The BB Team’s Biggest Online Shopping Fails

It’s a hit or miss when it comes to online shopping, and we’re here to share our online shopping fails, in hopes you don’t fall for the same hype.

It’s hard to resist online shopping when it’s so easy and accessible. In fact, in 2020 shoppers online increased greatly, as on average, there were about one million additional households which shopped online each month in 2020 in comparison to 2019.

Online shopping doesn’t always go to plan, and can be heartbreaking when items turn up that do not resemble the images portrayed online.

So, how do you avoid it ?

The BB team have dug deep into their memories of shame and regret and share their biggest online shopping fails here in hopes you won’t make the same mistakes when you shop online:

BB Founder Renae’s Hair-Pulling Experience

Item: Hair piece – $30 

THE LESSON I LEARNED: DON’T BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE.

I couldn’t resist the idea of a simple hair piece to slide into the back of my hair to make my hair look thicker. It looked super easy – and gorgeous on Instagram. 

But when it arrived, the hair was okay, but the ‘hairband’ part was actually a thinner than thin elastic band.

When I slid it on my head, it was really difficult to conceal it and work it into my own hair. Plus, I was terrified the elastic would snap. 

Bottom line, I never wore it, and the money was wasted. This really put me off online shopping. 

BB Beauty Writer Rebecca’s Christmas Wreath 

Item: Christmas Wreath – $30

THE LESSON I LEARNED: SOME DEALS ARE JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

I found the most spectacular wreath online for $30, down from $80. I was so excited to receive it and waited patiently for it to arrive. It was a snowy winter dream themed wreath, which was made from earthy toned coloured foliage and flowers on a lovely willow woven wreath as the base. 

It was then topped with lovely fairy lights which had been woven throughout the wreath, and a cute little wooden lantern in the middle of the wreath which would also light up at night.

When I received a notification that it had arrived at my PO Box, I raced up to get the package, and to my dismay, I discovered it was a printed version of the wreath on a sticker, which you were supposed to then place on a window. I was devastated, after all that waiting, and I receive a sticker. 

I contacted the site, which no longer exists, so no point in mentioning, and they responded with: “Thank you for your order, it has been delivered” That’s it, nothing else. 

So, I reported the site to a spamming recording website (perhaps that’s why they don’t exist anymore), and just had to let it go. Never again. 

BB Writer Czelene’s One-Click Mistake 

Item: Stonehenge tour ticket – $650

THE LESSON I LEARNED: DOUBLE-CHECK EVERY SINGLE DETAIL OF THE ITEMS BEFORE PRESSING PURCHASE

This shopping fail is all my fault, so avoid this as much as possible. 

My family and I were booking tours around Europe and I were in charge for our Stonehenge one. I found a tour that was a reasonable price with great activities. So, my family and I discussed it and we settled on it. I filled in all the details and pressed purchase. 

When the receipt came up on the screen, I noticed that the date was wrong – the date was for the next day, when it was supposed to be for next month.

My heart stopped and I could feel my stomach turn. I had just lost $650 from my parents’ credit card. I didn’t say anything out of shock but eventually yelled to my family explaining what had happened. I had a full-blown breakdown and of course I got in trouble. 

Long-story short we were lucky for it to be fixed when we got to London, but the experience will be burned into my soul forever. So, my advice is to double check EVERYTHING. Don’t rush details, especially dates. 

BB Writer Claudia’s Double Trouble Dress 

Item: House of CB Dress – $150

LESSON I LEARNED: IF YOUR PARTNER IS ASKING YOU ABOUT BRANDS YOU LOVE AROUND YOUR BIRTHDAY – MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHAT THE BRAND AND LINK THEM THE WEBSITE IF NEED BE.

So, my shopping fail isn’t exactly mine but my boyfriends

I’ve told Max (my boyfriend) a few times that I love the brand House of CB – they have elegant but sexy dresses, corsets and amazing fitted pants and blazers. All in all – a cool blend of feminine but boss clothes. For my birthday last year, he got me an array of presents but told me there was still one more coming in the mail – it had been weeks and the package had still NOT arrived. 

When the package did finally arrive, it was covered in international flight tags and Chinese characters, which I thought was strange. I opened it to find a dress that looked nice but as soon as I put it on I could tell it was not right – the lining was too tight and the dress was too short, I looked ridiculous! I asked him where he got it and he told me ‘House of CB’ and I was like there is no way this is House of CB…it turns out he was on a fake copycat website (but couldn’t tell lol) and paid $150 for a low-quality dress made in China. 

BB Writer Carissa’s High Heeled Horror

Item: High Heels – Billini Website

LESSON I LEARNED: TRY SHOES (OR CLOTHES) ON BEFORE TO ANY EVENT AND WEAR THEM AROUND THE HOUSE PRIOR ENSURE THEY FIT PROPERLY.

on prior to any event and wear them around the house prior to ensure they fit properly.

I purchased a pair of high heels for a destination wedding, when I received them and wore them, the ankle strap was incredibly loose, and I couldn’t walk in them at all so I had to wear an emergency pair of sandals for the remainder of the wedding. 

I was then able to return them in store, where they suggested going down a size. I was in the city for an event and the same issue happened, a friend swapped shoes with me at the event, it was so embarrassing. I went back to the store to complain. 

They suggested going down a size again, I am a size 9, and they were suggesting going to a size 7. After saying that this was unacceptable for a pair of high heels and I want a refund as they are a faulty design, they said no and only issued me a credit note. Absolute disaster unfortunately.