Shopping Online – The Basics
I still remember the first item I ever bought online- an Erin Fetherston for Target red heart purse. Back in the fall of my senior year of high school, I still lived in an area with 5-6 malls in a 30 mile radius. That next August, I moved to college, where the one mall in a 50 mile+ radius didn’t have a Wet Seal, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, or a Sephora! Plus, I came from a school with uniforms, which meant that I owned absolutely no clothes that weren’t from the 8th grade. Thankfully, after working (and saving) for over a year as your friendly barista, I amassed enough money for a new wardrobe.
Point is, I online shopped a lot-and still do. This new series is all about how to shop online with different retailers- if you thought they were all the same, you are in for a surprise!
However, for the first part in this series, I’m going to outline the basics of shopping on the internet, and show you some tips on how to get what you want while shopping from home.
1. Avoid impulse buys – set a budget and stick to it!
When you’re shopping in a store and pick up a top you like, you have a lot of time from waiting in line for a fitting room, trying it on, looking for other items, waiting in line and finally paying to decide whether you want an item. When you shop online, you pick something out and can have it shipped it to your dorm room in the span of five minutes.
That’s why you have to give yourself a budget when you shop online- whether it’s a set number of tops you’re going to buy or a dollar amount you’re willing to spend. A few clicks at your favorite retailer can end up in a few hundred dollars of merchandise!
If you really want to avoid impulse shopping, put the items you think you want in your ‘bag’ and wait a few hours, or even overnight to see if you really wanted those items. More often than not, you’ll realize that those faux-fur shorts won’t really be a ‘transition’ piece and those $5 neon orange kitten heels might not go with your entire wardrobe.
2. Know what to buy online and what to buy in stores.
From my own experience, here is what to buy in real-life:
Jeans from a ‘new’ brand- Every pair of jeans fits differently. If you really want to buy a pair of J Brand skinnies, go into a store and try them on. Then if there’s a better deal online, buy them there. You won’t have to go through the problem of buying a pair that doesn’t fit and having to return them!
Boots- We all have different sized calves. Buying a pair of Steve Madden boots that look cute online might mean you end up with boots that come to an awkward length on your shin or might not fit your calf. You’ll definitely be able to get away with buying ankle boots online, but I would strongly encourage you to try an over-the-knee boot in person.
Expensive makeup you haven’t tried- Although everyone in the world might say NARS’ Deep Throat is the best color ever, don’t go buying it online without trying it on first. Ditto for perfume!
Winter Jacket- A winter jacket is definitely an investment piece and you want to make sure it fits perfectly and looks amazing, especially if you live in a cold climate where you’ll be wearing this daily.
Things to buy on the internet:
Textbooks- Buying textbooks online is usually so much cheaper than at your college bookstore. You can use Amazon, eBay, Half.com, or my personal favorite, Chegg.com to save some serious cash.
Clothes- This is an obvious one- but buy your clothes online if they don’t have the style you want in stores. For example, I love PacSun jeans but they sometimes don’t have the style/wash that I want in my size. Basically, if you know what you’re looking for and know your size in that particular item, click away!
Electronics- Electronics are expensive, but they can be much, much cheaper online. Verizon, for example, gives great discounts on phones bought over the web. An 8 gigabyte 3rd generation iPod Touch will cost you $199 through Apple, but can be found online for around $170. And, since electronics are so costly, you’ll almost certainly get free shipping.
Drugstore makeup- My local CVS is perpetually out of stock in the beauty aisle, especially, it seems, in the colors I want. Since I don’t have a car, I can’t just pop into Walmart for my hair & beauty needs. Since you can’t try drugstore makeup anyways, try buying it on the internet. Sites like drugstore.com, walmart.com and walgreens.com have all the shades and brands you want, and often have nice free shipping deals!
Of course, there’s always a gray area, especially with items like jewelery, shoes and purses!
3. Use coupon codes and rebates to get deals.
Every Friday here at CF, we post a list of the best coupon codes and online sales for all the most popular stores among college girls. From Sephora to Nordstrom to Urban Outfitters, we list the best deals for each in our Coupons & Sales list. Checking that list first can save you tons of money on clothes, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.
If you’re shopping for something other than fashion or beauty products, here are some other non-CF resources that can help you save a buck on your purchase:
- RetailMeNot – Perfect for when you’re shopping at a smaller online store or retailer that you don’t shop at often. RetailMeNot lists all the user-submitted deals for a certain store, and even tells you if a coupon code is still “working” or not.
- Student Advantage – A special discount card just for college students, the Student Advantage card will save you money everywhere from Target to Urban Outfitters and even Aldo, plus many more stores! You can even save on your spring break trip when you have this discount card.
- Ebates – You can get from 2-4% cash-back on your online purchases when you sign up for an Ebates account and complete your online transaction in a special Ebates window. Even better, it’s free.
What do you think?
These are some basic hints to help you with online shopping at any store. Next time, I’ll be giving you tips about shopping at Forever 21.com! But in the meantime, what other general tips do you have for online shopping? What stores do you want to see profiled? Tell me everything in the comments!
Posted on on January 19, 2010 / Filed Under: Shopping / Tags: Coupon Codes, Forever 21, Online Sales, online shopping, Shopping, Tips
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la petite fashionista
what a super informative article! Sometimes I have to stop myself from shopping online because it’s easy to get carried away- so i love the idea of having a budget just as you would in a brick & mortar store.
