Online shopping is so convenient, now more than ever! An endless world of fashion and lifestyle items literally right at your fingertips. With the click of the mouse, they magically arrive at your doorstep (in a few days). But why are people so often put off by the thought of purchasing clothing online?
There is a lot of thought and preparation that goes into a successful online purchase of clothing. A lot of thought. To make your life a little easier and your online shopping experience a little more successful, below I have outlined six considerations (in no particular order) to be mindful of before making an online purchase.
Be sure to check sizing…
Always check the sizing guide. No matter what website you are shopping on, always take the time to check the sizing guide. Unfortunately, there is no standard measurement of what a size 4 is versus a size 7. In one brand you may very well be a size 4 but when you order that size 4 online and receive what you would otherwise believe is a size zero, you will be greatly disappointed. Save yourself the energy by checking the size guide ahead of time. Most sizing guides will also tell you how to measure yourself for each measurement. If you don’t already have one, look into getting a handy tape measure so you can always accurately check out the sizing guide.
Read the reviews…
While this step can be time consuming, always read the reviews prior to making a purchase. This is where I gain the most information about the product under consideration. Some things to keep your eyes peeled for in the review section are:
- Sizing – most people will make note of if the product was drastically inaccurate when it comes to sizing.
- Quality – this is something that people will note most often about the fabric and stitching but they won’t always communicate what part of the item they find to be of particular good/bad quality.
- Authenticity – some items are not received as they were advertised. This is where picture reviews come in handy. Some people will complain just to complain, but if there are images that you can take a look at yourself, you can make the call of if you think the product was correctly/incorrectly advertised and choose to or not to make the purchase.
- Other – other aspects may be noted about the product such as if the fabric is see-through, if it easily wrinkled, if it held up in the wash, etc.
Compare sites and similar products…
Its okay to shop around! Look at different websites for products similar to what you are searching for and have in mind. See if you can find the product for less money on a certain website. There is no shame in looking for dupes or knock-offs of high end clothing or footwear. If you aren’t concerned with brand names, this is a much more affordable way to obtain your desired style without the massive price tag. Don’t limit yourself to one site alone!
Opt for free shipping or reduced shipping costs…
Before checking out, always see if the company offers a deal on shipping. Check to see if there is a free shipping deal going on, these specials usually happen around holidays or company anniversaries on most websites. Sometimes free shipping is advertised no matter what amount you are spending on the merchandise, other times you may only qualify for free shipping if you spend a certain limit. In this case, see if the limit fits within you allotted budget. If not, perhaps hold off on your purchase by waiting a month or two to combine your shopping budgets to meet that shipping requirement. However, meeting the shipping requirement sometimes promotes impulse buys (which is exactly what the company is hoping you will do). Make sure that the items you are adding you your cart are also adding value to your wardrobe rather than just taking up space.
Secure online shopping…
Another aspect to consider when online shopping is the security of your information. Some sites will allow you to enter in your credit card information and “purchase” your items with no intention of sending the items to you at all. Some sites are more malignant in their intentions and will not only withdraw the amount of your purchase, but will access your credit card information and drain your funds. This is a fear that often limits people to purchasing items from well known companies and defaulting to Amazon. I love Amazon but why limit yourself to just one website?
Many lesser-known websites will advertise on social media such as Facebook and Instagram. They will show beautiful clothing items with a desirable price tag. But how do you know if you can trust the website with your valuable credit card information? Below is a list of a few precautions you can take prior to making any purchases on these websites:
- Purchase a prepaid Visa card – Prepaid Visa cards or credit cards can be used just like any old, regular credit card you might own. These cards however, are not tied to your bank account and the money you upload onto them is the only amount that can be accessed from them. If you are unsure about the validity of a website, resorting to the use of a prepaid Visa card may be a good way to test out a small purchase without risking your entire life savings.
- Research the website – Googling if the website is a scam or not will often bring up reviews of the website. This is a good way to gage whether or not people frequently purchase from the website and if they have had positive or negative experiences with them in the past. These reviews will often also cover not only the authenticity of the website/company, but the customer service, expected delivery wait times and the reviews of products themselves.
