Caveat Emptor

In a world where online shopping has become the rule and not the exception, we are quick to tap the “BUY” button for just about anything and everything these days. Yes, online shopping is easy and seamless (hello, Amazon Prime!), except when it’s not. Truth is the internet is a playground for counterfeiters who operate in the shadows and are rarely caught, penalized or held accountable. For this reason, adopting a “caveat emptor” approach to online shopping is just plain smart. Also, there are specific items you want to avoid altogether, so read on for 5 pro tips that are sure to spare you a lot of grief:

1. Luxury handbags
   The luxury handbag market is, sadly, full of fakes. There are not only a ton of knockoffs in the market, they’re actually really good ones. This makes it easy to trick the average consumer and, oftentimes, it takes a professional authenticator to point out subtle details that reveal it’s a copycat. The best option is either purchasing your bag in a reputable brick & mortar store or online directly from the brand itself — and no one else.

2. Fine & vintage jewelry
   Fine jewelry is easy to misrepresent online. From precious metals to gem stones, quality and size can be falsified in descriptions and photos quite easily. A Certificate of Authenticity should accompany all purchases and always make sure return policies favor the buyer, not the seller. Vintage jewelry can also be manipulated to look less flawed at certain angles and light. Examine photos closely for missing, cracked, chipped or dead stones and verify with the seller that all clasps and closures are in good working order. But even then, it’s still a risk. Always know what you’re buying, and who you’re buying it from.

3. Cashmere
   It seems sweaters would be a safe and easy online purchase, but not so. Cashmere comes in 3 grades of quality which is only discernible by touch. For this reason, using the word “cashmere” can mean many different things. There are cashmere blends, too, which isn’t always called out in product descriptions. To play if safe, buy your cashmere at the shopping mall instead of online.

4. Cosmetics
   Buying cosmetics online is not the time to try new brands. How color displays on laptops vs. mobile vs. IRL can vary dramatically, making something like a foundation or concealer purchase an instant retail regret once you discover color is not, in the end, a match to your undertone. Cosmetics are usually not returnable, too, so definitely think twice before buying makeup online.

5. Wedding dresses
   Everything looks different in a photo and wedding dresses are no exception. Buying your gown online is a very risky proposition and, frankly, recipe for disaster. So much could be misrepresented on the internet — fabric color, sheen, embellishment details, overall quality — not to mention fit, length and wrinkles from transit should not be left to chance either. Especially considering a bride’s state of mind of heightened hopes.