Online shopping is my go-to, especially with hectic schedules that don’t permit mall trips. Platforms like Shopee and, more recently, TikTok have become my virtual shopping aisles. But, as many of us know, online buys can sometimes miss the mark. The allure of low prices often justifies these gambles. However, the adage “every penny counts” still holds true. So, without further ado, here are the top 5 TikTok purchases that I wish I had passed on:

1. Bear-shaped Toilet Cleaning Agent (P20): The adorable bear design drew me in. The premise is simple: snip off the tiny protrusions at the back, and the blue cleaning powder releases when submerged in the toilet tank. But the bear has a habit of jamming up the toilet mechanism. Cute? Yes. Functional? Definitely not.

1. Magara Cuffu Bar Volcanic Ash Soap (P75): While I’m a fan of Magara’s Coffee Scrub Soap, this variant was a letdown. After one use, my maroon bathroom tiles were speckled with hard-to-clean white residues. Plus, the scent wasn’t appealing, and it seemed to trigger a breakout.

1. Lanbena Nose Plants Pore Strip (P139): Hyped on TikTok for its miraculous blackhead removal powers, the set comes with a 30 gram cream and 60 pore strips. While it did pull out a few blackheads, the overpowering chemical smell was off-putting. Honestly, I’ve seen better results with manual extraction. The manufacturers tried to mask the smell with fragrance, but it wasn’t enough. The horrendous smell lingers.

1. 10 in 1 Dried Fruit And Vegetable Chips (P149 for 250 grams): Influenced by a trending ASMR-style munching craze, I was curious. While some chips, like squash and banana, were decent, others were disappointingly scarce or just plain unpalatable. My children humorously likened one mysterious green chip’s taste to a “fart.” I was excited for the okra but there was only one tiny piece inside and it didn’t taste great. Safe to say, not every trend is worth the buy.

1. Plastic Transparent Air Tight Storage Box (P67.55 for 700 ml): Intended to declutter my coffee station, these clear containers seemed ideal. However, the lids refused to clasp securely. The result? Ant invasions. Out of the four I bought, three were faulty. Although the product had rave reviews, it’s since vanished online—either a sell-out or perhaps a quiet recall.

Conclusion

The digital marketplace offers a vast array of choices right at our fingertips. But as my TikTok purchases reveal, the convenience of online shopping can sometimes lead to unexpected results. It’s essential to approach online shopping with discernment, remembering that reviews, videos, or pictures might not always reflect the product’s true quality. However, one of the strengths of the online community is our ability to share experiences. By discussing our hits and misses, we can guide one another towards better choices. Before diving into that next viral product, pause, do a bit more research, and save yourself from an unfortunate purchase. Happy shopping!

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on personal experience. If the products work for you and if you like it, by all means, continue using them. I’m not out to tarnish any brand’s reputation, so don’t hound me after reading this.