‘I opened it and I just started laughing’: the pitfalls of pandemic shopping

From accidentally over ordering, to products that bear no resemblance to their description or photographs, buying everything online has its downsides

When Sam Bowker and his partner moved into their new rental, they planned to buy a couch the same way they usually did - with a trip down to the local op-shop.

But Covid-19 scuppered this. The Salvation Army was no longer offering delivery services, so after a couple of drinks one evening, Bowker turned to eBay. There he found a sleek looking black three seater lounge - it was a flatpack you build yourself, with free shipping".