A guide to smart online shopping
With time I learned to recognize scam websites and fake deals, search and compare specific items, use apps for getting the best price range possible and find real bargains.
I heard a lot of people, especially among my friends, who do not like online shopping because, in their opinion, "you never know what you will get". Although this could occur sometimes, I thought that it would be useful to many of you getting to know my tips&tricks on how to shop online smartly, avoiding as far as possible to get into disappointments.
So here are my main rules I always make sure to follow when shopping online:
1) DO YOUR RESEARCH
When shopping online, it's very easy to get into scam sites which promise good stuff for incredibly cheap prices..well, I always think you get what you pay for. Let's be honest, if you pay 2€ for a t-shirt, probably it will not last you more than a year without looking worn out. I'm not saying you should overpay for every piece of clothing you own, because high-end clothes can be poor quality as well, I'm just saying you should do a very quick research before purchasing.
-Look online for reviews on that specific website, see what other cutumers have to say in order to avoid unpleasant experiences.
-Always check out shipping and return costs and see if what you are buying is worth the money. If I'm buying 150€ worth of clothing and paying 7€ for the shipping, that's reasonable. If you are buying a 10€ dress and paying the same amount for the shipping..maybe you should reconsider it or at least check if they have a free return policy.
2) KNOW EXACTLY YOUR MEASUREMENTS
Knowing your exact measurements in dresses, trousers, underwear, shoes, etc it's the most important thing in order to avoid the so hated returns. Some websites have UK sizes, some have the US, some the European and some of them, like Chinese websites, have sizes that always dress very small. Before purchasing always make sure to check the size guide which every website has. You will find the equivalent of your cm measurements in the specific US/UK/EUROPEAN size.
Some websites even report if items dress small or big, so it's a further help for getting the right size.
3) USE APPS
There are a lot of apps and websites you can use to improve your online shopping experience and become a true bargain ace!
I, for example, use the HONEY app which will automatically find for me any available coupons for almost every website. Just install the extension button on your browser.
If I want to really make sure I can find a discount, the good old Google search will help: just type the name of the website you are shopping on and add "coupons" or "discount codes". Amazon for example always has a good variety.
Another thing you could do is, especially for beauty items like brushes or makeup/skincare, do the same research as above but on Youtube. Yes, you read well. Nowadays there are so many bloggers and youtube gurus that collaborate with brands and they get offered discount codes for they audience.
I saw a lot of discount codes on Sigma brushes, Cluse and Daniel Wellington watches, Morphe, etc.
Another website I use it's SHOPTAGR. Especially if I'm looking for a specific item that it's expensive and makes me a little bit reluctant on taking or not the plunge, this app is perfect. It works with every shopping website, from the cheapest to the most expensive. It's a button you install on your browser and every time you like something, you just click on it. It will automatically make a list of all the things you liked and you will be notified if there is any price variation.
For example, I saw an amazing pair of boots on Net-a-porter which I'm never gonna afford :D They cost 350€, which is a lot. I saved them with the Shoptagr button and, if in the future they will be on sale, I will be notified and eventually save some money if purchasing them.
Discount codes can also be found on the homepage of the websites.
4) OTHER THINGS I ALWAYS DO
Other things I always sure to make before purchasing are:
- First of all read reviews on that website
- Check the shipping cost. If it is expensive, you could divide it with a friend.
- If I need to buy something very urgent, I at least make sure that they offer free return policies (like Zalando, for instance)
- Check reviews on the specific item as well. If you scroll down the page maybe other customers have left their opinion on there. If it wears true to the size, if the material is good, etc.
- I always check the pictures with the zoom in order to see if the fabric is crap or not.
- If I'm not sure on the fitting, I always watch (if available), the styling video of the item. ASOS for example has this option and it prevented me many times from buying things that wouldn't have fitted me well as they did on the model.
- Websites also say which size is the model wearing, annexed with its measurements and height. If you are not sure on a dress length, for example, check out model's detail and compare them to yours. You will be able to understand how the item will fit you.
My advice is just to be smart: you will be likely to save some money if you just do a little bit of research beforehand.
