Online shopping has never been more popular or more important. The brick-and-mortar retail stores I grew up with are slowly disappearing, and I’m not complaining about it, because honestly, shopping in my underwear without being arrested is great.

But there is one major disadvantage to not being in the physical place; you can’t see and hold the thing you’re buying in person. You can look at pictures representing what you’re ostensibly ordering, but you can’t check it out to be sure until you’ve already paid your money and it shows up on your doorstep. Usually the result is mild inconvenience, but sometimes its hilarity, like these great examples of online shopping expectation vs. reality.

12. The reality stones

Said it came with ten large stones.
byu/chicaburrita inExpectationVsReality

11. Faux Faux Fox

They better give me a refund
byu/Saphira2002 inExpectationVsReality

10. More scruff than fluff

I’ve brushed its fur for 10 minutes
byu/Legomywinnebago inExpectationVsReality

9. At least you tried

Expectation vs. Reality after a 6-month backorder from West Elm.
byu/pputkowski inExpectationVsReality

8. Alice in diner-server land

Children’s party entertainer (Alice in Wonderland)
byu/Joxee1 inExpectationVsReality

7. Congratulations?

I just won this clock
byu/Effectlorenor inExpectationVsReality

6. Mirror, mirror, on the key chain…

Wow. The wall will be nice 🤪
byu/myravergouwe inExpectationVsReality

5. If at first you don’t success, cardigan

It’s.. not even a cardigan 😭😂
byu/Kvandelay inExpectationVsReality

4. Deady bear

It didn’t come with nearly enough thread, but this is possibly entirely my fault.
by inExpectationVsReality

3. Feeds a family of -1

Bread for scale
byu/Merc1201 inExpectationVsReality

2. Is this a magic trick?

Tricked by the packaging of my moisturizing cream
byu/Bail-Me-Out inassholedesign

1. Plastic is a synonym for rugged, right?

Colleague bought a Harley and wanted some boots. He was impressed with the $39 price tag online. Not so much when they arrived.
byu/dominicmannphoto inExpectationVsReality

So just remember the golden rule of online shopping: before you click buy, check the return policy.

Have you ever run into a situation like this?

Tell us about it in the comments.