- Watch YouTube reviews – Along the lines of the second precaution, watch YouTube reviews of the website. Often times YouTubers will do haul reviews from websites and rate the products they receive. If you are a more visual decision maker, this may be a good route to go.
Some of my favorite online stores to shop…
So where are some of my own favorite online stores to shop? Below is a list of the regulars that I return to time and time again:
Amazon – This had to be at the top of my list because they provide a fuss-free and reliable shopping experience nearly every time. Amazon has amazing customer service, usually short delivery wait times and is a trusted online store. They also have some great deals and sales on particular items. Additionally, if you download the coupon app called “Honey”, when shopping on Amazon, it will provide you with purchasing information about the product such as inflation cost, deflation cost and similar products for less or by other distributors.
Etsy – This is my go-to shop for all things jewelry. Sellers will promote sales on their products as they please. You can favorite items and allow notifications on your phone or device to let you know when your favorites go on sale. I have had nothing but fantastic experiences with purchasing items from here (we even got my husband’s wedding band from a seller on Etsy). I also enjoy supporting small businesses when I can and when my budget allows me to do so. Etsy sellers each have their own range of prices depending on the product and materials used, so there really is something on there for everyone! Delivery wait times will be dependent on each seller and where you are located in relation to them. Most often, delivery estimates are entirely based off of the postal service and are completely out of the hands of the sellers. Delivery times for me have ranged from anywhere within a week to just under a month to receive (during the pandemic and around Christmas time waits were longer).
Shein – This is one of those sites where you really have to pay attention to the reviews. I have ordered countless items from Shein and only had one or two that didn’t fit me well or were made out of (what I deemed) poor quality material. Mind you, I spend a lot of time reading through reviews on this website until I feel like I have gained a sufficient idea of the product prior to purchase. Another safe way to purchase from this website is to look at the star rating or the number rating of the product. The star rating is of course based on the rating that paying customers have collectively given it. The number rating is based on if it is a top seller with positive reviews. Both of these will give you a great idea of the product’s authenticity prior to purchase. The site also incentivizes reviews from customers by giving points to its members for each review (more points are given if a photo is included in the review). The only downfall to this site is the long wait time for clothing to arrive. For each purchase I have made, it has taken around a month to arrive at my doorstep (but the estimated arrival time has never been inaccurate). Shein will often have sales and free shipping deals. I have never paid for shipping with Shein, I always make sure to reach the free shipping limit or to wait for when they advertise free shipping without a dollar limit.
JustFab/ShoeDazzle – This site is fantastic for purchasing shoes! The shoes or boots arrive usually within 3 weeks. I have always been pleased with the quality of the boots/shoes that I have ordered. They have been some of my go-to wearable items. JustFab and ShoeDazzle have a deal where you can sign up for their VIP membership and get your first pair of any shoes on the site for only $10! For the VIP membership, in order to avoid the monthly fee, you can either purchase something off of the website within the month, or you can choose to skip the month. You will not be charged the monthly fee so long as either of those things are done before the time is up.
Wish – I debated whether or not to include this site in my list, but here we are. This is another site where reading reviews is key to a successful purchase. I have only ever bought jewelry off of Wish and I have been pleased with all but one item I have received. All the jewelry that I have purchased has remained tarnish free after many uses and wears. I was looking for items that were made out of good quality materials (such as sterling silver, gold or gold plating) and they have held up well thus far. Again, the wait times with Wish are unpredictable, usually taking at least a month or two to be delivered in my experience. Multiple times the estimated delivery was exceeded by several days or even a week. Wish is great for inexpensive purchases that you don’t need to receive any time in the near future. They are not always reliable with authentic products. Reading the reviews and scrolling through customer posted images of the product do make a world of difference in the success you will have with purchasing items from their online store.
Hopefully the above ideas have given you lots to consider in making your next online purchase. Taking all or some of the above steps will aid you in your successful online shopping experience and overall success!
Budget Buys and Beauty 
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