THE RELUCTANT-BUT-CAN’T-HELP-IT ONLINE SHOPPER

My first boyfriend would say what he loved about me the most were my eyes. But I suspect what he really loved was the fact that I never dragged or nagged him to go shopping with me. That’s because I myself don’t like to shop. 

That endless, aimless ambling along aisles laden with clothes (most of them not my size, by the way), that long wait before the trial room, the only three-at-a-time rule, the over-eagerness of the salesgirl, another long wait at the payment counter, the nasty fight with the parking attendant… are NOT my idea of fun.

So my shopping is a biannual exercise, when I hit the still-empty mall around 11am on a Sunday and pick up at least four complete looks and a few extra tees. It was a happy routine that worked, kept my wardrobe functioning and prevented me from malfunctioning. 

That was till I ordered a patchwork waistcoat to go with my white kurta. I logged in past midnight on a Sunday, my purchase was in my hand by Wednesday. It fit me so well it looked tailored. And it was cheaper than what I would have shelled out at the mall. 

As happy as I was, I didn’t think much of it. Till I found myself “just looking” at summer skirts. The iPad was closed only after a cotton kurta had been ordered. But hadn’t I wanted a skirt? Ah well, never mind, I’ll look up skirts tonight.  

— Samhita Chakraborty

THE OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE ONLINE SHOPPER

Walking out of the interview after securing my first job, my only thought was — “I can shop!” Yes, I’d have my byline in t2 every other day. But boy… I would be able to shop… no questions asked, none answered. 

For me, shopping isn’t just any way of life. It is the way of life. Happy? Shop. Sad? Shop. Broke? Shop. Did my favourite celebrity just have a kid? Must definitely shop (true story!). 

I’d stumbled on online shopping when I was studying in the UK, while visiting stores I’d always heard of. One day, my eyes rested on a poster in one of my favourite high-street stores, announcing a further 10 per cent discount online and promising to deliver the goods to my home. I felt like royalty! So as I got busy penning my year-end dissertation, and regular trips to the mall came to zero, I found myself browsing online stores instead. Of all the things catalogued, I was surprised that most weren’t available in-store. Here it was, usually at jaw-dropping prices. I’d buy them, wear them and leave my girl friends envious.

Nowadays, any free time means I will log on to some shopping site and start filling my cart. Granted, it doesn’t always translate into buying, but my parents often throw a fit about “the alarming number of parcels” they receive every week.  

So yeah, I’m addicted to this lovable brat that is online shopping. There’s exclusivity — you don’t end up matching your #OOTD with that girl in the party. Sitting at home, you can shop from around the world. Plus, it’s triple the joy — first, when you do the shopping; second, when you receive your goody bag; and third, when you wear what you bought. 

Well, my phone just pinged... some shopping site updating me of a further 15 per cent off when I download and buy from their latest app. It’s a call of duty. Laters, baby!

— Riddhima Khanna

 

THE ONLINE SHOPPER WHO NEVER GETS IT RIGHT

I was afraid of buying things online because I was afraid nothing would fit me, till my sister convinced me to buy a bag and a shrug. I gained confidence and decided to buy a dress. Of course, it did not fit. So, I exchanged it for another. It did not fit either. I exchanged it again for another dress that did not fit. This time I just gave up and gave the dress away. Thanks to the experience, I have stopped buying anything that requires a size. I have been wanting to buy some shoes but given my luck, it would end up being another pain in the wrong place. Now I just stick to bags and household items. I mean how wrong can you go with them?

— Chandreyee Chatterjee

THE SNEAKY ONLINE SHOPPER WHO KNOWS THE BEST DEALS

What’s better than being an online shopaholic? Being a smart online shopaholic. 

Yes, I am as smart while shopping on the web as Einstein was when he discovered that e=mc2. For all those who think shopping online is easy peasy, you couldn’t be further from the truth. For a shopper like me who is forever looking for a bang for every buck spent, shopping online involves keeping a constant track of the best deals and lowest prices. For example, if I like something on a certain shopping site, I compare prices with several other websites that stock the same. Most often, you will end up discovering that the same thing is priced a few hundreds less on some other website. I also ‘favourite’ a lot of items on shopping sites and keep track of when their prices plummet. Also, unlike stores which give discounts only thrice or so a year, online shopping sites are a sale lover’s paradise with round-the-clock discounts on all 365 days. Some tips for best deals — the festival season always throws up discounts of 50 per cent or more. And the price of a particular item drops when the size options get exhausted, but if you have already blocked that item in your size, chances are you will be able to buy it. And yes, try and buy using the site’s phone app as much as possible… apps ensure a further discount. 

With discount coupon codes, cash-back facility and redemption of points, my world of online shopping is going great guns… with minimum damage to my pocket.    

— Priyanka Roy

 

WANT TO GO WARDROBE SHOPPING WITHOUT LEAVING HOME? HERE ARE T2’S FAVOURITE SITES ?

