cart, and during Shopee Live.

5. Place the order. If you selected “Buy Now,” proceed directly to checkout. If you added products to the cart, open it, select the items you need, and click “Buy.”

6. Apply vouchers and Shopee Xu. At checkout, use the available vouchers to reduce the order cost.

7. Choose your payment method. Select an available payment method and check the final amount, including the product price, delivery fee, and applied discounts.

8. Confirm and pay for the order. Click “Place Order,” then pay and confirm the transaction. The order will appear in “My Purchases.”

How to shop on Shopee for less

There are several ways to reduce the total cost of a Shopee order. However, each offer may have its own conditions, validity period, and restrictions.

Find promo codes before placing an order

Before shopping, check the available vouchers in “My Vouchers,” on the store page, in the cart, or during Shopee Live streams.

Each voucher has its own conditions:

• minimum order value,

• validity period,

• restrictions on products or sellers,

• number of available uses.

When placing one order, Shopee allows you to combine several types of vouchers: a store voucher, a Shopee voucher, and a free shipping voucher.

Use free shipping vouchers

Shopee regularly offers free or discounted shipping vouchers. Available vouchers can be viewed in “My Vouchers” and on the page featuring special shipping offers.

The number of uses for these vouchers is limited and may vary depending on the specific promotion. In addition, the voucher is valid only for certain orders and sellers. A maximum of one free shipping voucher can be applied to each payment.

Use Shopee Xu

Shopee Xu are Shopee bonus points that can be used to reduce the order amount. At checkout, select Shopee Xu, after which the system will automatically take it into account when calculating the final price.

If a voucher and Shopee Xu are used at the same time, the voucher discount is applied first, followed by Shopee Xu. Bonus points can cover no more than 50% of the Shopee order value. Daily and weekly limits also apply.

Shop during major sale events

If you can postpone your purchase, it is worth waiting for major international sales. Shopee regularly runs events such as 9.9, 10.10, 11.11, and 12.12.

Pay particular attention to 11.11. During this period, Shopee launches special offers from stores and brands, additional vouchers, and promotions across various product categories.

Watch live streams to get vouchers

On Shopee Live, sellers may offer special vouchers that are available only when purchasing products directly from the livestream. To get such a voucher, open Shopee Live, select a stream marked with Voucher, open the cart during the stream, and click “Get.” These vouchers can only be used for products added to the cart or purchased directly from the corresponding livestream.

How to choose a reliable seller when shopping on Shopee

On Shopee, the same product may be sold by dozens of different stores. Therefore, before making a purchase, it is important to check not only the price but also the seller’s reliability:

• Check the store rating. Pay attention to the seller’s rating and the number of products sold.

• Read product reviews carefully. Pay attention to the content of the reviews, photos, and videos. It is also useful to look at reviews with different ratings to get a more complete picture of the product quality.

• Prefer Shopee Mall or stores with signs of reliability. When choosing a seller, look for the Shopee Mall, Shop Yêu Thích, and Shop Yêu Thích+ badges (“Favorite Shop” and “Favorite Shop+”). Shopee considers store rating, service quality, chat response speed, and delivery performance.

• Contact the seller before buying. If you still have questions, contact the seller. You can do this from the product or store page using the “Chat” function.

Payment methods when shopping on Shopee

Shopee Vietnam offers several payment methods, and their availability depends on the specific order, seller, and other conditions. Before confirming a purchase, the platform shows the payment options available for the order.

Paying with ShopeePay

ShopeePay is an e-wallet integrated into the Shopee app. To pay for purchases this way, you need to activate the wallet and top up its balance in advance.

Paying by bank card

Shopee accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express (AMEX) credit and debit cards. For this payment method, the total order amount, including delivery and additional costs, must be at least 10,000 VND ($0.39 or €0.33 at the time of writing). If the card payment fails, this may be due to an insufficient order amount or restrictions imposed by Shopee or the bank.

Paying by credit card in installments

For some orders, Shopee allows you to split the payment into several installments when using a credit card. Before confirming the order, the buyer selects an available installment plan. Depending on the bank, this may be 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. This payment method does not apply to international orders. In addition, card installments can only be used for an order containing products from one store.