At last, I just wanted to share some of the websites I shop on the most:
ASOS, MANGO OUTLET, AMAZON, NEXT, BOOHOO, NEW LOOK, ZALANDO.
I really hope you will eventually find this post useful and that somehow it will make you save some cash! Let me know if you have some tips as well.
xoxo, Antonia
When shopping online, it's very easy to get into scam sites which promise good stuff for incredibly cheap prices..well, I always think you get what you pay for. Let's be honest, if you pay 2€ for a t-shirt, probably it will not last you more than a year without looking worn out. I'm not saying you should overpay for every piece of clothing you own, because high-end clothes can be poor quality as well, I'm just saying you should do a very quick research before purchasing.
-Look online for reviews on that specific website, see what other cutumers have to say in order to avoid unpleasant experiences.
-Always check out shipping and return costs and see if what you are buying is worth the money. If I'm buying 150€ worth of clothing and paying 7€ for the shipping, that's reasonable. If you are buying a 10€ dress and paying the same amount for the shipping..maybe you should reconsider it or at least check if they have a free return policy.
2) KNOW EXACTLY YOUR MEASUREMENTS
Knowing your exact measurements in dresses, trousers, underwear, shoes, etc it's the most important thing in order to avoid the so hated returns. Some websites have UK sizes, some have the US, some the European and some of them, like Chinese websites, have sizes that always dress very small. Before purchasing always make sure to check the size guide which every website has. You will find the equivalent of your cm measurements in the specific US/UK/EUROPEAN size.
Some websites even report if items dress small or big, so it's a further help for getting the right size.
3) USE APPS
There are a lot of apps and websites you can use to improve your online shopping experience and become a true bargain ace!
I, for example, use the HONEY app which will automatically find for me any available coupons for almost every website. Just install the extension button on your browser.
If I want to really make sure I can find a discount, the good old Google search will help: just type the name of the website you are shopping on and add "coupons" or "discount codes". Amazon for example always has a good variety.
Another thing you could do is, especially for beauty items like brushes or makeup/skincare, do the same research as above but on Youtube. Yes, you read well. Nowadays there are so many bloggers and youtube gurus that collaborate with brands and they get offered discount codes for they audience.
I saw a lot of discount codes on Sigma brushes, Cluse and Daniel Wellington watches, Morphe, etc.
Another website I use it's SHOPTAGR. Especially if I'm looking for a specific item that it's expensive and makes me a little bit reluctant on taking or not the plunge, this app is perfect. It works with every shopping website, from the cheapest to the most expensive. It's a button you install on your browser and every time you like something, you just click on it. It will automatically make a list of all the things you liked and you will be notified if there is any price variation.
For example, I saw an amazing pair of boots on Net-a-porter which I'm never gonna afford :D They cost 350€, which is a lot. I saved them with the Shoptagr button and, if in the future they will be on sale, I will be notified and eventually save some money if purchasing them.
Discount codes can also be found on the homepage of the websites.
4) OTHER THINGS I ALWAYS DO
Other things I always sure to make before purchasing are:
- First of all read reviews on that website
- Check the shipping cost. If it is expensive, you could divide it with a friend.
- If I need to buy something very urgent, I at least make sure that they offer free return policies (like Zalando, for instance)
- Check reviews on the specific item as well. If you scroll down the page maybe other customers have left their opinion on there. If it wears true to the size, if the material is good, etc.
- I always check the pictures with the zoom in order to see if the fabric is crap or not.
- If I'm not sure on the fitting, I always watch (if available), the styling video of the item. ASOS for example has this option and it prevented me many times from buying things that wouldn't have fitted me well as they did on the model.
- Websites also say which size is the model wearing, annexed with its measurements and height. If you are not sure on a dress length, for example, check out model's detail and compare them to yours. You will be able to understand how the item will fit you.
My advice is just to be smart: you will be likely to save some money if you just do a little bit of research beforehand.
At last, I just wanted to share some of the websites I shop on the most:
ASOS, MANGO OUTLET, AMAZON, NEXT, BOOHOO, NEW LOOK, ZALANDO.
I really hope you will eventually find this post useful and that somehow it will make you save some cash! Let me know if you have some tips as well.
xoxo, Antonia
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