This article was originally published on Mako
Online shopping has become such a regular everyday thing that it seems crazy that we once went to a physical store every time we needed something. Especially in times of pandemic, online shopping has seen a major rise and it seems like every younger person has bought a thing or two using the web. When we look at the pictures online it seems like a vision, something that will be perfect for us, but when we open the package it often comes as a huge shock! Keep reading to see the items look nothing like they do in the pictures!
Picassoish
If you have ever seen a cute Instagram feed with some form of art and thought about buying the products, you might reconsider after you see this person's experience. The picture advertised on the page looks amazing, very artistic, and perfect to put above your fireplace. But when it arrived at the address, it was a real shock for the person who paid for it. The image was completely different.
Someone said this image looks like Peppa Pig done by Picasso. If you examine the photo it does give off similar vibes, but the person got tricked for their money.
The Cake
The cake in the photo seen looks like a dream, happy, cheerful, something that you would for sure love at your kid's birthday party! And could you just imagine the disappointment on your child’s face when instead of this they receive a plain white cake with this wannabe smile? Sometimes it is not a manufacturing mistake, sometimes it is just pure laziness, like in this photo! The cake in the original photo is not that complicated to make!
The person who was selling this cake probably just took the regular cake in some pastry shop or at the local grocery store and added this sour smile, and probably sold it ten times the price.
Cake Topper
Another big cake fail! This parent wanted to make a special cake for their son’s first birthday party. The party was astronaut-themed, and you could imagine everyone's surprise when this came as a cake topper. There is no easy way to explain this topper, but it is wrong in many ways. For some reason, you would think that this astronaut is very mad or something, but that is just how bad the picture is!
Poor kid, instead of happy birthday memories this cake could give him nightmares! It is almost as if the bad work was done intentionally because it seems hard to make it this bad.
Coffee Mug
So you’ve ordered a Gromit mug and normally you would expect a mug with his character on it. But a cup with an image of a cup of Gromit? That seems so weird that you couldn’t even imagine how would that present look like. Well, look at this image. It is interesting in some weird way, but we doubt that the person ordering this mug had this image in his mind when he was buying it.
Anyhow, it might seem a little bit weird, but when someone comes to your home for coffee, you will most definitely have a topic for conversation, and some great laughs.
The Dress
The golden rule of buying stuff online should always be: look at the reviews. This dress looks very cute in the advertisement and you would probably think about buying it, but just look at how it fits on real people! This woman did the Lord’s work and tried it on so the other ones don’t make the same mistake. The placement of the circles on the dress is very weird, to say the least.
Online shopping may be fast and easy but there’s always a catch – you never really know exactly what you’ll get until your order arrives. And there is usually a rating system.
Aliexpress Jordans
Aliexpress is not known for its world-class quality, but this delivery is some next-level stuff. This person ordered Jordans, and he probably didn't expect anything special (it is Aliexpress) but who could expect this? It is so bad that it almost seems like the delivery service was doing a practical joke on them. If they wanted the slippers, it would have been perfect, but expecting new sneakers and getting this…
Not sure about their return policy, but if this item does not qualify for a refund, what does? It looks like you put two small teddy bears on your feet.
The Black Hat
Hats are a piece of clothing that can make a basic combination look very classy and elegant. Big hats are very IN. Black color is always a safe option when it comes to clothing and accessories, but this time it was a pure fail. The hat in the image seems very chic and perfect for hot summer days, but the second one is something that you would carry to work in the field.
The positive thing about this hat is that you will probably never need sunscreen since this hat covers your whole face, the sun does not stand a chance with you!
The Eyemask
This eye mask is quite cool, you would never say that it is a part of this list, but when you consider that this person ordered a toothbrush, it is the right item for the list. The dog in the picture probably doesn’t know about the delivery mistake and he seems very happy with this present. He probably feels like a very good boy, so it is an extra plus!
Amazon has so many shipments that mistakes like this simply happen, and when they do, you can just laugh at the situation. And your pets will probably love this arrangement!
