Online shopping can be extremely convenient. But it's not without its flaws. It’s quite easy to be seduced by the promise of high-quality products for cheap prices. However, the deals can be too good to be true. Sometimes, to a frankly ridiculous extent!
Bored Panda has curated a list of photos from online shoppers who wanted to show off how the products they received were completely different from what they had ordered. Comically large wooden spoons and tiny fridges are just the tip of the iceberg. Scroll down for a refresher about why it’s vital to be careful when buying anything online.
Matt Johnson, Ph.D., a marketing psychology speaker and the host of the branding and human nature blogs, walked us through why online shopping appeals to so many people. He also gave his take on what e-commerce platforms ought to focus on, in order to better protect their customers from potential scams. You'll find the thoughts he shared with Bored Panda below.
#1 White’s Family Christmas Card
Image credits: atdanwhite
#2 I Received A Comedically Large Spoon
Anyways, the spoon was part of a “3 feet of spaghetti” package (3 packs of spaghetti packaged in a line to look 3 feet long) and the spoon was just glued to the front as a gag I assumed. But apparently, as I found out today, it has an actual use as a huge stirring spoon for huge pots.
Image credits: PurelyForLolla
#3 The Delivery Note Got Put Inside The Card Instead Of A Birthday Message
Image credits: aMac_UK
Online shopping is a massive phenomenon. In the United States alone, 200 million Americans, or nearly two-thirds of the population, shopped in person or online during Cyber Week in 2023—the 5 days running from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday.
This amounted to Americans spending a whopping $9.8 billion on Black Friday online sales, as well as a further $12.4 billion on Cyber Monday.
According to marketing psychology speaker Johnson, Americans and online shopping are "enmeshed in a deep love affair."
"There are many features that draw Americans in each year, especially on or around Black Friday. Online shopping appeals to many people deeply due to its convenience, offering the ability to browse and purchase products from the comfort of one's home or on the go, without the constraints of physical store hours," the host of the branding and human nature blogs explained to Bored Panda in an email.
#4 Rib Mid-Thigh Shorts
Image credits: reddit.com
#5 Costco Will Give You Exactly What You Know You Didn't Need
Image credits: FlipDemStocks
#6 Always Check The Dimensions Before Buying Appliances
Image credits: kplicious
"The act of browsing itself has become a pastime—a way to cope with stress, enjoy a nice pick me up, or to take a break from a monotonous day at work. And, of course, what begins as a simple, innocent browsing can lead to significant purchases,” he said.
Online shops often offer more variety and product availability than brick-and-mortar stores. So it's easier to find unique items online. On top of that, you've got the simple fact that online stores are accessible 24/7 and offer fast shipping. Oh, and there are the (often) convenient return policies to consider.
"Moreover, the availability of various digital payment methods and frequent special offers like those seen on Black Friday and Cyber Monday contribute to its popularity." It’s clear that there are plenty of reasons why online shopping is so appealing to so many people, not just in the US but all around the globe.
#7 My Mom's Old iPad
Image credits: miinyuu
#8 Ordered A 3 XL, Got A 13 XL Instead
Image credits: Blowtorch89
#9 I Ordered A Cupcake Bouquet For Mother’s Day From A Local Bakery. The Photo Examples She Posted To Instagram vs. What Was Delivered
Image credits: matidoodle
Marketing psychology speaker Johnson confirmed that scams are a big issue for e-commerce platforms and online shops alike. However, just because the problem is well-known doesn't mean that it's easy to tackle.
“The biggest and most difficult step that e-commerce platforms can take here is to have a better vetting process over their sellers. Put simply, there needs to be stricter verification processes for sellers and products, ensuring that only legitimate businesses and authentic items are allowed on platforms," the expert shared with Bored Panda.
"Enhanced transparency regarding product information, pricing, and seller details would help customers make informed decisions and identify potential scams more easily. This is difficult in practice, however, as this requires a lot of Quality Assurance oversight, which is difficult to effectively manage," he noted.
"E-commerce marketplaces are also incentivized to provide as many options as possible to their consumers, which often leads them to cut corners, or to look the other way when it comes to the quality and trustworthiness of these sellers."
