Why Do People Shop Online?
There’s no denying that more and more people are shopping online every day. But why do people shop online instead of visiting a brick-and-mortar store, where they can get a feel of the products in person?
Why shop online: top reasons consumers do so
|
Reason |
Percentage of internet users who say it’s a factor that propels them to shop online |
|---|---|
|
1. Free delivery |
50.9% |
|
2. Coupons and discounts |
39.5% |
|
3. Customer reviews |
32.6% |
|
4. Next-day delivery |
31.8% |
|
5. Easy returns policy |
31.4% |
|
6. Simple online checkout |
30.4% |
|
7. Loyalty points |
25.7% |
|
8. Social likes and comments |
22.4% |
|
9. Eco-friendly credentials |
18.6% |
|
10. Cash on delivery |
18.2% |
According to the latest statistics, the ease and convenience of online shopping dominate consumers’ list of top reasons to shop online, with around half of their main motivations directly related to these factors.
The top reason consumers prefer to buy items online is the free shipping option offered by ecommerce stores. More than half (50.9%) of consumers list it as one of the main reasons they shop online.
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In other words, they would much rather enjoy the ease of having their purchase delivered to them at no cost instead of going out to a store to physically view and inspect the product, purchase it, and obtain it immediately after purchase—even if it means having to wait.
The possibility to pay for the product upon delivery also has a role to play in consumers’ willingness to shop online. In fact, nearly one-fifth (18.2%) of consumers say among their top reasons to shop online is the ability to pay with cash on delivery. So aside from enjoying free delivery services, online shoppers also like the option to make cash payments only when they receive their product. Being able to return their purchases easily is also a motivating factor—31.4% say it’s why they buy things online.
The convenience of getting purchases delivered to them that online shopping offers also extends to its speed. Of internet users’ top reasons to shop online, next-day delivery is one of them. Just under one-third of online shoppers (31.8%) say it’s a motivating factor behind their online purchases. Another factor related to convenience is the easy checkout process, for which 30.4% of consumers list as one of their main reasons to shop online.
Why shop online: factors beyond convenience
Though ease and comfort form the basis for the popularity of online shopping, there are other reasons consumers enjoy it.
For some of them, the ability to save money and earn store points are also their top reasons to shop online. Statistics show that 39.5% of consumers say having coupons and discounts to apply to their online purchases drives them to shop online, while 25.7% do so because they’re able to collect loyalty points.
Others say feedback and commentary from other internet users are reasons to shop online. Around one-third (32.6%) are motivated by customer reviews, while 22.4% are driven by social likes and comments.