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If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We recognize that when we come across catfish on dating apps and when we receive text messages promising a “free iPhone if you click this link in the next 5 minutes!” But apparently, many of us need a reminder to be wary of what we're buying when we shop online too.

Bored Panda has scoured the internet to find the most hilarious examples of “what I ordered versus what I received.” From outfits that look nothing like the photos featured on the website to products that are much larger or smaller than anticipated, we hope you get a kick out of this list, pandas. Keep reading to also find a conversation with Courtney Carver, creator of Be More With Less, and remember, always read the reviews before making a purchase!

#3

It Looked Like What It Was Supposed To Be: A Nicely Made Knit Tee Shirt

It Looked Like What It Was Supposed To Be: A Nicely Made Knit Tee Shirt

Jacob_Brogan Report

Ah, online shopping. It’s extremely convenient when you need something specific in a pinch, and you don’t have time to go searching through ten different shops. But there are certainly risks involved as well. What if your typical size doesn’t actually fit? What if the object arrives broken after a long journey in transit? And what if what you receive looks absolutely nothing like what you saw in the photo?

When it comes to the pros and cons of ordering items online, The Balance says there are many. But let’s start off on a positive note: it’s convenient, there’s a much larger selection than in stores, and it’s easy to access product information. You can online shop at night if you can’t make it to the store before they close, and you can read dozens of reviews to ensure you make an informed purchase.        

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#5

This Is Exactly Why You Don’t Buy Off Shein

This Is Exactly Why You Don’t Buy Off Shein

__Curtdoggg Report

On the flip side, however, there are definitely some aspects of online shopping that aren’t great. First things first, it can be more expensive. You will likely have to pay for shipping, and you might even get hit with an internet sales tax, depending on where you live. 

And as we’ve seen from this list, there’s an increased risk of fraud when buying online. You can’t see exactly what you’re getting until it arrives, and it’s a lot easier for scammers to get your credit card information through a fake website than through a suspicious link in an email. Consumers have to be vigilant when determining whether or not a website is safe.

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#7

Ordered A New Pair Of 8083s That Came In The Wrong Size. Should I Return Them?

Ordered A New Pair Of 8083s That Came In The Wrong Size. Should I Return Them?

Will they stretch over time?

Guard__ian Report

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ʁɨɂɥɒ
Community Member
12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's 2 boxes. Might be they hid actual shoes and showing this miniature showcase shoes just for the sake of fun....

FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa
Community Member
3 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm pretty sure you're spot on with your hypothesis. I just searched for miniature Red Wing boots and apparently Japan came out with a 6 pair mini collection. They are on eBay and are too cute, imo.

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Matteic
Community Member
8 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you water them regularly and use the right kind of fertilizer (a mix of compost from hiking trail grounds and organic human sweat) they will surely grow!

Mistletoe
Community Member
2 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh! I want them!!!! Would love to add them to my miniatures!

Poppy
Community Member
5 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once bought a pair of Doc Marten's off Ebay for a REALLY cheap price (suspiciously cheap after the fact) which I saw were UK size 8. They arrived in a small jiffy bag. They were child sized 8 Doc's. That was my own fault as I didn't double check the listing

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#8

We Ordered My 12 Y/O Daughter A Taylor Swift Flag For Christmas. It Came From Amazon. This Is What She Opened

We Ordered My 12 Y/O Daughter A Taylor Swift Flag For Christmas. It Came From Amazon. This Is What She Opened

NatiAti513 Report

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#9

I Ordered A Pair Of Dc Shoes And They Messed Up Giving Me A 9.5 And A 9 And They Are Both For The Right Foot

I Ordered A Pair Of Dc Shoes And They Messed Up Giving Me A 9.5 And A 9 And They Are Both For The Right Foot

YourFavouriteRat Report

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Passerby
Community Member
13 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have heard of two wrongs don't make a right, but it seems two rights don't to make a right either.

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To find out more about the realities of online shopping and whether or not we should be doing it at all, we got in touch with Courtney Carver, creator of Be More With Less and author of Gentle. Courtney was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share her thoughts on shopping online.

