AARP Hearing Center
10 Worst Things to Buy Online
Avoid unpleasant surprises by shopping for these items in person
AARP (Getty, 7)
Key takeaways
- Shopping online is convenient, but it’s not the best approach for every purchase.
- Seeing big-ticket items in person can help you avoid purchasing poorly made products.
- Buying from a local retailer can help reduce the risk of scams, counterfeits and delivery problems.
Michael Podolsky thought he had found the perfect cherry tree. The online ad promoted a new variety, a mix of two tree types — one from China, one from Washington — that produces cherries within six to eight weeks of planting. He hit Purchase.
When the order finally arrived four weeks after placing it in March, Podolsky says it was an envelope containing two sticks with dry roots. He planted them but didn’t have high hopes. “I still have two wooden sticks in the soil,” says Podolsky, the CEO and founder of online review platform PissedConsumer. “They haven’t produced any leaves since spring, and I no longer have any hope that these cherry sticks will bear fruit.”
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
Shopping online is convenient and offers access to products that might not be available locally. But what you see on the screen isn’t always what you get, as Podolsky discovered. Some items are better judged in person so you can check the fit, examine the quality or perform other important assessments before making a purchase. Plus, there may be more of an opportunity for price negotiation when shopping in person, depending on the type of product and your haggling skills.
Here are 10 products to avoid purchasing online.
Appliances
Buying an appliance online can be a gamble. It might appear different online than in person, it could arrive damaged or the wrong model could be delivered. In any of those situations, you won’t discover the problem until you open the box. Then you have to call customer service to see if the retailer will pick up the appliance or if you have to figure out how to return a 300-pound refrigerator.
To find the best appliance for your needs, you’re often better off going to a brick-and-mortar store, says Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Consumers’ Checkbook, a resource for ratings, prices and reviews of businesses. Many stores will include delivery, installation and haul-away of old appliances as part of the purchase.
Also, Brasler says that researchers at Consumers’ Checkbook found there’s no price advantage to buying an appliance online. “You get as good of a deal locally,” he says.
Pro tip: Appliance prices can vary between retailers, Brasler says. Comparing prices online, before venturing out to a store, can help you identify which brick-and-mortar retailer has the best deal.
Bicycles
Proper fit is important, even for recreational cyclists, to ensure comfort, safety and injury prevention. That’s why Brasler recommends going to a local bike shop when you’re in the market for a bicycle. Shopping in a store also provides the opportunity to try a variety of bikes and, depending on the shop, take them for test rides.
Even if you buy a bike online, many bicycle brands will direct you to a local retail location to pick up your bike and have it properly fitted, Brasler says. So you might as well go directly to a local shop from the start. Plus, buying a bike online won’t save you money. “There’s zero price advantage,” he says.
Pro tip: If you’re looking to purchase a bike for a young grandchild, Brasler says it’s OK to shop online. He says a bicycle with training wheels doesn’t need the same precise fitting as an adult bicycle.
Cars
Dealerships have made it easy to shop for automobiles without setting foot in a showroom. “Going online is one of the best things you can do because you can shop at multiple locations from the comfort of your home,” says Ronald Montoya, manager of consumer advice at online car-shopping resource Edmunds.
But that doesn’t mean the entire transaction should happen digitally. “Photos can only get you part of the way,” says Montoya, who recommends seeing a vehicle in person and test-driving it before buying.
Pro tip: If you find a dealership that’s selling the make and model of the car you want to purchase, Montoya recommends negotiating the price online, where you’ll face less sales pressure than haggling with a salesperson face to face.
Clothes and footwear
Shopping online for clothes can be risky. You could end up with apparel that doesn’t fit or colors that don’t match what you saw on the retailer’s website. Quality can also be an issue when you can’t assess clothing in person before buying it. Proof: PissedConsumer receives many negative reviews about the quality of clothes purchased online, Podolsky says. And a June 2026 survey of nearly 2,000 online shoppers by Overnight Glasses found that clothing was the most returned product category.
Shopping on overseas retail sites that offer bottom-priced clothes can be especially precarious, since returns for such products are often costly, Podolsky says. “As a result, many consumers are left with purchases they don’t want,” he says.
In addition, it’s wise to buy footwear in a store rather than online to ensure they fit well, feel comfortable and provide the proper support. Brasler says he learned this lesson the hard way after buying sneakers online and having to return multiple pairs before finding the right fit.
