Life Tips: Tips on shopping on ASOS (and similar online shopping sites)

Here are some tips for shopping on ASOS:

1. I'm not sure why, but I tend to prefer ASOS over all other online stores. Maybe it is their free shipping and easy to navigate site. I keep up to date with sales but joining their mailing list, facebook and twitter.  I suggest you do too.
2. A great source for promo codes is Vogue Forums. Make sure you jump to the last page for the latest updates! BONUSTEN expires midnight Saturday (12/11/2011) but NWASOS15 may still work for full priced items over $30 
3. Another handy tip for Aussie shoppers is to purchase in pounds (GBP).  You'll save over 10% due to conversion rates.  
4. You can only save things in your shopping basket for 60 minutes.  This is my biggest pet peeve about ASOS.  When there is a good sale on, I like to browse through every page of every category, which usually takes hours.  By then, I forget what's in my shopping bag and realize too late that1 it's disappeared! What I've learned to do is to save the bag into Saved Items, which saves items for 30 days.  However, your saved items aren't put on hold and may still get bought by others.  The trick is, keep an eye on which items are low on stock and keep them in your shopping bag. If your 60 minutes are almost up and you're not done shopping, click save item, then put it back in your bag - to start the 60 minute clock again! Sounds like hard work but from one shopaholic to another; if you loose your item because someone else bought it right from under your nose - you will be scouring the net for months just to find a replica! Even if you are not 100% sure on the item, keep it in your bag/ saved list until you have made a decision.
5. If it is a branded item - make sure you look at what other online stores are offering (including the brand's online store). You may find better bargains.  
6. Don't get mislead by the model wearing the clothes. Ideally, you should do some research and try on the style that closely represents what you are buying online, to see if it suits your shape. Models look good in any size, shapes and lengths. More often than I'd like to admit, I've bought something that looked good online then realized it was too long/ too small for me and had to give it away. 
7. Check measurements!!!! Especially if shopping using overseas metrics.  UK and US sizes are much different from Australian - and not all clothes are true to size. Do not make the same mistake as I did - buying a UK size which ended up being approx AUS size 4 - 6 and not returning it for a refund because return shipping was $30 - about the same price as the skirt!
8. Check materials and care instructions. I do this especially for shoes, dresses and coats/ blazers. For shoes, I always make sure the material is leather because you have a better chance of quality and longevity.  This is also a good indicator of price. In many cases I have seen non-leather shoes at the same price as an almost identical leather pair. 
9. To avoid picking up a ridiculous total amount because you've convinced yourself everything in your shopping bag is a bargain, ask yourself, "if you saw this item in [insert mid price range, fast fashion chain store such as Bardot, Sportsgirl, Portmans or Forever New], would I have bought it?" If the answer is no, keep it in your Saved Items and sleep on it.