Certain sellers accept escrow. Any type of payment made to that seller is held untill you have accepted your order as being received ok. Once you do that dhgate releases the payment to the seller. Your payments actually go directly to dhgate then they release the payment to the seller. The sellers auction will show if they accept escrow.
I prefer to buy from sellers that accept escrow because they tend to ship your order faster so they can get paid. Also if customs seizes your order you won't lose your money.