"It is a nice convenience and an accessibility factor you may not see shopping otherwise. For some though, it can be a little too convenient," she noted. "There's no friction, no pause required before buying something you may not even really want or need."

"Because online shopping can be so immediate, some people add to cart when they are trying to self-soothe. You might try to shop away pain, like the pain of boredom, frustration or insomnia. Usually, none of these ailments are relieved in the end, and now you own one more thing and may have a little more debt, which leads to more pain."

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#10

Submitted Photo To Get Customized Keychain Of My Cat…

Submitted Photo To Get Customized Keychain Of My Cat…

Submitted a photo to get a customized keychain made of my cat. This is what I received from Temu. I don’t know whose pet this is.

Ok_Relation_3218 Report

#11

Always Check The Size Before You Order

Always Check The Size Before You Order

We needed a good spoon to stir jam making and I accidentally ordered this spoon that can double as a short sword. lol
Going to give it to a friend that has a giant wok.
Didn’t know where else to post this haha.

Gamerdave74 Report

#12

Ordered An Apple Watch On Amazon, They Sent Me An Empty Box. Amazon Offered To Overnight A Replacement, And They Sent Another Empty Box. Happy Father's Day To Me

Ordered An Apple Watch On Amazon, They Sent Me An Empty Box. Amazon Offered To Overnight A Replacement, And They Sent Another Empty Box. Happy Father's Day To Me

DaveSpacelaser Report

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Chicken Nugget
Community Member
10 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it was from the actual Amazon store, most likely the delivery driver or a shipper took it

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There are also some risks that come along with shopping online. "Online shopping is pretty reliable, but you may not get the right size or the thing you order may not show up as it appeared online," Courtney warns. "Often online shopping comes with returns, so you end up spending the time and energy you had planned to save by shopping online in the first place."

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#13

Ordered A Beautiful Chrome Doberman Statue, Description Said 3ft Tall

Ordered A Beautiful Chrome Doberman Statue, Description Said 3ft Tall

SeriesBusiness9098 Report

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PFD
Community Member
13 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do find these fake products weird. Like, if you're going to steal customers' money, why not just do it? It's obviously not a mistake. And I can't imagine anyone is either more or less protected from complaints, penalties etc if they send fake s**t rather than nothing at all. I don't get the point.

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#15

The "A4 Size Paper" File Cabinet That I Had Ordered From Shein

The "A4 Size Paper" File Cabinet That I Had Ordered From Shein

Saruaj_ Report

So if you're looking to cut down on your online purchases, Courtney recommends a 30-90 day shopping ban. "Make a list of the essentials you'll need to shop for during that time, and take everything else off the table. Unsubscribe from shopping sites, remove your cards from Amazon and other places that make it way too easy to shop. It gives you a little space to feel your feelings, mind your budget and to prioritize more meaningful self-care," she explained. "If shopping for clothing and wardrobe-related items is your problem area, try the Project 333 challenge."

#16

Ordered Radishes For A Dish For Dinner... Supermarket Sent These Instead. Guess I'll Be Making That Dish In 4-8 Weeks

Ordered Radishes For A Dish For Dinner... Supermarket Sent These Instead. Guess I'll Be Making That Dish In 4-8 Weeks

auntietelle Report

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#18

We Ordered An Air Fryer Through Amazon And It Arrived With A Companion. I Don't Know If It Was Amazon's Fault Or The Carrier's... Good Morning!

We Ordered An Air Fryer Through Amazon And It Arrived With A Companion. I Don't Know If It Was Amazon's Fault Or The Carrier's... Good Morning!

sofiaserrano97 Report

Despite the fact that over a third of the world’s population shops online, the reality is that we should probably be doing it much, much less. In fact, according to TIME, these “harmless” little orders might be negatively impacting your mental health. Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Stanford Medicine, says that both shopping and spending time on the internet are addictive. So doing both at the same time can be a dangerous combination. 

