What is your most frustrating online shopping experience?

We all love the thrill of a new purchase – whether it’s a new outfit, something you’ve been saving up to buy, or you’ve managed to nab yourself a bargain, the rush of retail therapy can be a real buzz. But what if you’re shopping online and the product you receive doesn’t live up to expectations? Or there’s a problem with delivery? Talk about a buzz-kill. There are definitely pros and cons to online shopping, but if you’re finding it a hassle, your solution could be ‘Click and Collect’.

More and more stores are offering a click-and-collect service, allowing you to make a purchase online and then pick it up at a selected store at your convenience. This may seem counter-intuitive…after all, if you’re visiting the store to pick up your purchase, why bother shopping online at all? But click-and-collect removes some of the biggest frustrations with online shopping – missed deliveries, incorrect sizing, and the challenge of getting to the post office during business hours. Opting for click-and-collect means you can visit the store at your own convenience, your purchase is ready and waiting for you, and you can try it on and change the size if needed. 

Another option is using a parcel locker – lockers are accessible 24 hours a day and can be found at post offices, shopping centres and central CBD locations. Once your parcel is delivered, you receive a unique code giving you access to the locker. So they’re ideal for time-poor, budget-conscious shoppers (most of us!), offering a convenient and secure way to collect your online purchases. 

Could this be the best of both worlds: avoiding the queues at the shops and the hassles of delivery? With more and more people opting for these alternatives, it could be the answer to our shopping woes. By using a delivery service, we’re back in control of how we shop – no longer sitting around waiting for a delivery that may never turn up. And of course while you’re picking up your purchase, you may find yourself doing a spot of shopping the old-fashioned way – which means the traditional brick-and-mortar stores benefit too.

So it’s win-win right? But what about the other drawbacks of shopping online, such as the risk of being scammed? Follow our five tips for shopping online safely.