Expert tips on how to check the quality of an online product

Before rushing to the checkout this Black Friday and festive season, it is important to inspect the quality of the product you are interested in.

Online purchases don't allow consumers to physically examine products, making the descriptions all the more important.  

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OneDayOnly's Laurain Venter recommends reading detailed descriptions and understanding technical terminology to make informed choices that match your needs and budget.

“The only way that people can truly understand what makes a 16-cutlery set different or a day bag or one backpack different from another one is the product descriptions.”

She adds that a lack of information in the description should be an automatic red flag.

“It generally means that people are either covering something or just actually haven't taken the time to put that detail in,” explains Venter.

She shares insights into quality checks of some of the most popular OneDayOnly items:

Outdoor umbrellas: premium models have eight ribs (versus four to six in cheaper versions), fabric weight of 180 GSM or higher for UV resistance, and sturdy materials like aluminium or powder-coated steel frames.

Rugs: hand-woven pieces are premium, while machine-made options are more affordable. Patterns can be printed on, which is less expensive, or mechanically woven in, which is more expensive and more durable.

Leather products: 'full grain' is the highest quality, followed by 'top grain', while 'genuine leather' can be lower quality despite sounding premium. 'Bonded leather' is the lowest grade and prone to cracking.

Glass food containers: 'borosilicate glass' for temperature resistance, with locking clips and silicon gaskets for proper sealing.

Cutlery: quality is indicated by numbers like '18/10'. The first number indicates chromium content, which prevents rust, and the second indicates nickel content, which adds shine and corrosion resistance.

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To listen to Venter in conversation with Wendy Knowler and CapeTalk’s Pippa Hudson, click below: