In the past I have wasted money on items that looked good in photos but felt cheap in real life. Online shopping will always have a bit of risk, but experience makes it easier. Sometimes I experiment with different materials just to see how they feel in daily life.

If anyone is interested in real user experiences, I sometimes write short notes about the shops I test.
You can find one of the pages here:

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A product that still looks good after a few months is more impressive than something only good on arrival. Having a tracking number that works on common sites is very convenient. If a piece of jewelry keeps its color and does not irritate the skin, I consider it a win. I try to look for real photos of the insoles and soles, not only the outside of the shoe. A good store usually answers questions quickly and does not hide behind canned messages. Loose hinges make the glasses slide down the nose again and again. For coats and blazers I usually go one size up if I want to layer sweaters under them.

Hope this helps someone.