5 Tips for Online Shopping Success

During my graduate career, I became a professional at online shopping. When you work 30 hours a week while studying full-time, and accessing a shopping mall means paying for a rental car or spending hours on public transportation, knowing the ins and outs of online shopping is a skill worth having.

Here are 5 tips that will help you online shop successfully, and minimize the chances of being disappointed by what arrives at your doorstep.

1. Read the reviews. Customer reviews can be invaluable. They can tell you things about a product you're considering that you'd have no way of knowing without actually owning the product yourself--like specifics about its actual color or fit. Take the extra time to read customer reviews. It'll pay off in the end.

2. Use Google Images. Some items like backpacks or shoes look different depending on which site they're on. That's usually because most sites edit their images differently. A quick Google Images search can reveal how a product really looks, especially if you find a visibly unedited photo like this one (which was found by searching "Jansport backpack").

3. Find the actual sizing chart. Some online shops use a standard sizing chart for every shoe or every shirt regardless of the manufacturer. For example, the sizing chart on Zappos is the same for a Nike shoe and a Saucony shoe even though each brand approaches sizing differently. On Redbubble, the sizing chart provided for the American Apparel Standard American t-shirt is different than the one offered at American Apparel's site. Before you buy, check the manufacturer's site for a sizing chart you can rely on.

4. Trust your instincts. If you come across an online shopping site that seems "sketchy" to you, it probably is. A good way to verify whether your suspicions are true is doing a simple Google search asking whether a site is trustworthy or legit. You may find reviews claiming that a site's actual shipping times take much longer than promised, or that their customer service is non-existent. You'll want to steer clear of any site that has such reviews.

5. Know the return policy. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Make sure you're familiar with a site's return policy before you buy, so you'll know whether returning will cost you more money. Zappos gained huge popularity for their 365-day free return policy, and other online shopping sites have adopted similar approaches.