Buying things online is often the easiest way to get the things you need. Rather than having to leave your house and head to a store, you can simply make your purchase and payment completely online so that whatever you need will be delivered directly to your home. The problem with this, however, is that, sometimes, what you think you’re getting isn’t what you’ll actually find that you’ve received in the mail.

To decrease the chances of this happening to you, here are three things you should do before you make an online purchase.

Check All The Details

When you see something online, it should always be in the back of your mind that the images you’re viewing may not be giving you the full picture of what is actually going on. This is especially important to keep in mind before you purchase something from an unknown retailer or supplier.

To give yourself the best chance of truly understanding what it is you’ll be getting once you make your online purchase, Armela Escalona, a contributor to LifeHack.org, advises that you check all the details of the item and your transaction before you finalize your purchase. As a part of this, you might want to compare products side-by-side so you can ensure that the details you think you’re getting are what you’ll actually have once your order arrives.

Look At Reviews

Another thing you should do before you make a purchase online, even if it’s from a retailer or supplier that you know, is to look at their online reviews.

According to Michael Wright, a contributor to Business2Community.com, it’s best to check various review platforms to ensure that a business or product is actually as good as you’re thinking or hoping it will be. If, while reading the reviews, you notice things that don’t sit well with you or that are a cause for concern, you might want to reach out to the company about your questions before you finalize your purchase.

Search For Coupons

One of the great things about shopping online is that there is always a chance that you can find a coupon that could save you some money on your purchase.

To take advantage of this, Lara Rutherford-Morrison, a contributor to The Bustle, recommends that, prior to confirming your purchase of any product or service, you do a Google search to see if any sales, coupon codes, or discounts are available to you. If you don’t do this, you could be leaving some money on the table that you easily could have saved.

If you make a lot of online purchases, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make the wisest purchasing decisions.