How to read a product listing before you buy

Microwave splatter guard cover in use

Most returns are avoidable. They happen because something on the product page was skimmed rather than read. Here is what to check, in the order that matters.

1. The measurements, not the photo

A photo tells you what something looks like. It does not tell you whether it fits your drawer, your wrist or your car cup holder. Every listing on AtlasBay carries dimensions in the specifications section. Take ten seconds and compare them against a tape measure before you order. This single habit prevents more disappointment than anything else on this list.

2. What is actually in the box

Look for the Package includes line. Products photographed as a set are sometimes sold individually, and the difference between “1 x organiser” and “3 x organiser” is the difference between a good deal and a confusing delivery.

3. Material, in plain words

“Premium construction” means nothing. “Stainless steel”, “non-woven fabric” or “ABS plastic” mean something. If a listing describes what a product is made of, it is usually because the maker is happy for you to know. Vagueness is information too.

4. Sizing charts for anything worn

Clothing and footwear sizes vary between manufacturers far more than most people expect. Ignore the letter on the label and read the chart in centimetres or inches. If a garment lists a bust measurement of 44 inches for a medium, that is the number that decides whether it fits — not the M.

5. The colour caveat

Screens differ. A warm white on your phone can be a cool grey on your laptop, and neither may match what arrives. For anything where the exact shade matters — paint-adjacent items, furniture accents, textiles — assume a small margin of variation.

If you get it wrong anyway

You have 30 days from delivery to request a return, on unused items in their original packaging. If something arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, send us a photo and we will usually resolve it without you posting anything back.

Questions before you buy are cheaper than returns after. Email atlasbay.support@gmail.com and a real person will answer within one business day.