How to Avoid Disappointment When Online Shopping
We're all human, right? As much as we like to plan on planning ahead, often we end up leaving things to the last minute.
Same goes for costume parties. Although we might tell ourselves that, this time, we'll start looking for a costume in March for Charlie's dress up party in May, at the last minute we find ourselves scrabbling through online stores, frantically seeking the Express Post button.
Sometimes we're successful in finding the perfect last minute costume - but other times, the costume arrives on our door the day before the party, a size too small or just flat-out wrong.
Basically, you never know what you're going to get when you shop online. But there are a number of ways you can boost your chances of getting it right, just in time for the party.
Read the Shipping Policy
Particularly if you are a last minute shopper, this is a big one. When you are looking for costumes online, make sure to check out the store's shipping policy before adding that onesie to your basket.
Good shipping policies will offer same day shipping - especially within metro areas - from Monday to Friday. They will also offer different postage options, giving you the choice between standard shipping and express shipping at the very least. If tracking your order is something you're interested in, you'll additionally want to ensure that's something they offer.
Check the Costume Quality
When shopping for costumes online, it is important to note that the model's ability to rock the look is no indication of costume quality.
Ensuring the quality of online purchases is a hard task, and receiving a dodgy costume in the mail is harder yet. When it comes to costumes, there are a few things to look out for that will help guarantee your satisfaction.
If the costume you're after has been inspired by a movie, comic book or television series, keep an eye out for licensed costumes. In particular, if the costume is inspired by Disney, Star Wars, Marvel or DC and it's not licensed, chances are it's not as good as it could be.
If the character you want is a bit more obscure and you don't think a licensed version would be available, the last port of call to ensure its quality is checking out the image quality. Use that zoom button and get right up close, until you're 100% sure it's not made up of cardboard and cling film.
Read the Reviews
At the end of the day, customers will only leave reviews if they feel either of two polar emotions: really satisfied or really angry.
It pays to read through what other customers have to say about the costumes, to help you figure out what you can expect when the package arrives on your doorstep. There is usually a treasure trove of advice contained within.
For instance, if you are unsure which size to purchase, other customers might have had a similar experience. And if they've already received the costume, they'll be able to tell you either whether it was too large or too small, thus helping you to avoid a similar mistake.
If you are unsure how legitimate the site is - or want to know how popular it is - check out their Facebook page. It seems simple, but the number of followers a company has can say a lot about the quality of their products. Quite simply, happy customers are more likely to `like' the page than unhappy customers.
Ensure Refunds and Returns are Offered
No matter how careful you are at checking the quality of costumes before you purchase, shopping online always carries its risks. If you buy a costume that is too big, too small or simply not what you expected, make sure there is an adequate refunds and returns policy. Because at the end of the day, there's no point in paying for a costume you're not going to wear.
For costumes you can trust, check out
Blossom Costumes.
