Here's how you can avoid buying fake products while shopping online

By Hasti Doshi

The past few years have witnessed a phenomenal growth in the online shoppingarena, with (almost) everything available to you at the click of a button. From designer ensembles and holidays to household products and medicines, one can shop for whatever they want in the comfort of their home. 

However, while online shopping has opened up an array of possibilities, it has also brought › with it the risk of purchasing something that may not be authentic. › This time of the year, most brands are on sale, offering tempting discounts as they vie to catch your attention. 

Getting your hands on discounted branded products can be very enticing. But are you really buying the original product when you shop online? Can you honestly tell if your recent purchase is original or did you end up spending your hard-earned money on a fake?

If you’re a shopaholic, there are certain things you should know when you indulge in online shopping to know if what you’re buying is original or not. For example, if handbags are your fetish, don’t forget to check the tag on the branded product. Each product has a serial number, which will be missing in counterfeit products.

We spoke to some stylists, who shared tips on how to distinguish original products from the fake ones and the tips they use when it comes to shopping. Fashion stylist Khyati Busa says, “Make a note about where the product is manufactured and where it’s being delivered from. Once my father purchased branded shoes, which turned out to be fake. I realised that they weren’t original because the finish of the product wasn’t good and the logo was already wearing off.”

Stylist Isha Bhansali, whose been in the fashion and styling business for a while now, also got cheated when she made an online purchase a couple of years ago. “At that time, I couldn’t make out the variation between a branded and fake product, but now I can immediately tell the difference. If you’re buying a brand online, make sure you really know it well, so that when you see it, you can immediately identify the real product. For example, trimming is really important, pay attention to the smaller details on the product like the zip and chains. For clothing, brand names are often there on the buttons. Every small aspect is noticeable if you know your brand well,” she says.

Fashion stylist Mohit Rai believes that knowing a brand’s distinct characteristics helps him make an informed decision. “Once you know the product physically then it’s easier to recognise the real one. Many online sites and even some international sites primarily connect you to vendors, so there is no authenticity to what they are selling. They can easily sell fake products, so it also helps to verify the source and do your research before splurging on expensive brands.”