Thursday, January 29, 2009

Buying Children's Clothing Online: Internet Shopping Tips

By Katie Wilber

Shopping for clothing online for your children presents a number of risks and uncertainties. You may not know the store, the quality of clothing or the security of your purchases. Yep, shopping online while extremely convenient can result in an unfortunate buying experience.

Will the clothing fit my child? Will it be good quality? Will my transaction be secure? Will I receive the items in time? So many risks and questions. Lets take a look at a few tips and strategies to mitigate the risks and have a positive online shopping experience.

Verify The Reputation Of The Store First!

Before you even start looking, make sure the site you're at is safe. This means a secure transaction, you can tell by looking at the URL if it is HTTPS then the site is secure.

Online feedback and reviews are a great source of information. Because people are more likely to post bad reviews than good, it's fair to assume that no news is good news. That is, if you cannot find any bad reviews then it's probably an okay place to shop provided you've taken the other steps presented here.

The Better Business Bureau is also a great place to check for complaints.

Become aware of the brands the store carries. Are they good brands or designers with a good reputation? Does the brand hold up? Does it hold true to sizing charts or do items tend to run large or small?

Look For Product Descriptions

An accurate product description will include what the item is made of, washing instructions and sometimes even the sizing.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Websites that allow you to enlarge or zoom in on photos are especially helpful.

Find out the Store's Policies

When will you receive the items? Some stores have very structured shipping policies which are apparent and stated quite clearly on their site. This is ideal and a good sign that you're dealing with a reputable business.

What are the return policies? A liberal return policy makes it much easier to shop online. A standard policy will give you 30 days provided the tags are still attached to the item and you have proof of purchase, but you may have to pay for return shipping.

Size Matters

Knowing your child's size is important however knowing their measurements will be an extra benefit. Because sizes vary, knowing their measurements can help you determine the right size for your child for any particular brand or item.

One last thing, help other people looking to buy clothing for their children online by posting positive reviews for stores you enjoy. This will help spread the word, keep good retailers in business, and ensure you always have a great place to shop. - 16650

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