Why this matters in Bangladesh specifically
e-CAB counted over 5 lakh Bangladeshi business pages on Facebook in 2024, of which roughly 60,000 generate regular sales [1]. That is a long tail of sellers with no address, no policy and no history. The damage from the worst cases is still being counted: in 2023 the consumer protection directorate had 19,623 complaints pending against 50 e-commerce companies, involving about Tk 600 crore in advance payments [2].
A 2024 survey of online shoppers found 52% had experienced refund delays, 62% were confused by return policies and 34% reported quality problems [3]. None of that is a reason to stop buying online. It is a reason to spend two minutes checking before you pay.
The twelve checks
- 01
Real photos of real stock
Look for consistent lighting, the same background, the same models or mannequins. Mixed catalogue images from different suppliers mean the seller may not hold the stock.
- 02
A place that exists
An office, a studio, a showroom, an area name at minimum. Menlab lists Mohammadpur, Dhaka, and you can visit.
- 03
Named people
A brand that names its founders is a brand that cannot disappear quietly. Anonymous pages can.
- 04
Cash on delivery
The seller taking the payment risk is the strongest trust signal there is. Insisting on full prepayment from a first-time customer is the strongest warning sign.
- 05
The delivery charge before you order
A checkout that shows the exact charge when you pick your area is being straight with you. One that says "charge will be confirmed by call" is leaving room to move.
- 06
A written return and exchange policy
Not "return possible" in a comment. A page, with a window (Menlab's is 7 days from delivery), conditions, and how to start one.
- 07
A clear rule on custom prints
Custom-printed items are not returnable anywhere, because they cannot be resold. A store that says so, explains why, and still covers its own mistakes is being honest. One that promises free returns on custom work is not thinking it through.
- 08
Order tracking
A tracking page or SMS with a courier code means the parcel is real and moving. Menlab sends both and has a track page.
- 09
Size charts per product
One generic chart for every item is a shortcut. A chart per product, with chest and length in inches or centimetres, means someone measured the actual garment.
- 10
Reviews with substance
"Nice product" a hundred times says little. "Bought the black oversized in L, fabric heavier than expected, fits loose" is a real customer.
- 11
A reachable support channel with hours
A phone number, a WhatsApp, an email and stated hours. Menlab answers 10 AM to 9 PM daily.
- 12
An HTTPS website of its own
A Facebook page can vanish. A domain with a privacy policy and terms costs money and effort, and it is where policies live in writing.
Walk-away signs
- Prices far below everyone else for the same brand-name item. Someone is paying the difference, and it is you.
- Full payment in advance with pressure to pay quickly to "hold" stock.
- No address, no names, no policy page, only a chat window.
- Photos that reverse-image search to another website.
- Comments turned off or every negative comment deleted.
- A different bKash personal number every time you ask where to pay.
How to run the checklist on Menlab
Every item above has a place on this site. Photos are shot in-house from real stock at the Mohammadpur studio. The founders, Asfak Ahmed and Mahadi Ahmed, are named on the our story page. Cash on delivery is nationwide, with the charge shown at checkout. The returns and shipping pages state the policies in writing, including the custom print rule and its exception. Every order gets a tracking code. Each product carries its own size chart. Support hours are 10 AM to 9 PM, on WhatsApp, phone and email. And the whole site runs on its own domain, with a privacy policy and terms.
That is not a boast; it is the standard we think every store should be held to, including us.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an online clothing shop in Bangladesh is legit?
Check for real photos of real stock, a physical address, named founders, cash on delivery, a written return policy, order tracking and reachable support with stated hours. A store that passes most of these is safe to try with a single order.
Is it safe to pay in advance through bKash?
Only to a seller you have bought from before, or one with a real address and history. For a first order, cash on delivery removes the risk entirely.
What should a return policy say?
The window (in days from delivery), the condition required (unworn, tags on), who pays return delivery, how to start a return, and any exceptions such as custom-printed items. If it does not say these things, assume the answer is no.
Why are custom printed t-shirts not returnable?
Because a piece printed with your design in your size cannot be sold to anyone else. Honest stores state this clearly and still cover their own mistakes, such as damage or a print that differs from the approved preview.
Sources
Figures on this page are quoted from the publications below. Estimates differ between research houses, so each number names its estimator.
- The Business Standard, Facebook restriction keeps F-commerce entrepreneurs at bay (e-CAB figures, 29 July 2024)
- The Daily Star, Ecommerce Scam: Customers yet to get Tk 600cr back (15 May 2023)
- Userhub Journal, Customer Experiences with E-commerce Returns in Bangladesh (Ferdous and Ahsan, October 2024)
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