Naturally quick, shopping for jewelry online lets you buy from locations distant from your house unlike conventional brick and mortar store
Although seeing a piece of jewelry and trying it on personally is fantastic, the drawback is having to travel to a store and being confined to what that one particular store offers. You will also miss out on exquisite handcrafted jewels produced by independent artists that typically lack bricks and mortar stores - our specialty at Guvit.
Although buying jewelry online has many benefits, you should be careful and pay close attention to the appropriate items to prevent some of the hazards. Having a refresher on things to be cautious of is still a wonderful idea even if you feel like a seasoned pro purchasing jewelry online.
6 Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for Jewelry Online
Avoiding our top 6 Online Jewellery Shopping Mistakes will help you be far more likely to have a great experience and will enjoy wearing your gorgeous new items for years to come. These top 6 shopping mistakes includes;
- Looking over the photos and description
- Not Looking at the Returns Policy
- Buying things you won't wear
- getting the wrong size
- shopping at fake stores
- Not Seeking Customer Reviews
1. Looking over the photos and description
In an ideal world, there are some things you'd prefer to see and feel in person before buying them. Jewellery is likely to be one of them as it's good to be able to try it on and decide if it feels right. Of course that isn't possible when shopping online.
A new online jewellery shopper may be concerned about missing out on the 'trying on' step of the purchasing process, but that's where detailed descriptions can help you.
If you're shopping with a well run and reputable online jewellery store the product listings will have in-depth information and observations about each piece of jewellery. You'll get a very good idea of what to expect just from reading this information. In particular the description should give you a clear information about the materials used to make the piece (if not, this is a red flag for jewellery shopping) and the dimensions.
Also check all of the photos provided by the online store to see the piece from different angles and to get an even better idea of size.
Too many shoppers don't read the descriptions thoroughly or look through all of the photographs. They miss out on crucial details that could sway their decision. It's definitely a mistake to avoid.
2. Not Looking at the Returns Policy
While properly reading descriptions and looking at photos will help a lot, sometimes you'll receive your purchase and it isn't quite as you expected or it isn't a good fit for you. There's only so much even the best description and photographs can convey about a physical object.
I'm sure all of us have bought something online only to feel it just isn't the right thing when it arrives. Often that's the point at which we'll check the returns policy for the first time.
Sometimes we'll be disappointed to discover that a return either isn't straightforward or isn't possible at all.
A good online store should provide its customers with a fair returns policy, particularly when it comes to items like jewellery where seeing a piece in person is very important.
The best time to check the returns policy is before you buy. That way you'll know where you stand up front when it comes to returns or exchanges.
You should feel confident before making a purchase that you can resolve the issue if your item arrives and it isn't suitable.
Not reading the returns policy before you shop online is a mistake that's easy to avoid once you get into the habit.
3. Buying things you won't wear
Shopping online means you have easy access to many different types of jewellery. For some shoppers this can be both a blessing and a curse. It's great to be able to see a wide variety of what's out there and you may find something you really love while browsing, but it can also be distracting.
It can be so easy to unthinkingly add items to your cart when shopping online. For some people that means they may be more likely to buy things on a whim that just catch their eye.
That kind of impulse may lead to adding pieces to your collection that don't really fit your style or lifestyle and won't often be worn.
Before checking out have a think about your selection and consider where you'll wear the pieces. Are they for special occasions or everyday wear? Do you have a particular outfit they will suit? Are they a fit with your current jewellery collection or are you looking to make a change? Do they say something about who you are as a person?
Some quick consideration before finalising your purchase is a great way to avoid buying jewellery you might regret later.
4. Getting the Wrong Size
It's frustrating to be excited about ordering a piece of clothing or an accessory online, only for it to arrive ... and not fit. If the online store has fair returns and exchanges policies you should be able to sort this out, but it can still be discouraging and may feel like you've wasted time and effort.
Too many online jewellery shoppers fail to correctly measure themselves and get pieces that won't fit correctly. This is especially the case with rings, but is also a factor with bracelets, necklaces and anklets.
To avoid this issue, the first step is simply reading the product descriptions, as outlined above. A well run online store will give you clear measurements for each of their products and you should make use of this information.
For necklaces and bracelets, you can simply use a tape measure to check how those measurements will sit on your own body. Also take a look at our Necklace Length and Style Guide for other handy tips and a size chart. At Guvit, almost all of our necklaces and bracelets have an adjustable length, giving you some flexibility. We also have necklace chain extenders to make the lengths more adjustable.
Taking the time to measure the right way is especially important when ordering rings. A ring should be easy enough to get onto your finger, be comfortable while you're wearing and be a bit harder to get off. Knowing your ring size for each finger you want to wear rings on is highly recommended. Check out our ring sizing kit to help you get it right.
Double check your measurements and compare those to the listing details to make sure you'll get the right fit every time.
5. Shopping at Fake Stores
Unfortunately, one of the biggest downsides of shopping online is an abundance of scams and fake businesses designed to trick you out of your money.
The good news is that there are a number of clues to look for and some tools you can use to help you feel confident about who you're shopping with.
As an example, lately we've been seeing online stores advertised on Facebook with a vast array of highly varied designs and surprisingly low prices (both are a clue that something isn't right), along with a sad story about how they're closing down.
When we look closely at one of these online stores, we'll discover it was only created in the past few weeks or months. At best you'll get some poor quality jewellery that doesn't resemble the photos, but at worst you'll get nothing at all for your money.
One of the most important things you can do is practice safe online shopping habits and do your research before making any purchases.
6. Not Seeking Customer Reviews
It's a beneficial idea to look for online customer reviews about the item you're thinking about or the company itself, especially if you're shopping with a business you haven't dealt with before.
These reviews can give you a first-hand account of the quality of the product, the shipping process and how the company handles various issues. You can find a lot of relevant and helpful information in these reviews. It's a beneficial way to help you feel confident in your purchase.
If you're shopping with a small business, you might find they have a lot fewer reviews online than big box stores. That's not necessarily a sign that anything is wrong.
Customers are more likely to spend time to leave poor reviews for inadequate products or customer service, so a lack of reviews likely indicates there have been few problems if the business is well established.
If you come across negative reviews for a business, it's advisable to identify a consistent pattern instead of focusing solely on a single negative review. Sometimes people can be malicious for no beneficial reason.
Conclusion
By taking extra time and care to avoid these online jewellery shopping mistakes, you can find the perfect piece. Online jewellery shops open a whole new world of possibilities and options for you to choose from as you build your collection. A few new pieces can level up your whole style instantly.
If you're interested in finding some quality, artisan-designed jewellery for your collection, check out our online shop today.
