Buying a designer handbag is, quite frankly, an investment. Hence, shopping for designer handbags is a serious business, simply because the average fashionista easily spends a pay check or two on each bag, and that stays in her closet for a long, long time. The task becomes even more serious when you are shopping for purses and handbags online.

That doesn’t mean you don’t find anything worthwhile on the internet. On the contrary, the number of choices for stylish handbags actually increases. What you need to do is show a little prudence, and you can easily get the best handbag from the comfort of your home. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Shop Locally

Isn’t the whole purpose of shopping online that you are no longer confined to a specific market? Yes it is, but consider the fact that when you order from outside your home country, you will have to pay for customs, tax, handling, and brokerage fees in addition to the cost of the handbag. While you may be earning well or have saved a hefty amount after months of planning, these additional costs can easily escalate the original estimate you had in mind. Only a few things can ruin your mood even after getting a new, designer handbag, and an unexpected bill is one of them. And while not always true, purchasing from an online shopping cart also translates to faster delivery, which can actually become a necessity if you purchased the handbag for an upcoming event.

Beware of Scammers

The market for fashion accessories is a lucrative one, and this unfortunately coincides with the emergence of scammers. Since you can’t physically inspect the handbag, it is really easy for someone to add pictures of genuine handbags while sending you fake ones. The first thing to look for is multiple pictures, possibly from different angles. Next, check whether the online store has multiple entry points, such as profiles on Facebook and Pinterest. Most importantly, find reviews of the vendor.
The best way to go about it is to find online vendors that have retail outlets in your city as well. That way, any issues like a damaged handbag can easily be resolved.

Website Security

Since you are transferring funds online, it is only wise to shop from a website that has security features like SSL certification and 256-bit encryption. This ensures your personal and financial details remain safe as you make transactions over the Web.

General Tips

Before closing this article, here are a few tips you should keep in mind when selecting a designer handbag. When you are buying a handbag for a special occasion or to match a specific dress, then the choice becomes rather easy. However, if you want to carry your handbag every day, you have to mix both style and practically and see if the bag is spacious enough to hold items like your wallet, phone, keys, and a hairbrush and other necessities. But most importantly, you need to maintain your handbag properly so that its lasts for a long time. For instance, avoid carrying the designer bag after applying beauty products.