More than half (62%) of US consumers with Internet access now shop online at least once a month, and just 1% say they never shop online, according to a recent report by Walker Sands.
The most common types of products bought online in the last year include electronics (69% percent of consumers surveyed purchased online in 2013), books (67%), clothing (63%), household goods (38%), and office supplies (30%).
Below, additional key findings from the report, which was based on data a survey of more than 1,000 US consumers.
Top Purchase Drivers
- 80% of consumers surveyed are more likely to purchase a product online when offered free shipping, and 66% when offered one-day shipping.
- 64% of consumers are more likely to purchase when offered free returns and exchanges.
- 30% would spend more than $1,000 on a product online with free shipping and returns, compared with 10% who would do so without free shipping and returns.
Amazon.com
- 95% of consumers surveyed purchased something from Amazon.com in the past year.
- 40% of shoppers are willing to purchase any type of product from Amazon.
- Consumers are somewhat hesitant to purchase groceries and luxury goods from Amazon, though the majority would still do so.
Omni-Channel Shopping
- 64% of consumers surveyed have used their mobile device to research products while in a brick-and-mortar store.
- 52% say they would be more likely to shop at a retailer offering in-store navigation on a mobile device, and 59% would be more likely to shop at a store offering self-checkout via a mobile device.
- 44% of consumers say they want product recommendations based on past purchases from brick-and-mortar retailers, similar to what Amazon offers online.
About the research: The report was based on data from a survey of 1,046 US consumers who were asked about their spending behaviors in 2013.