As an avid online shopper, I spend a lot of time searching for the greatest deals and making sure I am paying an appropriate amount for an items’ quality. In this post, I will be sharing some of my most useful tips when online shopping.
1. Don’t be afraid to return stuff
Shopping online comes with many risks. The item might not look the same quality as it did online, the sizing could also be an issue, or you just decided to take a risk in ordering it and it does not fit into your style. So, do not be afraid to return an item. I use to never return items because I was lazy or did not think it was worth it Some websites offer free return and some you must pay, such as Pretty Little Thing where you have to pay the shipping. I hate paying shipping fees and losing money because I was not particularly satisfied with odd fitting and low-quality items, but I returned the majority of the order because my mom told me to return it and get the majority of my money back. Now I only shop on online stores that offer free returns because I know I return a lot of clothes for many reasons and I always like to order something a little bit out of my comfort zone to try it out.
2. Use the sizing charts and measure yourself
One of the worst things you can do when ordering clothes is getting the wrong size when you could have prevented it. Most websites should have a sizing chart and with a cheap measuring tape you can get at a local craft store or online you can verify what size suits you. These come in handy when you order from sites you’ve never ordered from before or the site is located in different countries that use different sizing.
3. Know the quality of what you are buying for the price it costs
This is mainly for when you are buying second-hand items online, but it can come in handy for online stores as well. When using apps like Depop you want to verify you are paying an appropriate price for an item. You would not pay a hundred dollars for a used black t-shirt with mustard on it even if it was let’s say vintage Prada. Just as you would not pay forty dollars for a cheaply made see-through tube top from Forever 21. Check other websites with similar products and get the best deal for what you want. Saying that quality is the majority of the time better at higher prices. So, consider that, you would not buy a pair of UGG boots for twenty dollars without questioning if they are real or in good condition.
4. Use Honey
Now, this application is amazing. Anytime you are online shopping it will find all working discount codes on about anything. Want pizza there is a code, want a dress from NastyGal you are in luck and you are getting like forty percent off, want makeup yeah free shipping. It is pretty much amazing and a lifesaver for me. Saves me so much time when shopping online, because who really has the time to search for all those codes.
5. Do not use risky sites
There are sooo many websites out there that will take your money and never send you clothes. Sometimes it is hard to tell website are trust-worthy. I usually look on YouTube to see if a website is legitimate. Other times a quick Google search can help as well.
6. Use verified 3rd party checkers
This is another tip that is for buying items from others online. Sometimes you cannot tell if an item is authentic or not and this is where third party sites come in. Sites like The Real Real, Grailed, and StockX authenticate items before you get them making sure you are paying the correct amount for luxury items. These websites have brands like Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Chanel, Supreme, and many more. My boyfriend and I use these websites mainly for jewelry and sometimes Supreme items. I personally just received a Louis Vuitton necklace for under a hundred dollars and I could not be happier with the decision.
In conclusion, those are my six tips for online shopping.