We all know how online shopping works, but there are tips and tricks worth bearing in mind if you want to make the most of your lunchtime surf session. If a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is, writes ROSEMARY MAC CABE
WE ALL KNOW how online shopping works – you wander on to a website and find yourself, four clicks later, in possession of an e-mail confirmation and with a sizeable chunk taken out of your credit card limit. The item arrives several days later, at which point you have justified your purchase to yourself or – more rarely – promised yourself to send it back at first light.
It’s nothing new, this virtual world of parting with one’s money in exchange for unseen goods, but there are pros and cons to it – and tips and tricks worth bearing in mind if you want to make the most of your lunchbreak surf session.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
Sites selling Christian Louboutin shoes, Ray-Ban sunglasses and Burberry macs for next to nothing and shipping from South Korea should be approached with caution.
If you spot a designer item at a 15 or 20 per cent discount on the other hand, it is likely you are buying last season’s stock at a reduced price – but anything that looks like the best bargain you’ve ever seen is probably a con.
And, while a lookalike Burberry mac at €150 from burberry-macs-for-less.com seems a safe enough bet, buying counterfeit goods is illegal and, if your item is stopped at customs, it will be detained and you will lose your money. This is worth remembering, especially if you’re parting with a sizeable sum.
Check the returns policy
This is the first thing you should do before you buy.
Most sites offer 30 days for a full refund – usually less the cost of any postage and packaging, which you will be responsible for – and will accept returns, whatever the reason. But 30 days can quickly evaporate between initial delivery of an item and you reaching the post office with the return package, so be decisive.
If you don’t like it, send it back – the very next day, if possible, and send an email to the company in question informing them of your return so that everything is documented.
But be careful: Asos.com may have an Irish depot and returning to an Ireland-based site won’t break the bank, but others have very specific returns methods. UK-based Net-a-Porter and The Outnet do all of their shipping and returns via DHL, and while Net-a-Porter provides both delivery and return, free of charge, in the case of The Outnet, you may be charged for both, should you change your mind about an item you’ve purchased.
What’s it made of?
If you know what you’re getting, you reduce the likelihood of making constant returns.
That jumper that looks like the softest mohair and appears to fit perfectly may turn out to be made of coarse, scratchy polyester and be designed for an entirely different body shape; ditto those shoes that look cool and avant-garde and turn up in a cheap PVC with sequins badly glued to the toe.
First, check out what the item is made of. It may look like wool, but it could very well be manmade; it may look like silk, but could be cotton; even cotton may turn out to be a viscose-Lycra combo. Fabrics can be a great indicator of what an item will look like in real life.
Look at the item in question from every angle that you can: a jacket you love from the front might have hideous embroidery on the back; that perfect pair of jeans may have that particular type of pocket detailing you hate, so make sure you’ve considered all possible pitfalls.
If there is a video of the clothing available, watch it. There is a huge difference between a static image and a moving picture – clothes are, after all, meant to be worn and will behave very differently on a moving body to how they will on a mannequin, where bulging hems can be pinned and tucked in places the camera can’t see.
Currency
Once you decide to buy, take a look at what currency you’re being charged in and work out exactly how much this transaction is costing you.
If the currency is euro, things may seem straightforward – but have a look at what the sterling equivalent is. Often, sites use their own conversion rates and buying in sterling can save you money.
Once you’ve determined which currency is cheapest, you’ll also have to add postage and packaging charges, which can vary significantly from site to site – although signing up for newsletters brings with it the advantage of alerting you to periods of free Irish postage.
Many sites have (paid-for) gift-wrapping options, too – and opting for quicker delivery will, obviously, cost more.
Online shopping is convenient, eradicating the need to suffer through the chart hits and shoddy air conditioning of many high-street stores, not to mention stuffy changing rooms. It can be a godsend for the reluctant shopper – and can make buying into fashion a lot easier than the pile-ups among Penneys’ bulging rails would have you believe.
But make sure you’ve weighed up all the options before keying in your credit card number – and remember, once you know it off by heart, your money will never be safe.
Five fabulous fashion sites
Asos.com
There's a reason this online retailer is flourishing while others crumble, with 6.3 million registered users and a selection that would dazzle even the savviest of shoppers. Be specific in your searches for the most productive experience, and know that their returns are sent to a depot in Athlone – meaning you won't incur huge return fees.
TheLuxuryEmporium.ie
This Irish site sells luxury goods by labels such as Balmain, Giuseppe Zanotti and Pauric Sweeney, with free overnight delivery to any Irish address. Items are delivered in a gift box, and returns are free, which is a huge advantage.
My-Wardrobe.com
This designer site has gone from strength to strength and offers brands from Acne to DG while allowing Irish shoppers to take advantage of an exchange rate that is not often translated to high-street prices. Their weekly newsletter is very good.
TheOutnet.com
The younger, recession-friendly sister of high-end giant Net-a- Porter.com, The Outnet is a treasure trove of discounted designer goods. Give yourself some time, and always look at the sizing guide; French and Italian brands' sizing can often be tricky, and a large in one brand may be a medium in another. Sign up for updates only if you have a steely disposition and are not likely to be swayed by hefty discounts, the week before payday.
Topshop.com
It's Topshop – but not as we know it. A greater selection and online prices in sterling (representing huge savings). Take a £60 pair of shoes, add £5 postage and, by the time it reaches your doorstep, your package will have cost you approximately €75.60. In-store, those shoes will cost €91.
– Rosemary Mac Cabe