Paying by QR code and your banking app

In Vietnam, Shopee also supports payment via QR code using Internet banking. For most such orders, the total amount must be at least 10,000 VND ($0.39 or €0.33 at the time of writing).

Another option is to pay directly through a banking app. In this case, when placing the order, Shopee redirects the buyer to the banking app installed on their smartphone.

Paying with a NAPAS card

Buyers in Vietnam can use a domestic NAPAS bank card if Internet banking is enabled on it. The order must also have a minimum payment amount of 10,000 VND ($0.39 or €0.33 at the time of writing), including delivery and other costs.

Apple Pay and Google Pay

Shopee Vietnam supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

For Apple Pay, the total order amount must be between 10,000 and 25 million VND (from $0.39 or €0.33 to approximately $965 or €820). 

For Google Pay, the range is from 10,000 to 120 million VND (from $0.39 or €0.33 to approximately $4,630 or €3,930). 

In both cases, you need to add a bank card to the relevant digital wallet in advance.

Cash on delivery

This option is not available for all stores and products. If COD is supported, it can be selected under the payment methods before placing the order.

Important: if an order has already been placed with prepayment via ShopeePay, a bank card, NAPAS, or certain other methods, it cannot be changed to COD.

SPayLater — buy now, pay later

The Shopee Vietnam page lists options of 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 payments, with the last three options available only to some users.

To use SPayLater, you first need to activate it, then submit an application, which is reviewed by a partner bank that determines the credit limit. According to Shopee’s current instructions, activation in Vietnam requires:

• Vietnamese citizenship,

• age between 18 and 55,

• a valid chip-based ID card (CCCD),

• activated ShopeePay.

How to track an order on Shopee

After placing an order, you can track its status directly in the Shopee app or on the website. This lets you see whether the seller has confirmed the order, whether the product has been shipped, and where the package is.

How to check the order status

You can check the status of a Shopee order in “My Purchases.” Depending on the stage of order processing, it will appear in one of the following tabs:

• To Pay. The order is awaiting payment.

• To Ship. The order has been confirmed, but the seller has not yet handed it over to the courier service.

• To Receive. The order has already been handed over to the delivery service and is in transit.

• Completed. The order has been successfully delivered to the buyer. After delivery, the buyer may also be invited to leave a review.

• Cancelled. The order has been cancelled.

• Return Refund. Orders for which a product or payment refund is being processed or has already been completed.

If the order is already in To Receive status, you can open it to view delivery information and the package’s tracking history. If the order is delivered by a courier service, it receives a tracking number.

When should you contact the seller

According to Shopee, the seller is the first contact to turn to for questions about the product and order. You should contact the seller if your question concerns the product itself or order details. For example:

• if you need to clarify the product’s characteristics, features, or availability;

• if you want to get real photos of the product before buying;

• if you have a question about the contents of the order after placing it;

• if the order has not yet been handed over to the courier and you want to ask the seller when it will be shipped.

To contact the seller, use the built-in chat.

1. If the order has already been placed, you can open the conversation through “My Purchases.” Select the relevant order and click “Chat.”

2. If the order has not yet been placed, open the product page and click “Chat.”

When should you contact Shopee support

You should contact support when the problem cannot be resolved directly with the seller or requires the platform’s intervention. For example:

• the seller does not respond or refuses to resolve a problem;

• the product was not received, although the system shows it as delivered;

• the received product is damaged, defective, does not match the description, or the seller sent the wrong product;

• you need to request or dispute a product or payment refund;

• there is a problem with payment, a refund, or the order status;

• the order status or delivery information is displayed incorrectly.

To contact support:

• in the Shopee app: go to “Me” and then “Chat with Shopee”;

• on the Shopee website: the Shopee chat is located in the bottom-right corner of the page.

How to cancel an order, return an item, and get a refund on Shopee

If you change your mind after placing an order or receive a defective product, you can cancel the order, request a return, or request a refund on Shopee.

