Tips for buying clothes online 0 comments

When Toys R US closed all its physical stores in all the countries where it was present (except Spain and Portugal) it gave a very clear reason: they cannot compete with the Internet. The company had 860 stores in the United States and 716 stores in 34 other countries and in 2017, the chain filed for technical bankruptcy due to factors such as the rise of online shopping portals,

It is a reality, more and more things are bought on the Internet: toys, electrical appliances, books... and, also, more and more clothes, including shoes.

The comfort of not having to travel and search and, also, the variety of the offer, with prices many times cheaper than in physical stores, has motivated many people to start buying clothes on the Internet.

But buying clothes on the Internet is not the same as buying toys, unless we know the genre very well and master the sizes used by the brand

What to look for then when buying clothes online

Read the composition of the garments well

It is important to read the composition and materials section well, especially if the garment is very cheap because it may be a low-quality synthetic fabric. Children's skin is very sensitive and the ideal is to dress them with natural fibers, such as cotton.

Calculate the size correctly

The issue of sizes is a bit complex on the Internet, because it varies depending on the country. In Europe they are usually standard. But, for example: Chinese clothes tend to be smaller.

Please measure your children's height and waist to calculate their actual size. In case of doubt, it is better to take the larger size so that it is not too tight.

Make sure they accept returns and exchanges

When buying online you cannot see the products, much less change them. If you don't get the size right, you can always change it. Just in case, check first how much it costs to return a product.

Take into account the shipping costs

Sometimes, they can make the purchase more expensive. On many websites, shipping is free from a certain amount. It's still worth combining several purchases into one or sharing the order with a friend to save on expenses.

Pay attention to the delivery date

The faster the shipping and the more payment methods, the more serious the store shows.

Always buy on a website that gives you security and guarantees when paying.

Types of stores

the great portals

They bring together many different sellers and by having a lot of offer, they allow them to also offer very good prices.

Amazon works well, but there are other websites, such as Alliexpress, that are very, very cheap, but also risky because the sizes differ a lot depending on the seller and, in addition, the order can take a long time to arrive.

In fact, last year I ordered two leggings of the same size for my daughter, those warm ones with shearling inside. Some arrived right away and looked great on him. The others took almost three months and on top of that I had to give them away because they were so small that they didn't even reach her ankles.

In any case, if you decide on this website, as there are hundreds of sellers, read the user reviews and be wary of excessively low prices, because nobody gives anything away.

Brands that only sell remotely

There are brands, such as Vertbaudet, La Redoute or Venca, that started selling by catalog and now do it basically online. They are very active websites, which constantly renew their offer and even offer the possibility of subscribing to a newsletter to find out about the brand's news. The delivery time is fast. At La Redoutte there is the option to pay 7 days after receiving the order in order to test it.

Commercial chains with physical stores

El Corte Inglés, C&A, H&M… They are a safe option when it comes to paying and returning products. Most have a flat rate to avoid shipping costs and some like C&A free returns. In the case of El Corte Inglés, there is also the option of collecting the product at a Supercor center or at a Correos y Celeritas office and thus reduce shipping costs to 1 or 2 euros.

For children: specific stores that are dedicated only to the sale of children's fashion

The treatment is usually more direct and you can have the possibility of being advised if you doubt when choosing the size. For example, the Mis Soletes online store, specialized in dressing babies with style, with prestigious brands such as Pilar Batanero or Tartaleta, has a telephone number to answer customer questions. It is a good option if you need elegant clothes for your baby and you are short of time, since the shipment is very fast.

Image courtesy of Mis Soletes