17 Purchases That Turned Out Hilariously Wrong

07/29/2025

Anyone who has ever ordered something online knows: it’s always a lottery. And while most purchases are a joy, sometimes the reality exceeds (in the worst sense) all expectations.

In this article, we put together real first-hand stories of when ordering online became a failure. Some photos may cause laughter, while others may evoke sympathy or even embarrassment. See for yourself!

“Ordered radishes for a dish for dinner. Supermarket sent these instead...”

“Ordered a pair of shoes online, it took awhile to get delivered. When they arrived I was so excited to try them on, then realized they were both for my left foot.”

“Ordered ‘cheesy garlic bread’ from a local diner, got something with onions.”

“Ordered steak and this is what showed up.”

“We ordered a wedding cake. This is what we got.”

“I decided to order some sushi.”

Sasha

just now

And you got sushi

“Ordered a new phone online, and the box arrived empty.”

“Ordered a ‘half mushroom, half pepperoni’ pizza.”

“My mother ordered 1,000 plastic blocks for her nephews... Ended up receiving 523.”

Not all burgers are equally healthy.

Something went wrong with this order.

“What we booked vs what we walked in. I can’t stop laughing at the situation!”

Creativeusername

just now

The holes in the fake wood table coating are the perfect icing on that crap cake! Room isn't terrible except the bedding that doesn't look like it was changed in between customers but definitely not what was booked

“Ordered a tuna sandwich today and they forgot to put tuna in it.”

“What I ordered vs what was delivered”

Something is obviously wrong here.

“My kid was disappointed to say the least.”

CheetoMaster79

just now

I want to eat that 🥺 🙏

“What we ordered vs what we got”

Creativeusername

just now

I ordered what was supposed to be a knit patchwork kind of long but fitted cardigan coat with a handkerchief hem online, 90$. Not only did it take 3+ months to arrive but what came was 1/3 the size, waist length and arms 6" too short. And it was pieces of like faded 1930s house coat for elderly women sewed together. Like faded Grey with printed flowers sewed to a piece of dirty mint with polka dots. My order was for rainbow in primary colors. I also had a pair of knitted mitten gloves, where the mitten part folds back to half gloves, on the order and received like 1$ pair of stretch gloves that were 2 different sizes. 30$. Couldn't even get money back as the company didn't seem to exist anymore. Now I see items pop up for sale like a dress with 3d skeleton on it and know it's the same company that will send a screen printed shirt instead. I got a lot better at ordering online thankfully after 2 of those bait and switches, the other from maybe Rosegal where a dress was supposed to have metal buckled straps and a studded belt. They were screen printed on, instant garbage. Now I know how to order but there should be somewhere to report them where the honest review doesn't get pulled down!

This article proves that shopping online can bring unpleasant surprises. Has it ever happened that you received the wrong item?

And here expectation and reality didn’t match the plans.

Preview photo credit UsefulChemist3000 / Reddit