Reliable Sites for Online Fashion Shopping

What is online fashion?

Online fashion is a form of e-commerce over the internet where you can directly buy clothes and apparel from the seller. Shopping online has become more of a necessity than an option for people due to the effects of the recent pandemic. This also led to a rise in scams and frauds, with more sophisticated ways of cheating people off their money.

Compared to retail shopping, online fashion allows consumers to buy goods in the comfort of their home. Consumer data company Statista estimates that the online fashion market size would grow to $1 trillion by 2025, from the current $664.5 billion in 2020. So even if 1% of online shoppers get scammed, the losses would run in hundreds of millions!

Risks of buying clothes online

Online fashion stores offer a wider range of products, allows shopping from a computer or mobile, and most importantly increases the consumer reach for brands. But they are not without any loopholes and issues. Here are some of the bad experiences shared by shoppers:

• You may receive counterfeit goods and low-quality products than what was promised
• Online shoppers often face issues with apparel size
• Fashion stores often face issues with payments and late deliveries
• At times the product may never arrive, or the seller may deny a refund or returns
• And last but not the least, users often fall victim to identity and credit card theft on shopping websites

How to avoid online fashion scams and fraud

Fraud and scams can put a stopper on the joy of shopping, and more so around the holiday season when you want to buy gifts for your family and friends. You don’t have to be extremely diligent when shopping online, but if you keep in mind the following points, we can vouch that you will be safe.

• Check the product description and cross-check it with the display image
• Always opt for cash on delivery or payment after delivery if you are apprehensive about the seller
• Do not be wooed by flashy and colourful images of products
• Look for moneyback guarantee, return and exchange policies of the seller
• Site security (lock in the address bar) is a good measure of online safety, but can also provide a false sense of security as scammers too can encrypt their websites
• Always verify the credentials, address and contact details of the online store. Avoid shopping on unknown online shops without checking user reviews online
• Use a credit card or PayPal for payment, as they have more fraud-protection measure than a debit card
• Never pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, money order or wire transfer as there is no way to recover your money if you get scammed

Reliable online fashion and apparel stores

Here we list some of the popular names in men’s fashion and women’s fashion, and the average number of visitors they get every month. Please note that these companies may not provide their services in every country.

*Average monthly traffic is based on February 2021 figures. The number might increase during the holiday season.