Secret Sales Review: Legit or a Scam?
Secret Sales has built a reputation as a popular online destination for fashion lovers seeking discounted luxury items. The platform positions itself as a digital outlet village offering deep savings on designer goods, with over 2,000 global brands featured, including names like Gucci, Superdry, Converse, and Emporio Armani. But the question remains: is SecretSales.com legit or a scam?
What Is Secret Sales?
Originally launched in 2007 as a flash sale website, Secret Sales transformed in 2020 under new ownership. It now operates as a full-scale online marketplace for overstock and past-season items from top fashion and lifestyle brands.
According to the company’s own description, Secret Sales is an online marketplace with a love for fashion and delivering great value for money. It describes itself as a digital outlet village that offers huge discounts on the latest clothing trends, inspirational homeware, cutting-edge cosmetics, and much more. The company also says it gives customers access to exclusive discounts on thousands of luxury designer brands.
Since March 2020, its collection of brands has reportedly grown from around 100 to more than 2,000 world-leading labels, and the business has expanded internationally into Germany, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
What Does Secret Sales Sell?
Secret Sales covers more than just fashion. The site offers discounts on clothing, homeware, beauty products, accessories, and fragrance. Items are listed through a marketplace model, which means products are often shipped directly from trusted third-party sellers rather than from Secret Sales itself.
Customer Feedback and Trust
Secret Sales appears to be a real discount retail platform, not a fake storefront. In the review examples above, the platform is described as a legitimate website with generally positive buyer sentiment, although some users report shipping delays and refund issues.
Trust indicators are mixed but lean positive. One summary notes that Secret Sales maintains a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot based on more than 22,500 reviews. Many customers report positive experiences, including fast delivery, quality items, and good customer service. Negative reviews are mostly related to order delays or confusion when dealing with third-party sellers.
What to Expect Before You Order
The most important thing to understand is that Secret Sales does not always ship the items itself.
Some orders are fulfilled directly by Secret Sales, while many others are shipped straight from the brand or from a third-party seller. That means if you order a dress from one seller and trainers from another, they may not arrive together. In many cases, they will come in separate parcels and may be delivered on different days.
This is one of the biggest reasons why Secret Sales shipping can feel less predictable than ordering from a standard retailer.
Secret Sales Delivery Times
Delivery times can vary depending on the seller, the location of the item, and the shipping method selected at checkout.
Typical delivery estimates are:
- Standard delivery: 3 to 5 working days
- Next day delivery: next working day, when available
- International delivery: 7 to 14 working days
How Much Does Secret Sales Shipping Cost?
Shipping costs on Secret Sales also depend on the seller and the type of delivery chosen.
In many cases:
- Standard delivery is around £3.95
- Next day delivery is often around £5.95
- International shipping costs vary by destination
Secret Sales also regularly runs promotions that offer free standard delivery above a minimum spend, often around £50 or £75. If you are placing a larger order, it is worth checking the banner at the top of the site to see whether a free shipping offer is running.
How Tracking Works
Once you place an order, Secret Sales usually follows a simple tracking process.
First, you receive an order confirmation email. Then, once the seller dispatches the item, you get a second email with tracking details. That message usually includes a tracking number and a courier link so you can follow the parcel.
Depending on the seller, delivery may be handled by couriers such as Evri, DPD, or Royal Mail.
International Shipping and Extra Charges
Secret Sales ships beyond the UK, including to several European markets. However, international orders may involve extra charges depending on where the product is being sent from.
Since Brexit, orders moving between the UK and EU can sometimes be subject to VAT, customs charges, or import duties. That is why it is smart to check the shipping and returns section on the product page before buying, especially for cross-border orders.
What Can Cause Delays?
Secret Sales is generally reliable, but delays can happen.
The most common reasons are:
- the item is being shipped by an external seller
- the seller takes longer than expected to dispatch
- high-demand sale periods such as Black Friday or major clearance events
During busy sales periods, dispatch times can stretch by a few extra days. So if you need something quickly, it is better not to rely on the fastest estimate alone.
Returns Matter Too
Shipping and returns are closely linked on Secret Sales. In many cases, customers have up to 60 days to return an item, but because the site is a marketplace, returns often need to be handled seller by seller.
That means if your items came from different brands, you may need separate return labels or separate return instructions. It is usually not as simple as putting everything back in one box.
So, Is Secret Sales Legit or a Scam?
After analyzing Secret Sales, it appears legit.
It is a real online discount retail platform with a long operating history, strong brand positioning, and many genuine customer reviews. It does not appear to be a scam site in the sense of taking money and disappearing. Customers do receive products, and many report being satisfied with the deals they get. However, the experience is not always flawless. Some users report shipping delays or inconsistent experiences because of the marketplace model. That means caution is still wise, especially when buying from third-party sellers or ordering items with strict sizing, shade, or return concerns.
Brittany Nims is a freelance staff writer at FashionPeriscope. Her work has appeared on the Huffington Post, among others. She spends most of her weekends in search of strong coffee and stronger Wi-Fi.