Nowadays, everyone shops online, and for good reason. It's so much more practical not to have to go to a crowded shop and wait in line for hours. Besides, you can browse to your heart's content from the comfort of your home, and you might even find some good deals too! However, it still poses some dangers. We've been scammed before, and let us tell you: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That's why we gathered some of the worst online shopping fails, so you can be aware of how bad it can go—and, let's face it, have some laughs too.
1. The Dress Was Oompa-Loompa Sized
We won't act like your mother and say you should always try clothes on before buying them. No, we understand that life gets in the way, and sometimes it's better to order an outfit online than drive to the mall and spend hours browsing through stores. Besides, most of the time, it doesn't turn out too bad. Pay attention to the use of "most" instead of "every."
This time, it turned out very bad. They expected a cute regular-sized dress but got one made for an oompa loompa instead. That torso is too short, even for petite people.
2. It's Scary but Not How You Think
Online shopping revolutionized Halloween costumes. Now, you can dress up as anything you like, and the best part is that you don't have to hunt down a Party City just to get a cheap French maid costume. You can build it yourself without leaving the house! That said, planning in advance is a good idea because if you got scammed as severely as this person did, you'd be in trouble.
It's giving less "creepy skinned zombie" and more "eefy sinned home," if you know what we mean. Remember the T-rex with a lisp meme? No? Then you should spend more time online.
3. How to Ruin Christmas
We're not sure if this counts as an unpopular opinion or if it's just a fact, but to have a good Christmas, you need a nice tree. Even if there are no presents that year, or if you're spending it alone for the first time, having a bushy, well-decorated pine will make the festivities feel less crappy. That's why, in this case, it might be wiser not to order one online.
You can get the lights, the ornaments, and presents, but don't get the tree from an online shop because getting a skinny pole, as this person did, will 100% ruin Christmas!
4. How to Ruin Me-Time
Nowadays, self-care is more important than ever. Everyone needs some time off to put themselves first. If that means curling into bed with a good book and reading for hours, then it's valid. We like buying a pint of ice cream and eating it while watching a good movie. However, for this person, it meant drawing a bath, sprinkling some bath salts, and throwing on a face mask, but the experience was ruined.
You see, the mask they ordered online turned out to be too small to cover their forehead, and they don't even have one that big. Always check product dimensions, people!
5. Yeezys but Make Them Slippers
If there's one piece of advice we can give about online shopping, it's this: be cautious of counterfeit items. Did you find a Louis Vuitton purse on Wish for suspiciously cheap? Is there a website that has unbelievably great deals for limited-edition sneakers? Then they're probably fake, or they'll take your money and disappear. Yeah, sometimes you don't even get a lousy imitation, so this person should consider themselves lucky.
Sure, they didn't get the Yeezys they wanted, but at least they got a comfy pair of slippers. In fact, we dare say they look better than the originals.
6. Don't Buy That Suspiciously Cheap Trendy Mirror
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't. We're not trying to warn this guy, though. This advice wouldn't have made too much of a difference to him, but several others on this list would've certainly benefitted from it. Where were we? We were talking about this poor man who bought a trendy mirror that turned out to be crap.
The product photo must have a generous amount of editing since the real-life effect is nothing like the one shown in the ad. Still, you've got to admit it's pretty funny!
7. He Just Wanted a Muscle Tee
Look, there's nothing wrong with a man wearing a dress, but only if he wants to. People are free to dress however they want, but not if they're forced to do so by Wish. Yes, the online retailer —or should we say drop-shipping site? By now, it's become a running joke that nothing you buy from there will ever look like the product picture. Not even muscle tees, apparently.
What you'll get when you order there is up to the Wish gods. Were you expecting a loose T-shirt to work out in? Have a tight, strappy dress instead.
8. Stick With Ikea
We love Ikea. It's got inexpensive, good-quality furniture and we love looking around the shop. However, spending an entire day holed up in a giant warehouse with strangers isn't many people's idea of fun. That's why many would rather buy what they need online. It's okay; we don't judge. Just make sure that the site you're buying from is legit. After all, a crappy decor item can ruin the house's entire aesthetic.
