There is no question that online shopping has changed the way we shop. With the introduction of PayPal, convenient shipping policies and a vast variety of items available from overseas, online shopping facilitates a healthy (or not so healthy!) rise in our spending. However, anyone who has shopped online for clothes knows the ordeal of choosing sizes based on international size conversion charts, differing international standards and digital editing based colour deception.

Here are our Do’s and Don’ts for online shopping…

1. Do add items into your wish list as a storage place and come back to it for editing. Know your budget and get rid of anything that requires second-guessing. On a similar note, if you cannot see yourself wearing that dress more than once, then quickly click that “remove from list” button.
2. Don’t skip the sizing chart. Ordering clothes online can be daunting, especially if you don’t know the retailer and their sizing standards. Study their charts carefully and measure yourself as suggested by the retailer.
3. Do compare. One of the reasons why many people shop online is because of the ease of comparing similar items within a few seconds through a few clicks. There’s no need to walk to the end of the shopping mall to compare prices or double check the quality. Take advantage of this and always search for the best deal.
4. Don’t spend more for free shopping. While free shipping is quite common, most retailers have a minimum order requirement. If you try to find an extra $50.00 of clothing to fit the minimum amount, you are paying the shipping costs by buying items you don’t need, so be prepared to pay a little fee.
5. Do read reviews and get opinions before you add that to the shopping cart. Insight from fellow shoppers are able to tell you whether the colour complements your skin, if it shrinks in the wash, or if the cut is generally bad that cannot be detected on the screen.
6. Don’t forget to check the store’s return policies. Some stores have restrictions on how many days the item has to be returned by, and many do not have free returns – so you don’t want to be stuck with an item that you regret buying.
7. Do find coupon or promotional codes, or wait for sales. Online sales are often better, with more sizing variety than in-store sales so hold out for that sale email alert.
8. Don’t forget to make a list. It’s easier to get distracted by “New Arrivals” and “Reduced Items” when shopping online, so make a list and stick to it.
9. Do sign up for savings and newsletters. Most retailers email you on a fortnightly basis with valuable coupon codes and sale promotions – so take advantage of these and sign up to your favourite store newsletters.
10. Don’t check out yet! Ensure you’ve got all the item sizes and colours correct, double check your codes, and triple check the delivery times.

Hopefully, you can have a successful and exciting online shopping experience by using these tips! What tips do you have for other online shoppers?