When Ziwei Cong bought some sweatpants that caught her eye during a livestream shopping event on social media, she was disappointed when they arrived and didn\u2019t fit well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very easy for me to become irrational during these kinds of shopping events,\u201d says the assistant professor of marketing at Georgetown University\u2019s McDonough School of Business. She adds that the hosts can be very persuasive and hook you with limited- time offers to trigger impulse purchases.<\/p>\n
Social shopping, or purchases made through social media sites that sometimes incorporate livestreaming events with influencers, is booming. Almost half of U.S. consumers (47%) say they\u2019ve made a purchase on social media, and 39% say they have bought that way and would do so again, according to 2022 data in a report released in April by the market intelligence agency Mintel.<\/p>\n
\u201cShopping on social media has really taken off more with younger consumers. They\u2019re on their phones more and on social media more often, so it\u2019s easier to purchase via social media when they find a product they like,\u201d says Katie Hansen, senior retail and e-commerce analyst at Mintel and author of the report.<\/p>\n
Despite its popularity, social shopping also comes with risks, most notably\u00a0overspending, as Cong\u2019s experience illustrates. The excitement, discounts and limited quantities can lead to unplanned (and regrettable) purchases. Shopping experts suggest the following guideposts when engaging in social shopping.<\/p>\n
Read:<\/strong> Don\u2019t get stung by buy-now- pay-later services: \u2018It is kind of a recipe for disaster if not managed carefully\u2019<\/p>\n Social shopping so easily leads to overspending, Cong says, because it\u2019s so engaging. \u201cIt\u2019s a more direct and interactive way to communicate with consumers, and it boosts the perceived experience of the product,\u201d she explains, especially if a shopper sees their favorite influencer using the product.<\/p>\n The flash sales and limited promotions contribute to that rush to purchase, as does the \u201cherding effect\u201d from seeing other people leave comments and express their desire to buy, Cong adds.<\/p>\n To resist those temptations, shopping expert Trae Bodge from truetrae.com suggests slowing down and even stepping away from the screen. \u201cMake sure it\u2019s something you want. The sense of excitement and urgency might make you buy something that you haven\u2019t properly vetted,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt\u2019s always good to take a beat.\u201d<\/p>\n Budgeting expert Andrea Woroch says that if you see something appealing pop up in your feed, instead of buying it immediately, save the link to come back to later, after you take time to\u00a0consider your budget. \u201cThat will avoid any buyer\u2019s remorse,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss: <\/strong>Prime Day is coming: How to make the most of sales from Amazon and competing retailers<\/p>\n Bodge also encourages shoppers to check other websites for lower prices, look for\u00a0coupons\u00a0and leverage cash-back options that might be available outside of social shopping, such as on retailer or brand sites.<\/p>\n Woroch suggests checking customer reviews, too. \u201cDo your homework like you would on another shopping site to make sure it\u2019s the quality you expect. A lot of people overlook that when they do social shopping,\u201d she says \u2014 one reason why the \u201cwhat I ordered vs. what I got\u201d meme is so popular on social media.<\/p>\n In some cases, making returns for items purchased through social shopping can be more of a hassle, so it\u2019s worth checking the return policy in advance, Woroch also notes.<\/p>\n Plus:<\/strong> \u2018This is a game changer\u2019: Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, a new law makes it harder for online sellers to hawk fake or stolen products<\/p>\n Though social shopping can feel like a community experience, it\u2019s worth remembering that your public comments are visible to strangers, and it\u2019s important to keep personal details private, Bodge says. \u201cDon\u2019t overshare, and never put your credit card or address in the comments,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Bodge also advises against leaving the social media platform to enter payment information on a third-party site, which could be a scam, and she encourages people to use a credit card to make purchases for added\u00a0fraud protection.<\/p>\n Woroch notes that phones will sometimes automatically connect to available public Wi-Fi networks, which can leave you vulnerable to hackers when you are sharing payment information online. She suggests avoiding social shopping on public Wi-Fi networks.<\/p>\nProceed slowly<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Compare prices and check reviews<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Keep personal information private<\/strong><\/h2>\n