It's your father's birthday, and you have a great gift idea in mind - a quality leather briefcase. Like most shoppers, you turn to the Internet for research and to possibly find a great bargain. It doesn't take long to find many web site offering leather products, including the briefcase that would make the perfect gift for Dad; it looks great, it's the right price, the shipping is reasonable and it's in stock. But do you really know what you are going to get when the package arrives?
When buying leather products online, how does a shopper determine if they are actually buying quality? It's an important question; after all, you are making a decision that can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars, with only a few photographs and some text on the screen to help you.
Here are 5 tips that can help you ensure the quality of the leather product you are thinking of purchasing (this list might be helpful when purchasing other big-ticket items online, as well):
1. Make sure the site offers close-up photographs of each leather product. You can then determine from the photograph some measure of quality. Things to watch for are: Quality construction and an appealing design.
2. Price can be a factor. If the price is reasonable but not dirt-cheap, you are probably ok. But when a price is so low you are scratching your head wondering how they do it….you might want to be careful.
3. Brands are important, but how do you know if the leather products aren't merely brand rip-offs? Look for a designer that has been around for a while. Sometimes a
name you've never heard of can be better than a "name" brand in leather.
4. Does the piece have the "Wow" factor. Did you take one look at the piece and know it was what you were looking for?
5. Does the site itself seem trustworthy? Are they upfront with contact information, including physical address? Are there enough customer reviews on the site to indicate that this company has had other customers? Are the reviews nothing but glowing high rankings, or is there real honesty?
6. Can you reach a "real" person if you have a question about a piece?
7. Has the site been around for a while? A quick visit to the "about us" link can usually tell you this.
8. Is shipping free? Most sites offer free ground shipping on orders over a certain amount (usually $50 or $100)
When buying leather products online, how does a shopper determine if they are actually buying quality? It's an important question; after all, you are making a decision that can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars, with only a few photographs and some text on the screen to help you.
Here are 5 tips that can help you ensure the quality of the leather product you are thinking of purchasing (this list might be helpful when purchasing other big-ticket items online, as well):
1. Make sure the site offers close-up photographs of each leather product. You can then determine from the photograph some measure of quality. Things to watch for are: Quality construction and an appealing design.
2. Price can be a factor. If the price is reasonable but not dirt-cheap, you are probably ok. But when a price is so low you are scratching your head wondering how they do it….you might want to be careful.
3. Brands are important, but how do you know if the leather products aren't merely brand rip-offs? Look for a designer that has been around for a while. Sometimes a
name you've never heard of can be better than a "name" brand in leather.
4. Does the piece have the "Wow" factor. Did you take one look at the piece and know it was what you were looking for?
5. Does the site itself seem trustworthy? Are they upfront with contact information, including physical address? Are there enough customer reviews on the site to indicate that this company has had other customers? Are the reviews nothing but glowing high rankings, or is there real honesty?
6. Can you reach a "real" person if you have a question about a piece?
7. Has the site been around for a while? A quick visit to the "about us" link can usually tell you this.
8. Is shipping free? Most sites offer free ground shipping on orders over a certain amount (usually $50 or $100)
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