Last month I shared with you My Favourite Top 3 Online Beauty Stores and I did mentioned that iHerb is a favourite online site for most people I know due to it’s low international shipping rate. I also mentioned that I probably don’t have the patience to wait for the shipment to arrive, which I don’t and still don’t 😀
The story on how I made my first iHerb purchase came about when I wanted to pick up Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Sam’s Picks Exclusive Brush Set. Unfortunately for me the brush set is out of stock and it will only be available in April. April came along and the brush set is still yet available so I waited for another few more weeks but to no avail. Finally I decided to forgo the brush set and get individual brush that I need instead. There’s so many things I wanted to pick up right away however I took a good few days to rethink if I should as the mother of all warehouse sales is happening in three weeks time.
This is a small haul which I shared with my friend Cynthia.
My iHerb transaction was surprisingly smooth. I would expect lots of drama but there was no nonsense. Not that I wanted chaos or whatsoever but I seems to be quite unlucky sometimes when it comes to online shopping. Furthermore iHerb is not local so can’t blame me for over thinking 😀
My order was placed on the 16th April 2.40pm (Malaysia time). iHerb confirmed my order, packed and send out my parcel on 11.11pm on the same day. Check out was smooth but you might want to note that iHerb does not accept Paypal at the moment, only credit card payment option. There is three types of shipping offered. I like that iHerb stated the shipping option available together with rate, maximum weight, estimated time and estimated delivery range.
– DHL Express- International – $8 (estimated 2 – 4 days with tracking)
– International Airmail – $4 (estimated 1 – 4 weeks, 10 days to Europe and Pacific 2 – 12 weeks to Russia and Brazil with no tracking)
– UPS – International – $24 (estimated 2 – 5 days with tracking)
I chose DHL Express because that is the best option of all three. My parcel shipping fee cost me $9.07, a little more than estimated $8 but it was still acceptable. One thing I don’t understand is why because my purchases weight in total didn’t exceed the maximum weight.
Then my parcel went on a little trip! It’s amazing looking at where the parcel went, why it was there and what time it arrived and left. It’s also weird to me because my parcel spent a day in Seoul, Korea. Then it went to Singapore and undergo the same process again. Eventhough it’s just 4-days in total, it’s nerve wrecking waiting for the parcel anxiously. Perhaps it’s due to the fact I’m at home all the time so monitoring the parcel is what I do most. I wouldn’t have notice it if I’m busy working lol. When the parcel finally left sorting facility in KL and arrived delivery facility, I was all hyped up! I expected DHL to deliver my parcel on the Monday 21st April but they are no where to be found. The clever me decided to call up DHL to check on the exact delivery time and I was told my area Kajang is not under DHL delivery facility *facepalm*. The good news is DHL had the parcel sent out via local courier aka Poslaju. And I received the parcel on the next day 🙂
I would expect a medium size box due to bubble wrapping and all but there was none of it and it’s a very small box. Just a piece of brown paper on the bottom. Luxola does secure wrapping on their parcel better. They bubble wrapped each item a few layers and place everything in a pre-bubble wrap parcel. Luckily my purchases is all light weight and not easily broken except for the glass bottle of foundation.
The main purchase is definitely Real Techniques brushes. I bought Expert Face Brush($9) to buff in foundation on tight or small areas on the face. Since I’m getting Real Techniques, I might as well get more. Well, just one more. I also bought the Blush Brush (S9) for multi-use. I can use this for contouring, for blush, for highlighting and even for applying translucent powder.
I’ve been wanting the new Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Spotless Foundation & Brush ($14.35) ever since Judy from It’s Judy Time reviewed it. It took me a while to decide if I need another bottle of foundation. Of all the review videos that I watched, none of them mentioned that this stinks. One actually said this smells earthy. Hell no it does not smell earthy at all! It smells like a strong factory plastic solution that went bad or went wrong during mixing LOL.
My last purchase is the discontinued ELF Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 #Apricot Beige ($1.99). This is my first ever ELF purchase many years ago when ELF first came out. At that time I have no idea what this does. There wasn’t much info on “tinted moisturizer” back then. I used to think this is a crappy product for a moisturizer as it comes with a foundation tint to it. So hilarious! Anyway, I was in the lookout for tinted moisturizer so before I ran over to NARS or Laura Mercier I hope to try this first instead. All I remember was the orangy scent that I like.
