Allow us to first admit that online shopping is hassle-free. There are no queues, no uncertainty on whether the store carries your size. No salespersons breathing down your neck and making unhelpful and expensive suggestions. No waiting outside trial rooms with arms full of clothes, only to leave the store with one shirt and an embarrassed smile.
You get cashback offers, coupons and more especially around the time of festivals. While we do admit that it is cost-effective to think of expanding your wardrobe when there's a festival around the corner, here are 5 reasons why you might have to think twice.
Misuse
It is with good reason that we tell you to steer clear of shopping for clothes or footwear online during the festival season. This is because a lot of people complain to Amazon or Flipkart about getting used clothes/shoes during this time. The logic is simple. Instead of buying clothes/shoes for an occasion, some people misuse these shopping websites as clothes-renting websites. They simply buy the clothes they want, use them for an occasion and then return them by exploiting the return policy. This is true of shoes too. So, beware of this misuse and make sure to check if the items you buy are brand new. Here is where you can rent clothes legitimately and safely with assured hygiene.
Vendor scams
In spite of the strict vendor monitoring processes implemented by most shopping websites, there still are some vendors who manage to infiltrate the security. They make cheap counterfeit goods and pass them on as genuine ones at original selling prices. Also beware of people who register as vendors and get customers to order goods from them, only to pass on the order to original vendors, get the product for free and vanish without a trace. There are also plenty of cases where the product received is radically different from the one illustrated on the website. Torn fabric, cheap lace, stretchy elastic, faded material, the list is endless.
Third-party scammers
Some scammers could monitor your purchase details online, so that they can send a fake delivery person to trick you with a fake package, pocketing the cash you just paid them and fleeing the scene. Of course, every transaction done online has to be secure. In case there are virus attacks on your system/mobile/website, be sure to get professional help. There are hordes of malicious apps and links that could cause serious security leaks and steal your passwords. Third-party apps, insecure Wi-Fi connections, suspicious emails informing you that you’ve won the lottery, calls from people claiming to be bank officers asking for your card details are all a few examples of security threats.
Impulsive buying
We’ve covered all the serious reasons so far and now onto the one that is in your hands. It is very easy to fall prey to cashback offers and lucrative deals. You might be tempted to use the Buy 6 get 6 offers and end up with an impoverished bank account. It is important to remember that online shopping websites are supported by a team of experts who write codes to hold your attention by showing you more and more products that appeal to you. Their principle is to stimulate you with cleverly designed webpages, ads, photographs, celebrity endorsement and more. All these efforts are aimed at one thing – your wallet.
Return policy
The biggest disadvantage of online shopping is that it is impossible to try clothes and accessories on. This makes it difficult to order apparel that fits you perfectly. In case they don’t, the only hope is to return and ask for another size/a refund. But some vendors do not allow returns of goods. They are not prominently mentioned and there is a possibility that customers do not read the return policy before placing an order. If that happens, you might lose your money and be left with an item that doesn’t fit.
Now that we’ve briefed you on the potential risks involved in online shopping, it is safe to say that you are officially informed and ready to cruise the world of online shopping. Be sure to keep an eye out for those offer baits and hyperlinks, and you’re good to go!