It can also ruin your back because that couch looks about as comfortable as a bed of spikes. What a headache it must've been to get rid of that monstrosity!
9. If You Eat With Your Eyes, You'll Starve
Did you know that you can even order cakes online? Technology sure is impressive. However, we wonder if we're starting to fly too close to the sun with how many things we can do remotely nowadays. You see, before, you could go to the bakery and physically inspect the quality of the cakes. Now, you need to trust that the pictures they post on social media look like what they'll deliver.
We don't know what special occasion this cake was meant for, but it may as well have ruined the festivities. That was the work of a beginner who oversold their skills.
10. Completely Different Vibes
Admittedly, when most people shop online, they're not buying stuff they will use daily. In the first place, nobody wants that type of commitment. In the second place, the Internet is usually where you turn to when looking for inexpensive, one-use items because they're low risk. Still, that doesn't mean you enjoy getting scammed. If we buy a pair of pink plastic glasses, we don't want a pair of fake Crocs.
This person didn't get Crocs, but they definitely didn't get what they ordered. It may not seem like a big deal, but it ruins the vibes. It's giving Carebears instead of Rave!
11. They Thought They'd Get a Wedding Dress
A sad truth about the world is that not everybody can afford to buy the wedding dress of their dreams. Some brides need to make do with whatever they can get their hands on that won't break the bank. That means luscious lace and poofy skirts are out. However, what if they found a listing for a dreamy gown online for a price they can afford?
Sadly, they'd probably be disappointed. Some sites promise beautifully tailored formal gowns but deliver plasticky, wrinkled messes. We genuinely feel for this lady. She got a hot mess instead of the perfect dress.
12. That Ain't Pickle Rick
Some items are easier to copy than others. Look, we'd never condone people buying falsified products, but if we're being realistic, some things don't look all that different when faked. Merch is an exception, though. Whenever some anonymous company tries to rip off an original artist's or creator's design, it often backfires. Keep that in mind the next time you're scouring the Internet for Rick and Morty merch.
It's always best to buy original products. Otherwise, instead of a Pickle Rick... whatever that is, you'll get something that looks like asparagus with a skull painted on it.
13. Buy the New Possessed Grogu Plushie
Isn't it strange how sometimes ugly creatures can end up being adorable? It's like there's something about them that makes you want to squeeze them, but when you look at them objectively, they're not that pretty. That's the feeling we got when we first saw Grogu or "Baby Yoda" in The Mandalorian. It's a wrinkly green alien, but it's also so cute. Much cuter than some of the plushies of him they're selling.
That's not baby Yoda; it's an old wrinkly man! The worst mistake is the eyes. Grogu's are big and black, and they're probably what makes him seem so adorable.
14. The Infinite Crotch Shorts
Sometimes when we scroll through online shops, we begin to wonder: do these people even make clothes for humans? Seriously, some garments have truly bizarre measurements. Our greatest hits include a pair of leggings that were 10 inches too long for any average person's legs. A sweater with a neck so tiny it barely fit around our bicep, and this weirdly cut jean shorts —or jorts, if you will.
This poor person just wanted a trendy pair of long shorts. And what's wrong with that? We don't even understand how they can even make clothes that bad. Nobody's crotch is that long... Right?
15. Leave This One to the Barbies
We're big fans of cast-iron pans. It's so good at cooking veggies because they give them a slightly charred and smoky taste. Now we're hungry for some seared asparagus... Anyway, we always get super excited about ordering a new kitchen tool, and we imagine many of you do too. That's why when we saw this picture, we truly felt a tragedy had taken place. Just look at what they did to them.
At least their Barbies can cook tasty stuffed tomatoes... Imagine dreaming about how many new dishes you'll try and have those fantasies shattered by a mean scammer.
16. Giddy up... T-Rex?
Wasn't this supposed to be a list of online fails? Well, yes, but we're going to break the rules just this once. There are some sporadic cases in which people actually get something better than what they ordered. Yes, that can happen once in a blue moon. As our first piece of evidence, we will present this picture because we think a unicorn is much better than a T-rex.
