AS A busy working lady, there is nothing that I love more than online shopping. It is fast, super easy, and convenient. I can get the products that I want delivered to my doorstep with just few clicks or taps on my computer or smartphone.
But with online shopping, you do not always know what you are going get. I’m going to share with you what websites you should try, how to get the right fit for clothes, the do’s and don’ts of online shopping, and the online sellers that I personally recommend.
Top Online Shopping Sites
BeautyMNL – http://www.beautymnl.com
Beauty Manila is an online beauty hub that’s based in Manila. For orders within Metro Manila, they offer next-day delivery, while for provincial areas you can expect your order to arrive in less than a week. They sell a wide range of beauty products including skin care, cosmetics, bath products, as well as select food and coffee.
What I love about BeautyMNL is it sells a lot of beauty products including those that you do not always find in the local store. They offer free shipping for orders worth P1,000 and above and also give surprise free shipping on some days. They also sometimes include free samples in your cart.
Zalora
Zalora is an online shop in Asia that sells mainly clothes, bags, watches, shoes and accessories but have lately also sold cosmetics as well. Their mobile application and website is very clean and organized with clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories all carefully classified into categories to help you search and navigate it better.
For beauties on a budget, you can sort the price range from lowest to highest, or choose to see products with discounts. I’m a satisfied customer of Zalora. I have purchased a few dresses and so far, so good. Zalora often gives 20 to 30 percent discounts, so it’s something to watch out for always.
The best thing about Zalora is they offer free returns or exchange within 30 days if you’re not satisfied with the product. They also offer free delivery for orders worth P1, 000 and above.
Shopee and Lazada
You can buy or sell basically anything in Shopee and Lazada. While both sites have rates and reviews from buyers, only Shopee has the consumer guarantee where the app prompts you if you have received your product before they turn over your payment to the seller.
In Shopee, you have to chat directly with the seller when purchasing which is nice. In Lazada, it’s a more distant kind of customer-seller relationship, but you can still drop some questions for the seller to answer.
Do’s and Don’ts
Find and read reviews about the seller that you plan to buy from before purchasing. Message those who made reviews and ask if the seller is legit and easy to transact with.
Take note of seller’s behavior or courteousness to customers especially in how they respond to inquiries. In my experience with @peech08 who sells underwear in bulk online, the seller likes to post arrogant responses to customers who she complains about for inquiring but not buying or those who ask her always when their package is about to arrive. My first purchase was great – I loved it. On my second purchase, the underwear smelled foul, like clothes kept in storage for a long time, and I could tell some were old and used. I ended up unfollowing her.
Do not be rude with to the seller – they are only human and some handle more than just their online business. Do not reserve an item that you would not pay for.
Local online sellers I recommend:
@waisttrainerdavao – waist trainers to help you achieve slimmer waist
@davaotrendies – they sell select branded “ukay-ukay” clothes
@xoxoberrydvo – they customize your phone case to fit your style and preference
Online shopping may be a risk, but make it a calculated one. Follow my tips and enjoy shopping online!
--
Andrea Isabelle Mejos is a young writer from Davao. She likes to seek beauty in all angles – people, products, places – and writes it down. For inquiries, you may reach her at mejosandrea@gmail.com