Here are the things that you should not by online, according to money-saving tips from experts
Before buying things online, you should consider these money-saving tips from experts which identified items that you should not buy from online stores and sellers.
Furniture, home goods, home appliances, and mattresses
Since these things will be used on a daily basis inside your home, you should consider the quality and the comfort that you get from them. “Going in the store is going to ensure you’ll be happy with the purchase,” Brent Shelton, online shopping expert for FatWallet.com said.
When it comes to mattresses, Shelton said, “If you get eight hours of sleep a day, that’s a third of your life, so that’s a pretty important investment.”
In buying home goods such as rugs, curtains, bedding, the colors may appear different online than in reality. Aside from this, buyers cannot assess the quality of the product.
“They may have an expensive shipping charge, plus an oversized delivery fee on top of that,” money-saving expert Andrea Woroch said.
Cosmetics (you never tried), clothes (brand new and pre-loved), and shoes
“A lot of online purchases won’t take things back that have been opened up if it’s sealed like cosmetics,” Shelton said but he advises buyers to check out products from online stores which allow you return items even after they’re opened, like CVS, Ulta, or Sephora.
When it comes to clothing, don’t buy brand new clothes from unfamiliar brands. Clothes with uncommon materials can also affect the comfort that you get.
“It’s pre-worn, so you don’t know if it’s shrunk or if shoes are broken in for someone else’s feet,” Shelton said regarding pre-loved clothes. For the shoes, you may not be sure if the size posted really fits your feet.
Knock-off products
Imitations can be so much cheaper than the branded products but the quality of the latter is way better. Shelton said, “Especially if it’s from a store that isn’t that trustworthy and you’re not sure about the return policy, you want to go in and look at it.”
Fresh produce, international foods, and flowers
Woroch said she prefers to choose her own and make sure she pick the best and freshest options regarding the fresh produce.
Shelton said “You’re better off buying that from an expert in a store that you can talk to face to face,” about buying international foods online.
When it comes to buying flowers, “You can save by picking up flowers at the grocery store compared to a local florist,” according to Woroch.
Used cars, musical instruments, and sound system
“It’s important to test drive and inspect a used car for wear and tear and have a mechanic look under the hood,” Woroch said.
Meanwhile, Shelton said it is better to visit the physical store selling musical instruments, based on RD’s article.
For musical instruments, Shelton said, “For the best value and experience with those kinds of items, you need to try them out and listen to them and see how they’re going to work for your situation.”
Small purchases
Having small purchases online is not advisable unless the shipping is free. “There’s no excuse to pay more for shipping than the item costs unless you can’t get it locally,” Shelton said.
Diamonds
“You want to inspect it for flaws and make sure the clarity and color are what you want,” Woroch said about buying diamonds.
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