If you intend to ride them, that is. Sure, the dinosaur looks funny with their short little hands and fearsome teeth, but a unicorn is much more magical.
17. Make All Your Mermaid Dreams Into Nightmares
Ariel from The Little Mermaid wanted nothing more than to grow legs. On the other hand, humans would much rather have a tail and become magical beings. Are we wrong? Why are so many products intended to make people look like mermaids, then? Admittedly, we don't know how well a knit mermaid tail would perform in the water, but then again, whatever this person ordered was something else entirely.
They just look like knit pants with a very long crotch or a tube skirt with boots. Now that we think of it market it as a skirt, and perhaps Kim Kardashian will buy it.
18. Airpods Fit for a Clown
People don't usually say this about Apple products, but their Airpods are practical. The no-wires thing makes so much difference, and the battery lasts a decent amount of time. Besides, they're easy to fit in pockets and tiny bags. The only downside: they're expensive, and we mean way more than they're worth. Yes, we said it. However, we still recommend you save up because buying bootleg electronics never works out.
Best case scenario: you get a pair with crappy audio quality. Worst case scenario: you get giant Airpods that don't work and look like they were made for a clown.
19. That's Not a Regal-Looking Wolf
Underwear companies have quite... unique ways of promoting their products. Selling men's briefs, in particular, seems to be all about enhancing certain anatomical parts, if you know what we mean. However, wearing Calvin Klein undies won't make anybody look like Mark Wahlberg and won't make your wolf look... Majestic, as this picture promised. You'll likely end up with a package that looks more like the picture on the right.
You know, like a wolf that caught a frying pan in the face... That doesn't look regal at all. You're probably better off buying a giant pack of briefs from the supermarket.
20. Don't Cut Corners With Rings
You don't need an excuse to eat cake. However, getting engaged sure is an occasion worth celebrating. But what if you're short on funds? Professionally made pastries aren't cheap, and people tend to spend most of their money on the actual ring. That's why it makes sense that someone would want to save on the cupcake ring they plan to buy to celebrate the occasion. But you should never underspend on jewelry...
Not on real diamond ones or cupcake versions. If you do, you won't get a dainty chain of cupcake roses but a misshapen circle with a hole hacked into the middle.
21. Red Isn't a Shade of White
Even if you're shopping on reliable sites, the clothes you see online might be slightly different than the ones you receive. What's more, back in the day, when you had to go to a physical shop, the changing room lighting could make you think you were buying something black when it was actually navy blue. That's why you should expect a slight color difference. In this case, it wasn't "slight."
Maybe people should give up buying formal dresses on the Internet. We can deal with some tiny fitting issues, but getting a red dress when you ordered a white one? Pass.
22. They Did Aliens Dirty
Have you seen how far balloon technology has evolved in the past few years? It's not a joke. Nowadays, you can go to a dedicated balloon store and buy some in any shape. It doesn't matter if you can't tie them up to resemble a dog because now you can buy some shaped like a wiener dog. We no longer have to resign ourselves to these aberrations.
It's giving less "alien" and more "elongated green boob with eyes drawn on the nipples." We imagine that, if it could speak, it would have a squeaky voice, like a chipmunk's.
23. Sizing Differences Are Getting Wild
Sometimes it seems like every shop has its own measurements. There's Gap's medium, which is different from Forever 21's, which isn't like Nike's... We could keep going, but you probably get the drift. Some brands even surprise you with just how restrictive their sizing charts are. Once, we had to return a turtleneck because —get this— the neck was too tight! Besides, online shopping just made sizing messier, as this lady found out.
Not even hoodies are a safe bet when shopping online. If you order an oversized one, it might come with pockets on the boobs instead of at the hips.
24. Some Things Shouldn't Be Bought Online
It's great that people can get groceries and other products without leaving the house. However, there's a limit to what you can buy online. Basically, for anything important, it's better to shop in person. Wedding dress? Wish isn't the place to go. Veneers? Oh, please, no. Go to the dentist. This person decided to take the leap anyways—a highly questionable decision— and the results weren't great.
