The COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a major reason to shop online for consumers in the United States, according to market research from Pitney Bowes Boxpoll.
In the research, 56% of participants said their motivation for buying online had changed since the pandemic peak.
The top reason to shop online in the study was that “shopping online saves me a trip to the store and I don’t mind waiting for delivery.” For all consumers, the answer was given by 43% of participants in the study. In regard to generations, Boomers, at 50%, were most likely to give that as a reason to shop online while, at 36%, Gen Zers were the least likely to do so.
“I can find better deals online than in-store” was the next most likely answer, at 36%, with Gen Zers and Gen Xers tied at 40% at the top and Boomers last at 32% in providing that answer. In the third position was the answer “I have a bigger product selection online,” at 29%, with 32% of Gen Xers so saying in the top slot and Gen Zers and Millennials, at 27%, tied for last.
“I am worried about being exposed to COVID in brick and mortar stores” was the seventh most cited reason for shopping online, as 15% of study participants answered that way, with 18% of Millennials emerging as the most likely and 7% of Gen Zers as the least likely to say so.
The number four, five and six reasons for shopping digitally were “searching for unique products only found online”, “more enjoyable” and “not liking to be around other people.” Eight and nine were “difficulty getting to a physical store” and “fear of physical safety in brick and mortar stores.”
Pitney Bowes asked participants to provide their top three reasons for shopping online at a retailer other than Amazon. HomePage News inquired about the Amazon exception but did not get an immediate response from Pitney Bowes.