Pro tip: If you do decide to shop for clothes or footwear online, Brasler recommends buying from retailers with generous return policies. Also, read customer reviews of retailers you’re not familiar with on websites such as PissedConsumer, Reddit and TrustPilot. And always pay with a credit card — it offers more protections than a debit card if you’re unsatisfied with a purchase.
Flooring
You can buy hardwood, tile, carpet and rugs online, but that doesn’t mean you should. “What you see on a monitor is often not what you see in reality,” Brasler says. It’s better to get samples from local retailers to see how they look in your home before committing.
Another reason to shop in person: If you buy from an online retailer and hire a local contractor to install the flooring, resolving issues that arise later can be challenging, Brasler says.
Pro tip: “It’s better to deal with one company if something goes wrong,” Brasler says. Although online retailers sometimes offer lower prices than brick-and-mortar sellers, the accountability you get from working with a local company that can supply the product and provide installation may outweigh the price difference.
Flowers
Ordering flowers online to send to a loved one across the country is certainly convenient. But you risk underwhelming the recipient with a wilted bouquet — or a floral arrangement that shows up two days after the event you intended to celebrate.
Researchers at Wirecutter, a product recommendation service from The New York Times, have found through years of testing that online florists often fall short in reliably delivering quality bouquets.
Pro tip: If you need to shop for flowers remotely, Brasler recommends reaching out to a local florist who can create a bouquet that meets your specifications and ensure timely delivery.
Mattresses
Gone are the days of strapping a new mattress to the roof of your car and hoping it will stay attached until you get home. You can now buy a quality bed online and have it shipped to your front door. Some even arrive compressed in a box.
However, if you have back pain or mobility issues, you’re better off going to a store to work with a salesperson who can help you find a mattress that suits your specific needs, says Michael Breus, a clinical sleep specialist and founder of Sleep Doctor, which provides sleep disorder care and education.
Shopping in a store also offers the opportunity to test mattresses before buying one. Just make sure the store will provide delivery, installation and haul-away of your old mattress if you can’t manage these tasks on your own.
Pro tip: Finding the right pillow can be equally important to a good night’s sleep, Breus says, to provide support and prevent neck tension. Many mattress stores sell pillows and other sleep accessories, so keep an eye out for them while shopping in person if you’re looking for a new one.
Pets
Steer clear of buying a furry companion online, says Melissa Murphy, professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. Scammers could be lurking behind ads and social media posts featuring pictures of cute puppies and cuddly kittens that tug at your heartstrings. According to one estimate, 80 percent of sponsored pet ads online are fake.
If you’re planning to buy a purebred dog, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends working with a trustworthy breeder and meeting in person. You can find breeders who commit to responsible breeding practices through the AKC Marketplace.
Pro tip: The BBB recommends checking local animal shelters to find a pet in need of a home. Shelters often post pictures of animals available for adoption. Pet adoption fees typically range from $50 to $500 or more, according to Adopt a Pet, a pet adoption website.
Televisions
A majority of complaints PissedConsumer receives about online purchases are for electronics, Podolsky says. Television purchases, in particular, generate a lot of negative feedback. “Electronics, which are often a significant investment, come with hidden flaws that are not visible until the product is received,” he warns. “For example, consumers report cases where a discounted TV stops working after only a couple of months, and the warranty does not provide enough protection.”
Shopping for a television in-store can help you gain insights you can’t get when shopping online, such as how a TV’s picture quality looks in person, according to Podolsky.
Pro tip: If you do buy a TV online — say, to take advantage of an online-only sale — stick to brands or retailers you know and trust, Podolsky says. The same applies when shopping online for accessories like soundbars, wall mounts and streaming devices.
Secondhand luxury goods
If you’ve been eyeing a designer bag but don’t want to shell out big bucks for it, a secondhand option sold online might seem like an affordable solution. However, Murphy cautions against buying luxury goods, such as high-end purses, jewelry and artwork, through resale or online auction sites because they could be fake.
Also, counterfeits are becoming more sophisticated, with global trade in fake goods reaching $467 billion in 2021, according to a 2025 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Pro tip: Don’t expect to find an authentic secondhand luxury item for cheap. “If the price feels too good to be true, it probably is,” Murphy says. “You’re not going to find an Hermès Birkin bag for $100.”
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
6 Food Waste Apps to Trim Your Grocery Bill
Rising food prices are squeezing wallets — these tools offer a creative way to save money
6 Money Mistakes You’ll Regret When You’re Older
Overly conservative investing, tax blind spots and delayed planning can undermine savings
Great Ways to Be a Better Online Shopper
Navigate online shopping with these savvy strategies