Whether you love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that online shopping is the way of the future. With no lineups, claustrophobia-inducing crowds or unflattering change room mirrors to deal with, shopping online from the comfort of your own home has never looked more appealing. As more and more retailers begin to establish an ecommerce presence, the present purchasing possibilities are endless. Simply go from mouse to house by following these six tips to make sure you have the best experience when shopping online.
1. Read reviews
Your saving grace in the marketplace of online shopping will be the customer reviews. Virtually everyone has something to say on the Internet – some good, some bad, but usually completely and unabashedly honest. Exploring a few of the reviews can quickly give you a feel for the item you’re after, and can either save you from or proper you into making a purchase. After all, the site’s main purpose is to sell, but you can always bet on real life people to weigh in with their opinions, comments and criticisms to help you reach your decision.
2. Know your garment measurements
To participate successfully in the world of online shopping, it’s crucial and extremely beneficial to know your garment measurements. This will require the handiwork of a tape measure, but it’s always worth the extra effort because in the long run you’ll save the time, money and hassle of having to return something that doesn’t fit. Sometimes this part of online shopping can be tricky, and can require a little and patience to get right. It’s a good idea to determine your measurements in UK, European and US sizing as well as in single size conversions (4, 6, 8, etc.) and dual size (S, M, L, etc.). However, each site is uniquely different in their sizing so be sure to use the measurement guides provided and don’t leave it up to guesswork.
3. Shop around
With an endless number of shopping sites to choose from, why just stop at one? Although it can be a rewarding experience to finally find that perfect item online, you’ll be surprised to find that same item online elsewhere and more often than not, a fraction cheaper! Do your homework and due diligence, and be sure to explore all options because shopping around online may just save you some of your hard-earned cash. Dig a little deeper and use a simple search engine to leave no stone unturned when you’re on the hunt for superior savings.
4. Search for coupons
The greatest thing about online shopping has to be that you’ll rarely ever have to pay full price for anything. With a steady influx of deal-of-the-day sites like Groupon coming into play online, stores are constantly and consistently offering coupons for shoppers to use. Before checking out, a simple search through Google can turn up tons of coupon results for the store you’re shopping at.
5. Pay attention
Never solely rely on the image of what you’re shopping for to provide you with all the information you may need. Paying attention and reading the informative item descriptions can open your eyes to details you never realized or noticed before from just simply looking at the picture, even if you did zoom in. Just looking at the picture is not enough to determine if an item is worth it. Get to know the product just as you would in store by finding out what material it’s composed of, where it was made, its care instructions and other crucial details that may factor in to your decision to purchase this item.
6. Stay secure
One of the most off-putting factors of online shopping is the chance of having your information compromised. The easiest way to avoid this from happening is by online shopping on reputable websites. If a site looks sketchy, than it probably is. Trust your gut and don’t give out your details to any website that looks suspect. To identify whether or not a site is secure, begin by examining if the address starts with https:// and if the bottom corner of the screen page has a small padlock. Both of these signs to look out for mean the site you’re shopping on is safe and secure.
