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How to Test Drive New Brands Prior to Purchasing

With the rise of the Internet and the increasing space occupied by fashion bloggers,  we are frequently shown the wares of online only retailers or are being introduced to new brands. From clothing to skincare, online-only outlets are the new normal in our increasingly digital lives. This leads us to an interesting conundrum: how to sort though and assess the quality of products that we cannot see and feel prior to purchasing (since we know that the recommendations contained in a #sponsored #ad blog post can't be trusted). Because we're Real Working Girls with Real Working Incomes, we want to know about the quality of the product that we're purchasing before we get it home. We've also gotten burned more than a few times when it comes to online shopping. We're pretty sure we're not alone in our experiences, so let us share our tips for researching new brands and retailers prior to purchasing. 

It's worth noting that our tips go beyond purchasing clothing and beauty products online. We've also used these tips when selecting reputable consignment shops, eBay retailers, and providers of services (mainly repairs). Our favorite tips?
  1. Cross reference online reviews. We've found this particularly helpful when it comes to beauty products. If it is a product/brand we're not familiar with, we will often check the Sephora, Nordstrom, and Amazon review prior to purchasing. This gives us a wider range of reviewers which we've found gives us a more holistic view of the product. Looking at 3 separate review sources also allows us to see and analyze general themes related to the product. This is also helpful if the product you are contemplating purchasing is available on a website that doesn't have reviews at all or has very few. 
  2. When it comes to resellers  (i.e. consignment shops and eBay), we often do look to the eBay feedback; however, it's not always the end-all-be-all. As we've discussed before, Katie 1 loves to purchase high end designer goods on the secondary market for a variety of reasons. Because she's gotten burned doing so in the past, she's developed a pretty good system of vetting any sellers prior to doing business. When she comes across a new reseller, the first thing she does is Google. This will usually show some reviews and any press. If there's some press surrounding the reseller - where is it from and what does it say? If it's from a legitimate publication, she's usually pretty comfortable doing business with the reseller. If said reseller also has a brick and mortar, she usually likes to check that out too. Some resellers will partner with sites like Gilt, Rue La La, or One Kings Lane. Given that these sites are well respected, Katie 1 tends to trust resellers they partner with. 
  3. YouTube reviews. We know! We know! But hear us out. Especially when it comes to buying designer goods on the secondary market and purchasing beauty products, there are some really good YouTube videos available. Yes, you often have to wade through a lot of crap, but if you search carefully, YouTube can be a great resource. 
  4. Non-sponsored blogger reviews. If you read here regularly, you know that we LOVE to snark on #ad #sponsored blogger/brand collaborations. When done well, these collaborations can be a good jumping off point by introducing you to brands that you may not be familiar with but are right for you based on style and price point. But most often, they don't provide reliable feedback. However, there are still a few bloggers out there (like us!) who purchase products with their own money and provide honest feedback. While few and far between, we've found these types of reviews to be extremely helpful and easy to spot (just look for the lack of "partnership", "sponsored", and/or #ad). 
Happy Shopping! 



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