What are the worst online purchases you can make?
Thanks to the pandemic, it’s now more convenient to buy things online than to go to the nearest store and put them in a basket. But convenience isn’t always that safe. I know you will be tempted to say “Another clickbait article,” but it will take just a few minutes to go through it and convince yourself, which isn’t the case for this one.
While I am also an avid online shopper, I wrote this article in hopes it could raise awareness of the cautious elements of online shopping. To make wise and satisfying online purchases, you must be aware of these risks, which range from potential fraud to issues with product quality.
Home goods
This is by far one of the worst online purchases because you never know what you can get—and if you get the item in one piece! For me, going to stores in person and exploring home goods is very satisfying and relaxing. That’s why, during the pandemic, it was very tempting to add a lot of stuff to my virtual cart and spend a ton of money on it.
You don’t want to know the disappointment I had because most of the things I received never matched the pictures. Online sellers frequently play around with measurements, colors, and graphics, which might leave customers disappointed.
So, I’d advise you to go in person to buy your favorite home goods. It’s safer, and in case something doesn’t match your expectations, you can easily change it without paying a ton for it.
Plants
I love plants, especially in my living room, and I think I have around 15 now, and I love seeing them grow. But after a bad experience in 2022, I never looked for them online. If you don’t want to believe me, plant experts have something to say about this topic too.
Because of extended shipping times and poor packaging, the gorgeous, lush examples seen online might arrive withered, dehydrated, and sadly dead. If the plants you received don’t match your order—for example, if you ordered begonias but received vinca—you may get unhappy.
Many internet nurseries give replacements for plants that are damaged or die, but a lot of others don’t have return procedures. To guarantee a fruitful and satisfying gardening endeavor, investigate nearby farmer’s markets or nurseries, where you may personally examine and choose the freshest plants to spruce up your interior.
Formal clothes
If you want to make sure the clothes you’re buying fit you, then never purchase them online. That’s a danger zone, at least for me and a couple of other customers. If a pair of jeans can be easily returned, in the case of formal clothes, that may be a tad bit complicated.
Choose local shopping to support local businesses and make sure you try the garments before buying them, rather than taking a chance on badly made clothing from foreign exporters with unknown sizing charts.
Swimsuits
Some of the worst online purchases you will regret are swimsuits. As with formal clothes, you must try them out before buying them. I know that not everybody is comfortable trying them on in public changing rooms in a store, but in most cases, they are tailored way smaller than the number written on the label. Not to mention the color. It may be written as a blue ocean, but you can get a green one instead.
If you still prefer buying your swimsuits online, look for a store that will allow you to return or exchange the products that don’t fit you.
Jewelry
From my personal experience, something that I deeply regret buying online is jewelry. While Amazon has a plethora of options at very good prices, I’d still recommend you visit the stores in your neighborhood.
If you buy jewelry online, you may be disappointed because there are hardly any return options, and the stones, gold, or silver turn out to be fake or of poor quality. Furthermore, the personal character of jewelry and the drawbacks of having low size standards could lead to you spending a lot of money on something that doesn’t quite live up to your expectations.
Antiques
This is definitely a no-no! It may be convenient to place an online order for a nice vintage plate or a wall clock, but in most cases, it will end up being a scam. Instead of this, go to antique stores, get on some daily walks, and feel free to browse through the items yourself. See if the seller is willing to bargain, and usually they are, especially if they want to sell the product.
Cosmetics
Whenever we see a huge text with discounts advertised, we’re tempted to click on it to see what it is about. And as a woman, I can agree that cosmetics are my weakness. Especially when I see they’re on sale! Unfortunately, this was one of the worst online purchases, and I’ll tell you why.
A couple of months ago, I ordered a pallet that was supposed to have 10 colors. When it came, it had only 7, and it wasn’t what I ordered. The return policy was very bad, and I couldn’t return it. I kept it because the colors were nice, but the experience wasn’t good at all.
It is impossible to replace the in-store experience, where you can sample colors on your hand and make sure your cosmetics are well-wrapped and unspoiled, ensuring their purity.
Furniture
Ikea delivers stuff at home too, but at what cost? If you want to avoid a huge disappointment, I’d say to steer clear of buying your furniture online. As with buying a car, you have to be sure it is suitable for your needs and that it’s comfortable when you drive it. The furniture must be comfortable, practical, and made of durable materials. Plus, going to a furniture store can get you better prices since you won’t be paying any shipping costs.
If buying new furniture isn’t exactly fit for your budget, consider going to garage sales because a lot of people are selling stuff they no longer use for bargains!
Paint
Last but not least of the online purchases you will regret buying is paint. Expectations and reality might not line up because of the misleading color accuracy of displays. Choosing to purchase paint from a local store gives a more realistic depiction of your home renovation projects and enables you to see the genuine color in person.
Now, tell me, what are your biggest disappointments when it comes to online purchases? Let’s take the discussion in the comments section.
After reading this article, you decided to stay away from online purchases and go for the full in-store experience. For that, my friend, you will need some reusable and durable tote bags. I found a pack of six bags available on Amazon. I ordered mine last week, and I am a satisfied customer with my purchase. They’re easy to carry around, washable, and nicely colored. And the best thing about them? They’re just $7.99!
…psst! Before leaving you may want to read Online Shopping? Here’s What Frugal People Always Do To Get the Best Deals.