Nivea Men
To understand this one, check the next one also. “I keep trying to order Zatarain's Cajun injector creole butter, but I keep getting soaps”. And if you will keep scrolling you will see the guy who gets everything this guy orders, but not his soaps. Maybe Amazon wants these two guys to become best friends, or they should reconsider the way they are hiring their people. Or is it some strange situation?
Like the same name in the same street? That would be a truly special situation! All we know is that there are two very confused Amazon customers waiting for their real products!
Cajun
Part two of this Amazon swap story. This person received the shower gels the person in the #9 place ordered. How amazing is that! The power of the internet is amazing, how else would this Amazon mystery be solved? Both of the users posted their unusual experiences online and the readers were very entertained by the mix-up. Don’t know if the users became friends, but their “how we met” story would be great!
The funniest thing is that it even says “Nivea Men” on the declaration of the marinara sauce. The Amazon workers must be having a lot of fun at their jobs!
Aristocats
How many Aristocats tapes is too many? Well, this person took a picture of the four tapes they received in Amazon while ordering zero of them. It amazed a lot of people online, and some of them even left a comment with their experience. “I got a random card from Amazon for my Husband on Valentine's Day. I don't have a boyfriend let alone a husband; thanks for rubbing it in Amazon!”
It seems as if Amazon decided to make some people very happy, with cartoons and cards, or they just need some better organizing skills! Anyhow, they did manage to surprise their users!
Beans
When ordering stuff online you never know what you'll get, but to order one lb of beans, and to get one single bean, seems like a joke! What is this bean made of? How heavy could one single piece of vegetable be? "I did the opposite. I ordered 5 bell peppers and got 5 packages of 3. The whole apartment building got some peppers that day" said one lady in the comments.
It seems like vegetable delivery has some real issues when it comes to the number of their packages. Or maybe the buyer was confused when it came to online ordering and pressed 1 piece instead of 1 lb.
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Ordering online is perfect. Until it arrives and you see what you got. For example, you order a big mirror for your apartment and you get a dollhouse mirror! Is this just a miscalculation while ordering online or another delivery fail. It is a cute mirror to put in your purse and to check your reflection, but that is not what the person ordered. These seem like mirrors for the flies around your house.
The only good thing about the mirrors being this small is that you never need to worry about looking bad since you can't even see yourself. And not having to clean it a lot is a plus.
Hard Drives
Check this out. Someone ordered 3 hard drives from amazon and they sent them 3 cases instead. This is one of those cases when you appreciate the mix-up. As long as they only charged u for 3 that's a big win. Not sure if they had to return all of this after it shipped, but it sure was a surprise. This time the box of chocolates was full of your favorites.
Sometimes online shopping can be very stressful but at times it comes as a special gift! This person has to figure out now what to do with all of these hard drives.
Popcorn
You should always check the portion size when you order online! This customer bought a bag of popcorn and contrary to all his expectations he got what you could only call a super bag. For sure this person didn't have a problem with eating all of their popcorn before the movie. Finally a popcorn you can share without staying hungry after. Perfect for a movie night with your favorite people!
This is also one of those situations where you actually appreciate the mistake your delivery guy made and just roll with it. Hopefully, they will make such a mistake again!
Jonas Only
This mistake is harder to explain. Someone ordered 100 "empty" Nintendo DS cases and got 100 copies of the Jonas Brothers DVD. Some would say it is not a problem since they technically did get the cases, they just needed to take out the Jonas DVDs. But how this mistake happened goes beyond our minds. Maybe the Jonas Brothers tapes weren't such a big hit so the company just decided to sell them as cases.
Another theory, maybe this is some kind of Jonas Brothers propaganda, you order the empty cases, and you get the Jonas Brothers DVD. Very nice marketing move got to hand it to them.
Empty Deodorant
This confused customer got an empty deodorant from Amazon and was left stunned. To be completely fair, Dove probably sent Amazon an empty stick of deodorant. And Amazon just didn't notice. Stuff like that can happen when it's such a big company. Guess if you want to buy a deodorant you are sure you can use, you should go to a local store and just buy it at the register.
It is always a big risk buying items online, you can get the wrong one or even no one at all. Sometimes it is a present, and sometimes it is just empty.