I ask my friend Cynthia if she have anything to buy from iHerb. Gave her iHerb link to browse and she decided on these. The eyebrow kit is a good buy. I’m not going in details with these three items because I haven’t use it before and I didn’t do research on it 🙂
– ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen #Black ($1.99)
– ELF Eyebrow Kit #Medium ($3)
– ELF Makeup Lock & Seal ($2.99)
I’m quite pleased with the overall first experience on shopping at iHerb.com. Despite hearing numerous horror story on lost parcel or months of delayed parcel, I took the plunge and I’m glad I did. Now you can too. Here’s how 😀
USE DISCOUNT CODE – RKZ742
$5 off on your first order with no minimum purchase amount
I know some of you girls shopped at iHerb before. What did you buy from iHerb usually? Most experience I read online said their supplements is cheap. As for me, I’m quite happy that they carry ELF, Physicians Formula and Real Techniques 😀
Comments (41)
That parcel went sight-seeing to Korea reminds me of my first Luxola purchase earlier last year. From Singapore to KL, Butterworth for 4 days, and then KL again, then Melaka (finally). I couldn’t understand too why it went to Butterworth XD i remember seeing some bloggers stating that their iHerb purchase never arrive, and that reduces my intention to buy from them. I have always wanted to try something from Physician’s Formula..
Haha yea. Spending 1 day in Korea including custom checking and clearance is so unnecessary. Your Luxola parcel could be either postcode on parcel error or the postman sorted to wrong state code. I never track my Luxola parcel.
Oh yeah I saw some bloggers said their iHerb parcel never arrive. I think they opted for the cheapest shipping method. International Airmail is like normal parcel. Even if you take USPS First First Class Mail it’s still normal parcel without tracking. Usually parcel will never arrive. I used to shop a lot in ebay.com. When the parcel sent using USPS First Class Mail and reached our custom, there’s no proper documentation and the officers will ‘steal’ the parcel. I also tried USPS Priority Mail. Slightly better than First Class Mail and I can track the parcel right until it left US. Then it’s a guessing game. Usually parcel arrive in 4 weeks?
That’s why I never wanted to buy from iHerb. Bad experience. Most people keep asking me to buy from iHerb and that I should try. What they didn’t know is my two handful bad experience before this.
Well, I don’t think I wanna risk getting my parcel stolen/lost just like that. Experienced it once, it was a sponsored item, and I think once is enough for my entire life. I’m thinking of asking my cousin to buy the Physician Formula stuffs for me since she’s coming back for good this June 😉 I hope she can help me, hehe!
It’s fine provided you can track the parcel whereabout. Otherwise I won’t be buying on iHerb 😀
I totally understand the feeling during the waiting period. I once bought the nose pack from Korea as well, but I bought from Qoo10 and I waited for about 2-3 weeks because it was withhold in Malaysia Customs for about 1 week. I was lost because I don’t know what to do when I saw it was hold in Customs. Then nobody call me or whatever to ask about it. So I google and wondering what;s next. Luckily a week later they post to my address. Kinda roller coaster experience for me.
Luckily this is just 4-5 days so it wasn’t that bad. I’m more eager to see my brushes and foundation actually 🙂
Malaysia custom like to hold parcels and then when you called them to check on the parcel, they will tell you no such parcel. Waiting for them to release from the custom will take a long while. If you see my tracking everything was done in a day. Here? A few weeks!
Thanks for sharing your experience and the heads-up regarding the shipping options.
The shopping fee is actually very reasonable here – I’ve paid much more and your parcel is actually contains a number of items.
As I mentioned before, the name iHerb isn’t so very inspiring. I keep thinking they sell herbs or vitamins lol. I’ll need to check this site out. I do trust the sites that get your seal of approval as I have come to know you as quite the savvy shopper, Fiona.
I was actually quite surprised that the shipping via DHL Express International is this reasonable. All the ELF items is quite light as the box is huge but the actual content is very small and light-weight 🙂
Exactly my first impression on iHerb! I wonder if they started the site selling just herbs and supplements thus the name 😀 . Do check the site out if you’re into brands that we couldn’t get our paws on. But of course if you travel oversea all the time, then it might make sense to buy directly 😉
Hi fiona. I bought RT Expert Face too from Iherb. I used International Airmail service n received my parcel in 20 days. Very slow of course so maybe next time I will use DHL
Hi Victoria. I’ve been watching Pixiwoo using Expert Face Brush a lot. And I thought to myself hey that is a perfect buffing brush for tight areas on the face. I might get the Stippling Brush as well 🙂
20 days for International Airmail is not bad. Some parcel never arrived. I had phobia with Malaysia Custom for non-trackable parcel.
