When I first started ordering on line , many sites only had small swatched, now you can enlarge ( on most sites) so no surprises on what the print really contains. On occasion I still have a bit of a surprise ... A few things I learned along the way
1. Always always enlarge the print if you can
2. If its in a grouping .. and yournot sure of the shade look at the others in the grouping it may be the best indicator , since other prints will coordinate and have larger portions of the color.
3. Some batiks can be tough .. since not all of the colors can be seen sometimes on the swatch. The water color types are the easiest.
4. Inspect your shopping cart carefully before completing the purchase.
5. If how fast an order ships is a priority for you check here first . Some ship so fast .. ( there is one that it takes only two days for me to get and order .... others take as long as two weeks to recieve.
6.Use sites recommended by others.
7. As for quality ALWAYS look at the manufacture of the fabric. Not all sites will list the manufacture ... avoid those.
8. Take the time and read the description ... most common mistake I have seen made is getting flannel.. Most post in a obvious place but it can be easy to miss.
9. Believe what you see.. if the print looks not quite as crisp as you want ... believe it ... do not hope its just a bad photo.
I have gotten some of the most spectacular fabrics on -line, as no shop cold possibly carry everthing.