Eight Online Shopping Myths… BUSTED!

You’ve heard from women shopping online that it’s so simple and easy to do, but if you haven’t shopped online very much it’s easy to feel filled with worry. How does it work? What if something doesn’t fit? How much will shipping cost?

If you’re worrying about these things, you’re not alone. Just a couple years ago, I was sitting right with you. Worried about shopping online for so so many reasons until a good friend convinced me to give it a go.

Once I tried it, I didn’t look back. I’m one of those women shopping online regularly (even though I spend an immense amount of time in the shops).

There are many worries about online shopping I hear from women like you, and these are the eight most common ones.

I hope to help you, like my friend helped me, to leave your worries behind forever and feel confident shopping online (if you want to!).

Shipping Costs

Seriously, this has to be the number one worry. “I’m afraid shipping costs are going to make things too expensive.” A few thoughts on shipping costs:

• most online retailers offer free shipping if you hit a minimum order. (hint: if you’re below the minimum and the retailer offers free returns, order two different sizes of the same item to hit the minimum. Return the size that doesn’t fit.)
• clothing doesn’t cost too much to ship (it’s relatively light) so even if you have to pay full shipping it won’t be more than twenty dollars or so. (note: you probably won’t need to pay full shipping unless you order from a small boutique or independent desginer)
• if you do have to pay full shipping, try weighing this cost against the time and effort and transportation costs you’d need to get to a store

The Post

Personally, I worried about the HOW of shipping most. I thought I would have huge boxes of things to truck to the post office and I had no idea where the closest one was located. I’ve come to realize that online shopping retailers tend to ship in plastic envelopes that you can easily slip into a maibox rather than trekking to a post office.

Take a couple minutes to locate your local post office and the closest mailboxes. It will help you feel more confident should you need to make a return.

If you’re not home during shipping hours, leave a note for your courier giving them permission to leave your package on the doorstep… or have it shipped to your work.

Difficult Returns

You may think that returning things to online retailers will be difficult, but mostly it’s not. They know this will be a big worry for you, so to encourage you to make a purchase, they make returns as easy as possible. They usually provide a detailed how-to-return in each package they send with a postage-paid return mailing sticker and an easy to follow requisition form. You just pack it up, put it in the mail and your credit card is refunded. Simple.

You can also often make in-store returns if that’s easier for you.

If you’re really worried about returns, I highly recommend making your first order from Gap Inc. (GAP, Banana Republic, Old Navy). They’ve got returns down to a fine science… {they’re like the gateway drug of online shopping… seriously!}

Return Policy is the first thing to check before you order online. A good return policy will take many of your worries away, so make sure it feels comfortable for you.

(hint: it often feels easier for me to do a straight return instead of an exchange when I’m ordering online, and then just re-purchase the size or colour I decide I want.)

Duty Costs

If you’re really worried about duty cost, shop from sites within your own country only. If you’re not sure which those include do a quick search “best online shopping sites in {insert country}”.

However, I also want you to know that if online shopping is a huge part of a retailer’s business model they tend to add duty costs into your price at checkout. If they do, they will also take care of refunding the duty costs if you make a return—so much easier than filling out a form and getting a duty refund from the government!

A note about duty: you may think that duty costs make an item too expensive, but in-store prices of brands are usually more expensive where you live than the brand’s country of origin. That’s because the brand adds those duty costs they have to pay to ship stock to your country. You’re paying duty no matter what, it’s just presented in a different way.

Fit & Fabric & Colour

I know you’re worrying about this and for good reason. There is a chance that the fit, fabric and colour will be different than what you expect. It happens. That’s why you’ve already checked the return policy and know that you can easily return anything you don’t like and/or doesn’t fit. Maybe you’ve also ordered a couple of sizes so you can choose which one works better… or a couple of different colour choices.

Women shopping online and loving it let go of the outcome and enjoy the convenience of the process.

The Online Abyss

Admittedly online shopping can feel like an abyss of clothing. There are times when I’m shopping online for clients that I have to snap myself out the click, click, clicking down the rabbit hole of choices. {Secretly, it makes me oh so happy that I can take this stress out of their lives.}

One strategy you can use to keep you out of the rabbit hole is to try limiting something.  Focus on shopping at one store only… or set a timer for 20 minutes and stop shopping when the timer ends… or shop for one item at a time (like a pair of earrings). By creating limitations for yourself you will make shopping online feel more manageable.

Fear of Making a Mistake

Sometimes women shopping online put more weight on the choices they make. There is something about placing an order that feels more final (you’ve made a decision!) than pulling a piece into the change room to try it on.

… But really there’s no difference. With online shopping your home becomes the change room. You don’t have to keep anything you’ve ordered, you can just send it back and get a refund. So really, you don’t need to fear making a mistake.

In-Person Shopping Love

Just because you make some purchases online, doesn’t mean you have to give up shopping in a store altogether. You’re not cheating on your other shops by ordering a few pieces online. You can balance the two however feels comfortable for you.

For me, I find if I need something online shopping gets my vote. Which leaves “fun” things to shop for when I have time to wander and leisurely try things on. That leisurely shopping happens in my local shops and when I’m travelling. That’s the balance that works for me currently. I know you’ll find the right balance for you, too.