Thanks to the rise of online shopping, you can now purchase your favourite brands from the comfort of your home and have your shopping delivered right to your doorstep. In 2019, almost 2 billion people had shopped online at least once. E-commerce is projected to amount to 22% of global retail sales by 2023. Shopping online might seem convenient, but it comes with its own challenges. In this two-part article, we’re going to show you the things that you should consider when buying online.
Consider sizing when buying clothes
More of us than ever before are buying our clothes online so that we can true them on in the privacy of our home and see if they match our style. There is no such thing as a standard sizing chart. You might be a size 10 in one brand and a 14 in another. When you are buying clothes online make sure to consult a sizing chart if the brand offers one to help you figure out your exact sizing. For added security, check the e-commerce site’s return policy. The majority of major fashion retailers will offer free returns if your sizing is incorrect, and it’s usually a painless process.
If you’re buying international, especially from Asia, you’ll want to double-check the sizing chart. Returning an item to a brand outside of your country can be more complicated, and you might have to foot the bill.
Only shop on secure websites
For every legitimate e-commerce website, there will always be another one that is a scam. You want to make sure that you do your search regardless of what kind of company you’re buying for. Even if you are shopping from a major retailer, there are often stores that replicate themselves to look as close as possible to the legitimate website to take your money. Always check that the website is secure with the lock symbol in your browser. You can view the site information by clicking the lock symbol, which will tell you if the website is safe or not.
If it’s too good to be true, it usually is
We’ve all seen those ads. They promise you a designer item or one of the most coveted pieces of fashion at such a low price that you would be crazy not to buy them. Not only are these items counterfeit, but you’re also unlikely to receive anything that resembles the photo on the website. The rule of thumb for online shopping is that if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
Double-check the return and exchange policy
Whether you’re buying a laptop or a pair of sneakers, you’ll want to make sure that you check through the site’s return policy to understand what your rights are. This information typically appears on your receipt if you shopped at a physical store, but it can be harder to find with e-commerce websites. You might find that items that are on sale are not suitable for a return. In some cases such purchases might be final, meaning that they’re not eligible for a refund or exchange.
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