#10 The Mask That Came With My Batman Costume
Image credits: reddit.com
#11 Our Company Now Has 900 Of These Pens
Image credits: mtkeepsrolling
#12 Not Quite What You Bargained On Getting
Image credits: EndersGame_Reviewer
Globally, e-commerce is a $6 trillion industry. Statista notes that how goods are bought and sold has significantly changed with the rise and spread of the internet. There are around 5 billion internet users on planet Earth, and this number is only going to grow. Naturally, online shopping will likely grow as well, as more people get access to the internet.
With the number of online shoppers only set to rise, this creates a lot of new opportunities for scammers, swindlers, and charlatans to trick them out of their hard-earned cash. The unfortunate reality is that far from everyone knows how to use the internet or shop online in a safe way.
Some folks simply haven’t had negative experiences with potential fraudsters yet. Others might be a bit naive. Still, others are feeling emotionally vulnerable, so they’re more easily manipulated. This is why getting educated about the types of scams that are out there and knowing how to stay calm under stress are so important.
#13 I Ordered This "Ottoman" For My Wife. Should Have Double-Checked The Dimensions
Image credits: Nach_Steel84
#14 Shein Is The Old Wish. Shein Is The New Wish
Image credits: facebook.com
#15 The Cake My Wife Ordered From Walmart
She called me upset, said she wanted to take it back. I told her nahh, it can’t be that bad.
Image credits: War-Weasel_4798
However, this won’t make you invulnerable to getting scammed. No matter how up-to-date we all are, scammers will always come up with new ways to trick folks. The fight against scams is a never-ending one.
The fact of the matter is that every one of us can become the victim of a scam. No matter how intelligent, well-off, or experienced you might be, thinking that “it would never happen to me” is the wrong way to go about things. You need to stay vigilant when you can.
You need to consider that someone might try to take advantage of you with fancy promises. Especially if you’re going through a period of time when you’re vulnerable or feeling lost. This doesn’t mean mistrusting everyone you meet, but all of us could stand to be slightly more careful where money is involved. Especially if someone on the internet is promising to fulfill our deepest desires for very little payment.
#16 Hungry Howie's New "Tie-Dye Pizza"
Image credits: ChildofValhalla
#17 My Friend Ordered Siddhartha, A Novel About Buddhist Enlightenment, From Amazon And It Was Misprinted With A Red Pill Self-Help Guide Called "The Unplugged Alpha"
Image credits: fractured_bedrock
#18 Walmart Sent My Order In A Store Display Box That Only Opens At The Checkout Counter
Image credits: poopoo-on-a-stick
Before you go buying up every awesome deal you come across on the internet, take some time to do at least some background research. Read the description of the product in full. Pay attention to the dimensions of the product, the shipping costs and time, as well as how the seller phrases everything.
Don’t give in to flowery language about how the product is the best thing ever and how you’d be lucky to get it because there’s not much left in stock.
Scammers and swindlers try to create situations that force you to make rash and impulsive decisions. If there’s a ticking clock scenario, the odds are that it’s useful for someone… That ‘someone’ most likely is not you. In these situations, make yourself pause for a little while. Take a deep breath, take a step back, and think about what you’re getting into.
#19 At Least I Got A Refund
Image credits: Flauschesocken
#20 Ordered Some Onion Rings
Image credits: Appropriate-Band-746
#21 This Company Absolutely Butchered Our Pen Order Instead Of Following The Instructions In Our Conversation, They Just Printed The Instructions Right On The Pens
Did I mention I have a hundred of these?
Image credits: i_luv_coffee14
With so many online marketplaces offering good sales throughout the year, there are often very few cases where there’s a genuine fear of missing out. It’s okay to say ‘no’ or to give yourself room to think. In the worst-case scenario, you can always grab the deal next time.
But don’t just listen to your logical and overly-rational voice of reason. Check in with your gut, too. If your instincts are screaming at you that something feels off, it’s best to listen to them. In our experience, our gut is right more often than not.
#22 Good Guy On Amazon.com: Order One Pair Of Sunglasses, Receive 11
Image credits: togorange
#23 My Uber Driver's Picture. He Didn't Even Say Sorry
Image credits: ArclightMik
#24 Smaller Than Expected
Image credits: Uninteresting_kitty
The seller’s history and reputation can tell you a lot about how (un)trustworthy they are. Don’t feel bad about checking out their profile and the reviews they’ve gotten from other customers. Though star ratings and comments won’t give you a nuanced picture, they can be good for a general overview of what the seller is like. You’ll also get to grips with how they solve problems with products if they do pop up.
