Why spend your day in a crowded mall in search of the best deals when you can simply buy what you are looking for online?
It may seem like a waste of time having to shop the day away amid the bustling crowds, especially over the festive season, but sometimes it pays to do so. There are items that are best bought from the store, not the internet, so before you hit that "buy" button, here is a list of nine things you should never purchase online, as reported by Money Talks News.
1. Items you cannot return. It is a gamble to buy anything that cannot be returned. You may wind up with a faulty gadget or piece of clothing that does not fit. It is just not worth buying these things online.
2. Produce. It could end up costing you to buy fresh produce online. You do not know the quality of the goods you will be receiving as you are not able to physically examine them. It is best to traipse to the shop and choose your own produce. Shopping around a bit will pay off even more.
3. Vehicles. You may think you have found a great deal online but you cannot know for sure unless you see the vehicle for yourself, and take it for a test drive. There could be hidden issues that end up costing you in a big way.
4. Pets. When looking to buy a new pet, it is easy and convenient to just log on and see what is available online. At issue is that many animals, especially puppies, are bred in inhumane conditions. Puppies usually come from puppy mills where animal suffering is common. Heading down to your local animal shelter is a much better idea.
5. Bicycles. If you buy a bicycle from a store, the staff will happily make adjustments and repairs if needed. Purchasing a bike online means surrendering those perks.
6. Large appliances. Somethings are not always worth buying new and you can get great deals online when looking to buy pre-owned appliances, but if you are not personally going to inspect the item, many issues could go unnoticed.
7. Paint. Color can be misleading when you are shopping online but you may only realize once you have started painting the walls that the blue you bought was not the shade you wanted.
8. No-name tech. That no-name smartphone may look like a well-known brand but that does not mean it functions like one. There is usually a reason why cheaper tech gadgets are sold at such low prices. They may not function as optimally or just wear down much quicker. Paying less means risking quality.
9. Flowers. What you see online is not necessarily what you are going to get in person, as is the case with flowers. Sometimes you will order a bouquet of flowers that look identical to the image online, but other times your order may be a disappointment because the store you bought the flowers from used beautifully staged photos.
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