In the U.S., over 40% of total online retail sales revenue comes from clothing purchases. Buying clothes online isn’t a new concept, and many people prefer it over going to a brick-and-mortar store. You get to look at different clothes, shoes, and accessories all from the comfort of your home and without having sales assistants bothering you.
But with all things, there are drawbacks, especially when it comes to buying shoes. Many people make simple errors with purchasing sneakers online that leave them with ill-fitting shoes or items that need to be returned. This is why you need to take your time when you’re looking at a sneaker store website.
So keep reading to find out more about common errors people make when purchasing sneakers online so that you can avoid them in the future.
1. Foot Measurements
While sneakers are extremely versatile, and you can tighten or loosen the laces to ensure the shoe fits perfectly, you can’t simply guess your shoe size. Sneakers are easy-to-wear shoes and can transition from work to play easily, but that’s only true if they are the right size.
Sneakers that are too small or big are incredibly uncomfortable. Not only can they cause blisters and pain while being difficult to walk in, but it’s also obvious if someone’s shoes don’t fit properly. This can decrease how confident and put together you appear.
When it comes to comparing different sneaker sizes, it can be incredibly difficult to figure out what size to buy. If you’ve bought the specific brand and style before, you can simply purchase the same size, but if you’re unfamiliar with how their shoes fit, you should closely study the size guide on their website.
Most websites also include information on the specific shoe, whether it’s a tighter fit, a narrow shoe, etc.
Using a measuring tape to measure your feet is a good idea, as most size guides also include the length and width of their shoes. If you need more information, you can also turn to online reviews, as they’ll tell you if the shoes run big or small.
2. Buying Fakes
Quality sneakers can be expensive, but buying fakes or dupes isn’t a good idea. People have made entire businesses out of producing and selling fake sneakers, so you have to do your research on the sneaker store website to ensure they’re legit.
A good rule of thumb is to collect images of the sneakers you’re interested in. Look at the details like the color, stitching, and placement of the logo. Compare these images to those on the website to make sure there aren’t any obvious red flags like a misspelled brand name.
Unfortunately, you can’t make sure they haven’t stolen the image they’re using. This is why it’s best to always use a reputable shop to buy your sneakers. When buying sneakers, you have to trust your gut; if the deal seems too good to be true, you should be cautious.
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3. Rushing to Checkout
If you’re buying popular sneakers that are difficult to find, you might end up rushing to checkout to ensure you get your pair. While the fear of missing out is real, you have to take a moment to ensure you’ve added the right shoes and size to your cart. It doesn’t help if you rush and end up with a pair of sneakers that you can’t even wear.
If you’re multitasking while buying your sneakers, make sure you momentarily stop your other tasks while you complete your checkout. Your dinner can wait five minutes while you place your order.
4. Forgoing Comfort
There’s nothing worse than patiently waiting for your new shoes to arrive, only for them to be incredibly uncomfortable. If there are no other sizes available, or if you bought the shoes for an event, it can be tempting to simply ignore the pain, but if you can’t wear your shoes comfortably, you won’t get as much use out of them.
We’ve all made the mistake at some point to forgo comfort and wear uncomfortable shoes, so chances are you know exactly how bad it can be. Why would you punish yourself and pay money to do so? Instead, return the shoes and get a different pair or style that fits better.
If you’re dead set on keeping the shoes, you should consider how you can make them more comfortable. Opt for shoes made out of high-quality materials and comfortable insoles. If your shoes are too big, see how they fit if you wear multiple pairs of socks.
If your sneakers are bought for running or exercise, it isn’t advisable to try and force comfortability. You’ll only end up in pain and need to buy new shoes anyway.
5. Return Policy
When shopping online, the first thing you need to do is look at the return policy. How easy is it to return shoes that don’t fit, and do you have to pay for them to pick them up? If it’s too difficult to return, you’ll probably end up keeping any uncomfortable shoes you buy and waste money in the long run.
Avoid Errors With Purchasing Sneakers Online
It’s easy to make errors with purchasing sneakers online. Unlike in a physical store, you can’t walk around with the shoes to ensure they fit you perfectly, and shoes have less leeway than other clothing items you might purchase online. This is why it’s important that you take your time to ensure the shoes you’re looking at will fit you properly.
If you enjoyed this article, take a look at our fashion section for more great content!
Published by HOLR Magazine.