Introducing Mini In The Box
Founded in 2006, Mini In The Box has emerged as a leading global e-commerce company shipping bargain buys across every consumer category imaginable to over 200 countries and regions worldwide.
But does this Hong Kong-based retailer live up to its bold claims of tiny prices for any product you can dream up? I decided to find out.
In this in-depth Mini In The Box review, you‘ll discover everything from the site‘s vast product range to its shipping reliability, mobile app perks, and most importantly – whether its dirt-cheap deals are too good to be true.
By the end, you‘ll know exactly when it pays to buy through Mini In The Box versus other discount online stores. Let‘s dive in!
Overview of the Mini In The Box Shopping Experience
As I browsed the shelves – err, webpages – of Mini In The Box, a few things stood out:
- Massive catalog with 100k+ products ranging from iPhone cases under $2 to full massage chairs
- Prices notably lower than Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers
- Constant sales and special offers like sitewide 20% off discounts
- Large volumes of customer photos for real-life product examples
- Inconsistent shipping fees that are sometimes free, other times unusually high
Intrigued by the seemingly unbeatable deals, I decided to test Mini In The Box by ordering a handful of best-sellers acrosselectronics, home items, accessories and more.
Here‘s how the shopping experience went…
The Products: Mini In The Box Item Reviews
I carefully selected 7 popular Mini In The Box products that cover a range of categories and prices:
1. Car LED Strobe Lights
As a new car owner, I was drawn to Mini In The Box‘s LED strobe light bulbs for some mild interior customization. These bulbs sync to an app or remote to flash different colors from a wide spectrum.
The Good: Super easy DIY installation, works flawlessly with phone app, tons of colors/effects for $20
The Bad: Controller feels a bit cheap/plastic-y
The Verdict: For half the price of Amazon and auto parts stores, this is a solid deal
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
2. Stylus Pens
I was due for a new pack of touchscreen styluses, so opted for this 5-pack with an assortment of colors. They‘re designed to work on all phones, tablets and touch-enabled devices.
The Good: Nice variety of colors, easy to grip, very precise tip for writing/drawing
The Bad: Shorter than expected (under 5 inches)
The Verdict: Excellent value for only $3.50 per stylus vs. $10+ elsewhere
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
3. Galaxy Projector
In the market for a night light that would also liven up my living room, I took a chance on Mini In The Box‘s galaxy projector. It casts ocean wave patterns across walls and ceilings while playing music via Bluetooth.
The Good: Mesmerizing ambient lighting effects, speakers sound decent for the size, remote is intuitive
The Bad: Projections could be sharper/brighter, not built for big rooms
The Verdict: Unbeatable quality for only $32 compared to similar $70-100 projectors
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
4. LED Light Strips
I decked out my bedroom with these color-changing LED strip lights. You can adjust colors/dimming via remote or app. At 16 feet, they lined the back of my bed nicely.
The Good: Tons of lighting modes, easy to install, app works great, insanely affordable at under $12
The Bad: Adhesive for wall mounting could be stickier
The Verdict: Best price I‘ve seen for RGB smart light strips
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
5. Anti-Peep Privacy Phone Case
Mini In The Box has phone cases for all models, but I went for this sleek anti-peep case for extra security. It uses privacy glass that blacks out screen view from certain angles.
The Good: Sturdy protection, cool privacy function, strong magnets for easy attachment
The Bad: Makes phones somewhat bulky, blackouts aren‘t perfect from all angles
The Verdict: Nice for discreet use for under $15
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
6. Halloween Spider Decorations
Part of Mini In The Box‘s holiday offerings, I bought a set of posable spider decorations for Halloween. These are pretty self-explanatory!
The Good: Spooky and scary, decent quality materials, fun to pose spiders in different situations
The Bad: Spider legs could be more flexible, but hard to expect more for $3 decor
The Verdict: Spot-on for Halloween parties or decor
⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5
7. LED Strip Lights for TV
Finally, I used these LED backlights to illuminate my bedroom TV for extra glow during movies. They stick directly to the back of TVs up to 60 inches.
The Good: Super easy stick-on application, settings sync with TV, help reduce eye strain
The Bad: A bit too bright even on lowest settings
The Verdict: Handy TV upgrade for under $10
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
So how did Mini In The Box fare on prices versus quality? Keep reading for my full verdict after assessing their service…
Shipping, Returns and Mini In The Box Customer Service
Here‘s the lowdown on dealing with Mini In The Box for delivery, refunds or questions:
Shipping
Mini In The Box offers free shipping on some products, while most incur shipping fees around $5-$20 based on item size/weight.
I found these fees rather random and hit-or-miss. For instance, the light strips somehow qualified for free delivery, while the much smaller stylus pens rang up a $12 shipping charge. Strange!
Still, I received my items reasonably fast in about 2 weeks to the United States. Deliveries may take over a month for some other countries.
Returns
Mini In The Box allows returns of most unused items within 7 days of receipt. You must contact their team to start a return and cover return shipping expenses. I requested a refund for my dud privacy phone case, which was smoothly handled.
Customer Service
I used Mini In The Box‘s chat feature to ask a few product questions before ordering. The agent took around 20 minutes to respond with short, but helpful answers. No major qualms here!
Pros of Shopping Mini In The Box
So far on my journey reviewing Mini In The Box top to bottom, these are the biggest advantages I‘ve found:
- Unbeatable prices – Bottom line, you‘ll have a hard time finding cheaper costs for similar product categories and brands elsewhere
- Massive range of stuff – Name a random item, and they likely sell some affordable version of it in every color and size
- Frequent sales and coupons – Regular site-wide discounts make the already low costs even better deals
- Smooth website and app – Simple browsing, tons of real customer images, consistent sales indicators
- Reviews and ratings – Products have customer reviews with photos/video for transparency
Between the prices and selection alone, Mini In The Box blows mass merchants out of the water if you aren‘t picky.
Cons of Shopping Mini In The Box
However, some caveats apply when relying on Mini In The Box for your shopping:
- Long shipping times – Waiting up to a month for delivery means this isn‘t the place for spontaneous needs
- Pricier shipping fees – Sneaky high shipping costs can often erase initial product savings
- Chinese brands and quality – Don‘t expect U.S. regulation and standards for items primarily made in Chinese factories
- Spotty customer service – Communication isn‘t terribly quick or efficient
Is Mini In The Box Legit and Safe to Buy From?
Considering the dirt-cheap costs and shipping direct from Chinese suppliers, is Mini In The Box legit?
In my experience, yes, Mini In The Box is a legal company that delivers authentic products as advertised at excellent values. They‘ve been an established business for over 15 years.
However, occasional shipping delays or slight quality issues seem par for the course when buying direct from Chinese manufacturers. Defective items can be returned, but require some patience and hassle.
If rock-bottom prices outweigh customer service, Mini In The Box may satisfy your budget-shopping itch! But I suggest supplementing some critical purchases through Amazon, Walmart or other major U.S. sellers.
The Final Verdict: Who Should Buy From Mini In The Box?
- Bargain hunters who prioritize low prices above all else
- Shoppers comfortable buying Chinese goods direct from the source
- People who appreciate extensive product selection and choices
- Anyone not in a rush and willing to wait up to a month for delivery
In the end, Mini In The Box delivers big savings in exchange for shipping lags and occasional misses when it comes to quality. But it can be an unrivaled source for discounted everyday essentials, fun gadgets, gifts and more when you set proper expectations.
Give Mini In The Box a browse next time you‘re looking to satiate your inner bargain shopper!
Hope this helps explain if Mini In The Box is the right online store for your next purchase! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