Inflatable Balls
This lady ordered feminine products off Amazon and received inflatable basketballs instead. Hard to imagine how someone could make this mistake, but as you can see the woman had a terrible surprise. To be honest, these inflatable balls are much more expensive than the ordered products, but it is not the ordered product. Shopping online may be a great way to save a pretty penny, but it can also turn into a hilarious but unfortunate experience.
Mistakes happen, but when they do happen, the best thing to do is to just go with the flow and make the best use out of them. When life gives you lemons, just make lemonade!
Weird Dolls
This is the real "expectations vs. reality" example. In the first picture, you can see a perfect present for kids, nieces, or nephews, and then in the second one, you can see what nightmares are made of. No child would ever want to receive these toys as a present. It looks like a scene from some bad "toys gone alive" horror movie. But this type of experience is very common when you buy online.
The items always seem better in the picture, so always try your best to read the comments, specifications, materials, dimensions, and all of that stuff. It will be very helpful.
Kitty Mask
This could be taken as one of those "expectation vs. reality" pictures. First, one could consider how you think you look drunk and the second one is how you look when you have a drink or two too many. Another case of buying a cat in the bag, where you invest your money in a product that looks nothing like it does in the pictures. But it does look cute both ways.
The first one is the art you try to find in life, very candid images with a lot of colors and the second one is the harsh reality that we face when it arrives.
The Scarf
"TIL to check gifts I order online before giving them away - I ordered a game of thrones scarf," said this guy and posted a picture of something that is… well nothing related with Game of Thrones, that is for sure. The King of Pop is a perfect present for a pop fan, but for someone who expects a gift related to Game of Thrones, it is not the best solution.
The guy in the picture does not look happy at all, it says on his face that he did not sign up for this. Better check the page's return policy!
The Bag
This person ordered a tool from Amazon, and they sent him a bag with nothing in it. "Wish I could make this up," said the guy and he was right! But the worst thing is that even the people in the comments agreed with him and said they had a similar experience. If you decide to buy something from Amazon beware that you might be surprised, in a good, or a bad way.
So, every time you think you need something online, check out the page, the return policies, the payment options, and the reviews. And always be aware of your customer rights!
Not Right
"Two different colors, two different sizes, and both are left shoes. Lovely!" Said this person when they received two different shoes, and both left shoes in their mail after ordering their sneakers online. You know the phrase: " He dances like he has two left feet." Well, apparently in Amazon they took this saying seriously and sent a pair of shoes for those feet. And they didn't even get the colors right!
Hopefully at least the shoe size was right in this case, otherwise, this order was a complete fail. Maybe there is a customer out there with two right shoes in different colors wondering what's happening.
Thighs
If you haven't heard about it by now, take into consideration that 6/7 thighs size does not mean your shoe size, but the age of people who use them! Well, this mistake can’t be credited to online shopping insecurity, it is fairly common knowledge that you shouldn’t measure your clothes by the shoe size. “Act your age, not your shoe size and maybe we could do the twirl!" said Prince.
So remember, never refer to your shoe size, unless you are buying for - shoes! If you are ever in a dilemma, just look at an international size converter, since different countries use different scales.
Freddie
“When you order your Halloween costume from Wish. I ordered Freddie. Think I got his cousin Eddie” said this guy about his mask. Freddie appears as a spirit of a serial killer who uses a gloved hand with razors to kill his victims in their dreams, causing their deaths in the real world as well. In the dream world, he is a powerful force and almost completely invulnerable. With this mask… not so much.
But for Halloween, this mask is not the worst, since it is actually scarier than the one in the picture online. So guess that the mission is accomplished, people got scared.
Pink Rug
Who doesn’t love a nice big pink fluffy rug? That’s what this girl thought but instead of a rug, she got what you can only call a washcloth. When ordering from wish you can almost be positive that one thing or the other will arrive wrong, but to miss the size by this many, that is unbelievable. The Wish app is where you can buy super cheap versions of more expensive things.
Apart from that, you could find some products that you never even thought would exist. Like this pink rug that is made for…who, Barbie dolls? The moral of the story is to check the size!