Bewakoof
www.bewakoof.com
Special clothes are reserved for special occasions. Which makes that second category of everyday clothes so important. From stepping out for a cup of coffee to casual Fridays at work, who wouldn’t mind not repeating outfits? In walks the helpful bewakoof.com packed with tees and tops priced as low as 
Rs 249. Granted there’s not really an extensive range to choose from, but what’s there is good enough to suffice before the next season — and the new stock — rolls in.
Cash on delivery: Yes
Minimum order for free delivery:Rs 250

Shop nineteen
www.shopnineteen.com
If guilt-free shopping is on your agenda, then Shop Nineteen definitely helps you indulge. Once on the site, if individually priced items don’t really please you, keep a look out for the offers they display like a badge of honour on their home page. Three tops for Rs 999 seems like a steal! We definitely recommend signing up for their regular newsletters so that you stay informed. 
Cash on delivery: Yes
Minimum order for free delivery: Rs 500

 

 

Koovs
www.koovs.com
The Koovs shopper is hard to categorise as a particular type. One day she’s girlie, the other, an experimental rebel. All you know is that she is young, wild and free. Which doesn’t mean that she doesn’t really dress what most would call “regular” at times. Get the point? 
So whether a pouch shaped like a unicorn head is more your style or you want to try the frilly kimonos that your favourite international celebs are wearing to Coachella, Koovs is the place to go! 
Cash on delivery: Yes
Minimum order for free delivery: Rs 500

Jabong
www.jabong.com
The shopper hooked to Jabong usually plays safe with fashion. Which of course doesn’t mean she’s not stylish! She knows all the high-street brands (like River Island, a brand Jabong brought to the shoppers in India) that feature in her favourite fashion mags and bridge the gap between her and the big brand names she covets. And she definitely digs Bollywood. Which is why when Jabong collaborated with Alia Bhatt, the Jabong girl finally realised her dreams of dressing like the stars do. 
Cash on delivery: Yes
Minimum order for free delivery: Rs 500

 

 

 

Pernia’s pop-up shop
www.perniaspopupshop.com
Pernia Qureshi’s online store is where the desi designers are. Not your run-of-the-mill site, signing in without your credit card details wouldn’t be smart — because petty cash just won’t do! 
So for the blessed few who have money and will spend, there’s no limit as she has everybody from Sabyasachi to Sailex dressing her up and Eina Ahluwalia to Suhani Pittie providing the little trinkets that would take her to the inner ranks of the bling ring.
Cash on delivery: Yes
Minimum order for free delivery: Rs 15,000

Neiman marcus
www.neimanmarcus.com
From red-soled Christian Louboutin heels to the Givenchy Rottweiler Sweater, the Neiman Marcus fashionista no longer needs to call that friend sitting on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. 
An American luxury specialty department store, Neiman Marcus lets you check the prices in Indian currency. So the next time the boyfriend declares that the only reason why he isn’t gifting you those gorgeous Valentino Rockstuds is because “they aren’t available in the city,” just smile and log him in. 
Shipping: Free express shipping globally on a minimum order of $175

 

And all the other things that team t2 shops online

A cover for my iPad Mini: I bought it from a local vendor on Amazon, not the Apple store because this one came in candy colours and was one-third the price of an Apple cover. I have used it for a month and there’s been no problem. The next thing I am eyeing is a quirky wall clock. — Samhita Chakraborty 

More than clothes, I love to buy kitchen storage and tiffin boxes online! Last year, I bought a tandoor maker and I got the best deal. I even bought a four-burner gas oven online and life has been so easier ever since. Also, a hair dryer. My favourite sites are Amazon, Homeshop18 and Jabong. Next on my list is a three-seater sofa from Pepperfry. — Kushali Nag

The most random thing I have bought online is an eyelash curler. — Deborima Ganguly

I bought a DVD of Being John Malkovich from Amazon, Giraffes Can’t Dance from Flipkart, a panini grill from Infibeam and cards from Vistaprint. 
— Mathures Paul

Clothes are the primary things I shop online but I have also bought a lot of other things, including shoes (most people avoid buying shoes because they are wary of the fit; I have had no such problems though), watches and table lamps. I have even bought hair colour. 
— Priyanka Roy

I bought a bean bag and lovely cushion covers from Fabfurnish. 
— Mohua Das

GO-TO SITES FOR TEAM CAMPUS 

Pop culture 
The Souled Store: Best known for its T-shirts on TV series, movies, cartoons and superheroes. Sometimes you get them for Rs 499. The prints are cool and quirky. You also get posters, coasters and bags. 
Whysoserious.com: Quirky knick-knacks like lamps, socks, pen drives, mugs, coasters, stamps and frames. 
Chumbak: Amazingly cool prints. May not have a large and varied collection but it displays bags, phone covers, bed sheets, comforters, scarves and boxers. 

Clothing and accessories
Myntra: Attracts all kinds of shoppers, from the stingy to the spendthrift. Known for its attractive deals, offers and special discount coupons.
Koovs: The recent new cool for GenX, this site is the place to go if you are looking for popular brands. 
Voonik: Just for girls — a sophisticated yet cool collection of clothing at affordable prices. 

Books
Flipkart: If one has to buy books — and the cutest bookmarks — Flipkart it is. 

Electronics
Amazon: It’s attractive because of its low pricing. Most of the times it doesn’t charge for delivery.