#19

Bought A "Brand New" Jacket Online. Found This Inside The Pocket

Bought A "Brand New" Jacket Online. Found This Inside The Pocket

Nylokken Report

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LillieMean
Community Member
12 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now a limited time offer includes a new identity! It is unfortunately common to order clothes and keep them for one night, for example for a party, and then return them "unworn". Some serially order clothes to take pictures of them on social media and then return them. People have reported clothes smelling of cigarettes or sweat, dirty, and a pacifier was found in the pocket of one of the new jackets. Some stores already have a limit on how many orders a single person can make per month, and if you return a lot, you will be banned from ordering.

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#21

Told The Seller I Was Missing The Ctrl Key And He Sent Me This

Told The Seller I Was Missing The Ctrl Key And He Sent Me This

Iamthehottestman Report

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Ovata Acronicta
Community Member
12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tonight I discovered there is no ctrl key on the right side of my keyboard (new laptop). I use my mouse lefty so if I'm reaching for ctrl, it's usually on the right side. Instead it has a "Copilot" key, which has now been remapped to be the missing ctrl. Maybe I should get an extra C key for it?

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Shopping online can be an easy way to get a dopamine rush immediately, but it can also be overwhelming. You’re presented with endless options, and if you develop an addiction, you might find yourself stressing about your financial situation because of this. 

However, there’s a clever trick that might help: fill your basket with items, but don’t actually order them. Thea Gallagher, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Health, told TIME that this can still provide shoppers with the rush of dopamine they want without the subsequent guilt from spending money.  

#22

I Ordered A Sexy Catsuit And Ended Up With A Terrifying Shadow Being

I Ordered A Sexy Catsuit And Ended Up With A Terrifying Shadow Being

I was feeling a little frisky when I ordered this one piece catsuit. Turns out it was the creepiest looking thing I had ever seen, and there was no way to shrink myself into the dam thing. I kinda want to hang it in someone’s room at night and see what happens. The way the little fingers move is more than I can handle. Feet for size reference.

NataliaTemple Report

#23

My Wife Ordered A Beading Pattern Book, But Instead Of Patterns It Only Contains AI Written Instructions On How To Make Such A Book

My Wife Ordered A Beading Pattern Book, But Instead Of Patterns It Only Contains AI Written Instructions On How To Make Such A Book

ShilkaLive Report

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#24

We Ordered A One Time Tablecloth. It Says Bame Day Instead Of Game Day

We Ordered A One Time Tablecloth. It Says Bame Day Instead Of Game Day

Piruparka Report

If you’re personally struggling with the urge to shop, shop, shop, TIME has a few tips for cutting back. First, forget the idea that you need to be the best, most perfect version of yourself. You don’t need everything. If you have everything you need, that should be good enough! Then go through and remove your credit card information from your computer and any websites where it’s saved. 

And force yourself to have a waiting period before buying anything online. Give it some time and really consider if you actually need that item. Better yet, assign yourself a no-buy month, like Courtney suggested. This can be like a little detox from shopping, and it will help you realize just how often you have the impulse to buy something new.   

#25

What Is This? A Rice Cooker For Ants?!

What Is This? A Rice Cooker For Ants?!

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Jrog
Community Member
10 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am curious to know what these people think "doll house furniture" means.

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#27

Bought A Ps5 For My Son’s Birthday. Someone At UPS Swapped It Out With A Rock

Bought A Ps5 For My Son’s Birthday. Someone At UPS Swapped It Out With A Rock

reddit.com Report

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Jrog
Community Member
11 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It it was done at the shipping stage, the rock would have *maimed* the white interior of the box. This is OP attempting a scam...

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Are these photos making you think twice about your next online purchase, pandas? Keep upvoting the pics that you find particularly hilarious, and let us know in the comments if you’ve ever received an item that was drastically different than what you expected. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda piece featuring products that catfished shoppers, look no further than right here!

#28

My Friend Bought A Tablet From The (Official) Samsung Store On Amazon And Received This. (Also She Needed It Urgently)

My Friend Bought A Tablet From The (Official) Samsung Store On Amazon And Received This. (Also She Needed It Urgently)

Junker_66 Report

#29

Got A New Bra From Online. When It Arrived This Thing Was Still Attached

Got A New Bra From Online. When It Arrived This Thing Was Still Attached

TOoN_YT Report

#30

My Friend’s Order Got Messed Up

My Friend’s Order Got Messed Up

How is something like this even possible? lol

Cory_Clownfish Report

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G A
Community Member
8 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Easily fixed with a phone call. Delivery just grabbed the wrong bags.