Lol. I am glad it arrived but I still had to drop them an email to enquire. My Bioderma from Essentual has yet to arrive and it was suppose to have been shipped on 26 March. Yikes! Need to drop them another email. I only paid RM26 for my RT Expert Face Brush using iHerb and it is certainly so much cheaper than getting it at Shins.
I actually typed a longer reply using my smartphone yesterday. Funny that only half of what I wanted to say appeared on your comments 🙂
RM26 for Expert Face Brush is cheaper than what I paid 😀 . I paid RM29.34. Most pre-order I seen is around RM45-RM50 per brush.
Oppss. It’s the WordPress glitch haha. It happens once a while.
Hi
Just ordered from iherb. According to dhl tracking, my parcel arrived subang 2nd May at 6.30 am. Custom status updated followed by “processed for clearance” at 8.40am. This is followed by “clearance event” at 8.40 am as well. There’s no update via tracking system since. I’m getting anxious.
Today is just 3rd May, which is just one day after the last 2nd May update? Furthermore now is the weekend. There will be update.
Hi M,
I’m facing the same issue. My parcel has been at customs for 2 days under “Clearance event”.
I am also quite worried and anxious because I purchased some food items and health supplements. I did not know Malaysia was quite strict on health supplements. I’ve made two prior purchases with no problems – one to Australia and one to Malaysia.
Now I’m scared my stuff will be confiscated by customs 🙁
Hopefully after a few more days, they will clear our items and allow them to be shipped to us! *fingers crossed*
I always shop at iHerb! 😀
But I always opt for the cheapest shipping since I’m in no rush. But delivery takes like a month.
But very reasonable to me since shipping is so cheap. At first, delivery only takes 2 weeks. As time passes, 3 weeks and now, a month.
It’s addictive! Hmmm not the matter of rush or no rush but aren’t you worried that the parcel doesn’t arrive? My friend thought hers was lost until the parcel appear on her doorstep 6 months later. I don’t trust USPS Priority Mail and I don’t trust our custom. You have no idea how many stuff they stole from me. There’s absolutely no tracking at all so there’s no way to check and blame.
hey there , is debit card allowed to make transactions or is it strictly credit card only ? 🙂
Hi A, I’ve no idea if debit card is allowed. I only found this on their payment options http://www.iherb.com/info/paymentoptions. You can try to enter the card number when you check out to see if they accept it or not 🙂
Hi,
I ordered from iherb.com a few days ago, Aug 29, the Real Techniques brushes as well, I got the starter and core collection sets, stippling and powder brush, and I chose the DHL since it has the tracking # for easy tracking of my parcel, however Alor Setar has no DHL delivery facility, only at Sungai Petani does it mean my parcel will also be transfer via local carrier? And btw, I’m kinda worried that my parcel might be stuck at the custom, Hope it’s not!
And btw, yes debit card is applicable at iherb.com, just use it like a credit card 🙂
Hi Hannah,
Based on my experience yes, your parcel will be sent out from DHL using local courier to your area. iHerb does provide you with the tracking number so you can easily see if it’s stuck at the custom 🙂
Thanks for the info on debit card. I never own a debit card before lol
Hi Fiona,
I already received my order from iHerb and I also placed my 2nd order which is more on cosmetic products and today I got received a call from DHL saying that they held my shipment due to some Custom Import duty charge which makes me so shocked when I heard that they costs me RM155.12, As my items total value is almost RM170 including the shipping (USD55) only, how they can just charge my parcel for almost nearly 100% of custom taxes (calculation suppose to be “Import duty 20% + 10% sale tax” )it should only around RM40-45, but based on my 1st iherb order, I’ve never got into trouble like this since I almost purchased the same categories which is “cosmetics”. Really pissing me off. I thought it would go smoothly every time, but now I just got learnt from my experience to not totally trust DHL, because they also don’t know how to informed customer or at least inform the custom regarding the invoice attached on my parcel before they make a conclusion for applying charge.
Got my lesson 🙁
Hi Hannah,
I have heard such cases before with other buyer. Usually tax is imposed if the goods is exceeding RM500. However I also heard that it’s purely based on luck. You can talk to DHL on this.