They look like one of those dogs that ran off with grandma's veneers! Besides looking horrible, they're probably terribly uncomfortable because they look too big for their mouth.
25. They Promised Live Action Ariel Hair
What's up with everyone trying to buy wigs nowadays? We thought they were only made for drag queens. Apparently, in some African-American communities, wearing wigs has been a thing for ages. Moreover, with colored hair becoming increasingly trendy, many people prefer to try out purple hair without damaging their natural locks. It's a pretty smart strategy, to be honest, as long as you don't shop online.
We've seen so many people get scammed with bad-quality wigs that we'd rather go somewhere to buy one in person. For plastic hair, there's always Party City.
26. This One's on You, Pal
With every new business avenue that pops up come new opportunities to rip people off. Online shopping gave unsavory characters the perfect medium to sell strangers items that'll never arrive or that are nothing like the description. However, some sought an advantage in skirting around the truth. They don't promise you'll get a life-sized version of that cast iron pot or regular-sized fake Airpods. They just bet on you not checking the dimensions.
Oh, they did this guy dirty. However, if there's any to get out of this list —other than some laughs at how stupid these items look— it's this piece of advice: always check dimensions.
27. Sully, Is That You?
Who says you can't do kids' activities as an adult? One of our friends recently threw a slumber party, and it was great! We all bought onesies and ate popcorn, and watched movies. Oh, and we also scribbled all over the face of the first girl to fall asleep. Since we thought it was low-risk, we ordered those pajamas online, but now we realize it could've gone very wrong.
We could've ended up like this person who ordered a cute Sully onesie and got a weird blue alien knockoff. Still, if it had happened, we probably would've had a good laugh.
28. When the Flower Shop Runs Out
Did you know that flower arranging is considered an art in Japan? That said, like many other art forms, some works are not exactly easy to understand. A single orchid amid a bed of stones? Sure, it's zen, but it's kind of boring too. Honestly, if we buy a bouquet, it's because we like to see pretty flowers. Yeah, we wouldn't like getting a jungle like this, either.
We're not saying green isn't pretty, but if they ordered that massive colorful bouquet and got a bunch of leaves, they should get a refund, and that's final.
29. You're Telling Us This Isn't Latex?
Let's have a moment of vulnerability here. We think we watch too much YouTube. How do you think we know so much about online shopping fails? It's because we spend way more time watching videos about people ordering on shady sites than we should. They're just so addictive... Why are we telling you our deepest darkest secrets? Well, that's how we learned not to order latex clothes online.
Did you know they might not even be latex? Most of the cheap items you see online, like these stockings, are vinyl instead of genuine latex. It's something to take into consideration.
30. Stuffing Not Included
You know how they say, "Where there's a will, there's a way"? In our opinion, people should also say, "Where there's a deal, there's a catch." Remember we told you that you can't always trust what you see online? You might come across a giant teddy bear that looks completely adorable in the product picture, but if it's worth much less than most others, you might be following in this person's footsteps.
In other words, they might be selling you a shell of a bear. The same thing has happened to us when buying pillows, and now we have a bunch of cases jammed in a cupboard.
31. You're Better off Sewing It Yourself
Have you noticed how everyone seems to be making clothes? It's like every millennial suddenly realized they needed a hobby, and the only options were pottery and sewing. So, the next time you want to buy something cheap online, why not adopt a new pastime and try making it yourself? It's just a suggestion, but seeing what this person got, we think even the most inexperienced tailor could do better.
It's three rectangles of fabric haphazardly sewn together. We have absolute faith that if you grabbed a needle and thread, you'd do a much better job at making this.
32. No Size Chart Will Help You
Did you hear about the controversy with Kylie Jenner's latest swim launch? People complained about the products being see-through, poorly made. However, the worst part was that most styles were too small to cover anything. We have a theory: she used the same factory that some Wish brands use. What proof do we have? None, except for this picture, where a lady seems to have had the same problems.
