How to Shop Smart Online: 7 Tips Every Pakistani Buyer Should Know

Online shopping in Pakistan has significantly increased in the past few years. It is convenient, quick, and enables people to browse hundreds of clothing and lifestyle items without leaving their house. However, convenience can create risk, especially if you're a new buyer or not aware of what to look out for. 

Shoppers have a ton of frustration with wrong sizes, fake products, poor quality, or even no delivery at all. That's why it is important to learn how to shop smart online! Whether you're shopping for women's clothing, makeup, shoes, bags, or gifts, these tips will help you grow confident and smart as an online shopper. 

We have rounded up 7 great tips that all Pakistani buyers should know before making a purchase based on real buyer experiences. By using these tips, you can learn from buyers' common mistakes, save your hard-earned money, and shop online with peace of mind.

ALWAYS SHOP FROM A TRUSTED SELLER ONLINE 

The first rule, and possibly the most important: shop only from reliable websites. 

In Pakistan there are a number of online pages, along with sellers, who can be found online - but they are not all reputable. Some take your money and never send you anything, others send something completely different.  

So, how do you know what sites are safe? When scanning a website, look for: 

• A professional layout, clear product images 
• Secure means of payment 
• Real customer reviews 
• Return/Exchange Policy 
• Contact Information - Phone, WhatsApp, email. 

Some trusted websites for people located in Pakistan:

• Brandly.pk, which is a trustworthy platform for Pakistani based fashion/lifestyle products. 
• Daraz.pk, is massive has site protection for buyers. 
• Sapphire, Limelight, Outfitters - these are the official brand websites. 

Tip: If you are purchasing through Instagram or Facebook, always check to see that the brand has reputable reviews, that there are real photos of the items posted, and that the brand has an up-to-date, active website.

CHECK THE SIZE GUIDE BEFORE YOU BUY

One of the major mistakes that buyers can make is not reviewing the size guide.

Different brands, different sizing. A “Medium” in one brand may be interpreted as a “Large” in other brands. When shopping online it is very important to review the size guide on the product page.

Word of advice:

1. Get a tape measure out and measure relevant areas of your body: chest, waist, hips, or foot size
2. Compare your measurements to the size guide
3. Choose a size that is right for your body, not what you usually buy.

Tip: If you are between sizes, order the larger size - you can always have it altered later!

SPEND TIME READING REVIEWS

Make sure to read reviews before you purchase anything online.

Customer reviews will give you an idea for what you'll get. You can often look up some information about the quality of fabric, if the sizing is true to what you'd expect, even if it was delivered late. Following are some things to consider when looking at reviews:

• Comments on material, the stitching, or comfort level.
• Fit- too tight, too loose, or just right.
• Real buyer images (very helpful)
• Complaints and/or red flags

If a product has a lot of positive reviews, it's usually safe to purchase. If it has a lot of complaints or there are a lot of reviews missing, it's better to avoid it.

COMPARE PRICES BEFORE YOU BUY

Same or similar items are for sale at many online stores but the prices, well, they can vary. Do not buy the first thing you see!

How to Compare:

• Copy & Paste the product title into Google or other shopping apps.
• Shop on price comparison websites if available.
• Search for promo codes, special offers or free delivery?

Example: Store A may sell a white linen kurta for Rs. 2,500, while Brandly may slash the price to Rs. 1,999 because it is on sale.

A savvy buyer will save their money by comparing prices before adding items to the cart.

FILTERS HELP YOU FIND PRODUCTS MORE QUICKLY

Online shopping platforms have convenient filters that allow you to shop with ease and instead of scrolling through 100+ items, you can use filters to zero in on the following:

• Size (S, M, L, XL)
• Color (Black, white, pastel, bold)
• Price Range
• Category (Kurtas, co-ords, bags, shoes)
• Occasion (Causal, Eid, office wear, party wear, wedding)

These filters will save you time from aimlessly scrolling and make sure you find exactly what you’re looking for by not feeling totally overwhelmed.

REVIEW THE RETURN AND EXCHANGE POLICY

A fact most buyers forget until something goes wrong is 'The return and exchange policy'!. Anyone shopping online must read this policy properly before purchasing. As a general guideline, you should be able to return or exchange an item if:

• It’s the wrong size
• The product is damaged
• You changed your mind

Things to look for in this policy:

• Clear time period (typically 7-14 days)
• Easy process (WhatsApp or email)
• Refund or store credit options

When any page says “No return, no exchange,” that’s the one you should be especially cautious of.

BUY DURING SALES (AVOID FAKE DISCOUNTS)

Sales can save you money, but don’t expect every sale you see to be a real sale. Some pages jack up prices and then offer “fake discounts.” While still others market offers and then fail to deliver.

When to Shop:

• Eid Sales
• Independence Day (14 August)
• 11.11, 12.12 Mega Sales
• Ramadan
• End-of-Season Sales

Bonus Tips:

1. Keep up-to-date by following reputable brands on social media
2. Use promo codes during checkout
3. Sign up for newsletters to get breaking news directly to your inbox

Brandly. pk, offers bundle offers and discounts on all your favourite trusted Pakistani brands. 

CONCLUSION

Shopping online in Pakistan is fun, but it can be challenging and sometimes if you play your cards right using these 7 tactics, you can skip scams, determine the best size and browse with ease.

To recap, always:

1. Buy things from reliable sites such as Brandly. pk
2. Check size guides before ordering
3. Read real buyer reviews
4. Compare prices and search for deals
5. Use filters to shop smarter
6. Know the return policy
7. Shop during real sales, not make-believe ones

Looking to revamp your closet with quality local fashion? Visit Brandly. pk, and trust to shop with your favourite Pakistani brands that offer you quality, variety and all what you are looking for from Pakistani brands.