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#32

I Ordered A Custom Plush From A Store And It Turned Out Like This…

I Ordered A Custom Plush From A Store And It Turned Out Like This…

1ithv Report

#34

Ordered My Daughter A MacBook Air For Christmas And This Is What FedEx Delivered

Ordered My Daughter A MacBook Air For Christmas And This Is What FedEx Delivered

reddit.com Report

#35

Bought This Dress And Finally Received It Three Months Later Just To Be Ripped Off 🫠

Bought This Dress And Finally Received It Three Months Later Just To Be Ripped Off 🫠

ThatOneChickenNoddle Report

#37

All Of These Post-Its Are Pages Ripped Out Of This Copy Of Dune I Got Off Ebay

All Of These Post-Its Are Pages Ripped Out Of This Copy Of Dune I Got Off Ebay

I bought this somewhat vintage hardcover off eBay over a year ago, so can't return it, but only bought it to upgrade my paperback copy. I went to read Dune again and realized there were a ton of pages missing. Who does something like this!?

Akito_900 Report

#38

The Lamp My Friend Ordered vs. What He Received

The Lamp My Friend Ordered vs. What He Received

Naturally I found this hysterical, my friend is very upset about it, but personally I think it was worth it for the laugh!

LantokaiSorcerer Report

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#39

So I Thought I Was Ordering A Dress…

So I Thought I Was Ordering A Dress…

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Jasmijn
Community Member
13 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think you got the better end of the deal because that would’ve been a trashy dress

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#42

He's Going Through Something

He's Going Through Something

I ordered a lemur off Amazon, I got this guy. I'm going to help him through whatever he is going through. I love him anyway.

LadyGeneralWeiss Report

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CSC
Community Member
3 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, he does appear to need some help and reassurance. Is that a tongue sticking out from his chest?

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#43

What I Ordered vs. What I Got

What I Ordered vs. What I Got

Ordered this mask almost a month ago hoping to get a good deal. Believe people when they say if it’s to good it’s probably not true. Where do I even begin with this monstrosity. The material looks nothing like advertised. It’s not stretchy whatsoever it feels like it came from the dollar store. The hair is very clearly fake there’s stains on the back half of the mask there’s NO mouth hole and it’s three sizes to big for any normal persons head. Not to mention it smells like battery acid. They removed the ability to review the products shortly after people started receiving them for obvious reasons. And I will 1000% be using the 30 day return policy. I just can’t see why anyone would think this looks even remotely similar. Maybe if I was blind and had never seen a human I might fall for this mask but I refuse to let this thing rot in the closet it can go right back where it came from. A month wasted and I still have to ship it back. Safe to say I’ll never be ordering from this group again.

Scuddie- Report

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Ovata Acronicta
Community Member
12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I waged war two Halloweens ago against scammy ads on Facebook. They were using Immortal Mask's pictures, but for like $50? you're never getting silicone (the mask on the left) for that. You'll get a s****y approximation in god knows what rubber.

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#44

What I Ordered vs. What I Got

What I Ordered vs. What I Got

Sent my friend a positive potato to make her smile since she works so hard. This is what she got…

luvisforall Report

#45

Bought These Online On Sale The Other Day. When They Arrived I Found Out Why The Were On Sale

Bought These Online On Sale The Other Day. When They Arrived I Found Out Why The Were On Sale

treadfast Report

#47

Cute Plant Plush I Ordered For My Nursery And What Was Actually Received

Cute Plant Plush I Ordered For My Nursery And What Was Actually Received

Nica-sauce-rex Report

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Sian E
Community Member
12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When a cactus and a moose love each other very much, they make a cactoose.

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#50

What I Ordered vs. What I Got, LOL, Lesson Learned!!

What I Ordered vs. What I Got, LOL, Lesson Learned!!

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Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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