Zamia
Great post! I’m an online shopper, too! I know my size in several different stores since it seems to vary.
A great place to find deals and sales is dealnews.com. They feature every sale from a variety of stores, from electronics and software to clothes and toys to home furnishings! And they change their deals everyday! I’ve bought a lot of great stuff through their website.
Ditto on Ebates. Love them!
Madeleine
Make sure you take advantage of the size charts that websites sometimes have because just because you’re a L in one brand doesn’t mean your not a M in another brand. I’d like to see American Eagle, dELIA’s, Forever 21, and Wet Seal profiled.
Brittanie
I’ve only just recently purchased a textbook online(from chegg!!! you’re right it is soooooo much more cheaper including shipping) but i’ve never purchased clothing or anything else online. I’m just skeptic about finding the right size and if i’ll like the way it fits. Especially with jeans. i’ve usualy only brought clothes from stores where their sizes are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 etc. I’m not really sure where i fit into the brands that go by double numbers like 25,26,27,28 etc. So what is a good way to see what size you are in those brands? I know some sites have size charts but can u rely only on those because I can be like 3 different sizes in 3 different stores.
And I’d love to see more on Forever 21 stores because your right it can add up going in there. Getting 4 or 5 pieces can already almost be close to 100 dollars depending on what u get.
G
Hey Elizabeth-
I have that font (Clementine something or another) and it’ll look a lot prettier if you Type^ Like^ This^, as strange as it sounds. It makes all the letters have solid edges.
Shawn
Shopping at Macys.com is the easiest for winter coats, bathing suits, and boots, which you have to try on, because you can return everything to the store if it doesn’t work out. You can buy something fabulous, that isn’t available in your area and worst case scenario, you have (something like) 180 days to return it to a store.
Btw.. The Macy’s brand American Rag is amazing for winter coats. I’ve bought a few and held onto them for years, and they go on sale/clearance by this time every year.
m
having recently bought stuff online (textbooks & a new messenger bag) i discovered that bing shopping has a cashback option that sometimes gives you a higher percentage back than ebates. & another piece of advice in terms of shopping online – always check a store’s return policy. it makes a big difference when you’re shopping for things like shoes or clothes online where size & cut is everything.
p.s. i think you mean “whether” rather than “weather” here: “finally paying to decide weather you want an item.” just an fyi
jem
thanks for all the tips on online shopping, i’ve ordered a few things on the web before but this gives me the confidence that i will be able to order stuff online and not make mistakes when i do. i’ve been looking forword to going to uni next year but i wasn’t looking forword to dealing with shopping/getting around to buy things, now i know i can shop online though! :)
Elizabeth - University of Missouri
@Brittanie- I wish I could help but pant sizes differ so much by different brands. I find that lots of fit guides are really unhelpful, especially Forever 21′s. The numbers like 24-32 usually correspond to “waist size”… a 24 would be a 0/1 while a 32 is a size 12. When it comes to pants, definitely try them on in stores.
@G- Thanks so much for the Clementine tip!
@Shawn-That’s awesome about Macy’s! Some other stores, like net-a-porter, let you try their items “for free,” yet shipping a dress back is much more inconvenient than just putting it back on the rack!
@m- Ah! Thank you for noticing that!
Jaime
I actually live in Columbia, too (though I’m still at Hickman High School). And while I love this city, I agree that it’s shopping is quite limited. So, I like this online shopping guide idea.
Steph
I never have time to get to the shops so I buy most of my things online. The main things I try to remember to avoid are chiffon dresses and shirts. They can look so amazing in the photos and then completely flat and boring in real life. It’s best to see those kind of things in a store first.
And I agree about waiting a while before putting the order through. I add things to a wish list and then go back the next day and realize I only want to buy half.
Re
Hey. As an overseas girl, I LOVE this article but the article still makes me a little wary. Why? Identity theft. You never know who you’re giving your credit card number to online.
It might not be a huge concern if you have online shopped at the store a million times before, but there are still crooks out there willing to make a quick buck through phishing and other methods. Who wants to lose all their hard-earned money like that? Worse, who wants to be THROWN in jail for that? My advice?
1) Shop from well-known brands like Urban Outfitters and Forever 21. You wouldn’t trust a strange with your cash, so why trust a strange web site?
2) If there is ever a pop-up, email, or any other message asking for personal information and you don’t know why, check with the company and ask them.
3) Whenever you think you are a victim of identity theft, DO NOT SIT AND WAIT. Just calling the police won’t solve anything. Cancel accounts, place fraud alerts on your credit card, and whatever else you need to do to help yourself.
For more information, you should visit identitytheft.com. I’m sorry if I seem paranoid or this seems obvious, but safety never hurts. :)
Kim - Cal State
Elizabeth, I love this article! It’s very clear and straightforward, and I can totally use these tips when I shop online (I do it so much, it’s BAD, I’m such an impulse shopper- although I do try and do your “wait it out” method sometimes) All your tips are great! I can’t wait to see the next part of your article!
StefBags
Where is that cute striped dress from in the “Buy Online” photo? haha
Sarah
Hey,
Great article, Elizabeth, some really great tips :)
Really just wanted to ask – the coat pictured in the ‘buy in-person’ image – which store is that from? I’ve been looking for one just like it!
Thanks
Maxine
I never buy online because I do not trust it and I love going into stores. I never try on clothes in the stores. I usually grab it and pay for the clothes since I already know what size I am and I shop there a lot.