Buying a saree online is buying a fabric you cannot touch. That is the whole problem, and every other problem follows from it.

These are the mistakes we see most often, from customers who come to us after a bad online order.

1. Judging only by the model photograph

Studio lighting, professional draping and post-processing make every saree look good. The photograph is not a lie, but it is not the full picture either.

What to do: always ask for a flat photograph in natural light, and a video of the fabric moving. Any seller who actually has the stock can send both in five minutes.

2. Not checking the blouse piece

Listings say with blouse piece and leave it there. That could mean a matching 0.8 metre piece of the same fabric, or a thin contrast piece that you will not use.

What to do: ask for the length and whether it is the same fabric. Under 0.7 metres is not enough for most stitching.

3. Expecting the exact colour on screen

Every phone screen shows colour differently. A saree that looks bright rani pink on one screen looks magenta on another. This is not the seller cheating.

What to do: ask for the colour name the seller uses, and a photograph taken in daylight without a filter. If the exact shade matters - matching a family function, for instance - ask for a video.

4. Ignoring the return policy before ordering

Many sellers accept returns only for wrong or damaged items, not for change of mind. That is a reasonable policy, but you need to know it before you order, not after.

What to do: read the return policy first. Also check whether an unboxing video is required for damage claims - most sellers require one, and if you do not record it, you cannot claim.

5. Not recording the unboxing

This is the single most avoidable mistake. If the parcel arrives with the wrong item or damage, an unboxing video is what settles it immediately.

What to do: start recording before you cut the packet. Show the sealed parcel, the label, and then open it in the same shot. It takes thirty seconds.

6. Assuming all sarees are the same length

Standard is 5.5 metres. Some are 6.3 metres, which is what you need for certain draping styles. Some budget sarees are 5.2 metres, which is short.

What to do: check the listed length. If it is not listed, ask.

7. Buying heavy work for a daytime function

Sarees photograph well in the shop and feel very different after four hours. Heavy sequin, stone and zari work is uncomfortable in the sun and awkward to sit on the floor in.

What to do: match the weight of the work to the length and time of the function, not just to the occasion name.

8. Not asking about the actual fabric

Art silk, soft silk, semi silk and silk blend are not standardised terms. Two shops can use the same word for different things.

What to do: ask plainly - is this pure silk, a blend, or polyester? An honest seller answers directly.

The underlying point

Almost every one of these is solved by asking the seller a direct question before ordering. A seller who has the stock in hand and stands behind it will answer. A seller who is drop-shipping from a photograph will not.

We are a shop in Subash Bazar, Agra, and every piece we list is physically with us. Message us on WhatsApp and we will send you photographs, video and the reverse side of the work before you order anything.