#25 A Few Years Ago, I Worked At An Apple Store And A Fella Brought In 16 In MacBook Pro That He Bought Off Of Amazon. This Is What Amazon Shipped Him
Image credits: violinfiddleman
#26 What I Sent vs. What I Got
Image credits: Alienowls
#27 What I Ordered vs. What I Got
Needless to say, avoid the company Heroxce AT ALL COSTS. Total scammers. Won’t return or give your money back. Buyer, beware.
Image credits: kaelcollins
Meanwhile, if you’re buying from a random website or marketplace, dig into the history of the company a little bit. Try to figure out where their headquarters are located. Check out whether they actually make the products they’re selling or if they’re simply an intermediary that’s reselling cheap stuff at a premium.
#28 Ordered One Hoodie For My Kid And Now Amazon Won't Stop Sending Boxes Of Them. There Are More Than 62 Hoodies
Image credits: magelight343
#29 Advertised As A "Chair Cushion"
Image credits: heenerneener
#30 When You Purchase A $20-30 Stained Glass Lamp On Amazon With Bad/No Reviews
Listings I could find ranged from $20 to $30, all using the same product photo just edited into different backgrounds. Most had no reviews, a few had bad reviews, but most people at least got something 3-dimensional!
Image credits: someusername47
Have you ever gotten scammed when shopping online? What’s the weirdest mixup you’ve experienced when buying something off the internet, dear Pandas? What do you do to stay ahead of potential scams? You can tell us all about it in the comment section at the bottom of this post. Meanwhile, for some more hilarious and bizarre online shopping fails, check out Bored Panda’s earlier articles.
#31 What I Expected vs. What I Got
The 1st picture is from her website and I made it clear what I wanted. I’m disappointed.
Image credits: DeepZucchinii
#32 What I Ordered And What I Got
Image credits: Nexus20492
#33 Nonamé Is A Nice Baby Name
Image credits: JennyDawnTX
#34 Was Suspicious Of My “5 Lb” Plate Set. Thanks, Amazon!
Image credits: AtticusAesop
#35 Friend Ordered A Ghost Bouquet Of Flowers
Image credits: JepsenRebel
#36 Yeah, Just Put The Kellogg Logo
Image credits: harps_joey
#37 Bought A $150 Harry Osborn Action Figure Online, And Here's What They Sent Me
Image credits: UrameshiYuusuke
#38 Christmas Socks As A Present. Crock Socks vs. Hand Puppets
Image credits: Exciting_Health3054
#39 Bought A 12-Pack Of Dove Soap. They All Came Out Like This
Image credits: onetruegaia
#40 What I Ordered vs. What I Got
To keep it short, I was specifically looking for a Goldendoodle holiday figurine for my mother-in-law. At the time, there were no reviews on this and it was $30 so I took a risk. It didn’t pay off this time… I at least thought it would be 3D.
I would be a bit upset if it wasn’t so funny. I think I’m going to keep him and put him outside.
Image credits: Negative-Rub5351
#41 I Ordered The Quest 3 For $500 On Amazon And Received A Box Of Plastic Cutlery
Image credits: Artificial_NGHTMRS
#42 Well, At Least I Have 3
Image credits: Bigbadbadger-mole
#43 At Least It's The Same Fabric?
Image credits: squidplant
#44 Ordered New Vans, Received Someone's Smelly Old Reeboks
Image credits: schmody18
#45 So I Bought A Spider-Man Mask On eBay, And Here's What I Got
Image credits: Beautiful_Fishing569
#46 My Mum Ordered A Gin Glass For My Dad For His Birthday. She Wanted It To Say "Celtic" In The Middle Of The Glass, But She Got This Instead
Image credits: _caitlin88
#47 Ordered A Filter For My Camera And They Sent It In A Mailer Envelope
Image credits: reddit.com
#48 Mistakes Were Made
Image credits: emmaajenkinss
#49 The Etsy Shop Nailed It With Our Notes
Image credits: -RomeoZulu-
#50 If You Buy Things From Any Big Box Store, Open Them Immediately Even If You Aren't Going To Use Them Immediately. Thanks, Best Buy QC, There Goes $300
Image credits: Arigato_FisterRoboto