The Wreath
“So my mom ordered a memorial day wreath for my grandpa, who is a Vietnam vet,” said the person posting this photo. The wreath looks like a toy version of the real wreath and it is a bit disrespectful since it is a national symbol in question. Quality of the products is often a big risk when you are ordering your stuff online, but this is not just a quality problem, this is a completely different product.
Hopefully, the grandfather could return this terrible wreath since it’s nothing like the pictures and disrespects what he fought for. Sometimes the sellers are downright rude and disrespectful to their customers.
Stitch
The golden rule of online shopping should be – if something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably because it is. Or in this case, if it looks too good. This woman ordered the first cake expecting it to look as in the picture. The second image is what she got. “I hate to even have to do this but I want to warn people. She refused to do anything about it “
“They don't even look close or anything” she warned other customers online. It is hard to deal with people this rude but it is sometimes the reality when you want to buy things.
Beautiful
Even though online shopping may be fast and easy, there’s always a catch – you never really know exactly what you’ll get until your order arrives. Look at this lady’s example. The facemask she received from Wish is completely different from the one she was expecting to get (the one that was advertised). But if we are being completely honest, it is hard to imagine that someone thought they will get what’s shown in the first image.
It is a photoshopped photo, as they usually come in Wish. You can see, for example when it comes to dresses, that the same dress is advertised in different colors, just by using Photoshop.
Table
Another epic “expectation versus reality” example. The first table looks like a real piece of art, something you would see in a fancy villa, and the other one is what you would see in a local kindergarten after the art class. It would be cute if you were looking to buy just that, but this way is just like they are making fun of their customers. It makes them look very unprofessional.
And while online shopping is usually fun and easy, there’s always a catch, and if it looks too good to be true, then you better believe it is! Always look at the comments!
One Egg Pan
Another "is it made for humans" type of delivery mistake. This pan is so small that you could fry one egg at a time. If you are on a diet, it is a perfect tool to cut your portion size a little bit. Whether it is the color, the size, the shape, or just the overall image of the product these pictures make you think twice about buying things online.
After seeing this and the other shopping fails, you'll want to stick to shopping in brick and mortar stores after. It is the old-fashioned way but at least you can see what you are buying.
Rose Apothecary
"Ordered a “Rose Apothecary” sweater from Etsy for my fiancé. This came instead. We’re both double vaxxed and healthcare workers," said this customer next to the image of what is an anti-vax propaganda t-shirt. It is quite a funny coincidence, considering their opposed attitudes. Maybe Etsy was trying to tell them something. It is funny how they manage to make a mistake so obviously wrong and don't even send anything to fix it.
If you have firm political beliefs maybe you should stay away from these types of sites since they tend to send you the stuff that is completely in the other direction.
The Bouquet
"They said they had accidentally sent the "small" version of the bouquet (which doesn't exist on their website). They offered a re-delivery of the "correct large size" or q voucher for the cost plus £10 extra. I asked for a full refund. Why would I want the bigger version of a terrible bouquet and why would I trust them for future purchases. They didn't argue." Said this woman next to the picture of her bouquet.
Maybe this wouldn't be such a tragedy if the price of the bouquet wasn't £76. And if the store was decent enough to offer a fair replacement for their mistake.
Lord's Work
This lady is doing the Lord's work. After receiving a product that was much smaller than it was advertised, she made a review that managed to make everyone laugh, and at the same time, she gave a fair review to the website. Sometimes it seems as if the products are going to magic shrinking machine before they arrive at the address of the delivery. Why do they even make stuff so small?
Wonder if there are any cases in which you order a normal size product and you get a gigantic version when you get your delivery. It would be an interesting site.
The Carpet
"Factory workers were taking full advantage to boost productivity numbers the day quality control called in sick" commented a person in the picture of the "online" carpet of the carpet that got delivered. To be completely honest this is one of the cases in this list that got a better end of the deal. The quality is not quite as in the picture but the size is good and it looks fairly decent.
It is realistic to expect your product to be exactly as it is in the picture, especially if you buy it on sites that offer a lot of discounts and a lot of cheap stuff.