What household items should not be bought online: the opinion of shopping experts

“Go online to see what you like, but go to a furniture store to shop,” says Brent Shelton, online shopping consultant. He believes that doing research on the Internet is a good idea: for example, there are hundreds of different models of nightstands, and you don’t have to “know” them all in person to choose a few “favorites.” However, once you figure out what you like, it’s best to buy furniture offline – this will ensure that you’re happy with your new purchase.

Mattresses are something you should not buy online for your home. The opinion of shopping experts is clear: we spend practically a third of our lives on a mattress, and therefore devote a very significant investment to it which requires a balanced approach. Plus, we have different preferences: some sleep on our sides, others on our backs. Shelton advises visiting a physical store first and choosing a mattress that seems comfortable, then reading reviews about it, then coming back and making a purchase.

According to personal finance consultant Andrea Woroch, it’s best to see and touch these items before bringing them into your home. “The color can be completely different on the website than in real life, and you can’t judge the quality by looking at the web page,” says Andrea.

It’s quite strange to see such an item included in the list of household items that are not recommended for purchase in online stores, isn’t it? Indeed, there is an important caveat: experts explain that you can go to the store and choose wine glasses instead of old broken glasses for a holiday in the evening, if you have time for this. In this case, it is a wise decision: an urgent need will be covered by high-quality dishes that meet your requirements, which you will enjoy using for many years.

The paint ended up in household products that are not recommended to order online for the same reasons as textiles: eggshell and ecru look very similar in a catalog on a website, but completely different on the walls of your house.

Flowers are another household item that is best purchased from offline stores. As Andrea explains, the reason is very simple: in a flower shop you will probably be able to buy much fresher plants than those offered by online services. And of course, you will see the bouquet yourself, which means it will not turn into an unpleasant surprise, as sometimes happens.

Art is also a household item that you should avoid buying online. You run the risk of falling in love with one painting and getting a completely different one, because there are too many middlemen between you – from the photographer who took the photo to the content manager who decided the painting would be more beautiful in an online store. if “the colors were a little tighter”.

Let’s not argue, buying a refrigerator online seems like a very attractive idea! However, Brent says it’s best to avoid the temptation to take the hard route, because appliances have details you can’t see in a photo: it’s impossible to tell how easily the drawers slide into place. open, the quality of the shelves or if your fingers leave fingerprints on the surface of the refrigerator. Household appliances are therefore household products that should not be purchased online: it is better to inspect them in person so as not to have to manage returns later.

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