It's not even a matter of buying the wrong size because we believe that top wouldn't even fit Ariana Grande, and she might be the most petite woman on the planet.
33. Perhaps It Got Messed up in Delivery?
We've been pretty tough on online sellers in this list. Perhaps it's time to give them a break. After all, not every mishap is their fault. If you buy a mirror that arrives cracked, it's the delivery company's problem. Maybe some of these people didn't get scammed but were simply unlucky... Take this bouquet, for example. It would look much better if it hadn't been squashed, right?
You don't expect burgers to look like they do in the ads, so why hold other products to the same standards? What matters is that they had the intention of making a flower lion.
34. Thumbelina Exists and Is Making Rings
One online platform that's becoming a big name in the online business world is Etsy. It's supposed to connect small, independent artisans directly with consumers. You can find anything on there, and we mean ANYTHING —look up some of the weirdest Etsy shops and see for yourself. However, there's no guarantee you won't get a pair of metal nuts from Home Depot with a vague engraving on the side.
They dared call this a ring... Maybe for Thumbelina, it was, but not for average humans. If you're looking for engagement rings, go to a jewelry store.
35. Bootleg "Five Night At Freddy's" Animatronic
Where do you stand on dressing up as a bear for Halloween? Our take is that it's a bad idea. Sure, it's simple and easy, but do you really want to walk around in a thick, polyester bear onesie for an entire day? We don't know about you, but we're too old to suffer like that. As a general rule, we're against anything that includes a mask. Besides, after seeing this, we've got traumatized.
The version in the ad is slightly creepy already, but that thing on the right is the stuff of nightmares. It's worse than the animatronics from Five Nights at Freddy's.
36. A Blanket Fit for a Cat
It's time to face the truth. There's something we didn't want to admit, a fact we've been skirting around all this time. We've been acting like we're impervious to advertising, but we're not. We're just like anybody else, and sometimes we fall for the dreamy promise of buying a cozy blanket for a lot less than it's actually worth. Well, jokes on us and this person too.
They fell for the same scheme we did and got a cat-sized blanket. Remember how we told you you should always check product dimensions? We didn't follow our own advice.
37. Princess Leia If She Weren't a Princess
Ah, Halloween... the only holiday where you can be anyone but yourself. There's no visiting family, no dealing with any problematic relatives. Just you, with your friends, eating candy and partying. Nowadays, you don't even have to spend time hunting down a costume because you can order one online. However, don't expect it to be high quality. If you thought Party City was bad, wait until you see the Internet's offerings.
With something as shapeless as that, you're better off repurposing it into a ghost costume. You won't even have to put any effort into styling your hair into rolls!
38. Charcuterie Board? More Like Butchered Board
They say you should always try to shop small. However, nowadays, even independent crafters have websites people can order through. So, you have options if you still feel queasy about going inside a building full of people but still want to support local artisans! Still, buying small doesn't mean you won't get scammed. Yeah, people can be evil, too. It's not just mega-corporations. Don't believe us? Take a look.
This person wanted a fancy charcuterie board, but the artisan they bought it from wildly oversold their skills. We hope they got a refund or at least left a bad review.
39. Technically, They Didn't Lie
Giving a child a present they don't like may cause irreparable damage. Do you understand the pressure parents and other family members are under now? That's why people drive miles and miles trying to find the exact toy their kids want when the holidays roll around. If you're struggling to find the right gift for a kid you love, then we suggest staying away from the Internet.
Were you hoping to get a pretty dinosaur pillow for them? No, you'll get a regular pillow case with the picture from the ad printed on it.
40. A Dollar Store Version
To be a badass, you need to have badass things. Oh, that's not how it was? Grandma just called and said what's important isn't what you wear but what's on the inside. Still, it can't help to have cool-looking accessories. This person found precisely what they were looking for online, and it being a ring made out of bone and purple crystals, we bet they believed themselves lucky.
It turned out it wasn't white, it wasn't textured, and the crystals were made of plastic. We don't think they'll feel very badass wearing that boring accessory.