Good luck!
Yeah.. I was out of luck that time, I ended up paying the custom duty charge… I’ve been contacted the DHL as well as the Custom Service centre, however both department seems liked can’t do anything about this matter, especially the custom service centre, they even can’t provide me a valid reason regarding to my issue.. And advised me to make an appeal at the custom headquarter! Such a great advised >.<' haha I'm still not that desperate to waste any of my time to make things more bigger for the amount that not worth it.. But, I am still excited to get my parcel. Just waiting for poslaju delivery 🙂
Oh my. Then your haul became slightly more than expected. I try to keep my haul below USD50 usually.
Hi Fiona,
I just bought cosmetics items from iHerbs. and I’ve read reviews from you and your fans here in the comments section. I’m very worried bout the ‘custom duty charge’ since i didn’t realise i spent more than USD50 until i checked out and paid for it. (sounds funny haha).. anyway i’m so worried, if i would have been asked to pay for that amount of money.. (the custom duty charge).
Is it true that we have to maintain our shopping price below than USD50 to avoid the extra charge from customs? If it’s true, i’m in a huge trouble, and feel very disappointed that i have to pay extra money for that..
Hi Sya, it’s RM500, not USD50. You are worrying yourself for nothing 🙂
Haha, well actually i read ur reply u wrote u usually maintain ur shopping below USD50, therefore i thought it has something to do with customfee/what soever if the total items are exceeding USD50.. 😀 Sorry
Yes, that is just my purchase preference. I didn’t say it applies to everyone otherwise tax will be imposed. If you read other comments, which you said you did…every other buyer bought more than me and there’s only one reader who was taxed on her second purchase. Don’t assume my dear. You will only scare yourself 🙂
Hi Fiona!
First of all, I would like to thank you for the blogpost! So informational, especially for first time buyers (ie. me). I’m actually considering to buy stuff from iherb but reading some of these horrible experiences are pretty scary…
It says on the website that if I opt for DHL Express – International, shipping will take 2 to 4 days but it doesn’t seem to be the case with everyone else’s experience?
Obviously the cheaper the better! But I’m worried that being thrifty may end up nipping me in the butt 🙁
What would your advice be?
Thanks!
Hi Yenlin,
I’m glad it helps you! Actually iHerb is considered OKAY and far better than MySale. I’d always recommend iHerb as one of the shopping site than any other.
As for your enquiry on DHL Express shipping, the stated estimated arrival date is quite accurate and on point even for me who stay at an area that DHL doesn’t deliver to. As I said in my blogpost and comments, opt for normal mail if you are not in the rush and opt for express delivery if you want to get it fast, get it securely and don’t mind paying for the price. Easy peasy 😀
Hi dear.. love ur haul! I would love to purchase from iherb but the thing is they don’t accept payment via paypal. Can I use my visa debit card instead of credit card?
Hi Farah,
Thanks! 🙂 Yes iHerb doesn’t accept paypal. Only credit card. Debit card shouldn’t be any problem if I’m not mistaken. Try to enter the card number at checkout 🙂
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for your prompt reply. Yeah as I know if the card has visa logo, it should be no problem regardless debit card or credit card. I have just send them PM on their FB page to confirm on this. Maybe I should email them later. Will share with the readers once I have got the answer.
Cheers and have a nice day!
Hi Farah, according to reader Hannah who left a comment above, debit card is accepted 🙂 Happy shopping!
Hi there! Your bleg is so helpful, thank you!!! <3 I wanna ask you about the custom duty. My order is RM170 and I'm using DHL which costs me RM40. How much do you think my custom duty is? I'm so scared that it would cost me more than RM50 :< If it's okay with you, can I know how much is your custom duty? ?
Hi Siti, I wasn’t charge any custom duty. If I had, I would mentioned it in the blog. What was on the comment discussion was based on another friend’s experience, not mine 🙂
Hey i ordered from iherb a week ago and it goig pretty smooth. But today suddenly when i check my DHL tracking..it said “delivery arranged no detail expected”. What does it mean?
It means your area is out of DHL delivery scope and they have sent out your parcel using PosLaju.
Hye. I just want to ask about the way to pay when shopping with iHerb. Can you explain it to me? Which bnk can i use to pay and how ? I mean the exact steps. Tq
iHerb only accept credit card and Paypal. Once you are at the checkout page, there will be a step by step guide towards payment just like every other website.