Buying Halloween costumes online might be smooth sailing for most, but a handful of Halloween hopefuls run into unexpected problems. The last thing you want is problems with your costume order, but many Halloween enthusiasts run into problems online, such as the wrong size, bad material, or being ripped off from less-than-honest vendors. Ordering costumes online has a slew of problems if you're not careful, so make sure you know what you're doing. Here are three common problems you'll run into online and how to avoid them when ordering Halloween costumes online.

My Costume Doesn't Fit!

The most common problem when ordering Halloween costumes online is fit. If you do not check their sizing chart for specific measurements before buying, it will turn into a big problem.

For example, Bob wants to purchase a Halloween costume online. He heard that he can get a very special Superman costume online, so he browses the internet looking for it, hoping to find the one. Once he finds it, he quickly enters his order, picking size Large. A couple of weeks later it arrives. Upon trying on this coveted costume, he realizes it is much too large for him! He sends an angry email asking why they sent such a large size. Customer service tells poor Bob that is the correct size. Bob is frustrated, with only a Superman outfit for comfort.

Of course you do not want to be like Bob. You want to buy the right sized costume for your Halloween excursion. What Bob didn't do is check the sizing chart for the site, which lists the measurements of each size. By comparing those measurements to your own, you'll know which size is appropriate for you. Problem solved!

This Wasn't the Costume I Ordered!

Here's another problem you'll run into when ordering Halloween costumes online -- and whether you like it or not, you cannot rectify this problem.

Bob decides to order a different costume online. His last costume was a big problem, and he hopes by using this new costume site, he will get the one he wants. So he hops onto this new online costume boutique, browsing the selection of Halloween costumes at ridiculously low prices. When he finds the right Halloween costume, he orders it and waits for it to arrive. When it arrives, he discovers it's falling apart and poorly made. Another problem for Bob! What did he do wrong?

For one thing, Bob didn't look check the site for reliability. If the seller only offers one manufacturer's picture of the Halloween costume, beware. Make sure to research the company and seller too, by using Google, and the BBB. It'll tell you (if any) what problems occurred, if this online store isn't honest, and if you should avoid it or not. Doing this avoids Bob's unfortunate problem.

I Never Got the Halloween Costume!

So here comes Bob again, looking for his third Halloween costume. He decides to venture online to an auction bidding site for a Halloween costume. He orders a costume from a seller who says it'll arrive in 2 weeks. However, a month passes with Halloween inching closer and Bob has no costume. He emails the seller but the seller doesn't reply. Another problem for Bob!

So what's Bob's problem? For one thing, he didn't check if this seller was honest. You should research an individual seller also when buying a costume online. Do that with Google or by using the auction site. Exhibit some caution to ensure that a seller is worthy of delivering your next Halloween costume.

So what lessons have we learned from Bob? We've learned that:

Check out each online store's sizing chart for appropriate fit.

Use the internet to see if a store is a problem for others.

Use feedback systems on selling sites to determine reliability.

By doing this you avoid being like Bob -- and you'll get the right Halloween costume online. Buying Halloween costumes online doesn't have to be problematic, just know how to shop!