How to judge the quality of products when buying online?

Buying a cat in a bag is a risky business – instead of the proverbial cat you might get a plastic dummy in a flimsy nylon bag. No practical use, 100% of the money lost, and the mice start coming out to play. Unfortunately, this is how your online shopping experience can sometimes go. When you’re unable to physically hold the product, when you can't see it "with your own eyes", only through a screen, judging its quality is a difficult task. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to reduce your risk when shopping online?

Check the seller’s credibility

Whether you're buying on a major shopping platform or from a specific brand's website, always try to get as much information about the seller as possible. Learn about the brand's history, philosophy, and values. Look for reviews on Google, in various forums, and on social media. Pay attention to what other customers say not only about the products themselves but also about customer service and contact with the seller - this matters hugely when shopping online.

Learn as much as possible about the product

Read the fine print - carefully familiarize yourself with the product description, specifications, and technical details. Make sure that the data is precise enough. Consider the material from which the product is made, its sources and certificates, to confirm its quality and sustainability of its sources. If possible, check where the item was manufactured. Another important parameter to ponder are the product’s dimensions - this applies in particular to clothes, shoes, furniture, and home decor accessories.

Product photographs are as important as their description. They should be adequately clear, sharp, and show the product from all sides. Ideally, the online store should also offer a video showing the product "in action".

If you have any doubts, you can always contact customer service before buying. Ask the salesperson about the details you are most interested into make sure the product meets all your requirements.

Familiarize yourself with the warranty and returns policy

Still, despite all your hard work; the in-depth research and thorough verification of all available information, the product you receive might not turn out to be what you expected. In this situation, a clear and simple return policy is crucial - you should familiarize yourself with it even before placing your order.

The second important element, especially when buying expensive equipment, is the warranty. Information on both the warranty period and its terms should be included in the product description - this also says a lot about the reliability of the seller.

Read the reviews

Reviews from other customers are invaluable in helping you make the final decision to buy (or not to buy). When looking for reviews, use trusted platforms which offer opinions from verified buyers. Pay particularly close attention to reviews that say more than just "great product", but describe its features in more detail, comment on the ease of use, assess its durability, as well as bring attention to any defects.

Pay attention to the number of online reviews - the more, the better, as this usually involves a greater variety of opinions and signals more credibility. It allows you to analyze different points of view, with the most recent reviews being the most valuable. Unfortunately, sometimes products which once stood out due to their high quality decline in standard, e.g. they start being produced with inferior materials, become less durable, and break down more easily; in short, the manufacturer lowers its calibre. In ideal cases, you would be able to see reviews that span a few years and are positive regardless of the time of publication.

Order material samples

Before making a larger and more expensive purchases such as furniture, home décor items, and some clothing, consider ordering samples of the materials from which the item is made. The description and photos alone can make a lot of empty promises, turning out to be, to put it mildly, disappointing. Samples make it easier not only to assess the product’s quality but also to choose the color, texture, or - as is the case with our products - the type of wood you like best.

Compare similar products from different brands

When you’re looking for the perfect product, you might have to spend a lot of time in front of the monitor: in addition to diving into descriptions and specifications, you should also compare a few different offers. To start, find several similar items, several companies offering similar products. Firstly, compare the products’ parameters, their materials (if possible, order samples from several stores), but also the reliability of their descriptions, photos and videos. Price also plays an important role - but when hunting for the bargains, be vigilant, as a suspiciously low price can mean equally low quality. Sometimes what seems too good to be true is, indeed, untrue.

***

Online shopping is a great convenience for those who don’t have time to move between irl stores and those who simply don’t like it very much. Especially during this period of intensive sales campaigns - the thought of getting a bargain price and making use of a plethora of discounts, all in your own home, is very tempting. Like with everything else in life, be sure to keep a cool head, a healthy balance, and make conscious decisions.