On online shopping: Why Net-a-porter is better than LuisaviaRoma

This year I discovered online shopping. I can't tell you how much my wallet, my credit card and my husband protested.. But since last year and the first part of this year had been the busiest for me (school, work, work, travel, work) the Internet had been my best friend as it allowed me to save precious time from going to the stores.

I started with outnet.com, discounted online store of net-a-porter.com and bought several items. Service was good, I enjoyed my purchases and when they go on weekend sale, I just couldn't resist buying.  Here I got a beautiful red bag from Alexander McQueen which makes me swoon until now and an orange dress which turns head at parties.

There was one time that I got somehow tired of outnet.com. So I switched to its mother company for my purchases. And it had been a harmonious relationship since then. Net-a-porter is fast in approving my purchases, customer service is great and returns are not a problem.

But then the fickle me tried another online store, luisaviaroma.com. They have the same market and services as net-a-porter.com but they have more sales. And from these sales I saw another shoes which was selling from almost 80% off. Women are always excited to get new pairs of shoes and waiting for it is just painful.

Unfortunately if you use a credit card, Luisaviaroma will verify your account first through your bank which can delay the approval of your order. After exchanging emails with Luisaviaroma, with which they promise to send the tracking number right away, Im still not sure when my purchase will arrive. I've never experience it with net-a-porter and the one time my purchase was delayed, they gave me a credit note.

I guess this is something I have to get used to when buying online - the waiting time. Online shopping reduces the "instant gratification" which normal stores allow you to have.

What about you? Which is your favorite online store?