With the ease of shopping at your fingertips, it’s a no brainer why so many people enjoy online shopping versus going to a brick-and-mortar store. Although it can be very desirable to shop this way, there can still be hiccups that arise or deals out there that you didn’t know about before hitting “complete order”. Let’s visit a few tips you need to know to make your online shopping even better.
If you’re looking to shop on a new site you haven’t ordered from before, I would suggest reading customer reviews on the company and products before you find something you’d love to buy. This will save you so much time and stress knowing that it’s a reputable site that’s safe to order from and your items will arrive as they should.
Next, I would look at the return policy, just in case what you ordered isn’t exactly as you thought or doesn’t fit the best. Most sites will offer a full refund and include shipping, but it’s good to know that before you order and get hit with unexpected shipping charges on returns. While you’re doing this, also check the shipping info. Do they offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount? How long does shipping usually take? If you’re looking for an outfit for an upcoming event, this is important to make sure your items come in enough time, but always have a back up just in case.
One of the main things I always do before ordering clothing is checking the size chart and pull out a measuring tape. To avoid having to make returns because of sizing, this is a necessary step prior to placing that order. Take your measurements and compare them to the size chart to make sure you order the correct size. To take it up a notch, you can keep a running list of the brands you like and the sizes you wear for each one to make it easier when you’re ready to order something later.
Now let’s get in to some money saving tidbits! If you don’t mind waiting a few days to order and don’t think your chosen items will sell out, leave them in your online cart and some companies send a reminder that your cart is full as well as a coupon. Now of course every store doesn’t do this, but it’s nice when they offer that little percentage off.
Also, sign up for newsletters for the brands you love. They’ll sometimes send an initial discount as well as periodic ones exclusively for those who signed up. You’ll also get emails when different sales are happening or when new merch is added on the site.
Lastly, there are tons of cash back/discount sites and apps that you can use while you shop. Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is a great one for gaining cash back on your purchases. They partner with tons of retailers including Amazon and Sephora, so you’re sure to find somewhere you normally shop on there. Why not get money back for the things you were already going to buy? You also get $10 after your first purchase just for signing up, so below is a link to get started. Pouch is another great app to use that will search for valid discount codes and apply them for you with one click.
I hope these tips help to ease your online shopping and get you saving some money at the same time! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these or have some tried and true tips of your own!
xo,
Ajia Sabré 