Tips to up your glam without sacrificing your buck: Instagram Shopping
For the past year or so, I have started to get addicted with opening packages from Fastrack, Xend, JRS, LBC and 2go; I have become an avid online shopper. Aside from being convenient, I relish receiving gifts to me... from me!
Why Instagram? I did my rounds: OLX, Lazada, Ebay, even Facebook pages in my city. Although I have not been duped yet, had I not been a little too careful, I would have fallen prey to incorrect advertising, really bad shipping nightmares, pickpocketeers, scammers. I find the platform easier to filter in terms of items I search for, options, feedbacks due to the ease of use of hashtags.
I also formulated a tried-and-tested formula when shopping online, particularly in IG. We read and watch news of nightmarish scams online. Although the risks are altogether true, there are a lot of ways to fool-proof/dummy-proof your online experience. Read on, fellow shopaholics!
1. Scour online stores with one-of items, inspiring ootd pins or photos you found in Pinterest or in IG. You only wore that heavy knit cord vest to Baguio once (and will probably never wear again) but who knows, it might be another fashionista's missing piece? One second-hand, luxury items website listing even had a promo, #theonethatgotaway with the same thing in mind.
2. Use hashtags. #bobongph #plannerph #prelovedbagsph #knitsph #prelovedbooksph are some of my bookmarked hashtags. Find yours, too so you can narrow down your search.
3. Appreciate your local stores. Some of them may be the coolest girls but are now moms who have to cross a new frontier dressing up... and needs to free closet space while funding for a new wardrobe. Also, as the holidays (or birthdays) near, they might have been gifted the same thing they bought themselves. Help them by taking the dupe out. ;)
4. Be vigilant. Buy from stores that have proper feedback (photos of tracking receipts with store name, ootds with store hashtags, check comments, feedback hashtags, posts should not be repetitive and dates waaaay back, to name a few). Research. You can also do a #scammerph hashtag search so you are aware of stores/suppliers/sellers that copy entire accounts photos or feedback and fake them as their own.
5. This may be a hassle but when in doubt, deal only with sellers with a bank payment option. Odds are, you really can't fake ID when opening a bank account. Bank paper trail is a much stronger evidence than a CCTV shot from a remittance center. Someone will be bound to catch up on you.
In close to two years, I have purchased most of my books, even an entire encyclopedia set, eyeglasses, roomy office bags, sweater weather knits, planner stuff, my external hard drive, and some nifty SG Benefit makeup. I only buy from those that has a good track record and so far, not only have I found trusted sellers, some of them became my friends for real.
