Need to do some shopping to update your wardrobe?
FORGET driving to malls. FORGET wasting hours in the parking lots.
And FORGET carrying all your shopping bags/boxes on your own.

The shopaholics these days have got shopping down to the 'T'. I have to admit, I'm one of these notorious shopaholics who just can't seem to stop. As I'm typing this, I am waiting for seven parcels to be delivered to me. Many of my peers who don't believe in shopping online expressed their wonder, how I could easily shop so much without any doubts. By doubts they mean scams, or 'fake', low quality items being delivered or not at all.

You ask, I tell.


HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A BLOGSHOP IS LEGIT?
Blogshops are all over the place, some have even evolved to proper sites with proper carts and everything. As always, I try to shop with sites that have their own dot com domain and proper check-out systems. Better yet, those that uses PayPal for checkout, because of its Purchase Protection Policy. I have used PayPal on many purchases, and it's so easy and fast, I'm a true blue believer.


HMM, I AM STILL NOT CONVINCED...
It's normal to feel insecure about buying online, especially with your own hard earned money. But unless you have friends who can recommend or vouch for a certain site, there's only one thing you could do, which is to TRY. Buy a small item that doesn't cost you a lot, that way if it's a dud, you wouldn't have lost too much. After all – never try, never know, right?


WHAT ARE PRE-ORDERS?
A pre-order is where you place an order for an item, pay for it and wait. Usually, the waiting time for a local pre-order is 2-3 weeks. For overseas orders, it might take up to a month and a half. Usually pre-orders would arrive within the stipulated time, but if not, send an email to the seller and ask about the status. In some cases, your item might not be available form their supplier anymore, in which you will be entitled a full refund. Like all things, read the site's T&C before ordering. A reputable site should have a clear T&C.


WHAT ARE THE BEST SORT OF SHOPPING SITES?
For me, I love sites that have a lot of choices. Because choices means something for everybody. Even if they only have limited choices, their selection must be good and up to date with current trends. Trends last a few months, so usually my favorite sites would already have the style. I'm not a brand-snob so anything that's 'inspired' with a lower price, I'm sold! Also, sites that update weekly are my fave!


HOW DO YOU DETERMINE SIZES WHEN BUYING ONLINE?
Sizings are not always accurate, so it is always best to buy based on measurements given by the site. Or follow the generic S, M, L or UK4, 6, 8 that are generally used by most. Measurements may not be super accurate, but they mostly fit the sizes they are made for.


WHAT ABOUT SHOES?
Shoes are tricky because sizes can differ by quite a lot, and the outcome would cause you a lot of discomfort and dissatisfaction with your purchase. The best way is to request for measurements in centimeters. Some sites state proper measurements with cm, so it's pretty easy for you to check the best size. So far, I have not had any problems whatsoever.


I HAVE TOO MANY PARCELS COMING IN!
To avoid missing out on a parcel, keep track of all your purchases. Save the emails sent by the seller, and note down the expected date of delivery for each item on your calendar. That way, if a parcel doesn't arrive, you would know.


OOPS, I'VE OVERSPENT ON ONLINE SHOPPING THIS MONTH AGAIN...
Sounds familiar? We've all been there. I nearly maxed out my credit cards on online shopping alone when my sister went to Chicago, and I was busy scouring the internet for US-based blogshops that offer free shipping to Illinois. What you need to do is to create a shopping wishlist (which is actually a waitlist). Don't go all out buying 20 items you want in a month. List down all the items you want, and only buy those items that you really want, while staying within your budget. Save the rest for next month, but by then, you might already change your mind about buying that certain item.




BUT I AM ADDICTED TO RECEIVING PARCELS!
Most shopaholics I know, like myself, LOVE receiving parcels. Every time the postman arrives, I have that urge to rip open his bag and get my parcel immediately. This nasty little habit would end you up with a big big hole in your bank account. So what I did was to allow myself to receive a parcel once, every two weeks. Pre-orders are the greatest because you can order this week, and by week 2 when you are getting antsy and feel the need to shop, your parcel arrives and you'd be pacified, for the time being.


WHAT IF MY PARCEL NEVER ARRIVES?
If it's a pre-order, you need to give a 3-4 week estimate for arrival. Any longer than that, you should contact the seller via email/phone. If it's a ready stock item, you should receive your item within 7 days max, for local orders. Orders from overseas would take about 2-4 weeks. I usually opt for sites like Zalora, which ships worldwide and has an efficient dispatch team who gives the buyers a call on delivery day. No matter what the case, be sure to always have the seller's contact before purchase, so that you can reach out to them if need be.


WHAT DO YOU SHOP FOR ONLINE?
Clothes, mostly. Then shoes. Followed by jewelry. If you also love handmade items, you can check out Etsy.com where it's an entire community of handmade item pros who do what they do as a hobby/career.



Just bear in mind, always shop with a reputable seller no matter what platform or site you visit. If you opt for COD (cash on delivery), please respect the sellers and prepare the right amount, and also be at the meeting spot on time. I used to own a blogshop myself and have death with buyers who backed out on the last minute, and even one who told me she's going to pay half first and half later on during a COD. Respect should go both ways.

That said, happy shopping!