How to cancel an order on Shopee

Canceling an order is easiest before the seller hands it over to the delivery service. To do this:

1. Open “Me.”

2. Select “Awaiting confirmation” or “Awaiting pickup.”

3. Select the order you want to cancel.

4. Click “Cancel Order.”

5. Select the reason for cancellation.

6. Click “Agree.”

When the order has already been shipped, options to cancel it may be limited. For example, an order containing products from the “Fresh and Frozen Food” and “Vouchers and Services” categories cannot be cancelled once it is already in transit. However, this is possible for other products. To do this:

1. Open “Me.”

2. Select “Awaiting delivery” under “Orders.”

3. Click “Confirm cancellation” for the order you want to cancel.

4. Select the reason for cancellation.

5. Click “Confirm.”

6. Click “Submit Request” to complete the process.

You will then see the order status “Request pending.” Within 48 hours, you will receive a notification that may contain one of two responses: “Cancellation request accepted” or “Cancellation request rejected.” If the request is rejected, you will have to receive the order and then arrange a return if this is available for the specific product.

When can you return a product or get a refund

In Vietnam, buyers can submit a return and refund request on several grounds. However, this does not mean that the marketplace will automatically approve the request. Shopee reviews the request and may ask for photos, videos, or other evidence. The main grounds for submitting a request include:

• the order was not received;

• an item is missing;

• the seller sent the wrong product;

• the product is damaged;

• the packaging is damaged;

• the product is defective;

• the product does not match the description;

• the product has already been used;

• the product is counterfeit;

• the buyer changed their mind (available in some cases).

For most products, a return or refund request must be submitted within 15 days after the order receives “Delivered” status. If the issue concerns the quality or condition of the product, it is advisable to keep the packaging and take photos or videos documenting the problem.

Tips for safe shopping on Shopee

As with any marketplace, it is important to follow basic safety rules when shopping on Shopee.

Do not make transactions outside Shopee

Do not click suspicious links or agree to pay the seller directly through third-party services, bank transfers, or e-wallets if the seller suggests bypassing Shopee. Communicate with the seller through the built-in chat and place orders through the official app or website.

Beware of suspiciously low prices

Compare the product price with offers from other sellers and check the store rating and number of sales. It is especially important to look at real photos and videos in reviews. If the price is significantly lower than average and the seller has few reviews or a recently created store, it is worth approaching the purchase with caution.

Protect your Shopee account

Use a unique password and do not share it with other people. Do not give third parties verification codes, bank card details, or other confidential information.

Also, do not enter your account details after following suspicious links from messages. Use the official Shopee app or website to log in and manage your orders.

Use an anti-detect browser

To take advantage of the large number of discounts and vouchers offered by Shopee and thereby reduce expenses, you can create multiple Shopee accounts. This can be done conveniently and securely with an anti-detect browser, such as Octo Browser.

For each account, Octo Browser creates a separate profile. It includes its own fingerprint, a set of device and browser characteristics that websites use to identify users. This means that Shopee will see your accounts as unique and belonging to different people.

In addition, it is important to connect a proxy to each profile so that Shopee does not detect a connection between them based on their IP addresses. This way, the platform will not be able to link the accounts to each other, and even if one account gets banned, the others will not be affected. You can buy proxies directly in Octo Browser’s built-in Proxy Shop.

Important: prepare several Google accounts or a Vietnamese phone number in advance to register accounts on Shopee.

FAQ

Do I need an account to shop on Shopee?

Yes, you need to be logged into a Shopee account to place an order on Shopee. After registration, you can save delivery addresses, choose payment methods, track orders, and access promo codes and promotions.

Is it safe to order products on Shopee?

To shop safely on Shopee, follow the usual rules: check the seller’s rating and reviews and carefully read the product description. Do not share your account or bank card details with the seller or pay for orders outside Shopee.

How can I buy products on Shopee for less?

Before placing an order, check the available promo codes, vouchers, and shipping coupons. You can also use Shopee Xu, shop during major sales, and look out for special offers from sellers.

Why can't I apply a Shopee promo code?

Each promo code may have its own usage conditions. For example, you may need to purchase products worth a certain amount, choose products from a specific category, or use a particular payment method. You should also check the promo code’s validity period and the number of times it can be used.

Can I cancel an order on Shopee after placing it?

Yes, if the seller has not yet shipped the product. If the order has already been handed over to the delivery service, submit a cancellation request. If Shopee rejects the request, you will have to return the product.

When can I return a product and get a refund on Shopee?

The conditions depend on the country and the specific order. For example, in Vietnam, a buyer can submit a return or refund request if there are problems with the product or delivery.